Will these pieces grow in the ground? May 22, 2010

Yet another song that is speaking deeply into me.
How do words and music touch us in such a way that they move us to change?

Lyrics by JJ Heller

Scenes of you come rushing through
You are breaking me down
So break me into pieces
That will grow in the ground
I know that I deserve to die
For the murder in my heart
So be gentle with me Jesus
As you tear me apart

Please kill the liar
Kill the thief in me
You know that I am tired of their cruelty
Breathe into my spirit
Breathe into my veins
Until only love remains

You burn away the ropes that bind
And hold me to the earth
The fire only leaves behind whatever is of worth
I begin to see reality
For the first time in my life
I know that I’m a shadow
But I’m dancing in your light

Teach me to be humble
Call me from the grave
Show me how to walk with you upon the waves
Breathe into my spirit
Breathe into my veins
Until only love remains

I have unanswered prayers May 8, 2010

This past year has been a whirlwind.  Unexpected events caught me by surprise and I find myself feeling like I have been living in the washing machine through its various cycles.  Just when I think it’s almost done, the barrel turns again and shakes things up.  I find myself asking, “why” and all I can feel is my breaking heart.  In the washing machine of life one thing remains – heaven stands – God Has Me In HIS hands.  I am thankful.  It is painful but I am thankful that God is washing me clean of my sin and my wayward ways.  He is making me into his image – transforming me from a dirty being into royal robe of white linen. 

These lyrics by Katie Herzig, JJ and David Heller have resonated with me during the time.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

Sopping Wet November 12, 2009

Coming out of stormy waters . . . we are tired . . . we almost drowned . . . we’re afraid the tide will come and snare us again.  But we live with a promise.  Songwriter Christa Wells (sung by Natalie Grant) eloquently reminds me that the promise takes it’s full hold when we are sopping wet and worn down to the bone from our fight with the sea. 

Who told us we’d be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares? 
We’re asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It’s unfair.

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held.

If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

2 Timothy 4:17-18
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen

Lead Me To the Cross June 3, 2009

In Brooke Fraser’s song she sings . . . “lead me tot he cross.” As I was preparing for musical worship this week I was thinking about what that meant.  The cross an agent of death – a method of execution.  It was the place that Jesus died the final death.  So we come to the cross with our sins so that they can die.  It is a place that we rid ourselves from our human error and accept the grace of God in his resurrection and his victory over sin and death.   When I am on my knees in of Christ I am letting go of the “prison of me” and taking on the “freedom of God”.  

Savior I come, quiet my soul, remember
Redemption’s hill, where Your blood was spilled or my ransom
Everything I once held dear I count it all as loss

Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself, I belong to You
Oh lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I, tempted and tried, human
The Word became flesh, bore my sin in death, Now Your risen
Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss

To Your Heart
To Your Heart
Lead me to Your Heart
Lead me to Your Heart

Brooke Fraser

Take Me All The Way May 19, 2009

This is my deep desire – to go all the way, like Matthew West asks in his chorus.

How do we take the step? How do we jump without letting worry getting in our way?

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if i had given everything
Instead of going through the motions

God – Develop in me a faith and trust so deep that I take the leap.  I can’t do it on my own – I need you.

Your Love Never Fails October 19, 2008

 

And THIS I MUST remember.

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never failsI know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don’t have to be afraid
Beause I know that You love me
Your love never fails

Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water’s deep
But I’m not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I’d reach the other side
But Your love never fails

Bridge:
You make all things work together for my good

  Your love never fails written by: Chris Quilala

O for grace to trust Him more July 25, 2008

This old song was written in 1882 by Louisa Stead and William Kirkpatrick.  It has been said that Stead wrote the lyrics after her husband drown.  Out of grief and sorrow came lyrics that inspire.  As I prepare for this week’s service on God’s will for our lives – I have learned that God calls us to know Him and then to obey Him.  God knows that it is quintessential that we trust Him in order to do His will.  This perhaps is why he doesn’t “lay the plan out” or “put in writing” the exact steps of our lives.  If we knew all of the plans He had for us – we wouldn’t have to exercise trust.  Rather, He wants us to trust Him so that we can know Him and obey Him.  As the first verse says; it is so wonderful to rest upon His promise.

On a side note, Stead also included another key component of doing God’s will and that is to remove sin and self.  When we actively pursue this removal we have less that separates us from God.  Consequently, we are closer to Him and our relationship with Jesus grows deeper. 

So I pray this song as a hope:  O Lord – I cry out to You – Please pour down Your grace so that I can trust you more.  For I long to know You – I long to rest in Your promise and do Your will.  Amen

Verse 1
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain
Jesus, Jesus How I trust Thee
How I proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more

Verse 2
O how sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to trust His cleansing blood
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘neath the healing, cleansing flood

Verse 3
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus
Just from self and sin to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace

Verse 4
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that Thou art with me
Wilt be with me to the end.

Hast Thou Not Seen? July 18, 2008

Praise to the Lord who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth.
Shelters thee under His wings yea so gently sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen, how thy desires e’er have been
granted in what He ordaineth.

Hallelujah

Your Name May 15, 2008

I am going to sing this song at my friend’s wedding at the end of May.  It is so exciting to see her transformed into a person who moved by the name of God.

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart and glorify Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

Jesus, in Your Name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for You and glorify Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save but
‘Cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name

words and music are written by Paul Baloche and Glen Packlam
performed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean

You Alone May 9, 2008

This song written by David Crowder is in my top 10 favorite worship songs.

You are the only one I need
I bow all of me at Your feet
I worship You alone

You have gven me more than
I could ever have wanted
And I want to give You my heart and my soul

You alone are Father
And You alone are good
You are alone are Savior
And You alone are God

I’m alive, I’m alive
I’m alive, I’m alive