Grateful 43 – Songs

Day 35 – Songs

ONE. Christian Music. These three songs come as a package, in my mind. Every time we plan a Women’s Retreat or a Women’s Mission’s Tea, I ask the Worship Team to sing these 3 songs. Sometimes I get one of them. Once I got all three! … In Christ Alone … Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone … and Awesome God You Tube video and lyrics. Edited to add: This video does show some graphic clips. Click this to hear just the chorus – very moving.

I am grateful for these songs because they remind me that GOD is awesome, I am saved, and He is worthy to be praised.

TWO. Play this song at my funeral, Way Over Yonder. I have loved this song since I was 13. And when I became a Believer at 16, I saw a spiritual implication in this song.

A way over yonder, that’s where I’m bound
I know when I get there
The first thing I’ll see
Is the sun shining golden
Shining right down on me
Then trouble’s gonna lose me
Worry leave me behind
And I’ll stand up proudly
In true peace of mind

Someday I’ll enter heaven and the first thing I’ll see is the SON and God’s light shining down on me. And won’t it be glorious that there’ll be NO more trouble, worry, pain or tears. I’ll have a true peace of mind! For eternity. Now that’s a lot to be grateful for.

THREE. Sometimes I like a country song. Right now, I like to sing this song, She’s Got A Way With Words by Blake Shelton Lyrics, and not because I have breakup bitterness. I think this song has clever lyrics and a catchy tune. And I am grateful that this is not me. But sometime, I would like to have a witty comeback and say, “You put the why in try.” (Does that make me mean?)

When you put two and two together
You figure out love’s got four letters
I shoulda known that when I met her
But she had to spell it out for me
After all that second guessing
It’s been a long hard history lesson
Hell that’s a class I got an F in
But now I understand perfectly

[Chorus]
She put the her in hurt
She put the why in try

Your Turn . . . What are some of your fave songs? Why?

I am writing a gratitude series titled Grateful 43. I will do this for 43 days. And I will write three things for which I am grateful 4 each topic. Do you see the play on the words 43 and FOR THREE?  Go here for the 43 Days of Gratitude JOURNAL Prompts

Related Posts . . . 

• 7 Reasons I am Grateful for Music
• Musicals Bucket List – My 59th Year Challenge
• Need a Muscial Devotional Time?
• The Power of the Word in Song
• Songs Can Deliver Some Of The Best Sermons
• Turn Up The Music Song Inspires Thankful List of 20
• Two Results of Proper WORSHIP & How to Experience It

 

Are You Living as If God is Not Enough?

 

It’s a new year and therefore a good time to look at your thoughts and behaviors. Do you look at these on a regular basis?

I do so twice a year because it is easy for me to get off track. This reflection time helps me to see if God is the priority.

• What are my thoughts and behaviors based on?
• Do they show that I believe God is enough?
• Have I allowed daily time to grow my spiritual life? Check out the following areas: (1) devotions, (2) church, and (3) relationship with God.

Too often I find the following things have crept back into my thoughts, calendar, checkbook, and behaviors.

• I allow too many outings on my calendar so that the truly important things and relationships get overshadowed.
• I allow too much clutter and stuff  into my life. Therefore my home tends to be chaotic and unorganized.
• I allow too many things on my to-do list. This contributes to me being confused and having a hard time focusing and finishing things.
• I allow myself to spend too much time on the internet. Playing spider solitaire and researching is fun and informational, but not always the best use of my time

I recently wrote 5 Things on my STOP List Help me Clarify Life. I want to make sure my life is one that follows God like HE is ENOUGH, because He is. His Hands are holding me ALL the time, whenever I call.

Listen to this song, By Your Side, by Tenth Avenue North. The lyrics are after the jump.

Your Turn . . .  As you examine your life, what does it says about . . . . your priorities? . . . . your relationship with God? . . .  Does your life show that God is enough? Do you have a STOP list you’d like to make?

8 Characteristics that Encourage Kids to Worship

“Image courtesy of [Phaitoon] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

While looking for music ideas  for our Kids Church, I came across this video,  “What Does Kids Worship Look Like?” It opened my mind as to what good kids worship looks like.

They are NOT miniature adults. Kiddos do not have the attention span, emotional/cognitive maturity, and likes of adults. Their worship time, if it is to be meaningful,  needs to have different characteristics than an adult worship service.

Below are bullet points from this video.

1. It has energy, wiggles, and attention-deprived behavior.
2. Expect kids worship to look like your kids look everywhere else.
3. Do NOT think that kids will worship like adults.
4. Kids are multi-sensory.
5. Kids worship God in the context of the size of their world.
6. You’re not training them to sit still; you’re allowing them to connect with God.
7. Don’t worry if the time you spend in kids worship doesn’t fit some artificial formula.
8. Worship loud.

 Go here to see the video and for more kids worship characteristics. it was written by  Bob Singleton–President of God’s Kids Worship and is found at his blog.

Your Turn . . . Do you agree or disagree? . . . What have you noticed that is present when kids worship well?

Related Posts

• 10 Actions Parents Can Take for a Happier Morning at Church

• Two Results of Proper WORSHIP & How to Experience It

• Songs Can Deliver Some Of The Best Sermons

Songs Can Deliver Some Of The Best Sermons

These 5 songs have been on my mind and tongue. They have been convicting my heart, showing me God’s heart, and filling me with a longing and power to love God and love others with all my being. That’s the purpose of worship.

1. On My Knees by Jaci Velasquez. The lyrics are here. My favorite part of the song: “I get on my knees; There I am before the love that changes me. See I don’t know how, but there’s power when I’m on my knees.“
2. I Believe in the Word of God by Cary Pierce from Jackopierce. The Bible is truth from God and not man-made fables. Singing this song is a fun way to say what we believe. (Couldn’t find the lyrics anywhere.)
3. No Stone to Throw by Sierra. The lyrics are here. This song makes me think about how I think about others. “And the longer I know the Lord The more I know I’ve got no stone to throw… I see [others] searchin’ for somethin’ A little love and understanding …” Help me, Lord, to love in word and deed.
4. What If I Stumble by DC Talk. The lyrics are here. The following paragraph is read at the start of this DC Talk song. “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lipsThen walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”                                                   OUCH! I don’t want to be the cause of anyone dissing or dismissing God because of my lack of faithful living. My actions can be powerfully attracting or a road block. Lord, help me to choose wisely, faithfully, and consistently the actions of love, Your love.
5. What Do I Know of Holy by Addison Road. Lyrics are here. I just finished reading Job today. I can hear Job writing and singing this song to God. It pulls me back to my “creature” status. God is overwhelmingly sacred, beautiful and terrifying. What do I know of holy?

What song(s) would you add? What has been God telling you through music?

7 Reasons I am Grateful for Music

 Music can . . .

1. Support my effort to  focus on a positve feeling or a thought.
2. Help me learn something.
3. Lift my sour, trapped, or depressed mood into one of peace, truth or even laughter.
4. Expose me to beauty and creativity
5. Motivate me to move it, move it.
6. Reduce my level of  physical pain and increase relaxation.
7. Provide a medium to worship God.

I’m very grateful for the above.  Why are you grateful for music?

Related Posts

• Good Words Spotlight My Thoughts & Actions
• The Power of the Word in Song
• Live in the Day: a To-Do List

Falling Into Place

Falling into Place by The Afters could be my theme song right now. The divorce shook up my image of who I thought I was, my path in life, my usefulness, and my likability. Was I even any “good”? The world didn’t make sense; God didn’t make sense; I didn’t make sense.

 

God didn’t try to rescue me from this. He let me do the necessary. He let me wander. He let me heal. He let me discover Him. He let me see that the parts of me (and my life) that had gone to waste are no longer waste. He’s taken the broken pieces and is making something good from them.

 

And I realize now that all this time I’ve been in His Hand. Things (feelings, job, friends, kiddos, schooling) are Falling into Place. Starting to make sense. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

  

“Falling Into Place” by the Afters (Click here for YouTube)

 

It was raining on the sun
The ground beneath my feet was crumbling
Day and Night had come undone
It was the season of my wandering

Somehow Somewhere
You found me there
It was the moment that it all became clear

 

I was on the edge
Of a distant world
A shattered life
With no where left to turn
Till I saw you there
And everything I thought had gone to waste
Was falling into place

 

 

It’s finally quiet in my head
As I lay the pieces at your feet
It’s finally starting to make sense
I guess I found the missing part of me

 

 

I was on the edge
Of a distant world
A shattered life
With no where left to turn
Till I saw you there
And everything I thought had gone to waste
Was falling into place

 

 

Oceans that I almost drowned in
I had to lose it all
Just so I could find out you were there to break my fall

Good Words Spotlight My Thoughts & Actions

Music is powerful. The lyrics can make me depressed and angry or elicit positive emotions and growth. Good words spotlight what’s going on in my heart and actions. They can reassure that I’m doing fine. Bolster my resolve to keep on with a course of action/thought.  Or the words challenge me to change in an area.

Finally, good lyrics dare me to grow into more maturity, health, obedience and love.

Somewhere in the Middle by Casting Crowns – Lyrics

Contemplating the below verse . I want to consistently choose the God who is over the God I want . . .

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle?
Are we caught in the middle?

Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns – Lyrics

Below are some of the lyrics  that tell where I want to go with my journey of faith. Let’s listen to the voices of truth together . . .

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of the boat I’m in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He’s holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again “Boy, you’ll never win!’
“You’ll never win”

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crowns – Lyrics

I am blessed to have friends who are honest about their journey with God. They help me to talk  about rather than tuck away my feelings and growth areas . . .

Is there anyone that fails?
Is there anyone that falls?
Am I the only one in church today, feeling so small?
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away
like everything’s OK
If I make em all believe it
Maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin
I’ll play the part again
So everyone will see me
The way that I see them

What do these songs say about your journey with God?

Related Articles

The Power of the Word in Song

The Power of the Word in Song

Sometimes I need to immerse myself in music that reminds me of eternal truths of . . . the Word . . . Rest . . . Prayer. What songs would you add to this list?

WORD

Ancient Words by Michael W Smith

Thy Word by Amy Grant and Michael W Smith

Word of God Speak by Mercy Me

Be Thou My Vision Ancient Hymn from the 8th century (especially verse 2)

Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful by Keith Green (especially the chorus)

REST

The Battle Belongs to the Lord by Jamie Owens-Collins

You Are My Hiding Place by Selah

PRAYER

Offering (Christmas version) by Paul Baloche

In Christ Alone by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Praise Adonai by Paul Baloche

This Relationship is Never Going Back to OK

God recently told me through a friend that “It’s time to let go.”  Time to let go of my broken marriage. The divorce has been final for years. Time to move past the pain. My ex and I are never going back to okay (as far as a marriage relationship goes).

And you know what? That’s okay. I am finally letting myself wake up and feel – even though it hurts. It’s time to step out into a world of my choosing. I’m waking up into a world where people love and like me.

What do you need to admit? What are you holding onto that will never be okay?  Let’s pray for one another, shall we?

Time to Pray Away Love

Letting go of my broken marriage is hard for me to do. It’s been years and I still feel connected to my ex.

Albert: Honestly, I never knew I could feel like this. I’m going out of my mind. I want to throw myself off every building in New York. I see a cab and I want to dive in front of it because that way I’ll stop thinking about her.
Hitch: You will. Just give it time.
Albert: That’s just it. I don’t want to. I’ve waited my whole life to feel this miserable. If this is the only way I can stay connected with her, then this is who I have to be.

I can relate to Albert (a scene from the movie Hitch). Although by now, my passion is not self-destructive nor are the thoughts so constantly invasive.  In fact, I can go days and weeks without thinking about my ex.

But currently I am going through a Divorce Care group. . . . because I don’t believe that time heals inner wounds. Purposeful grieving does. So right now memories are being dredged. Emotions exposed. Thoughts are chaotic. Tears frequent. Grief is a close friend. I’m listening.

The other day while visiting with a friend, I heard God speak through her. “It’s time to let it go.”

Sigh. It’s time to let it go. But I can’t do this on my own. I need to pray away the (marital) love I have for him. I’d like God to unbreak my heart.  I’ll pray for you too.

Live in the Day: a To-Do List

“It’s not what you did; It’s how you lived.” Great line from the song How You Live by Point of Grace. The song also gives me ideas on how to live in the day.

So how have you lived this week? 

• In the moment?
• In the past?
• Waiting for tomorrow to live, create, help, celebrate?

To live in the day means embracing the moments as they present themselves . . .

• Waking up with open windows to hear the singing birds or splashing rain. Here’s my variation on this idea. My dd and I have a date to eat in the car the next time it pours down with rain. Snuggling under dryer-warmed blankets . . . Eating steaming food . . . Hearing the drops pound upon the car . . . Reciting rain poetry . . . Sharing the moments together. What moment will you seize today to live  fully with ALL your senses and with a loved one?
• Taking a few chances. This is harder for me. I am not naturally a big chance-taker and get less so the older I get. Last night my dd and I wrote for 10 minutes on “I Want… (fill in the blank).”  I listed fairly predictable things, except for the one about wanting to ride a camel. I need some new ideas. What are some ways you are taking chances?
• Embracing the truth. Praying and journaling from two different Lenten Guides (found here and here) are helping me discover the lies I hold dear. And they are helping me to lean into the truth of simplicity, sacrifice, relationship with God and thankfulness. What truth do you need to/want to lean into and embrace?
• Thinking about those around me. This week I’ll do that by making time to listen to a few through a phone call or visit. I’ll write a few notes of appreciation and several “I’m praying for you” cards. I’ll pray with the staff today about church attendees, ministries, and other requests on our hearts. “Lord, help me to be open to Your agenda for my life today and this week. “Give me Your eyes for just one second” and help me respond NOW with Your love.” Shall I pray the same for you?

Look over the lyrics of  How You Live. Have a listen. What will go onto your “Living in the Day To-Do List”?

2 Ways I Fed My Creative Side & What I Learned

In January 2009 I satisfied my creative needs in two ways. First, I knitted a sage green scarf. I love the length, warmth and color. I still need to thread in loose yarn. Then it’ll get packaged up and sent away to a dear friend as a thank you. I’d better hurry before the weather turns nice.

Second, my daughter and I read to each other. We read “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck. I borrowed the book from a Starbuck’s  near my home (Olson Drive) that has a lending library.

The book revolves around 3 themes as experienced by Wang Lung. I understand this is a good portrayal of what life was like in China in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. Life’s harsh realities and fortunes reinforce Wang Lungs beliefs in the 3 themes of The Land,  god and women.

Women were simply tools, a way to get what was important in life: material things, survival or release of sexual urges. O-lan, Wang Lung’s first wife, was never cherished for who she was. Her devotion and hard work were taken for granted. O-lan’s lack of physical grace, desirability and beauty fostered rejection from her husband. Sadly she died without ever knowing marital love.

The gods were portrayed as fickle, weak, malevolent, unknowable, spirits who did not love people or even act in the best interests of the people.  Fear, anger and despair motivated people to worship the gods.   

Wang Lung worshipped The Land because it was . . .

• trustworthy
• the sustainer of life
• a source of dreams, a hopeful future, peace and comfort
• honest – it  built personal character
• THE way that a family stayed strong, united and powerful.

The Land was Wang Lung’s god.

The above 5 bullet points describe what I think about God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The place He has in my life. But honestly, sometimes I do put other nouns, gods, idols,  in the place of God to get me through life. I’ve given idols like food, pride, unbelief, and despair my attention and let them dictate my actions.

One way for me to stay focused on the One True God is to pray with intention. Beth Moore’s book Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free From Spiritual Strongholds is a tool I’ve used to get what’s important in life: a single-minded focus on living life God’s way. I want to live with God’s all-consuming passion wildly directing my time, energy and resources. I don’t want to merely go through The Motions (on youtube by Matthew West).

Hey, Lorna?!  Let’s  follow-up on our commitment to re-read and re-pray the Scriptures from this book. What’s your week looking like?

I need the accountability of a friend to help me succeed in my One Life to Love (on youtube by 33 Miles).

I need the help of God to live well. Lord, Give Me Your Eyes (on youtube by Brandon Heath) so I can really love people the way You love them.

Now it’s your turn.

1. How did you feed your creative side in January?
2. What’s a book you’ve read that made you think?
3. What/who do you worship?
4. What place does God have in your life?
5. Who is your accountability partner(s)?