Monday, November 22, 2010

Wonderful, Merciful Saviour, Various Artists

I find this song comforting no matter the circumstances. It reminds me just how amazing our Saviour really is. I really don't have much to add to this song 'cause I think it speaks for itself. Just listen and read the lyrics.


Wonderful, Merciful Saviour: Various Artists
Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men
ooh, you rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost our way
ooh, we've hopelessly lost the way


Chorus:
You are the One that we praise......
You are the One we adore.....
You give the healing embrace.....
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Our hearts always hunger for
ooh, Our hearts always hunger for....


Almighty, Infinite Father,
Faithfully loving your own
Here in our weakness you find us
Falling before your Throne
ooh, we're falling before your Throne

Chorus:
You are the One that we praise
You are the One We adore
You give the healing embrace
Our hearts always hunger for
ooh our hearts always hunger for

Sunday, November 21, 2010

You Can Have Me, by Sidewalk Prophets

As Christians, we're supposed to give up everything for the sake of Christ. It sounds like a really awesome idea and we get excited to do it. However, when it boils down to it, would you? Would you give up your brand new guitar, your horse, your computer, your money, or even yourself just for God? He created us, saved us, and extends His grace to us every day.

So when we think about, we should be willing to. However, there's always something that holds us back. There's always a portion of us that doesn't want to give up our comfortable lives. We have a roof over our heads, we're not in trouble with the law, we're not a well-known person who has something profound to say and causes controversy. We often want to fade into the background and not be noticed because we're afraid of what others may say or do.

In Matthew, Jesus called fishermen to be His followers. They immediately gave up everything that they had in order to follow Him. They didn't know that it would cause them pain or that they wouldn't understand everything that God was telling them. Even still, when they were in pain, they continued to spread God's word. They weren't silent. They had a voice and were heard all over the nations.

But look at us today. We don't have as loud of a voice. We're tucked away and not causing the stir that the prophets or discples ever did. We're comfortable. However, we're also constantly going through the motions. Our love for Christ is almost unmoving. The power of it doesn't engulf us like it should. We sort of put a lid on it and let the flames die so we don't have to deal with it all.

But we're children of God. We have everything. We have gained everything through Him. We're not on the losing end of this war, we're on the winning side. Our goal is to try and get as many people on the winning side as we can so they too can be in the winner's circle. We want everyone there. We want to see them all rejoicing with us in Heaven.

So if that's what we're supposed to be, then why don't we let God have all of us?

You Can Have Me: Sidewalk Prophets (Album: These Simple Truths)

If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering

I will love You enough to let go
Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
My Father, my love
You can have me

For Those Who Wait, by Fireflight

It's hard to wait patiently for God to come and help you when you seem to be sinking further every day. It's hard to sit back and not do anything except for praying to God that He will rescue you. It's easy to doubt that it will even happen or that you will ever get the peace, answer, or rest that you are looking for. It's easy to question, but do we ever stop questioning? When the answer is clear, do we ever stop asking ourselves if this is what we're meant to do?

I know that things have gone well for me in the past and I've sat there and thought "This has got to be a joke. God's going to take this all away from me and I'll be left with nothing again." It sounds awful of me, but it's something that I've built into myself after years of pursuing destructive habits. I struggle with that a little bit now. My life has finally put itself into place and now I'm afraid that God's going to take it away from me.

I haven't learnt to let go of my fears and doubts. I still hold on to them like they're my best friend. They aren't. They are the things that keep holding me back. I suppose that it's a hard lesson to learn and that without the struggle of it, that I wouldn't need God to rely on through all of it. But there will come a point where I won't struggle with it as much as I do now.

I don't know how long it will take me until I can completely let it all go, but I know that I've got God to lean on. This song reminds me that there is hope in all the times. It doesn't matter how good or poor our lives seem. If we just wait, we'll find out purpose. We'll find the reason why we suffer, we'll find the reson why we're tempted, we'll find out all the answers to our questions. And they'll all come from God as He intended. Until we find that, we're not alone. You're not the only one. Don't be afraid to talk about it with someone else.

For Those Who Wait: Fireflight (Album: For Those Who Wait)
This is for those who wait

Another day, another waiting game
A little different but it's still the same
I am here, but where's the one I'm longing for?
I'm having trouble feeling all alone
Will my heart ever find a home?
I want to hope but sometimes I just don't know
I know I'm not the only one

So we sing a lullaby to the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire, let it set you free
When you're fighting to believe
In a love that you can't see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

I want to open up my eyes
I know that all I need is time
I'm growing stronger every single day
God, I'm going to lean into You now
Letting go of all my fear and doubt
I can't do this on my own so I'll give You control
I know I'm not the only one

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
And the difference makes it worth it

Sunday, November 14, 2010

He Will Carry Me, by Mark Schultz

I've had some rough days at work these past couple of weeks. There ahve been nights where I have gone home and cried about how bad it's gone. I feel like I've just survived the worst fight of my life.

I thought that having a job would bring me more happiness and joy. I was right, to a certain extent. However, I forgot that now I have to fight a different type of battle. It may be different, but there's still conflict that I deal with almost every day. I feel like most of the time I'm carrying certain people through the shifts and I dislike it when things go wrong and end up in a train wreck. It's hard to deal with.

However, it doesn't matter how tough it may get physically, emotionally, or spiritually. I have someone who will carry me no matter what comes my way. He will ensure my safe passage through the toils of life. We may be hurt along the way, but He is always there to heal the wounds, heal our hearts, and ease the pain we're going through.

He Will Carry Me: Mark Schultz (Album: Stories and Songs)
I call, You hear me
I’ve lost it all
And it’s more than I can bear
I feel so empty

You’re strong
I’m weary
I’m holdin’ on
But I feel like givin’ in
But still You’re with me

chorus:
And even though I’m walkin’ through
The valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will
Ever need
And He will carry me

I know I’m broken
But You alone
Can mend this heart of mine
You’re always with me

chorus

And even though I feel so lonely
Like I’ve never been before
You never said it would be easy
But You said you’d see me through
The storm

chorus

Savior Please, by Josh Wilson

I took the couple of days off, as you may have noticed. I've been thinking a lot about how busy and crazy my life has become. There are so many pressures, so many disappointments, and fears that I'm never going to be good enough. More so that I am currently not good enough. I started thinking about how just a couple months ago, I didn't have a job, I wasn't in school, and I was severely depressed over everything that my life wasn't.

I was focused on everything in a negative way. I was not good enough, I wasn't strong enough to beat my depression, how I was trying to do this alone and it wasn't working. I could not reach out and accept the help that God wanted to give me. I know that it was painful for Him to watch me cry almost every night and asking Him why I had nothing and was nothing in the eyes of the world.

I was trying my best, I was giving everything to them and I was still turning up empty-handed every time. There were few joys in my life. Even if I got to spend more time talking to friends and family, I still felt worthless and unimportant. Why did I have to suffer so much and have nothing? I'm a young adult, I'm supposed to be filled with ambition, goals, dreams, and happiness. I had nothing. I was filled with misery, agony, pain, and every other thought that I never thought should be attached to being a Christian.

However, in one week, everything changed. Less than that, it was more like three days. One night, when I was feeling especially down about everyhing, I just talked with God and told Him that I was giving Him all of my burdens and that I am not strong enough to handle this on my own, I needed Him. Three days was all He needed to put the money for school and a job in my life. My job and school may seem overwhelming at times, but I know that I have a Savior on my side and that He's strong enough to carry me through every battle.

The first time I really paid attention to this song was not too long after I had received everything from Him. I couldn't get the chorus out of my head. I finally looked it up and knew that I had to share it with others. I shared it with some of my CP friends and now I'm sharing this with you. You may not be strong enough or good enough on your own. However, God is there and He is strong enough and good enough no matter what the situation is. He will give you a home and a place of rest. Just please don't keep trying to do this on your own.

Savior Please: Josh Wilson (Album: Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup)
Savior, please take my hand
I work so hard, I live so fast
This life begins, and then it ends
And I do the best that I can, but I don't know how long I'll last


I try to be so tough
But I'm just not strong enough
I can't do this alone, God I need You to hold on to me
I try to be good enough
But I'm nothing without Your love
Savior, please keep saving me

Savior, please help me stand
I fall so hard, I fade so fast
Will You begin right where I end
And be the God of all I am because You're all I have

Hallelujah
Everything You are to me
Is everything I'll ever need
And I am learning to believe
That I don't have to prove a thing
'Cause You're the one who's saving me

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Our God, by Chris Tomlin

Sometimes in the craziness of life, I know we forget certain details. I know that I'm one of those people who tends forget even the smallest details. However, more often than not, I forget the most important of all. No matter what we may go through, it doesn't matter. The trials we face in this life may seem daunting, but they are nothing when we give them to God.

We often forget that God can take care of anything and that He will take our burdens. Like the song says, there is no one like Him. He is able to do things that we cannot, but that's what makes Him God and our father. No matter what burdens you carry, no matter what trials are before you, our God is greater.

I encourage you all to lift your burdens to Him and think of this song as you go through this next week. The load will be lighter and He will give you rest.

Our God: Chris Tomlin (Album: And If Our God is for Us...)

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Lead Me by Sanctus Real

The first time I heard the chorus for this song was when the preacher for our church used it was a part of his lesson. I had not heard about the song until then. It took me another month to finally break down and listen to the song. The words had echoed in my head throughout that time and I wanted to know what the rest of the song said. When I heard it, I was in tears. It was one of the most beautiful and heartfelt songs that I had heard in a long time.

It was like a personal prayer that was being made public and that others could pray too. The song was written by the lead singer of Sanctus Real because they had been touring a lot and busy. He realized that he was gone and that he wasn't fulfilling the roles of a father or husband. He also realized that he couldn't do it alone, he needed God. This song is amazing in that it perfectly captures all the struggles we, especially husbands, face.

Husbands are typically working hard, they can hear the silent cries, but they have a hard time knowing what to do about it. They often forget to turn to God. This song just doesn't apply to husbands. It can also apply to anyone. The bridge for this song is especially hard to sing. It's surrendering to God the problems that we may have. However, it's something we need to do. I often pray the bridge through the day and at night before I go to sleep. Because I know that I'm not strong enought o do it without His help. Are you?

Lead Me: Sanctus Real (Album: Pieces of a Real Heart)
I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone


Monday, November 8, 2010

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North

As I thought about what song to write about today, I tried to think of he different songs that had touched me recently. My little sister and I frequently use one iPod for the car ride to church on Sunday mornings. So we are always skipping around and looking for our favorite songs. Recenly she wanted to listen to "You Are More", I confess that I hadn't listened to much of Tenth Avenue North's latest CD. However, she played it. As I listened to the lyrics, I thought of all the mistakes I have made.

They don't define who I am. They may be a part of me, but they don't define me. When you look past the mistakes someone makes and love them for who they are, flaws and all, then you're telling them in your own way that they are more than what they think. They don't have to be defined by their mistakes, they don't have to keep making the same choices either. More importantly, you're telling them that no matter what they've done, whatever they're doing currently, you're going to be there for them.

It's another way of demonstrating the love the God has for all of us. He loves us no matter our flaws, no matter what we go through, and throughout all our doubts and insecurities. He will be there for us because He knows that we are more than anything else in the world. What we do doesn't have to define us. We let it define us because that's all we can see. But it's not who we are. We are more. Don't let Satan keep on telling you that you are worthless, that you can never be anything else. You already have a better future. You already have a better place. It's in Christ.

You Are More: Tenth Avenue North (Album: The Light Meets the Dark)
There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Beautiful by MercyMe

Today I went to a concert as a part of Seattle Harvest. Jars of Clay, The Katinas, and MercyMe played this evening. It was a wonderful experience. There was one song that has stuck with me though. I have heard this song on the radio several times at all the times I've heard it, I didn't really care. When Bart (the lead singer for MercyMe) started talking about this song, he mentioned how he had wrote it with his two daughters in mind.

He wanted them to have a reminder that they were beautiful, no matter what else the rest of the world said. As he was telling the story, I thought about my own life and how I don't always see myself as beautiful. The first verse especially struck me because I realize that I tell myself that. I let Satan fill my head with those lies and the more I say it to myself, the more I believe it.

I know I have to change the way I think about myself. Having this song remind me that I am so much more because I'm God's is what I need to help me start. I hope this brings you just as much encouragement as it does me.

Beautiful: MercyMe (Album: The Generous Mr. Lovegood)
The days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful

And praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful

Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skys above
You're the one He madly loves
Enough to death

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
In His eyes

You're beautiful
You were meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You're meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Songs of Encouragement Launch!

Greetings everyone!

This is my latest blogs entitled "Songs of Encouragement". I have decided to base this blog off something that I did on CP once upon a time ago. I used to PM members with songs and a little snippet about what the song meant to me that day. I decided that I would do that again here. That way I don't exclude anyone. This is going to try and be an every day update, meaning I will try and update every day.

I'm excited to share with you all the encouraging songs that have entered my life and what they mean to me. I hope that you too will find encouragement through these songs.

With love,
Yuki