"Meant To Live"-by Switchfoot
Fumbling his confidence
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments
And failed attempts to fly, fly
[Chorus]
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Dreaming about Providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been livin with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken
[Chorus]
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life, yeah
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live
We were meant to live
If you get a chance to hear this song, I think you would enjoy it. Switchfoot is sort of a younger band-they appeal to youth. However, I think they have a nice sound and a great message.
I picked this song because of a conversation I had yesterday with my mentor. I wish there were words to describe her. She is a gift from God. If you take the chance and become born again in Christ, He provides people to walk with you and essentially help raise you in Christ.
Well, my mentor has become like a mother and a best friend and a sister all wrapped up in one package. She listens to my fears, my problems, and my hopes. She helps to answer questions I have. And she does all of this without any judgment. Occasionally she will reprimand me, but it is when I really need it. Her life is similar to mine, and I can tell her anything.
So, we were having a conversation yesterday on the phone. She called, not realizing it was my first day of graduate school. I was feeling nostalgic because I was going back to the school where I learned how to walk with Christ. I went to school not knowing how to read the Bible, not understanding anything really. But I met these extraordinary people who helped raise me.
Eventually we grow up, and then we help others. We are a family; and we should accept each other’s differences with love. We are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God.
Anyway, back to the conversation. She called and my heart was overflowing with emotion; love and sorrow mixed. Sorrow only because I missed the past. But God called me to return to school because my passion is reaching out to the world, and I need more training.
When I was talking to my mentor, we started discussing what passions the Lord gave us. I started talking about my passion for reaching out to others and I started on fire. I need to world to know that the church is not full of perfect people. We are messed up, we have troubles in our marriages, we yell at our kids on the way to church sometimes.
But Jesus forgives all that-He wipes the slate clean because He loves us. He didn’t come for perfect people, but for the rest of us. With all our differences.
When I was talking about this I said, “I want to reach the people outside the church, not throw parties for those who are already inside.” I know there’s a place in the church to love and nourish the souls of the saved, but that’s not where I belong.
Well, here is what I think is the cool part. The Lord let me to read Matthew last night. And I found the most amazing thing. A passage I had never read before. I am going to write it out in both The Message Bible and the NIV Bible. God truly is in charge and he truly wants you.
“Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” –Jesus in Matthew 9.12-13
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”-Jesus in Matthew 9.12-13
Think about it.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
and He set me on fire
And He set me on fire, and I am burning alive
With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone
And I cannot hold it in and remain composed
Love’s taken over me and so I propose the letting myself go
I am letting myself go
You are my joy
You are my joy
You are my joy
You are my joy
I need to catch my breath, I need to
I need to catch my breath, give me a moment now
I’m laughing so hard
-You Are My Joy, David Crowder Band
I AM SO DIGGING THIS SERIES ON SONG LYRICS!!!
If you have missed any, or you are just coming along on this ride, go back and check out the rest of the series.
Songs have a lot to say. Okay-some more than others. Even in the realm of Christian music, there are songs that make me change the channel and ponder the world for a while. But then there are songs that make my pulse quicken and my heart to beat louder. There are songs that make me realize that God is RIGHT HERE.
This song is one of them. The David Crowder Band is one of my favorite bands. The first time in heard them was in a college worship service put on by the traditional students. I, being a non-traditional student, was introduced to a new band of epic proportion.
I bought their CD and inserted it in my car’s player. I was truly shocked at first. Here was this man singing these intimate, vulnerable love songs to Jesus. I had never heard this much naked passion before.
Let’s look at the lyrics above. I want to take apart each line, because I need you to see what he’s saying, and where those of us that are sold out to Jesus are coming from.
“And He set me on fire, and I am burning alive,” For me, this is not an exaggeration. When I met Jesus, my whole life was completely changed. I used to live for nothing. Not my husband and not even my children. I was alone. I was an alcoholic and a drug addict and I did not care. But when I met my Savior, and He redeemed me, my life was truly set on fire. It’s been four years since our collision and I never stop thinking about God. He incorporates my thoughts. I am on fire, and it’s that fire that propels me to write this blog and to go out into my community and tell others.
“With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone.” I was devastated when I found out that it was truly His breath in my lungs. What a cosmic, eternal thought to ponder. Each breath is from Him. But this lyric also means something else for me. Something Jesus said resounds in my heart; “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9.24 If you think your life is the beginning and the end, and you are striving to ‘have it all’ then you are chasing after the wrong prize. If you lose your life; if you turn it over to the One who gave you the breath to live in the first place; then you will live forever. Think about it this way; for His children, this life is only a moment in time.
“And I cannot hold it in and remain composed.” When my life was overtaken, taken over, I was wrecked for Jesus. My old life means nothing to me-my house, my van; sure, they’re nice to have, but they're not what control me. I am sold out, to tell you the truth. I cannot remain composed either. My joy, my passion overflows in my heart. Don’t get me wrong, my life’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. We struggle financially. We still have our disagreements. But that never changes the Truth. That’s the ultimate beauty of the Lord-despite my situation, He never changes. He’s not a slot machine. You can’t put in the prayer and expect all your wishes granted. But He’s always present and He always fills you with joy and a sense of contentment that this world cannot give you.
“Love’s taken over me and so I propose the letting myself go. I am letting myself go”
This is what I’ve been writing to you-trying to tell you what this crazy Jesus thing is all about. I am head over heels in love with my Savior. I want you to mull over the word ‘redeemer.’ My handy dictionary says, ‘to get back full possession, to save from being a total failure.’ Jesus Christ came and died to get back full possession of me from the ruin I was heading toward. I am releasing control of my life because the love is overwhelming.
“You are my joy.” Well said David Crowder. He is my joy.
“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." -Jesus
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” –Paul
With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone
And I cannot hold it in and remain composed
Love’s taken over me and so I propose the letting myself go
I am letting myself go
You are my joy
You are my joy
You are my joy
You are my joy
I need to catch my breath, I need to
I need to catch my breath, give me a moment now
I’m laughing so hard
-You Are My Joy, David Crowder Band
I AM SO DIGGING THIS SERIES ON SONG LYRICS!!!
If you have missed any, or you are just coming along on this ride, go back and check out the rest of the series.
Songs have a lot to say. Okay-some more than others. Even in the realm of Christian music, there are songs that make me change the channel and ponder the world for a while. But then there are songs that make my pulse quicken and my heart to beat louder. There are songs that make me realize that God is RIGHT HERE.
This song is one of them. The David Crowder Band is one of my favorite bands. The first time in heard them was in a college worship service put on by the traditional students. I, being a non-traditional student, was introduced to a new band of epic proportion.
I bought their CD and inserted it in my car’s player. I was truly shocked at first. Here was this man singing these intimate, vulnerable love songs to Jesus. I had never heard this much naked passion before.
Let’s look at the lyrics above. I want to take apart each line, because I need you to see what he’s saying, and where those of us that are sold out to Jesus are coming from.
“And He set me on fire, and I am burning alive,” For me, this is not an exaggeration. When I met Jesus, my whole life was completely changed. I used to live for nothing. Not my husband and not even my children. I was alone. I was an alcoholic and a drug addict and I did not care. But when I met my Savior, and He redeemed me, my life was truly set on fire. It’s been four years since our collision and I never stop thinking about God. He incorporates my thoughts. I am on fire, and it’s that fire that propels me to write this blog and to go out into my community and tell others.
“With His breath in my lungs I am coming undone.” I was devastated when I found out that it was truly His breath in my lungs. What a cosmic, eternal thought to ponder. Each breath is from Him. But this lyric also means something else for me. Something Jesus said resounds in my heart; “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9.24 If you think your life is the beginning and the end, and you are striving to ‘have it all’ then you are chasing after the wrong prize. If you lose your life; if you turn it over to the One who gave you the breath to live in the first place; then you will live forever. Think about it this way; for His children, this life is only a moment in time.
“And I cannot hold it in and remain composed.” When my life was overtaken, taken over, I was wrecked for Jesus. My old life means nothing to me-my house, my van; sure, they’re nice to have, but they're not what control me. I am sold out, to tell you the truth. I cannot remain composed either. My joy, my passion overflows in my heart. Don’t get me wrong, my life’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. We struggle financially. We still have our disagreements. But that never changes the Truth. That’s the ultimate beauty of the Lord-despite my situation, He never changes. He’s not a slot machine. You can’t put in the prayer and expect all your wishes granted. But He’s always present and He always fills you with joy and a sense of contentment that this world cannot give you.
“Love’s taken over me and so I propose the letting myself go. I am letting myself go”
This is what I’ve been writing to you-trying to tell you what this crazy Jesus thing is all about. I am head over heels in love with my Savior. I want you to mull over the word ‘redeemer.’ My handy dictionary says, ‘to get back full possession, to save from being a total failure.’ Jesus Christ came and died to get back full possession of me from the ruin I was heading toward. I am releasing control of my life because the love is overwhelming.
“You are my joy.” Well said David Crowder. He is my joy.
“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." -Jesus
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” –Paul
Friday, August 18, 2006
what a fool
Let mercy lead
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There'll be a drop of grace
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
And I'll meet you in that place
Where mercy leads
-Rich Mullins, “Let Mercy Lead”
I am really starting to dig this song lyrics series. Worshipping Jesus through music is really something that works for me. I hope you are enjoying it as well.
Let’s start with some definitions today. I know they help me to grasp what biblical writers were truly trying to say. It also helps me to understand words that seem foreign to me really mean. Like fool. Why would anyone call God a fool? When I read the definition below, I begin to understand.
Mercy: a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion, compassionate treatment of those in distress.
Fool: one with a marked propensity or fondness for something
I love this song. When I first heard it, I was seriously confused. I had never heard anyone mention God’s foolishness. Furthermore, I did not know what it was. How could God be foolish? How could I be foolish?
Those were things I used to think. Now, foolishness is a beautiful word to me. While I write this, I am searching for the words that can explain what foolishness means to me. Forgive me if I seem vague. I want so much to tell you how wonderful the foolishness of God and His children can really be.
Foolishness. To send your only Son to earth to die. Not only to die, but to be beaten before and sent to Hell afterward.
Foolishness. To love people who turn away from You. To be willing to forgive sin, wipe away our pasts; if we are only willing.
Foolishness. To be eternally optimistic. To shine down on us. To smile down on us.
Our lives in Christ require a foolish God who has much mercy for us. I am an example of a person who needs many second chances. Why does He love me? Why is He after my heart?
The answer. Because He is. Because He is truly a God of love. We make the choice to follow when He calls. And when we turn our faces to Him, He is in love with us.
So, if I know that God is foolishly in love with me, what is my response? Do I approach Christianity with logic and direction? Is there a formula to follow? And, after I decide to love Him too, how shall I do that?
Let me quote something I found in my devotional I read. Perhaps it can explain it better.
“…rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought-in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself?”-Oswald Chambers
Foolishness. The decision to give up everything that the world deems necessary. A house, a car, possessions. What a foolish idea-giving up the American dream!
Foolishness. Stripping down your life until you are bare before Christ. Not even having a care of where He will take you. Trusting enough in this mercy so that you lay your life in His hands, knowing it will be good.
Foolishness. Caring about the world as much as He does. Feeding the poor, washing the dirty, loving the loveless. Abandoning fear and apprehension and jumping in. Tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.
“Although their foolish hearts may break-they will find peace.”
I cannot lie and say that this is easy. I struggle so much. I want to give myself to Jesus but I want to be in charge. I want to make sure my work for Him is important (in my standards) and that people notice what I am doing. That’s foolish in the traditional sense. My worth is not measured by human standards. It is measured by God’s foolishness.
And so is yours. Think about it.
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There'll be a drop of grace
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
And I'll meet you in that place
Where mercy leads
-Rich Mullins, “Let Mercy Lead”
I am really starting to dig this song lyrics series. Worshipping Jesus through music is really something that works for me. I hope you are enjoying it as well.
Let’s start with some definitions today. I know they help me to grasp what biblical writers were truly trying to say. It also helps me to understand words that seem foreign to me really mean. Like fool. Why would anyone call God a fool? When I read the definition below, I begin to understand.
Mercy: a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion, compassionate treatment of those in distress.
Fool: one with a marked propensity or fondness for something
I love this song. When I first heard it, I was seriously confused. I had never heard anyone mention God’s foolishness. Furthermore, I did not know what it was. How could God be foolish? How could I be foolish?
Those were things I used to think. Now, foolishness is a beautiful word to me. While I write this, I am searching for the words that can explain what foolishness means to me. Forgive me if I seem vague. I want so much to tell you how wonderful the foolishness of God and His children can really be.
Foolishness. To send your only Son to earth to die. Not only to die, but to be beaten before and sent to Hell afterward.
Foolishness. To love people who turn away from You. To be willing to forgive sin, wipe away our pasts; if we are only willing.
Foolishness. To be eternally optimistic. To shine down on us. To smile down on us.
Our lives in Christ require a foolish God who has much mercy for us. I am an example of a person who needs many second chances. Why does He love me? Why is He after my heart?
The answer. Because He is. Because He is truly a God of love. We make the choice to follow when He calls. And when we turn our faces to Him, He is in love with us.
So, if I know that God is foolishly in love with me, what is my response? Do I approach Christianity with logic and direction? Is there a formula to follow? And, after I decide to love Him too, how shall I do that?
Let me quote something I found in my devotional I read. Perhaps it can explain it better.
“…rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought-in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself?”-Oswald Chambers
Foolishness. The decision to give up everything that the world deems necessary. A house, a car, possessions. What a foolish idea-giving up the American dream!
Foolishness. Stripping down your life until you are bare before Christ. Not even having a care of where He will take you. Trusting enough in this mercy so that you lay your life in His hands, knowing it will be good.
Foolishness. Caring about the world as much as He does. Feeding the poor, washing the dirty, loving the loveless. Abandoning fear and apprehension and jumping in. Tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.
“Although their foolish hearts may break-they will find peace.”
I cannot lie and say that this is easy. I struggle so much. I want to give myself to Jesus but I want to be in charge. I want to make sure my work for Him is important (in my standards) and that people notice what I am doing. That’s foolish in the traditional sense. My worth is not measured by human standards. It is measured by God’s foolishness.
And so is yours. Think about it.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
at the cross we remember
So, we pick up where we left off last week. I started this week feeling lost and alone. I did not have an answer to the question I posed last week; which was, “How can we handle our lives knowing Jesus is truly right beside us?”
Well, after talking with friends and counselors, I believe with my whole being that it comes down to this:
Jeremy Riddle - Sweetly Broken
From the album Sweetly Broken
To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing
For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is loveAnd God is just
Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified
You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled
Chorus:
In awe of the cross I must confessHow wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness(2x’s)Chorus:
Label: Vineyard Music
That’s it. I have to cling to the cross and never let go. See, I kept trying to find the “secret” that would give me the faith to keep going. To believe all of this Christianity stuff was really worth something.
My heart knows the truth. My heart remembers what Jesus has done for me. how He pulled me out of a life of misery. How He saved me from myself-when I didn’t even realize what a disaster my life had become.
But my head wants to argue. My whole life people have let me down, turned away. I couldn’t stand the idea that God would grow tired of me and move on to someone better.
But when I come to the Cross; when I come to the place where precious blood was literally poured out for us; I can not longer argue.
I have to let the Cross speak for itself. I cannot give words to the price Jesus paid for us. How He wants to gather His children and spend eternity with us. So He lent Himself to torture and death; knowing the victory would be ours in the end.
So, I end this story with the chorus of another song. Consider it a bonus. If you ever search out a song, please listen to this one. It’s by Robin Mark and it’s called, “Wonder of Your Cross.” He sings these lyrics like a lullaby-like an offering.
The cross, O the wonderful cross
What Glory, what victory, I've found
I'll come to the wonderful cross
And my whole life I lay down
Well, after talking with friends and counselors, I believe with my whole being that it comes down to this:
Jeremy Riddle - Sweetly Broken
From the album Sweetly Broken
To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing
For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is loveAnd God is just
Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified
You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled
Chorus:
In awe of the cross I must confessHow wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness(2x’s)Chorus:
Label: Vineyard Music
That’s it. I have to cling to the cross and never let go. See, I kept trying to find the “secret” that would give me the faith to keep going. To believe all of this Christianity stuff was really worth something.
My heart knows the truth. My heart remembers what Jesus has done for me. how He pulled me out of a life of misery. How He saved me from myself-when I didn’t even realize what a disaster my life had become.
But my head wants to argue. My whole life people have let me down, turned away. I couldn’t stand the idea that God would grow tired of me and move on to someone better.
But when I come to the Cross; when I come to the place where precious blood was literally poured out for us; I can not longer argue.
I have to let the Cross speak for itself. I cannot give words to the price Jesus paid for us. How He wants to gather His children and spend eternity with us. So He lent Himself to torture and death; knowing the victory would be ours in the end.
So, I end this story with the chorus of another song. Consider it a bonus. If you ever search out a song, please listen to this one. It’s by Robin Mark and it’s called, “Wonder of Your Cross.” He sings these lyrics like a lullaby-like an offering.
The cross, O the wonderful cross
What Glory, what victory, I've found
I'll come to the wonderful cross
And my whole life I lay down
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
