musical monday

I know I have shared how Keith & Kristyn Getty's music is such a blessing to me.  They are "modern day hymn writers" from Ireland and God has truly anointed the words and music they share.  We were blessed to see them in person at Southeastern Seminary and I'm so excited to see them in a few weeks as they help the choir at my parents' church, First Baptist Charlotte, lead worship for Christmas.

This song, Speak O Lord, is one I could and should sing or read everyday before I spend time in God's Word.  It is a prayer for God to use His Word to penetrate us, challenge us, and change us. It is a reminder for me personally to read God's Word expectantly, and not casually.

I pray that this song will bless you today.  I chose to share the live version of them singing at a church, even though the video quality is not best, because I love to watch Kristyn Getty sing.  May God's Word penetrate, challenge, and change us each day!

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

musical monday

The children at our church sang this yesterday and it is so powerful.  I couldn't wait to share it with you because it is one of my favorites. My husband hopes for the kids at our church to sing this at least once a year because it is such a short and clear message of the Gospel - the Good News in one verse.

If this message has not yet impacted your life, but you want to know how it can, ask me about it!  And if the message put to this song has completely transformed your life, please share in the comments!

The Gospel Song - Sovereign Grace Ministries

musical monday

I've been listening to our choir's Christmas CD nonstop in the car to prepare for our "cantata" coming up in a few weeks.  This is one of my favorite songs, so I'm so glad Justin chose to include it this year.  My favorite part is the repetition of the line, "things will never be the same" into "we will never be the same."

Indeed, Christ came and things were never the same.  I pray that you have experienced Christ's forgiveness through salvation and that things have proven true to never be the same in your life!

Here are the words and music in video form.  Don't worry, the first 30 seconds is a completely black screen!

musical monday

I don't think we can ever be reminded of God's love for us too much.  His love reminds us that He chose us, He seeks a relationship with us, and we can have a relationship with Him because He sent His Son to die for us.  His love is so great it is really indescribable.  There is nothing we can go through where we aren't surrounded by His love, whether or not we are able to see it at the time.  

God's love is amazingly limitless.  With no limit.  It's not going to run out.  So no matter what you are going through, never think that God's love isn't big enough to carry you through.  We can't exhaust His love, so we can have complete peace in that.

Great songs have been written about God's love.  This song was one I first heard at Centrifuge camp in high school and I love it.  I pray that it will encourage you today, as a reminder of God's great love for you!

In what ways have you been experiencing God's great love?

musical monday

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Wonderful, merciful Savior

Precious Redeemer and Friend

Who would have thought that a Lamb

Could rescue the souls of men

Oh you rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper

Spirit we long to embrace

You offer hope when our hearts have

Hopelessly lost the way

Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way

You are the One that we praise

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace

Our hearts always hunger for

Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father

Faithfully loving Your own

Here in our weakness You find us

Falling before Your throne

Oh, we're falling before Your throne

musical monday

I am so thankful that God has amazingly gifted so many contemporary song writers to help us to see Him in a new way because of the words and melodies He gives them.

With my husband being a music minister, I think I look at music a little more through his eyes - looking for songs that will draw others closer to the Lord and change them in a real way.

Some song writers that have made a tremendous impact on us with the words they have been given to share.  Often it's in the rewriting of an "old" hymn that brings new life to a song we already loved.  If you don't already know artists like this, then here are a few I can think of: Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Keith & Krysten Getty, Paul Baloche, and Laura Story.

These writers point me straight to the Lord.  It never seems to be about them, which is so refreshing.

Over the last year especially, Laura Story's music has totally blessed me and I have such a respect for her.

...And I got to meet her this weekend!!!

Many of you know her song Mighty to Save, but you may not know that she wrote Indescribable, which Chris Tomlin made popular.  I shared a while back about her great song Immortal, Invisible which is one of my favorites right now!

I was able to meet Laura on Friday night because it was a small women's conference and I told her how I love this song and that my husband has been introducing it to our church as a new worship song.  She seemed so grateful that we were sharing her music and later told me that they would be singing it over the weekend.  When she sang it, she even gave me a little wave, letting me know she remembered!  How sweet is that!

It was such a blessing to meet the person behind the music and to see that her personality also made things not about her.  I love that I will respect her music even more now, knowing that her life lines up with what she writes.  I'm so thankful that God let me get to know her a little bit this weekend.

(sorry, it's a little blurry!)

Here's a video with a little more of Laura and her music:

What are some musicians that God is blessing your life with right now?  

musical monday

A few "oldie, but goodie" songs have crept into my head today, so I want them to be stuck in your head as well.
Here are lyrics and the videos if you don't know them!

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the healer set me free
I'm happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
Of when your love came down

(Chorus)
I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever

Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the healer set me free
I'm happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
Of when your love came down

(Chorus)

Oh, I feel like dancing
This foolishness, I know
But when the world has seen the light
They will dance with joy
Like we're dancing now

(Chorus)




Shout to the Lord

My Jesus, my Savior,
Lord, there is none like You.
All of my days, I want to praise,
The wonders of your mighty love.

My Comfort, my Shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength.
Let every breath, all that I am,
Never cease to worship You.

(Chorus)
Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing.
Power and majesty, praise to the King.
Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar,
At the sound of your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I'll love You,
Forever I'll stand.
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You.

My Jesus, my Savior.
Lord, there is none like You.
All of my days, I want to praise,
The wonders of your mighty love.

My Comfort, my Shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength.
Let every breath, all that I am,
Never cease to worship You.

(Chorus)

musical monday

One of my favorites...it's kind of fast (for my preference!) but I pray that it causes you to think about the Lord today.

When I Think About the Lord

musical monday

Yesterday at church as we sang Jesus Messiah, I was overwhelmed (again) with the fullness of the song.  It's another great song that Chris Tomlin wrote and it points you straight to the power of the cross and the tremendous debt Christ paid for our sin.  This song is one of my favorites, drawing me into a deeper worship.
  
The lyrics are below, in bold, with my own expansion of the words in parenthesis.  May this song lead you in to worship today.  Not sure what or how to worship?  Check out a recap of our pastor's Worship Made Simple message below the song.

He (Christ) became sin (belonging to this world)
Who knew no (not in any degree or manner) sin 
That we might (have a chance to) become His 
Righteousness (declared innocent and guiltless)
He humbled (lowered in condition, importance, or dignity)
himself and carried (bore the weight, burden of) the cross 

Love (being patient, kind, and not envious or proud) so
amazing (overwhelming)
Love (not behaving rudely or seeking its own) so (very) 
amazing (astonishing)

Chorus: 

Jesus (Son of God) Messiah (promised Deliverer)
Name (renown) above all names 
Blessed (worthy of adoration) Redeemer (Restorer)
Emmanuel (God with us)
The rescue (liberator) for sinners (evildoers)
The ransom (redeemer) from Heaven 
Jesus Messiah (expected Savior)
Lord (Master) of all (everything)

His body (substance) the bread (sustenance)
His blood (vitality) the wine (drink offering)
Broken (crushed) and poured out (flowed forth) 
all for (with the object or purpose of) 
love (not being provoked or seeking any evil)
The whole earth (not heaven) trembled (shook from fear)
And the veil (something that covers, separates, screens, 
or conceals) was torn (permanently divided)

Love (rejoicing in the truth and bearing all thing) so amazing
Love (hoping, enduring, and never failing...is God) 
so amazing (awe-inspiring), yeah (yes!)

Jesus (the Christ) Messiah (anticipated Redeemer) 
Name above (higher in rank, authority, or power) all names 
Blessed (Holy) Redeemer (Savior)
Emmanuel (Jesus)
The rescue (Redeemer) for sinners (you and me)
The ransom (the sum or price paid or demanded) 
from Heaven (perfection)
Jesus (God) Messiah (expected Liberator of a captive people)
Lord (King) of all (each of us)

All (every) our hope (confident expectation) is in You (Savior)
All (the sum total of) our hope (trust) is in (founded in) You 
All the glory (adoration, praise, worship) to You, (the one true) God 
The light (source of illumination) of (found in) the world (darkness)


Worship Made Simple (John 4:20-24)


1. Worship is DIRECTED to the Father 
There is only one God and he is the object of our worship.


2. Worship is DESIGNED for any location 
If you are a Christian, then you are a sanctuary for worship!


3. Worship is DISCOVERED through Jesus Christ 
You need a relationship with Christ, then he enables you to worship.


Any questions?  Feel free to e-mail me!

musical monday

As you can probably tell from my blog (that seems to only be active on Mondays!), in my mind, Monday is a day for me to start fresh each week.  No matter how crazy messy my house got over the weekend, no matter how much paper I have accumulated into (numerous) piles, no matter what I failed to accomplish the week before as the hours got away from me - Monday is the day that I just start all over.  I always seem to have a motivation to get my house cleaned, catch up on laundry, cook well for my family, etc, etc.  (Of course my motivation could be that I know I have piano students coming to my house for the next 3 days and want it somewhat presentable - whatever works!)

Same goes for blogging.  I know that Mondays call for a Musical Monday and it causes me to think about what song spoke the most to me last week or the previous day in worship.  Sometimes I just think I'm so quirky.  I like to be organized, but honestly that has equated to an organized plan (for almost everything in my life from coupons, to recipes, to closets, to schedules), but not always an organized existence.  I guess I just like the thought of organization, but it's not always my reality.  Oh, that it would be!  ...To take my intentions and be intentional!

Now to be even more honest!  The songs that I share on Mondays are songs that have spoken to me in a unique way.  Usually, they are songs that point us to a great Savior, hopefully causing us to worship Him in a new way.  Unfortunately, these songs are kind of like my organizational methods - I like the idea of them and the way they make me think, but sometimes that's as far as I let the songs take me.  Too often I end up appreciating the musicality or the writing of the composers, not surrendering in worship to the One whom they have written about.  In other words, I like the thoughts that the song introduces or evokes in me, but I don't always make it my reality!

I love organizing.  But what good is it if I don't use organization to make better use of the time God has given me?  I love music.  But what good is it if I don't allow music to bring me closer to the God who inspires the music?

The following song is one that has been in my head the last few weeks and one that I found myself praying to God in praise this morning.  We sang it yesterday in church and last week in our worship service in the park.  It's powerful.  Allow God to use this song to draw you closer to Him today.  What a reminder of our Savior who sacrificed His life for us. May it become a reality in all that you do today.

Blessed Redeemer
    I just looked up the lyrics for you and realized the words were written in 1920 to a little bit of a different tune - love it!  So here are the original lyrics.  But if you haven't heard Casting Crowns sing it yet, you need to!

1. Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
   Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;
   Facing for sinners death on the cross,
   That He might save them from endless loss.
   • Refrain:
     Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
     Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
     Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
     Blind and unheeding—dying for me!
2. “Father forgive them!” thus did He pray,
   E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;
   Praying for sinners while in such woe—
   No one but Jesus ever loved so.
3. Oh, how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
   How can my praises ever find end!
   Through years unnumbered on heaven’s shore,
   My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.