Then Sings My Soul: "Call On Jesus"

My selection today is a song I enjoy playing when I really need a faith boost, which means I play it frequently.  This life is hard, and I need to be reminded all the time that God is always there, ready to pour out His grace for my trial and temptations.  I'm so quick to forget. 

My favorite lines in Nicole C. Mullen's song, Call On Jesus, are...

Sometimes I'm hiding away

From the madness around me

Like a child who's afraid of the dark.

But when I call on Jesus

All things are possible.

I can mount on wings like eagles and soar.

I often feel like hiding.  Life doesn't make sense to me much of the time.  At times it feels like the world has spun off course, and I'm not sure I can hang on any longer.  Life hurts.  But this song reminds me that Jesus is there, and He's just waiting for me to call on Him to rescue me from despair, discouragement and giving up in the battle.

So today, enjoy one of my favorite songs... Call On Jesus.

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"Indescribable"

This is my first time participating in Then Sings My Soul Saturdays.  I have a lot of favorite songs, and many of them I have had opportunity to sing at church as special music with my friend Judy.

Today's entry is a particular favorite because all the lyrics are words to describe the Lord found in scripture.  The words and music of this song, Indescribable, were written by James MacDonald, and he included scripture references for every description given in the song.  It's powerful.

My favorite lyrics are toward the end of the song where it describes Christ as He is seen in the book of Revelation.  It builds to a climax, and it gives me goosebumps every single time.  As we sing, you will recognize the words in this passage...

     His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

(Revelation 19:12-16 NKJV)

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Stir My Heart

You know, as Christians we're just pilgrims wandering here, waiting for that glorious day when we'll fly.  And sometimes we need a reminder to persevere until then. 

So as I often do, I listen to my pretend BFF, Sara Groves.  She sings a song that is a prayer about how if life's circumstances should cause someone to lose sight of the Lord, that He would stir their heart to renew their relationship.  Take a listen by clicking on the player.  The lyrics are printed below.

"Stir My Heart" - by Sara Groves

If time were ever to wear you away
If circumstance should bind me
If age should bring a dark night on my soul
If fear and doubt should blind me

Please stir my heart
Take me back to the fire
Bring to me a recollection of joy
Renew my first desire

If pains and trials come to me
And I cannot stand strong
If fools adjust my theories
To believe Your truth is wrong

Please stir my heart
Take me back to the fire
Bring to me a recollection of joy
Renew my first desire

I swear it never will happen to me
But how can I know
For Peter swore the same to Thee
O, hear the cock crow

Please stir my heart
Take me back to the fire
Bring to me a recollection of joy
Renew my first desire

On Music

Dear Reader Sarah,

Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday and for asking such a great question -

What's your favorite song and why?  Do you remember where you heard it first or who it was written by?

That's also a tough question because I enjoy a variety of music genres, so to narrow myself down to one favorite song is next to impossible.  I have many that I'd name as favorites.  Of course, anyone who knows me very well, knows that I would quickly claim He Ain't Never Done Me Nothin' But Good as my all-time favorite.  It was written by Dottie Rambo and sung by The Isaacs.  The first reason I love it is because I enjoy Bluegrass, and it is a real doozy of a Bluegrass song.  Beyond that, I love the words to the song.  They speak of the goodness of God in the midst of suffering.  That's something I need to be reminded of all the time.

I enjoy other Christian musicians like Margaret Becker, Watermark, LordSong, Kristyn & Keith Getty, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns and Caedmon's Call.  What's currently in my CD player, though, is my newest favorite.  Sara Groves.  Her words really speak to me.  She says things that I think and feel.  She's real.  If I had to choose just one favorite from her collection, I just couldn't do it.  I love most of her CD Conversations and much from two of her other CD's Add To the Beauty and Past the Wishing.

I just have to add an extra personal note on this topic.  There are three particular singers who will always bring tears to my eyes. 

• John Denver - because I was raised on his music, he has the clearest and purest voice, and sunshine in my eyes always makes me cry
• James Taylor - because his voice is so smooth it could make you fall in love and put you to sleep, all at the same time
• Alison Krauss - because, oh my word, that woman sings like an angel

I've enjoyed talking about one of my favorite topics, so I appreciate that you asked the question, Sarah.

Sincerely ~ Liz

A Little Contemplative...

I've been listening to my new friend, Sara Groves, a Christian artist I recently discovered. I think her music fits well in my life right now with things I'm thinking, feeling, and learning. One of her songs that's where I'm at in this moment is Hello Lord. If you find yourself at the center of making a decision, you might be able to identify with this song. I wish I had a video to share because often the melody helps convey the message, but I couldn't find one. The words will have to do...

Hello Lord, it's me your child. I have a few things on my mind. Right now I'm faced with big decisions, and I'm wondering if you have a minute.

Right now I don't hear so well and I was wondering if you could speak up. I know you tore the veil so I could sit with you in person and hear what you're saying, but right now, I just can't hear you.

I don't doubt your sovereignty, I doubt my own ability to hear what you're saying and to do the right thing,and I desperately want to do the right thing.

Right now I don't hear so well and I was wondering if you could speak up. I know you tore the veil so I could sit with you in person and hear what you're saying,but right now, I just can't hear you.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I think you are telling me to wait, and though patience has never been mine, Lord I will wait to hear from you.

~Sara Groves, "Hello Lord" from Conversations

I'm Singing Tonight

We're getting ready to go to our church's Christmas banquet tonight. It's at a dutch-themed restaurant/bakery/gift shop, and they serve fried chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes & gravy, and a different flavored slice of pie at each place setting. It's very enjoyable!

I will be singing with my bosom friend J as part of the program. I sing lead, and she sings harmony and plays the guitar. She's written a song especially for the occasion. We've been memorizing Romans 8 together, and many truths from that scripture passage are in the song. We agreed to make it the theme of the song when we were conferring on the songwriting process. It's about the glory of Christ that is being revealed in us now as we are being sanctified, but also the groaning that all creation has in waiting for the full glory that will one day be revealed when Christ redeems our bodies. That's possible because of the hope Jesus brought to us when He chose to humble Himself to become a baby born in Bethlehem, that He might one day die on the cross for our sin, so we could be reconciled to the Father.

I guess that's what will make it very special for us. Not only did J write the song, but it's written for us...it speaks our heart.

I'm looking forward to a fun evening. Maybe I'll have some pictures or something to share afterward.

Longing For the Glory

One of my favorite songs is Glory, sung by Selah. The words describe the longing of my heart.

One day eyes that are blind will see You clearly.
One day all who deny will finally believe.
One day hearts made of stone will break in pieces.
And one day chains once unbroken will fall down at Your feet.

So we wait… for that one day.
Come quickly!

We want to see Your glory,
Every knee falls down before Thee.
Every tongue offers You praise
With every hand raised.
Singing glory to You and unto You only
We’ll sing glory to Your name.

One day voices that lie will all be silenced.
One day all that’s divided will be whole again.
One day death will retreat and wave its white flag.
One day love will defeat the strongest enemy.

So we wait… for that one day.
Come quickly!

We want to see Your glory,
Every knee falls down before Thee.
Every tongue offers You praise
With every hand raised.
Singing glory to You and unto You only
We’ll sing glory to Your name.

We know not the day or the hour
Or the moments in between,
But we know the end of the story
When we’ll see…

Your glory
Every knee falls down before Thee.
Every tongue offers You praise with every hand raised.
Singing glory to You and unto You only
We’ll sing glory to Your name.

As I've been reading through the Old Testament, I've gained such a better understanding of our sinful idolatry and how much God wants us to forsake this sin. He is a jealous God, wanting our worship to be purely undivided. Oh, how He deserves that!

The Bible tells us that one day "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord". I'm thankful I can do that this side of death because it secures a place for me in Heaven. Some will not bow the knee now. They deny. They are blinded. They lie.

Even as a Christian I struggle to bow the knee to my Lord. I have idols in my heart that fight for my affections that should be God's alone. My problem is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I fall short of the glory of God, but I want the glory... to see His glory. That's what I'm longing for. Romans 8:18-23 says that we groan with all of creation for the revealing of the sons of God and for the redemption of our body. We are groaning for the glory!

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

I can't wait for Christ's return to be delivered from this body of death and this sin-wracked world. I want to see the glory!