Alligence

When I was in High School I had the priviledge of having an awesome youth pastor who shared his fears and failings and taught me much about life and walking with God. One of Chad's many gifts is the gift of Music. I still have never heard this song sung better than by him. Even more so the VOL, who wrote it. As part of the youth worship team, I have sung this song and it kept coming to memory recently, so i thought i'd share it today. I'm listing the link of off youtube from someone singing it. It was the closest i've come to the original version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DveZ8OrswFE

Double Cure

by: Vilgilantes of Love

yeah today i'm sick of all i am

today is my setback

first i swear i love you

then i stab you in the back

i wanna drink out of that fountain

on a hill called double cure

i wanna show you my allegiance Lord

yes i wanna be a son of Yours

so tired of all my toys

they never last for long

they keep beaming dreams and wishes

to a big dish on my front lawn

bet you all have got a story

you're just aching to tell

haven't we thrown our coinage

down the wishing well

so go and call your neighbor

proceed with all due haste

go grab your wife and sweet family

see there is no time to waste

we're gonna drink out of that fountain

on a hill called double cure

i wanna show you my allegiance Lord

yes i wanna be a son of Yours

ask me why i love Him

He gave riches to this poor

yes and i will one day see that face

over yonder shore

This is simply a song I just love. We can have all that our world has to offer and still be wanting more. If we give our alligence to our God we will have riches in Heaven. Even better when we are willing to share what the we've found with others so that they can see what it's like to be a "son" of Jesus. I don't know about you, but i definitely want some of the water from that fountain.

Standing Out

Today i'm going to head way back to the early ninties for our song. It's the song that convinced my mom to allow me to listen to Christian Rap, back in the day. I hope this is a trip down memory lane, but that the message is clear.

Shine

By: The Newsboys

Dull as dirt

you can't assert the kind of light

that might persuade

a strict dictator to retire

fire the army

teach the poor oragami

the truth is in

the proof is when

you hear your heart start asking

"what's my motivation"

And try as you may, there isn't a way

to explain the kind of change

that would make an eskimo renounce fur

that would make a vegetarian barbeque hamster

unless you can trace this about-face

to a certain sign

Chorus:

Shine

Make em wonder what you've got

make em wish that they were not

on the outside looking bored

Shine

Let it shine before all men

let em see good works and then

let em glorify the lord

Out of the shaker and onto the plate

it isn't karma

it sure ain't fate

that would make a deadhead sell his van

that would make a schizophrenic turn on his crayons

Oprah freaks

and science seeks a rationale

that shall excuse

this strange behavior

When you let it shine

you will inspire

the kind of entire turnaround

that would make a bouncer take ballet

(even bouncers who arn't happy)

but out of the glare

with nowhere to turn

you ain't gonna learn it on "what's my line?"

Shine

Make em wonder what you've got

make em wish that they were not

on the outside looking bored

shine

let it shine before all men

let em see good works and then

let em glorify the lord.

SHINE

This song sounds so goofy and seems out of place on this blog with such clear other songs. But it was this song alone that allowed me during my tumoltuous teen years to dare to be bold and to dare to stand out against the crowd. Shining among others in a dark world can make you look strange, the outsider and the "oddball". But really, all it does is make you a beacon in the dark for those who are seeking. Christians get labled all kinds of things when we dare to be bold with our faith and step out and try to shine. When you shine, you draw others to you and you will see your friends and family change just because you have something they want. Make em wonder what it is about you that stands out from the rest.

A thought, if we are all shining in the darkness, we should see beacons of light and hope across the vast darkness, and then we'll know we're not alone.

Be bold, be brave, be fearless for our LORD.

Burdens

I don't know about you, but sometimes i feel the weight of the world is on my shoulders, or at least the weight of my little world. Life can get so stressful and at times it just feels like we've got so much laying on our shoulders that we can't move any direction. It's a tough place and sometimes we just need to be reminded that if we lay our burdens at Jesus' feet, he will gladly pick them up and carry them.

Lay em' Down

by: Needtobreathe

Come down to the river

come and let yourself in

make good on a promise

to never hurt again

if you're lost and lonely

you're broken down

bring all your troubles come lay em down

All you sinners

and the weak at heart

All you helpless

on the boulevards

wherever you are now

whatever evil you've found

Bring all your troubles

and come lay em down

we're all tied to the same old failings

finding shelter in things we know

we're all dirty like corrupted small towns

We'll bring our troubles

we'll bring our troubles lay em down

All you rich men

and high above

all those with and without love

all you burdened broken down

bring all your troubles

come lay em down

lay em down

lay em down

No matter where we come from, no matter what we've gotten ourselves into, we can bring ourselves and our burdens right to the feet of Jesus. I love the redemption there is in Christ. No life is too bad, no crime so bad that our father won't forgive us. Jesus throughout the Bible steps out and ministers to the unwanted, the lonely and the wicked. He didn't turn his back on them and he won't turn his back on you.

I encourage you today, to take some time and sit at the feet of Jesus. Sit and feel the grace and forgiveness that flows from his hands and feet, the hands and feet that were nailed to a cross so that WE could be forgiven.

Isolation-For Liz

I'm sure we can all admit to feeling alone at one time or another in our lives. Be it by choice or by circumstance, it can feel overwhelming and scary. The song for yesterday is actually one i've only heard twice now but still grabs my attention. Now only is the actual music for this song great, the words are fantastic.

You're Not Alone

by: Downhere

You feel the isolation, slowly take a toll

this season of waiting, is starting to get old

looking for acceptance and aching for a home

so tired of trying to make it out on your own

There's no easy answer, but one thing you should know

you're not alone anywhere you go

you're not alone, hear the voice whisper to your soul

a promise you can always hold:

you're not alone, no

You're stuck in a dive and you've almost had enough

because of what you've been through, it's difficult to trust

you're still barely hanging on trying hard to fight

if anybody's listening you want to know tonight

There's no easy answer, but one thing you should know

you're not alone, anywhere you go

you're not alone, hear the voice whisper to your soul

a promise you can always hold:

You're not alone, no

you're not alone

you're not alone

Reach out, don't reach within

I'm at the door if you just let me in

reach out for what you need

what you won't find yourself, you will find in me

You're not alone, hear the voice whisper to your soul

i'll never leave or let you go

you're not alone i'm with you to the end

you're not alone i'm closer than a friend

you're not alone i'm with you to the end

you're not alone, close than a friend

You're not alone

All of us go through times when we're in the middle of a battle, a change, or a broken situation. We feel alone and wonder, is God really there, is he really looking out for me, does he hear my cries in the middle of the night? He does, and he really is there. During some of my toughest, most lonely times in my life i have been blessed by a special person that God has brought into my life to minister to my heart and speak words of affirmation and truth to my soul. Thank you Liz, for being God's hands and feet to a lonely Junior High student! I am blessed by your friendship. Sometimes God uses people and sometimes he doesn't. What i know and hold true in my heart is that no matter how alone or isolated i feel, he's never far. One of the lines to the song says "A promise you can always hold" for a while i thought the line was actually " A promise you can always HOPE". Either way, it's still true.

Hold on to hope and hold on that God will bring you peace no matter where you are.

A Godly Man

We had a rough weekend at our house with our naughty little puppy recovering from his tumor removal. I'm hoping this week goes better and i'm hoping the results come back positively.

On to our song for Monday. This song really touches my heart, as a prayer of a man who wants to be a good steward of his family. It's my hope that men can stand up and put their families first. I have seen a wonderful example of this. I worked for a family in college and the father really put his family first and strived to live a Godly life to model for his children. I am grateful for that wonderful example and believe that if more men lived this out, we'd see less broken families and less violence. Children need a role model and mom's need a leader of the family and a husband to back them up.

Lead Me

by: Sanctus Reel

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...

Chorus:

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 with i can't

don't leave me hungry for love

chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me your 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 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 them the best of my life

so we can call this our home

lead, 'cause i can't do this alone

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

This song really touches my heart as a man's prayer to take care of his family. I hope that all of you have someone who does these things for you, but if you don't, DON'T forget that your heavenly father can and does do all these things. Remember that he will stand up for you and you are never far from this heart. Our hearts are so desperate for love and approval and we look to the men in our lives to provide that to us (read Captivating by John Eldredge and you'll know all about it) we desperately need a man to love us and guide us because our hearts cry out for that.

My prayer is that God brings forth men of great character, who seek God's will for their role in their family.

Sunday at the Celebration

On Sunday, a very pregnant Francesca Battistelli played at the Decatur Celebration to a crowd of excited onlookers. I have been a fan of Francesca for a while and although the radio plays her songs often, it's not the catchy tune that resonates with me. It's the words of the song and desire to let go that gets to me.

Letting Go

By Francesca Battistelli

My heart beats, standing on the edge

but my feet have finally left the ledge

like an acrobat

there's no turning back

Chorus
I'm letting go

of the life i planned for me

and my dreams

i'm losing control

of my destiny

it feels like i'm falling and that's what it's like to believe

So i'm letting go

This is a giant leap of faith

trusting and trying to embrace

the fear of the unknown

beyond my comfort zone

I'm letting go

of the life i planned for me

and my dreams

i'm losing control

of my destiny

it feels like i'm falling and that's what it's like to believe

so i'm letting go

Giving in to your gravity

knowing you are holding me

i'm not afraid

Feels like i'm falling adn that's what it's like to believe

feels like i'm falling and this is the life for me

For those of you who have known me for a while, you'll know that this is something that is hard for me to do. I come from northern Illinois and never planned on staying down here in the "south". I had a boyfriend that i planned to marry and already had the names of my two children picked out and we were all set for our little house with white picket fence and two dogs. Those things didn't happen, and it was extremely hard for me let go of the dreams i had and the plans i had made and let God lead me in a direction farther from home, alone and scared. What i can say was that for all the things i felt like I gave up when those dreams ended, God has given me back ten fold. I have a new family here, a wonderful and loving husband and i still got my two dogs. Sometimes letting go and letting God is the hardest thing we have to do, but if we are willing to give up what we thought was best, God will do so much better for us!

Here's to letting go and letting God lead us where he wants us to be.

My Brothers Keeper

I think sometimes we feel alone even when we are surrounded by other people. We can be in a gym filled with fans, or a church filled with believers and still feel so isolated from the person right next to us. Often we need community, brotherhood and fellow believers. At times we need those people to come to us and embrace us when we don't ask for ourselves. What a difference it can make when someone steps up and asks if they can pray for you, or a someone asks how it's going and truly means it and wants to hear the answer.

Today's song embodies the importance of looking out for those around us.

Hold us Together

By Matt Marr

It don't have a job

won't pay your bills

won't buy you a home

in Beverly Hills

Won't fix your life

in five easy steps

ani't the law of the land

or the government

But it's all you need

Love will hold us together

make us a shelter

to weather the storm

and i'll be my brother's keeper

so th whole world will know

that we're not alone

It's waiting for you

knockin' at your door

every moment of truth

when your heart hits the floor

When you're on your knees

and i'll be my brother's keeper

so the whole world will know

that we're not alone

This is the first day of the rest of your life

this is the first day of the rest of your life

cause even in the dark you can still see the light

it's gonna be alright

Love will hold us together

make us a shelter

to weather the storm

and i'll be my brothers keeper

so the whole world will know

that we're not alone

This song is a great reminder of how important it is to look out for our spiritual brother's a sisters and to be willing to weather the storm with them. A little love toward someone goes a really long way and that can be all someone needs to make it through a tough time.

Make sure you give out some brotherly love today.