What's YOUR Song?

Music is a powerful tool and it strips away so much and allows us to feel emotions that sometimes are so deep below the surface that we don't even realize we experience. But when you hear those notes, or when you hear that one line, your body tingles, your skin is set on fire and you KNOW that you're alive.

I blogged awhile back about the song that's probably MY song right now, Never Let Go. It's such an amazing reminder to me, of God's unending - unending love. And I'm really hoping to teach that to my boys. Every time we hear the song come through the CD player in our car, I reach back and grab Brennan's hand, because that's OUR song. I want him to know that even more than my love for him, God's love is greater - and HE never lets go.

That said, I was driving the other day and listening to Christian Radio - which meant Bridgette had been driving the car before me, 'cause I raerly turn on Christian Radio, simply because the play list is way too short and so much of it is 10 years old and a bit sappy. Anyway, I'm listening and this song comes on by Third Day, that I think I've heard a bunch before, but with the current series we're preaching through at Liberty "Hope for a Hurting World" - I heard it with new ears. Particularly, the second verse, which begins with this:

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough...

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

Just to be sure, my marriage isn't in trouble. But growing up in a broken home, one redeemed by God, I must say, and in a culture where divorce seems almost the norm instead of the exception (and I know way too many people who are or have struggled through a disintegrating marriage) - my heart just broke hearing that.

But of course, God's hope is in no way restricted to marriages, which is what this song talks about - hope for the lonely, hope for the tired, hope for those in pain and burdened with addictions - hope for everybody. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is beyond God's redeeming, which means that in everything, we need to cry out to Jesus.

If you're reading this, maybe this song was for you. If it wasn't I'd love to know what your song is right now. What song are you singing, or is singing you, and why? There are so many songs that God has placed in our hearts...

Saturday's Song - "Never Let Go"

For Christmas, Bridgette bought me the "new" David Crowder CD - Remedy. It took a few listens, but I'm pretty happy with it. In particular, the 5th song on the album, Never Let Go, has struck me and I think it's my favourite. It's a piano driven ballad of sorts and as I told Bridgette the other day, I think Crowder is at his (their) best on these types of songs. When it requires reaching inside and finding that deep passion, those songs are their best. But what might be the coolest part about the song is how Brennan has gotten into it. He now regularly sings the chorus "you never let go, never let go, never let go-o-o"

It's a simple song with a powerful message - no matter what happens, God doesn't let go. It's one message that I hope my boys learn as they grow up. God loves them, and no matter what happens, God will not let go of them...

When clouds veil sun
And disaster comes
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
When waters rise
And hope takes flight
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go...

Less is More? My Update

Not necessarily. This didn't necessarily apply this week in my 2 "fitness" areas. When I weighed myself today, this morning, AFTER breakfast... 211 lbs. Technically that's a drop of 1 lb. But since I can't really say I did anything in particular, I'll call it a wash.
As for the financial fitness - we're a couple more chapters into the book - working our way through the myths of debt. One of the best parts of Dave Ramsey's book is that he hit you straight between the eyes and says he problem is you. So...

Here's the hinge that'll take me to my song (yet again on Sunday night) - the change has got to come from me, 'cause that's where the problem is. That said, here's an excerpt from the David Crowder Band's Surely We Can Change





Where there is pain Let there be grace
Where there is suffering Bring serenity
For those afraid Help them be brave
Where there is misery Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change Something

And the problem seems Is with you and me
Not the Love who came To repair everything

...

Oh, the world's about to change
The whole world's about to change

In many ways, that's the good news of the gospel - I'm the problem, but there's also something good out there that has & will repair everything. Tomorrow is MLK Day & the day after that the first Black president will be sworn into office in the US. No, that doesn't mark the change of everything, but I do believe it's something. And as someone who believes that I'm the problem, it's great to be able to see, at least small signs that point to God's repairs being made - even if they happen VERY slowly...