Save Us Oh God - Kevin Prosch

We confess, the sins of our nation.  Lord, we are guilty of a prayerless life.  We've turned away our hearts from Your love and taken for granted Your unchanging grace.  Turn away this curse from our country.  We say that we've robbed you, and our storehouses are bare.  Open wide the floodgates of heaven.  Rebuke the devourer so we may not be destroyed. 

You said that if we humble ourselves and begin to pray You would heal our barren land and cleanse us with Your rain.  Don't pass us by.  Let this be the generation Lord, that lifts up your name to all the world.  Save us oh God.

Another song from the late 90s.  I'm not sure it could ever be more timely.  I think a lot about how God moved in the 1990s.  And then it all faded.  I don't know why.  But there are rumblings and signs of the beginnings of a great revival on the near horizon.

Isaiah 59:19  So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in  like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

What has the last year, last decade, been if not the enemy coming in like a flood?  I believe the enemy knows his days are so limited.  He's like a toddler throwing his last tantrum before bedtime.  One of the best phrases in the Bible is "but God..."  But God will lift up a standard against him.  I believe we're about to see the God of Psalms, the God David knew, the God who dealt with the wicked and just.  The God of righteousness and justice.  The God of powerful mercy and grace. 

Thank You, Lord! - Dennis Jernigan

For all that You've done I will thank you.  For all that You're going to do.  For all that You've promised, and all that You are, is all that has carried me through.  Jesus, I thank You.

Thank You for loving and setting me free.  Thank You for giving Your life just for me.  How I thank You.

Another throwback.

I love the simplicity of this song.  It's stayed with me for decades.  It pops into my head at random times and is so sweet.  

I think it's harder to thank Him for things He's going to do.  I pray for them.  I try to have faith for them.  But to thank Him, sincerely, before something happens is a little new.  Recently at church someone said to thank Him and praise Him for something we're praying for - seeing at as if it's already done.  There's nothing in this life I want more than for Noah to know and follow Jesus.  And in that moment I had a picture of him receiving Jesus and us just hugging.  To see what that moment could like look was just so encouraging.  It does build faith.  Also knowing that Jesus wants that more than I do, and that He will work it out.  I can trust Him. 

Hey Jesus - Elyssa Smith

Hey Jesus, You move me, You wreck me every time.  It's not a new kind of love, it's a new kind of beautiful.

Oh does He wreck me.  With His love and goodness.  I almost always have tears during worship.  I've been taking an old fashioned handkerchief for months now.  I don't even always know the why behind the tears.  Sometimes it's just my body's reaction to all that's happening inside.  For a couple months, there has been a small taste of deep joy behind the tears.  [[Psalm 34:8]] "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.  Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  I don't know how to explain this "tasting".  

Talking To Jesus - Brandon Lake

What a friend we have in Jesus!

There's no wrong way to do it.  There's no bad time to start.  It don't have to sound pretty.  Just tell Him what's on your heart.  Cuz it's not a religion.  Cuz it's more like a friendship.  Just talk to your Father like you are His kid.  Just start talking to Jesus.  

Here's to all the parents and grandparents who have prayed over and taken their kids to church over all the years.  Those prayers are powerful.  The example set is priceless. 

Being friends with Jesus has been a big theme so far.  I love the familiar story of this song.  I love the simplicity of the message.  If you've never prayed in your life, it can be so simple to just talk to Jesus.  And if you've been praying for decades it might be good to just talk to Jesus like you would your best friend.  

It can be so good to embrace the paradoxes of my faith.  Yes, Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us constantly.  He is also the friend that sticks closer than a brother.  I'm still developing that friendship.  Learning to literally chat with Him throughout the day about all the things.  Learning to give Him space to respond.   

General Update

It was good to reach my goal of writing about all the songs on my playlist on a daily basis (minus a couple vacation days).  These days there's almost a constant stream of new worship songs being released.  That's a good thing.  So over time I'll be adding new songs to the playlist, maybe even deleting some older ones.  There are also more long ago worship songs I might write about.  I also fully believe there's a new sound coming in worship.  It's part of the revival so many believe is coming.  I'm full of anticipation for both.  I think it's a keep your ears to the heavens instead of keep your ears to the ground moment.  

All this to say I'm not done writing yet.  It just won't be an every day thing.  

And I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts, your favorite songs, what worship means to you.

If I Could Just Sit With You A While - Dennis Jernigan

When I cannot feel.  When my wounds don't heal.  Lord I humbly kneel, hidden in You.  Lord You are my life, so I don't mind to die, just as long I'm hidden in You.

If I could just sit with You a while.  If You could just hold me, nothing could touch me, though I'm wounded, though I die.  If I could just sit with You a while.  I need you to hold me, moment by moment till forever passes by.  

When I know I've sinned, when I should have been crying out my God and hidden in You.  Lord I need you now, more than I know how, so I humbly bow, hidden in You. 

There have been times innumerable I have been wounded and felt like dying.  And so very often Jesus was faithful to have this song play in my head - if I could just sit with Him.  I'd like to say I always listened to His voice, but I probably didn't.  But I'm learning to.  I'm learning to sit and be with Him.  I'm learning to cast my cares on Him.  I'm learning to let Him heal all the wounds.  And if I never learned anything else, it would be enough.  He alone is enough. 

All The Playlists!

Getting Ready was the last worship song in my current playlist for now.  I have another playlist where I add new songs to listen to until I feel like adding them to the current playlist.  I actually have several playlists in you tube, plus a few downloaded albums.  I don't like the impermanence of things on you tube, but Apple made it too much trouble to go from iTunes to Apple Music.  I miss the simplicity of iPods. 

Anyway.  Noah has always had a playlist of songs he likes.  I think we're on the fourth iteration of secular music for him.  But I also made a new playlist for him of more upbeat Christian music. That's our go to drive to school music.  He also loves all the music associated with Roblox - so I try to play the better stuff when I can. 

I have a playlist of some of the 90s Christian music I listened to back then.  Bands like Skillet and Third Day and DC Talk.  Listening to them over the past year or two, I realized just how deep and on point a lot of their lyrics are.  And they're still fun to blast while driving on a sunny day. 

Last but not least (for now) is my old worship playlist.  Years ago, probably more than a decade, I gave away all my Christian cds - bands and worship.  Of course now I wish I hadn't.  (Hence why I started these playlists of older things.)  I'm sure there are dozens of songs I don't remember at all from my church days in the 90s.  But a few were stuck in my head in my non church days.  So I think I'm going to do a few of them as song of the day.

All the playlists are linked right there on the right.  

Getting Ready - UpperRoom

We'll shout till the whole world hears it.  We'll sing till the whole world knows.  King Jesus, He is faithful.  

The end of this story isn't Jesus return, or the tribulation, or all Christians being taken out of this world - and all of that is so far beyond my wisdom.  This story - the story of humanity - of Christianity - is about a wedding.  Jesus receiving His bride.  Spotless and glorious as is He.  I know little of eschatology.  I just know the verses that say no one knows the day of His return.  I know the story of the ten virgins, all of whom fell asleep, but only five had oil in their lamps when it was needed.  Jesus says to be ready.  Not in a get me out of here kind of way.  In a bride who is ready for marriage kind of way.  Maybe that looks like the Church being one - as Jesus and the Father are one, as He prayed we will be.  Maybe it looks like the Church discipling all the nations.  Maybe it looks like every tribe and tongue knowing Jesus.  I don't know.  I know we're not ready.  I'm not ready.

Jireh - Maverick City Music

I'll never be more loved than I am right now.   

I'm already loved, I'm already chosen.  I know who I am.  I know what you've spoken.  

If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor, how much more will clothe you?  If he watches over each sparrow, how much more does He love you?

Jehovah-Jireh is the KJV’s translation of YHWH-Yireh and means “The LORD Will Provide” Genesis 22:14. It is the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

This is just one of several of the names of God in the Old Testament.  But oh what a name. And what a story with Abraham.  Yet that was just a foreshadowing of His ultimate provision of His own Son for our lives.  If He gave His own Son to die for us, what would He not do for us?  He has storehouses in Heaven of all that we need.  He never runs out.  We're children of a good Father who withholds nothing His children need.  We're co-heirs with King Jesus, everything at His disposal is ours.

As a parent it would break my heart if Noah thought there was something I would hold back from him.  If he were afraid to come to me for something he needs I would be crushed.  Imagine an all powerful God who's children didn't trust Him to provide for them. 

Your Blood Is Strong Enough - Maverick City Music

I'm not sure why, but the blood of Jesus seems to be a mysterious topic.  I'm not sure how many sermons are preached on it these days.  Are we collectively squeamish?  I don't know.  So I really appreciate this song. 

I think our lack of understanding the blood of Jesus leads us to try to be righteous on our own - putting ourselves back under the law actually.  If we just get the balance of doing right and doing wrong right we'll be ok.  If we're just better than most people.  I'll admit that I find there's a part of me that really wants a point system - I want credit for the good things I do, or even think of doing.  I want credit for not saying the things I shouldn't say anyway.  I want credit for not doing something I'm not supposed to do.  I want even my intentions to count.  I enjoyed the tv show The Good Place because they really delved into what a point system might look like.  There's a quote, I can't remember from who, that says we judge ourselves on our intentions but others on their actions.  I know CS Lewis talks about how we loves ourselves, how we give ourselves every benefit of the doubt.

Anyway.  The only righteousness there is is in the blood of Jesus.  I'm either covered by it or I'm not.  From there the Bible says obedience is better than sacrifice.  I know there's so much freedom and joy in really knowing the truth and depth of those two things.

Isaiah Song - Maverick City Music

This is the word of the Lord your Creator, I am the God who stood before the world was framed, I am the First, the Last and everything between.  I hold your future.  Who can know these things but me?  So don't fear.  I will be your song.  

This is the word of the Lord your Creator, I stand from age to age the Ancient of Days.  I am the Holy One the fairest of ten thousand.  And all who call upon my name they shall be saved.  So don't fear.  I will be your song.

Sing, sing o barren land.  Water is coming to the thirsty.  Though you are empty, I am the well, draw from Me, I will provide.

Cuz I'm a river, in the desert.  Pouring my spirit on the broken.  Giving beauty for your ashes.  Joy for your sadness.  Heaven's open. 

I love all the descriptions of God in books like Isaiah and Job.  The Ancient of Days - the steadfastness and wisdom implied there.  The way in the wilderness.  The river in the desert.  He's in all of our circumstances, and even more His presence transforms them.  He doesn't have to take us out of the desert to make it beautiful, He can make a river flow in it.  There are so many deserts in our lives, dry places - family, jobs, health, you name it.  And then He shows up IN it and makes it beautiful.  River of living waters. 

I Just Want To Move Your Heart - UpperRoom

I just want to move Your heart, it's all I want to do.  I just want to stand in awe and pour my love on You.  No matter how much the cost, I freely give it all to You.  

I just want to move Your heart, get caught within Your gaze.  Right here in Your presence God is where I want to stay.  Oh just to dwell in Your house, waste my hours and my days on You.  

How many verses are there that say Jesus was moved with compassion?  I've been thinking about that.  How Jesus interacted with entire cities, with individuals, with those in the stories we know about Him healing people.  How he called each of the disciples.  But so often it says He was moved with compassion and healed them all.  People move His heart.  The Centurion He says had the greatest faith - he moved Jesus.  So for me it's about moving His heart, but it's also about being moved with compassion for people like He was.  

When I Lock Eyes With You - UpperRoom

All I want is You, all I need is You.   Come in like a fire, come in like a flood, I don't care what it looks like, I'm so in love.  

This song follows Son of Heaven so beautifully.  For me it's also another song that's more aspirational than reality.  But again, Jesus is so gracious to take even the smallest desire of my heart to know Him, to see Him, and accepts it and grows it. 

Son of Heaven - Brandon Lake

Behold Him.  Lift up your eyes, see the Son of Heaven.

The cross is still the answer.  The blood is still the blood.  

There's been a slight shift in the past few months, maybe year.  The focus is rightly becoming Jesus - spending time in worship seeing Him, gazing upon Him.  This can feel tricky, maybe a little weird.  I mean, it's not like we can see Him with our eyes (yet).  So how do we behold Him?  For me, sometimes, the hardest part is just getting my eyes off myself, off of circumstances, and in corporate worship, stop being distracted.  (I've found just how easily distracted I am.)  I just try to focus on who He is - savior, shepherd, healer, friend, King of Kings, Lion of Judah.  Focus on His characteristics - His love and faithfulness and goodness and patience and kindness.  Focus on the Cross and all He accomplished there, conquering sin and death.  On His resurrection.  On His being seated at the right hand of God.  And on His return as the Bridegroom.   It just gets easier over time - because He is so faithful to meet me in that place of effort, of longing to see Him.  Oh to have eyes to see and ears to hear.  

I Thank God - Maverick City Music & UpperRoom

He picked me up.  He turned me around. He placed my feet on solid ground.  I thank the Master, I thank the Savior, I thank God.  Because He healed my heart, He changed my name, forever free, I'm not the same.  I thank the Master, I thank the Savior, I thank God.

Oh how joy needs to infiltrate the Body of Christ!  And I believe it's coming soon.  There will be dancing in the streets, worship ringing out.  (It's already begun in places.)  And I believe children will be leading the way.  Oh imagine the world seeing all out joy after the year + we've all had.  The church is broken and bleeding like Jesus was on the cross - BUT the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us!  And He's about to raise Christ's body - the church!  Get up out of that grave!!

Voice of God - Dance By Jamal Midgette

Yesterday youtube put this version of this song in my feed, and I'm so so glad it did.  It's an amazing song in and of itself.  God is always speaking.  He speaks in so many different ways so anyone and everyone can hear Him.  

I've always been a music person.  I'm not a graceful or athletic person.  I'm white through and through when it comes to dancing.  But over the past decade I've come to appreciate dance in a very real way.  It is the most basic and honest form of art - done with our bodies, our selves.  Our church has a dance troupe and it just adds another dimension to worship.  So this young man's performance to this song really touches me.  

Blessed Assurance - Worship Circle

This is my story.  This is my song.  Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest.  And I in my Savior am happy and blessed.  Just watching and waiting, looking above.  Filled with His goodness and lost in His love.  

Jesus keeps us.  He sits at the right hand of the Father ever interceding for us.  All we do is surrender and trust.  He does all the hard parts.  Oh to know the joy of being kept by Him.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Worship Circle

Morning by morning new mercies I see. 

With strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  

It's not easy to write about such a timeless song.  It's almost 100 years old, from what I can find it was written in 1923.  

Morning by morning.  That's what I'm trying to learn.  He's in the everydayness of life.  To start every day anew.  Jesus seems pretty serious about one day at a time with Him.  Goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life.  He's the good shepherd, I can trust Him to keep me and lead me all the day long, and to watch over me in the night. 

Jesus Paid It All - Worship Circle

Jesus paid it all.  All to Him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.  

This one happens to fall on Easter this year.  So good.  Jesus paid it all.  We can add nothing to what He's done.  All our righteousness is as filthy rags.  Oh but His righteousness that He clothes us with, that allows us access to the very throne of God.  We have been bought for a price.  He paid with His very life, His blood.  For the joy set before Him.  We are His joy.  We belong to Him.  

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Lauren Daigle

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?

1. There’s light for a look at the Savior,
   And life more abundant and free!
   • Refrain:
     Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
     Look full in His wonderful face,
     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
     In the light of His glory and grace.
2. Through death into life everlasting
   He passed, and we follow Him there;
   O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
   For more than conqu’rors we are!
3. His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
   Believe Him, and all will be well:
   Then go to a world that is dying,
   His perfect salvation to tell!

Now we get to the short hymns section.  There is timeless wisdom in so many of them.  My four favorite books/devotionals are all from over 100 years ago.  

How wonderfully this song tells the whole story of the Christian life. 

Watching Over Me - Jason Upton

Jesus You know all my struggles.  Jesus You feel all my pain.  I hear You singing in the struggle.  I hear You whispering my name.  God of justice and of mercy.  God who says I'm not alone.  

Such a sweet song.  Such a sweet God.  He's close to the broken hearted.  He's close in our struggles and dark nights.  Oh those long dark nights.  He sings over us.  He weeps with us.  He knows all the unspoken things.  He knows the things no one else knows.  He's the God of all comfort.

Love You Just Like That - Jason Upton

You never look away.  You love me as I am.  Forever Unashamed.  I want to love You just like that.

I want to love You like you love me, willing and humble, daring and free, patient and subtle, yet restless to be with You.

There comes a point I have to stop making it all about how much God loves me and turn my eyes and attention from myself to how I can love Him.  The question changes from how good of a friend Jesus is to me to how can I be a good friend to Him.  He longs for my love and affection.  He died to make it possible.