Highlights of Life

I lay my life down at your feet
‘Cause your the only one I need
I turned to you and you were always there
In troubled times it’s you I seek
I put you first that’s all I need
I humble all I have, all to youChorus

Original song by Leonard Cohen… this song is rather haunting and sad.  I kind of wish the lyrics was simply only Hallelujah… without the other lyrics.

 Here are 2 different versions.

Another version of Undo… it may be slightly better audio quality that the original one I posted last time…

I heard this beautiful song by Diane Thiel titled “If you say go”

The lyrics and melody are quite beautiful. I think there is so much about this song that makes me think. About my life, my career, and where I am heading. What God calls me to do, and how I respond.

There is no youtube video of it.. but the lyrics are below. It is vineyard music, and can be bought through them.

Here is a link to a sampler:

           D           Bm7
If You say go, we will go
           Bm7 G      Asus     A
If You say wait, we will wait
           D
If You say step out on the water
         Bm7             G
And they say it can't be done
      D/F#            G      A       D
We'll fix our eyes on You and we will come

     D        G              D
Your ways are higher than our ways
    Bm                G
And plans that You have laid
             Asus A
Are good and true
       D
If You call us to the fire
          Bm              G
You will not withdraw Your hand
      D             A                   G
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

Mercy/Vineyard Publishing
Album: If You Say Go

I’ve been here before, now here I am again
Standing at the door, praying
You’ll let me back in
To label me a prodigal would be
Only scratching the surface of who I’ve been known to be

(Chorus)
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one who can undo
What I’ve become

I focused on the score, but I could never win
Trying to ignore, a life of hiding my sin
To label me a hypocrite would be
Only scratching the surface of who I’ve been known to be

(Chorus)
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one who can undo
What I’ve become

Make every step lead me back to
The sovereign way that You

(Chorus)
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one who can undo
What I’ve become

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Many people in our world have left a legacy. And many of us strive to leave a legacy. I guess the most important question that needs to be asked is exactly what kind of legacy we are striving to leave?

I don’t mind if you’ve got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who’s who and so-n-so’s that used to be the best
At such’n’such … it wouldn’t matter much

I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an ‘Atta boy’ or ‘Atta girl’
But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don’t have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It’s an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, “Well Done” good and faithful one…

 My Heart Your Home by Watermark -  What a beautiful song!

CHORUS:
Come and make my heart Your home
Come and be everything I am and all I know
Search me through and through
‘Till my heart becomes a home for You

CHORUS

A home for You, Lord
A home for You, Lord
Let everything I do open up
A door for You to come through
And that my heart would be a place
Where You want to be…

CHORUS

You are my portion, filling up everything
You are the fortune, that’s causing my heart to sing
That it’s amazing…
That You could make Yourself at home with me

CHORUS
Knees to the Earth 

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

{Chorus}:
Surrounded by Your glory,
what will my heart feel
Will I dance for You Jesus
or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence
or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah,
will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine.

 On my knees.  I think this is where the rest of the nation… is.  Looking for a greater power to answer the questions we have for yesterday’s tragedy…

There are days
when I feel
The best of me
is ready to begin
Then there’s days
when I feel
I’m letting go
and soaring on the wind
‘Cause I’ve learned in laughter or in pain
How to survive!I get on my knees! (x2)
There I am before the Love
That changes me
See I don’t know how
But there’s power
When I’m on my kneesI can be
in a crowd
Or by myself
and almost anywhere
When I feel
there’s a need
To talk with God
He is Emmanuel
When I close my eyes,
no darkness there
There’s only light!

What an absolutely beautiful song. I think they sang this at the most recent Urbana Conference (although I did not attend it this past year).

I am sure many Christians can relate to this song and it’s lyrics. Sometimes it feels like being a Christian means getting to experience all these warm and fuzzy “feelings” of goodness and happiness…. probably because many times, there are such wonderful feelings that come from knowing the one, true and awesome God.

But in truth… having joy is actually a choice. It is not about naively going around spouting false optimism and wearing pink coloured glasses… as many new Christians falsely believe it to be. But rather it is about truly understanding and knowing why we rejoice and consciously making a choice to rejoice in God.

And in the midst of troubled times, as we seek God in prayer and sorrow, oftentimes, our prayers will soon turn to ones of praise… This doesn’t mean that being a Christian automatically puts one onto the fast track of life of living a so-called picture “perfect” life. Many of us may erroneously portray that life is perfect… but the reality is that we are still human (broken people), living in a world of sin.

However, the great thing is, that through God, He makes us complete…. and as this song so poignantly says, “how can we keep from singing God praise?” knowing what we do.

This song is just so wonderful in that it is so true, and hits the issues exactly as it is.  What a powerful reminder this song is of the joy we have in God.  I just can’t help but love this worship song… for it’s totally and absolutely FULL of JOY and REJOICING.

“How Can I Keep From Singing”

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You
Knowing You’ll see me through
And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing ’cause You pick me up
Sing ’cause You’re there
I can sing ’cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I’ll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

We didn’t sing this song at church today… but I think that this song conveys a lot of the type of praise that occurred throughout many churches today. Praise, and worship and thanksgiving to God for simply being God… mighty and awesome.

Alleluia

- – alleluia, alleluia
For the lord God almighty reigns
Alleluia, alleluia
For the lord God almighty reigns
Alleluia

Holy, holy are you lord God almighty
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
You are holy, holy are you lord God almighty
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
Amen

Jesus Paid it All – Hymn (sung with passion and a slight alternation from the traditional one at the end.)

lyrics to the old hymnal

1. I hear the Savior say,
   “Thy strength indeed is small;
   Child of weakness, watch and pray,
   Find in Me thine all in all.”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus paid it all,
     All to Him I owe;
     Sin had left a crimson stain,
     He washed it white as snow.
2. For nothing good have I
   Whereby Thy grace to claim;
   I’ll wash my garments white
   In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
3. And now complete in Him,
   My robe, His righteousness,
   Close sheltered ’neath His side,
   I am divinely blest.
4. Lord, now indeed I find
   Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
   Can change the leper’s spots
   And melt the heart of stone.
5. When from my dying bed
   My ransomed soul shall rise,
   “Jesus died my soul to save,”
   Shall rend the vaulted skies.
6. And when before the throne
   I stand in Him complete,
   I’ll lay my trophies down,
   All down at Jesus’ feet.

I absolutely love this beautiful hymn. This version is being sung with a bit of zing at the end, but it is still the true same melody of the traditional hymn (but there is a slight alteration at the end). My first memories of hymnals being sung were of my parents and grandmother singing them at church and at home. There was such a passion in singing them, that the words and melody came alive. This particular hymn was a favorite in our family…. for probably obvious reasons of the meaning behind the words.

To this day, I believe that when you sing praise, whether it is a traditional hymn or a contemporary song, you should sing with all you have… .. and this particular song holds a special place in my heart.

Sometimes life just gets so busy you forget what is important…

Sometimes, little things can feel truly overwhelming and impossible to achieve. Whether it is work, school, tasks, family, and relational issues… sometimes even the littlest thing can seem insurmountable. And I think that this song relates these feelings… and what we can do as Christians in our daily lives. Cause ultimately, I think part of living the Christian life is living life abundantly.

Some Christians, and non-Christians think that becoming a Christian means life is miserly, miserable, full of grief, suffering, trials and tribulations. The reality is that I don’t think I could ever possibly have come to know God on a personal level if that was what the Christian life/walk was made up of. The truth of the matter is that having that personal relationship with God is like discovering this treasure that is so special…. it’s like becoming instantly incredibly wealthy (only even better).

There is a church in Boston that headlines all it’s church bulletins as “Empowering Impossibly Great Lives.” And I think this saying truly captures what the Christian life should be. It should be great, and it is empowered (through God)… and it is about life. Living life greatly… achieving great dreams… and not wasting life away.

The 2nd video is actually well done for an amateur video. It shows 4 different people in various walks of life, stressed by daily issues (deadlines, family relational issues, or mere doldrum routines of life)… and how spending time in quiet time with God, brings us back to what is important… and keeps life in perspective… and honestly does help us even in the minutia of life, and also in the great crises of life.

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay

The heavens declare the glory of God… and certainly this song captures this thought. The bible talks of how if want to know there is a God.. all we have to do is look at heaven and earth, and all the wonders contained therein. For each and everything we find, is incredibly and fearfully made.

It’s funny… but throughout history, mankind has intuitively known how majestic this world is. From the ancient of civilizations they have feared nature, and sometimes even worshipped nature. Ironic really, cause mankind can see the beauty and the awesome force behind nature and worship it (be it sun, stars, wind, earth, water)… but sometimes they are unable to see the maker that made it.

Even today, scientists study nature, and molecules and wonder and scratch their heads, and marvel at it, but fail to see there is a maker/creater behind it all. In my undergrad years, I had a virology prof who was doing a lecture on the HIV virus… and how cleverly made it was. Viruses being not exactly a parasite, nor a completely whole and independant living organism, it straddles that odd limbo place in life. As she got more and more down to the molecular level, and how it replicated itself, she made the statement, “this virus is beautiful… ” in this rather awestruck voice. And at that moment I thought, “wow… even this prof can acknowledge the beauty in the structure and replication process of a virus”… but strangely enough I think she was an athiest.

However, there are many men in history, who being hard core scientists (studying physics or mathematics), who studied the forces of nature … and in the end became Christian as they noted that the more they studied the laws of nature, the more it became evident that there indeed was and is a living God who created it.

To me, I think that scientists today are very much people who are trying to understand and decipher God’s handiwork. In many ways we have begun to translate it…. but it doesn’t mean we understand it. For instance, we have sequenced the entire human genome… but do we understand it? Not really. We can corrolate various bits and pieces of the gene sequence to various human traits and defects… but that is about it.

We can do a CT scan of the human brain, but very much to this day, with all our wonderful technology, it is very much a black box. Ah… yes we strive to create… be it life through cloning, or artificial intelligence …. or even trying to create human tissue and organs… but we cannot speak life into existance.

Anyways, this is a very old hymn that has been rearranged by John Rutter and initially sung by a boy’s choir. This version is sung by a Methodist girls choir. Either way, the lyrics are still very much the same (other then a few changed lines) and the new melody is beautiful.

There are hymns that have such incredible beauty in both lyrics and melody… and express so much more than some current songs. I guess this song is a combination of both wonderful attributes.

For the beauty of the earth; For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, friends of earth, and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild: Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine to our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flow’rs of earth and buds of heav’n: Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.