| Author | Message | ||
| Chyna |
dear friends, my last topic was a failed cheery one, so how about this one. what are songs you sing that uplift your heart or create a deep yearning in your heart for God, or a recognition of your deep need for Him? recently I have been listening to "Flower in the Rain" by Jaci Velasquez. "To me this song is a testimony of my life and the way I live...it's a blessing, because it's like you're going before the Lord humbling yourself...letting Him have His way." "Sometimes this song makes me cry because it's really a prayer from my heart: 'Lord, use me in any way that You can. Break me open like a flower in the rain, and pour Your living water into my soul, and use me. I want to be a vessel You work through.' Whether in a song or a book or a conversation, use me." -- Jaci Velasquez Flower in the Rain You are the One, there's no One else Who lifts me up and gives me water from the well. but there's a hole that seems to drain it all away. and once again I'm left in fear and doubt when all my strength is crying out. so, here I am again willing to be opened up and broken like a flower in the rain. tell me what have I to do to die and then be raised, to reach beyond the pain like a flower in the rain the evil wind, it blows a storm to rock my world just when think I'm safe and warm, i'm led astray far too easily, it's always hard for me to say I'm wrong, until I know I can't go on. so, here I am again willing to be opened up and broken like a flower in the rain. tell me what have I to do to die and then be raised, to reach beyond the pain like a flower in the rain i guess it just reminds me when I am broken down and grieving, and crying and not being able to understand what God is doing in my life, it is most likely a trial :). you know, those things you're supposed to rejoice in. what a breath of relief to know what I'm going through now is only returning me to God, but closer, clinging closer than before. with love, Chyna | ||
| Colleentinker |
Chyna, Thank you for this great thread! I currently have two songs which are especially meaningful to me. One is "I Will Never Be the Same Again". The phrase that always reduces me to tears is "I will never be the same again/I can never return; I've closed the doorÖ" The other is the Keith Green song "There Is a Redeemer". I may not have the words quite exactly right, but here they are as closely as I can get them: There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own son, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy one. Thank you, oh my Father, For giving us your son, And leaving your Spirit 'Till the work on earth is done. The melody is just wonderful. I've discovered praise music these last two years. It fills a spiritual spot that even classical music, which I love and was trained in, cannot fill. Colleen | ||
| Susan |
Chyna, what a great idea! I love popular music as well as the dear old hymns. One difference I've experienced as a Christian is that, hymns have a much more powerful impact on me, then they did in my SDA days. The following hymn recorded by Wes King is my all-time favorite! It is so beautiful to hear his version of this classic. "Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood, from Thy rib and side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, cleanse me of it's guilt and power. Not the labors of my hands, can fullfill Thy law's demands, could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone, And nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling, fowl like(?) to the fountain fly, wash me savior or' I die. While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, and see Thee on Thy judgement throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee. Oh let me hide myself in thee." If you hear him sing this song, it's very hard not to cry. (yes I can be a softie!)I play it almost everyday, and I get teary-eyed EVERY time! Empty-handed and clinging, Susan | ||
| Doug |
Even in my darkest hours, I found that Christian music somehow kept this tiny, most fragile connection to my Christian roots alive (even if they were Adventist). For more than 10 years I wanted nothing to do with Christianity (now because I realize that I was allergic to legalism and false doctrine). Somehow the music still reached something very deep and nibbled away at my acrimonious secular humanism. I remember watching TV one day and this commercial came on for a collection of contemporary Christian music called Songs of the Spirit. I remember thinking that I wished I was a Christian because then I could order this CD and really enjoy the music. (I think the real thought was, if this is all bogus, then why is this music so appealing-- leave it to a numskull to try to intellectualize the supernatural working of the King of the universe.) Not long after this, I heard the real gospel, became born again and free in Christ. I immediately went down to Borders and found several of the CD's from that series and bought them. I wept all the way home as listened to this amazing music in my car. Today, there is so much incredible music that it's very hard to pick a favorite but probably Steven Curtis Chapman is right up there at the top. | ||
| Chyna |
i totally agree about SCC, doug. in fact, i've been to two of his concerts. i love his older stuff, i'm not too well acquainted with the new stuff, but i love the song "Higher Ways." Higher Ways if I could only fly, I'd go up and look down from the sky, so I could see the bigger picture, and Lord if I could sit with you at your feet for an hour or two, I'm sure I'd ask too many questions coz there's so much going on down here that I must admit I just don't understand ... I don't understand Your higher ways, teach me to trust you Your higher ways, are not like mine Your higher ways, are the ways of the Father Guiding His children with His love i'm not sure if those are the exact lyrics but those are the ones i remember the best. | ||
| Darrell |
Chyna, yesterday I started to post under your other "cheery" thread, but then switched to the "eschatology" thread to avoid raining on your parade. But it looks like the "rain" was needed anyway. It reminds me of a song I hear on the "Worship" channel with a line: "It takes a little rain to keep the river running." Sorry, I don't know the whole song. | ||
| Sherry2 |
In my SDA days, the one group's lyrics that kept me from just giving up altogether on Christianity was PETRA. So many times, I would play their tapes or CD's when down and out, and come back up with the strength for the journey again. My most favorite group today would be Third Day. Eli is really awesome too. "I've Always Loved You" from Third Day I don't know how to explain it. But I know that words will hardly do Miracles with signs and wonders Aren't enough for me to prove to you Don't you know I've always loved you Even before there was time Though you turn away I'll tell you still Don't you know I've always loved you And I always will Greater love has not a man Than the one who gives his life to prove That he would do anything And that's what I'm going to do for you. | ||
| Chyna |
sherry heehee, i used to listen to petra too. the sweetest song my ex-b/f sent me (mp3) was Love Song by Third Day I've heard it said that a man will climb a mountain, just to be with the one he loves how many times has a broken man promised 'it has never been done.' I've never climbed the highest mountain but I've walked the hill of Calvary just to be with you I'd do anything there's no price I would not pay just to be with you I'd do anything I would give my life away ... i've heard it said that a man will cross the ocean just to be with the one he loves all of those dreams are an empty notion it can never be done. I've never swam the deepest ocean but i've walked upon the raging sea just to be with you I'd do anything there's no price I wouldn't pay, no, just to be with you, I'd give anything I would give my life away, just to be with you | ||
| Loneviking |
Petra? Brings back memories for me of the group before they replaced their lead singer. 'Stained Glass Windows' is one of my favorites from them.. 'Looking through rose colored, stained glass windows, never allowing the light to shine in keeping the room so dim, so dim'................and also, 'The Road to Zion' 'There is a road, inside of you. There is a road inside of me. No stumbling pilgrim in the dark, the road to Zions' in your heart. '.......... | ||
| Lydell |
What, we only get to pick ONE?! My number one favorite is "Your Beloved" written by Brent Helming. It is on one of the Vineyard worship CD's. Lord, it was you who created the heavens, Lord it was your hand, put the stars in their place. Lord, it is your voice, that commands the morning. Even oceans and their waves, bow at your feet. Lord, who am I compared to your glory? Lord, who am I compared to your majesty? I am your beloved, your creation, And you love me as I am, You have called me chosen For your kingdom, Unashamed to call me your own, I am your beloved. | ||
| Loneviking |
Yeah, just one? I can think of dozens! I guess my vote thought would have to go to 'I pledge allegiance to the Lamb'. "I pledge allegiance to the Lamb with all my strength with all I am I will seek to honor his commands I pledge allegiance to the Lamb." 'Now the years have come and the years have gone But the cause of Jesus still goes on And now our time has come to count the cost To reject this world, to embrace the cross And one by one let us live our lives for the One who died to give us life Till the trumpet sounds on the final day Let us proudly stand and boldly say'....I pledge allegiance to the Lamb........................... | ||
| Chyna |
*ahem* i believe I said: what are songs you sing that uplift your heart or create a deep yearning in your heart for God, or a recognition of your deep need for Him? :), I really like the song, "so close" so close, i believe, You're holding me now in Your hands, I belong, You'll never let me go... | ||
| Delstar |
I have a favorite but in the favorite I have a favorite verse. It's a promise to me that I know will happen "When we've been there 10,000 years, Bright shining as the sun; We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun." How anxious I am to leave this sin sick world and grasp the hand of Jesus and look into His wonderful face. How I want to thank Him for His precious gift. How very much I want to see my friends and family and know that there is no more sorrow, no grief....forever. Jesus Is Enough | ||
| Patti |
Hi, Del! A hearty Amen to you! You know, the old hymns say so much to me, so much more especially now that I understand the Gospel. For example: "I love to tell the story, For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting, To hear it, like the rest..." This is so true with me. I crave hearing someone else speak the Gospel. Another one: (From, "Beneath the Cross of Jesus") "Upon that cross of Jesus, my eyes at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me, And from my smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess: The wonder of redeeming love, and my unworthiness. I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss, My sinful self, my only shame, my Glory all, the cross." And last (for tonight at any rate): From "It is Well with My Soul" "My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin, not in part, but the whole Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Oh, my soul." The writers of the above words knew the Lord. I have no doubt about that. I only wish they could know how much their words have blessed the Christian world. | ||
| Delstar |
Praise to the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. Everlasting Glory is His. Jesus Is Enough | ||
| Susan |
Patti, I just love the old hymns too! The contemorary stuff is all great as well, but the language of the hymns is just so rich. I can't remeber if we sang "It is Well with My Soul" in the SDA church. Is it in their hymnal? And if it is how can they sing it, if they don't believe we have a soul? Just wondering??? This is one of the hymns that is so dear to my heart now as a Christian. The words are so powerful, that I'm almost in tears just reading them! Anyway, I can't imagine how SDA's could experience the same emotions with this hymn. They don't really have this assurance. How sad. Singing His praises on this beautiful day! Susan | ||
| Darrell |
Yes, "It is Well with My Soul" is in the Adventist Hymnal. I think the old hymnal did not include the chorus, though. | ||
| Chyna |
whenever you read about the authors of the hymns, you can't help but be *so* amazed at the tragedy in their lives and yet through it they praised God. :), Chyna | ||
| Lydell |
Okay, so this isn't strictly music, it's a praise report. Our church does an outreach of taking snacks to the hospital waiting rooms occassionally. Last Monday night, the Lord really had some business to do. Seems like half the people we met asked us to pray for them, instead of us making the offer first. As we were leaving the hospital, we met a couple who were leaving and talked to them briefly about why we were doing what we are doing. "We just wanted to demonstrate the free love of God in a practical way." They told us they had been out of church for awhile and the hubby expressed a hunger to get back into a fellowship. We invited them to visit at our church. However, the next day he ended up in the hospital slated for surgery. We went to visit and prayed for him. Man! The presence of God was so heavy in the room! Well, it turns out that the problem "corrected itself" (YEAH RIGHT!) and he was sent home the next day. He and his wife (and 4 friends) all came to visit our church Sunday night. God is so awesome! Now how's that for music to the heart?! | ||
| Chyna |
Praise God :)! God does awesome things everyday :). |
