There Will Be A Day

Last October I heard a song late one night while I was driving (I still even remember where I was!) and I took a moment to listen to the words. I had heard it quite a bit but never really listened. I came home that night and instantly tried to post it to our blog but it was too new at the time and it wasn't yet available to post. I hadn't checked in a while and when I heard it again this morning I decided to try again. It's now added to our playlist which plays in shuffle mode. So it will either come on in a bit or you can just skip ahead at the bottom of our blog.
It's been amazing how God has spoken through music in new ways since last fall. What a gift we have to listen to this music freely without fear of persecution.
Here are the words to the song:

Artist: Jeremy Camp
Song: There Will Be A Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face, But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long, You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step, Where you've walked out all alone

Troubled soul don't lose your heart, 'Cause joy and peace He brings
And the beauty that's in store, Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I can't wait until that day where the very one I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery, oh this is why, this is why I sing.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we`ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, He'll wipe away the stains, He'll wipe away the tears, He'll wipe away the tears...there will be a day.

If You Want Me To

I added a new song to our play list. It helped get me through some tough times in college and when I heard it the other day, the hope and reassurance it brought me then, came back just as strong. Its a reminder to me that God and His promises don't change just because our circumstances do.

Ginny Owens - If You Want Me To

The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I walk through the darkness If You want me to

The power of a song

There have been a few songs lately that have taken on new meaning and importance in the last few weeks. I'm adding them to our playlist so you can hear them too as you visit our blog. I am posting the lyrics to so you can read what they're saying. The last one I've put some "editorial comments" about in regards to a quote by the band's leader that helped me look at music in a new way.
(if you want the lyrics to the other songs we have on our playlist so far, you can see them in this post.)

Bring The Rain
Artist(Band):MercyMe

I can count a million times, people asking me how I can praise You with all that I've gone through. The question just amazes me, can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You?

Maybe since my life was changed, long before these rainy days, it's never really ever crossed my mind. To turn my back on you, oh Lord, My only shelter from the storm. But instead I draw closer through these times. So I pray,

Bring me joy, bring me peace, Bring the chance to be free, Bring me anything that brings You glory. And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain but if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain.

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above because you are much greater than my pain you who made a way for me suffering your destiny so tell me whats a little rain?

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Casting Crowns
Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by nowt hat You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say "Amen" and it's still raining.

As the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you". And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away

I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands. For you are who you are no matter where I am. Every tear I've cried you hold in Your hand. You never left my side. And though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm.

I remember when I stumbled in the wind, You heard my cry You raised me up again. My strength is almost gone, how can I carry on if I can't find You?

As the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you". And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills, Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, The Maker of Heaven and Earth.

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I heard a song a few weeks before Kristen was born and I even printed out the words because they caught me so off guard when I heard them, I wanted to read them and let them soak in. I found a quote by the band in an article and found it true of the struggle I have with wanting to worship and listen to worship music but having a heavy heart....how do I do that!? But God doesn't say come to me all who are light-hearted and at peace with life. No, He said, come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. So I will learn to worship in that place, with my heavy heart, waiting for His rest and peace.

Jesus said, 'True worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth.' When we sit down to write a song, essentially we are dealing with two things: Truth and the struggle to accept that truth. Emotion without truth is just sentimental and truth without emotion becomes cruel. Hopefully in our music, we are talking about the truth of God, but marrying that with the struggle that is within every person to believe. I think it's a struggle that will last for our whole lives." - Tenth Avenue North

Artist: Tenth Avenue North
Song: By Your Side

Why are you striving these days? Why are you trying to earn grace? Why are you crying? Let me lift up your face, Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love? Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough? To where will you go child, Tell me where will you run, To where will you run?

And I'll be by your side, Wherever you fall, In the dead of night, Whenever you call
And please don't fight These hands that are holding you, My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side, They swallowed the grave on that night, When I drank the world's sin So I could carry you in And give you life, I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you, I want you to know That I, I love you, I'll never let you go