I’m enjoying the new album from For King and Country! This Youtube clip is from a few days ago. 40 minutes of time well spent. The messages of their songs are quite beautiful!
From the clip details:
We’re bringing our brand new album straight to your living room! Join us for ‘WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?’ THE WORLDWIDE SPECIAL: a global streaming event from the Mojave desert🏜🎶 in partnership with Convoy of Hope benefiting Ukrainian refugees.
Donate to support Ukrainian refugees by visiting: convoy.org/forUKRAINE or text to give “forUKRAINE” to 68828 Stream/download WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?: https://forkingandcountry.lnk.to/what…
I enjoyed this song “Dawn” by Rebecca St James and brother, Luke Smallbone (from For King & Country). The line “Redeem this winter for your good” sticks with me – an assurance that, yes, God’s paths and seasons are not usually the ones we would choose. . . BUT he holds them and uses them for his purposes in his world, through us. Blessings!
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
Lord, I’m so tired in this fight Tired of waking up with no end in sight I feel I’ve got so little left I know that I’ve come to the end of myself Help me hold on Cling to You ’til I see the sun
Held by Your love, I sing alleluia You’re lifting my heart as I lift my hands Safe in Your love, I sing alleluia You’re healing my heart as I lift my hands
Water the garden of my life With every sorrow, every tear that I’ve cried Redeem this winter for Your good Lord, show Your power as only You could
Help me hold on I’ll cling to You ’til I see the sun, oh-oh
Held by Your love, I sing alleluia You’re lifting my heart as I lift my hands Safe in Your love, I sing alleluia You’re healing my heart as I lift my hands
Even in the darkness, even when it’s hardest You are faithful and You bring the dawn On every mountain, I’ll sing it even louder You are faithful and You bring the dawn
Greetings all, just quickly want to share an album I’m now playing on repeat. It is based on CS Lewis’ writings, with overtones of Narnia! There is so much to explore. Enjoy!
Last year John Piper penned a great little book at the start of the pandemic, and 12 months later his words still ring true:
“The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ.” (77)
“Disasters are a gracious summons from God to repent and be saved while there is still time. . . . I think that’s God’s message for the world in this coronavirus outbreak. He is calling the world to repentance while there’s still time.” (79–80)
“What God is doing in the coronavirus is showing us—graphically, painfully—that nothing in this world gives the security and satisfaction that we find in the infinite greatness and worth of Jesus. This global pandemic takes away our freedom of movement, our business activity, and our face-to-face relations. It takes away our security and our comfort. And, in the end, it may take away our lives. The reason God exposes us to such losses is to rouse us to rely on Christ. Or to put it another way, the reason he makes calamity the occasion for offering Christ to the world is that the supreme, all-satisfying greatness of Christ shines more brightly when Christ sustains joy in suffering.” (82)
The quotations above are courtesy of a Gospel coalition post (link below). But don’t forget you can access Piper’s books as PDFs anytime. Follow the link https://www.desiringgod.org/books/coronavirus-and-christ. It is worth reading for yourself. Blessings!
“Like a warrior in battle he will lead his people home . . . “
Here is a new song from Navigate Worship – a song written and performed by a collaboration of musicians at my church! Lyrics below the Spotify link. Had a great time adding some harmonies along the way. Enjoy! (Ps. Lyric video coming soon – will post once available).
The One and Only God
Lord we lift our hearts to you
Lord we recommit our hearts and minds anew
Lord teach us of your ways and let us look upon your face
And fill us with your words
The God who sits above it all
The God whose kingdom shall remain and never fall
The God whose name is worthier than any other name
The God we call our own
Servant King, light of all the earth
Shout his praises and endless worth
Like a warrior in battle he will lead his people home
The one and only God
Oh our one and only God
Lord you lead us through the flames
And you promise we will not be set ablaze
Through waters and through rivers we will not be swept away
For by our side you’ll stay
The God whose word defines all things
The God whose mightier than any earthly king
Who stretches out the heavens giving breath to everything
We kneel before you Lord
Chorus
Almighty, who is there like him
Holy, no other rock, the one and only God
Oh our one and only God
Lift our voices, praise his precious name
Holy, and all fall short of the one and only God
Oh our one and only God
(chorus x2)
Performed by Navigate Worship, Written by Ashleigh Willett, Ross Tenni; Source: 2241884 Records DK
Here is a powerful song from Matt Redman’s new live album released at the start of 2020, “Let There Be Wonder”. Lyrics are in the YouTube link. Enjoy! I think this is the standout song from the album. Let me know if there are others you have on repeat!
1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)
This song from Mercy Me is a great encouragement in the midst of the weariness and challenges which 2020 has brought us. The film clip is also quite a unique and creative one! I trust you find these words from the bridge an especially beautiful glimpse of the joy of heaven to come.
“I know that the cross has brought heaven to us But make no mistake there’s still more to come When our flesh and our bone are no longer between Where we are right now and where we’re meant to be When all that’s been lost has been made whole again When these tears and this pain no longer exist. . .”
Are you disappointed Are you desperate for help You know what it’s like to be tired And only a shell of yourself
Well you start to believe You don’t have what it takes ‘Cause it’s all you can do Just to move much less finish the race But don’t forget what lies ahead
Almost home Brother it won’t be long Soon all your burdens will be gone With all your strength Sister run wild, run free Hold up your head Keep pressing on We are almost home
Well this road will be hard But we win in the end Simply because of Jesus in us It’s not if but when So take joy in the journey Even when it feels long Oh find strength in each step Knowing heaven is cheering you on
We are almost home Brother it won’t be long Soon all your burdens will be gone With all your strength Sister run wild, run free Hold up your head Keep pressing on We are almost home Almost home Almost home
I know that the cross has brought heaven to us But make no mistake there’s still more to come When our flesh and our bone are no longer between Where we are right now and where we’re meant to be When all that’s been lost has been made whole again When these tears and this pain no longer exist No more walking we’re running as fast as we can Consider this our second wind
Almost home Brother it won’t be long Soon all your burdens will be gone With all your strength Sister run wild, run free Hold up your head Keep pressing on We are almost home Almost home Almost home We are almost home Almost home Almost home We are almost home
Here is an entertaining yet poignant look at our world right now, which also takes us back to the social isolation in Jesus’ day. (Highly recommend…made by a friend of mine and played in our Good Friday livestream.)
Words, words, words... well said Hamlet! A little blog to go off on tangents within the worlds of history and literature that interest me. From the Tudors to Tom Hardy's Tess, or from the Wars of the Roses to Wuthering Heights, feel free to browse through my musings to pick up extra ideas and points for discussion!
sevennotesofgrace 