Lead Me

Because this will be the last official song of this long blog series, I didn't want make it a Christmas song (you know, keep the variety going).

 Lead Me

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames, I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling, but on the inside

[Chorus] Oh, I can hear her saying
Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent, but on the inside

[Chorus]
So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way
To lead them

Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me 'cause I can't do this alone
-Sanctus Real

This song, though it is not necessarily a deep song (under a microscope it, as all songs, has it's flaws) there is a strong point in it.
The first time I heard this song, the songwriter's cry rang loudly, and it still does:

"So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way
To lead them"

This songwriter knows that all strength, guidance, and vision of a christian father/husband can only ever come from the Lord.
What a beautiful and humble cry of a man, a father, and a follower of Christ!

A friend and I are reading "It's {Not That} Complicated" (really good book!) and in one of the chapters, it talks about how our feminist culture, has in the past and is trying to, take over manhood, a.k.a dominate the role that men rightly have. But reading how weighty this role of being a leader is, makes taking it over seem silly. It is true that at the bottom of the feminist movement is the sin of Eve -wanting to be greater than her husband and God (two leaders/authorities in her life)- but to me, looking practically, being a leader would be tough.
Being a leader is being selfless, not "Chasing things that I could give up" . It's fighting against the evil things that creep in and root in families, similar to a shepherd of a flock. It's being responsible to proclaim Christ to your "flock", as well as those that surround you. It's late night talks (with an early morning the next day). It's being wise enough to make choices, show grace, protect, and yet be humble enough to know that all these things are from God.
Not to say that women are physically incapable; single moms can do it, but is this where women should be? There is a better, and customized, role that women belong in.

"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
" And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
    because she was taken out of Man.^{'"  {Genesis 2:18,22-23}}

All that to say, this song hits to home. No, really.

Oh, by the way, happy New Years!
Love,
       Caro :)

Gather Round Ye Children

November 2010 -driving in Pennsylvania on Thanksgiving day

  This is the first song on this album and it is a great start to a unique Christmas album. I don't usually like listening to new Christmas albums (I like to stick with the classics our family grew up with), but this album is not your typical Christmas album.

Gather Round Ye Children 

Gather ‘round, ye children, come
Listen to the old, old story
Of the pow’r of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man
Gather ‘round, remember now
How creation held its breath
How it let out a sigh
And it filled up the sky with the angels
Son of God, Son of Man

CHORUS

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but he made himself nothing
Well he gave up his pride and he came here to die
Like a man
Therefore God exalted him
To the place of highest praises
And he gave him a name above every name
That at the very name of Jesus, Son of God

CHORUS

We would sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but he made himself nothing
Well he gave up his pride and he came here to die
Like a man
So in heav’n and earth and below
Every knee would bow and worship
And ev’ry tongue would proclaim
That Jesus, He reigns with the angels

CHORUS

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God but he made himself nothing
Well he gave up his pride and he came here to die
Like a man
So gather ‘round, ye children come
Listen to the old, old story
Of the power of death undone
By an infant born of glory
- Andrew Peterson

Interestingly this song is based off of Philippians 2:6-11,

  " who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[a] being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

I love how this song captures the significance, but also the point of this "old, old, story" that is celebrated this month.
"An infant born of glory...Who was God but he made himself nothing".
This reminds me of this past chapter in my history which talked about the Gnostics who  claimed that Jesus did not really come down and take on human flesh, it just seemed like it. That got me thinking how if you tweek one little part of this story of redemption, the rest of it won't fit. If Jesus only seemed human, then he must have only seemed to suffer God's wrath, right? But then again, the Gnostics also believed that sin was not are real problem, but ignorance of our spiritual self/destiny. Which reminds me of this quote,
" So there are really only two religions in the world: a religion of human striving to ascend to God through pious works, feelings, attitudes, and experiences and the Good News of God's merciful descent to us in his Son." (Micahael Horton). 

Another neat aspect of this song is how the only mention of "me" is singing, rejoicing and praising the name of our beloved Savior! So, " gather ‘round, ye children come listen to the old, old story".
I hope you will appreciate and love this song as much as I do!

 





P.S Check out the new bands on
the Curly Designs page!
:)

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

 {March 2007, France}

"But the Lord is in his holy temple;
    let all the earth keep silence before him.”
{Habakkuk 2:20} 

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of Lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to His presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

-French Carol

Not your typical Christmas carol. Yet, I think this hymn carries something that is, more often than not, missed in this upcoming season. Food for thought..

A beautiful song based off of Hab 2:20. This has been previously posted on our blog, but...it's been awhile. The tune of this song matches the solemn but reverent lyrics of this hymn. Basically the hymn tells how Christ came down (verse 1), became a man ( verse 2), "That the powers of hell may vanish" (verse 3), and now read verse 4.... yeah, I like this hymn too.

How Sweet and Aweful

So...dare I again say that this is another a favorite song? But, 'tis very true.

Why? Well, read the lyrics:

How Sweet and Aweful

How sweet and aweful is the place
With Christ within the doors
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast
Each of us cry with thankful tongues
“Lord, why was I a guest?”

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice
And enter while there's room
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in
Else we had still refused to taste
And perished in our sin

Pity the nations, O our God
Constrain the earth to come
Send Thy victorious Word abroad
And bring the strangers home

We long to see Thy churches full
That all the chosen race
May with one voice and heart and soul
Sing Thy redeeming grace

         -Isaac Watts (1707)

 Note that the "aweful" is not awful. It's not a horrendous awful, but an awesome aweful.
Yes the Lord may be awful in the sinner's eyes, but He is aweful in the eyes of the saved.
Just a side note.
 From verse 1, "While everlasting love displays, the choicest of her stores ", we can't even comprehend "everlasting", let alone "everlasting love". Yet that is Christ's love, everlasting.
"Each of us cry with thankful tongues, “Lord, why was I a guest?”", only recently has this rang so true, to me, but it has always been true for every soul who has been bought with the blood of Christ.

  Verse three continues this thought with such tenderness. In the second to last verse, "Send Thy victorious Word abroad, and bring the strangers home", we see that the author is pleading for the gospel to be spread, bringing those "Chosen race" into God's flock.

 The last verse slides into home base with, " May with one voice and heart and soul, sing Thy redeeming grace" -similar to The Church's One Foundation,- singing as one body, worshiping our Savior, and bringing Him glory.
In my perilous Google search, I came upon this cool-looking blogger, and some of his thoughts on the fifth verse.

All To Us

{2006}

 Looking at this song, reminded me of "O Church Arise". There is this time of waiting, but this time is not a free license for worldliness and idleness. Instead," Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the Church, let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns, let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives, we believe You're all to us". What a beautiful picture of what Christ's church should be. 

All To Us

[Verse 1] Precious cornerstone, sure foundation
You are faithful to the end
We are waiting, on You, Jesus
We believe You're all to us

[Chorus] Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the Church
Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns
Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives
We believe You're all to us

[Verse 2] Only Son of God sent from Heaven
Hope and mercy at the cross
You are everything, You're the Promise
Jesus, You are all to us

You're all to us
You're all to us
You're all to us
Yes, You are

When this passing world is over
We will see You face to face
And forever we will worship
Jesus, You are all to us

-Chris Tomilin

Not what My Hands Have Done

The Grand Canyon

Another favorite -actually, I think all of these songs have been my favorite- that gives such a poignant reminder of "not what my hands have done". A dear friend of ours from church pointed out how by just reading the beginning of each verse there is such a beautiful picture of redemption.

 Let's see, "Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;" no works righteousness, self-help, can save us. Not just plain save us, but save, " guilty soul" us. Guilty before who? God. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight," {Psalm 51:4}. 

" And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light." Isn't funny to think of all the things the Bible records God said and it happened? That may seem like such a vast and childish thought at first, but go read and ponder. This same Lord that has spoken so much, is the same Lord that, "can speak to me of grace;". In this second verse is the solution to the first verse, "Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;"

  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." {2 Corinthians 4:5-6}

This third verse pretty much fly's in the face of all other thinking (christian or not), "Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;"  It is Christ, and only Him, that can clean our slate, erase sin, and clear the guilty soul. His sinless life in a sinful and fallen world was, and is, significant. Therefore His death was just as significant because He took on God's full wrath, though there was no sin in Him, yet, "We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God." {Romans 6:9-10} It is Christ's who saves us. Where have we gotten the idea that there is a corner of us that is untainted by sin to choose God? There is nothing here about what we do besides sinning (but later praising and loving).

"I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine; ", the  sinner is now resting in the loving and gracious arms of the Savior that he has been speaking of. Not only does he rest in, but also blesses the, "Christ of God". This Christ of God, connects to same God that the sinner can't make peace with in verse 1. Also there is such firm trust and reassurance in this verse.

This last verse, "I praise the God of grace; I trust His truth and might;" is a continued growth from the previous verse. Reminds me of the first question in one of our church's catechism, "What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." He truly is The All in All, the great I AM, and Lord! And He, "calls me His, I call Him mine, My God, my joy and light." This last verse kinda sums up the hymn, reminding, that is God who saves, pardons, and loves. It is only through Christ that we love and forgive. 
"  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 
{1 John 4:9-10}

Not What My Hands Have Done

Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;
Your power alone, O Son of God, can all my sin erase.
No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;
No strength but that which is divine can bear me safely through.

Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest, And set my spirit free.

I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt; I bury in His tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear, each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace; I trust His truth and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine, My God, my joy and light.
’Tis He Who saveth me, and freely pardon gives;
I love because He loveth me, I live because He lives.

-Horatius Bonar

Lord Most High

As the picture states, it's from 1994!

Not my most favorite artist's, but these are some songs I enjoy -actually Mica prompted me to post Lord Most High, because it reminded her of her time in Dubai- and they have very worshipful lyrics.

Lord Most High

From the ends of the earth (From the ends of the earth)
From the depth of the sea (From the depth of the sea)
From the height of the heaven (From the height of the heaven)
Your name we raise

From the hearts of the weak (From the hearts of the weak)
From the shouts of the strong (From the shouts of the strong)
From the lips of all people (From the lips of all people)
Your song we raise Lord

Throughout the endless ages
You have be crowed with praises
Lord most high
Exalted in every nation
Your're soverign of all creation
Lord most high
Be magnified

-Hillsong United

There isn't much more to note of this song, it's all there! Here is a little snippet of another song:

I Will Lift My Eyes

"God, my God, I cry out:
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near; calm my fear
 And take my doubt

[Intro]Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

[Chorus]
I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You "

-Bebo Norman

When I read the first few verses in Psalm 121, "I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth. "

I'm always reminded of this song's chorus (and vice versa). I love how the rest of this Psalm continues -kinda like this song does, but, you know, different-  with pointing up to the Lord, "I will lift my eyes", and ends with the comforting words of,

"The Lord will keep, your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore." 

Love,
    Caro :)

In The Valley

 

In The Valley

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

[CHORUS]
Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

[chorus]

                                                                         -Bob Kauflin  [Sovereign Grace Ministries]

This eloquent song is based off of the book of puritan prayers, called, The Valley of Vision. Listening to this song and reading this prayer (though not at the same time), I always want to say, "yes, Lord, what he said, that's what I meant."

"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;

 hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

 Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, 

that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, 

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, 

that to have nothing is to possess all,

 that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

 that to give is to receive, 

 that the valley is the place of vision. 

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; 

let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley."

                                                                                 -The Valley of Vision (edited by Arthur Bennett)

P.S Check out this new album that's coming 

out this week!

O, Church Arise

Well, this is has become quite an inconsistent blog series. But I still have songs to share and a few more words to say.
This is a beautiful song that we sung one time last year at church and have heard numerous times since then. I have found this song to be very encouraging and uplifting. Take this part for instance:

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,

But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole

 A few Sunday's ago, our church was going through Revelation 2: 8-11 and in verse 10, there is a transition from "jew" to "the devil" in the context of how the christians at the church in Smyrna will continue to suffer. That transition really put things in there proper light --our battle really lies with satan, he is our enemy. We do not, "wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places"{Ephesians 6:12}.
All reason for self-anger, vanishes.  Mankind is at enmity with God, storing up wrath for themselves, they need the gospel! That is "Our call to war".
Lastly, this song always reminds me of this passage in Hebrews 12:1-2,

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  

O, Church Arise

O church, arise and put your armor on;

 Hear the call of Christ our captain;

For now the weak can say that they are strong

In the strength that God has given.

With shield of faith and belt of truth

We'll stand against the devil's lies;

An army bold whose battle cry is "Love!"

Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,

But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole

We will fight with faith and valor.

When faced with trials on ev'ry side,

We know the outcome is secure,

And Christ will have the prize for which He died—

An inheritance of nations.

Come, see the cross where love and mercy meet,

As the Son of God is stricken;

Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,

For the Conqueror has risen!

And as the stone is rolled away,

And Christ emerges from the grave,

This vict'ry march continues till the day

Ev'ry eye and heart shall see Him. 

So Spirit, come, put strength in ev'ry stride,

Give grace for ev'ry hurdle,

That we may run with faith to win the prize

Of a servant good and faithful.

As saints of old still line the way,

Retelling triumphs of His grace,

We hear their calls and hunger for the day

When, with Christ, we stand in glory.

- Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (2005)

From what I've heard from these songwriters, they are pretty solid in there lyrics. Check out their site, with all the resources you could want.

Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

This hymn was our church's hymn of the month for April. It was funny, just a month before, Elena had started listening to this song "Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder", from Jars of Clay's Redemption album. Now the tunes are very different -it took a little bit to adjust- but the words are still good!

Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

Let us love and sing and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior’s name!
He has hushed the Law’s loud thunder,
He has quenched mount Sinai’s flame:
He has washed us with His blood,
He has brought us nigh to God.

Let us love the Lord Who bought us,
Pitied us when enemies,
Called us by His grace, and taught us,
Gave us ears, and gave us eyes:
He has washed us with His blood,
He presents our souls to God.

Let us sing, though fierce temptation
Threatens hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown:
He Who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God.

Let us wonder, grace and justice
Join, and point to mercy’s store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles, and asks no more:
He Who washed us with His blood,
Has secured our way to God.

Let us praise, and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high;
Here they trusted Him before us,
Now their praises fill the sky:
“Thou have washed us with Your blood,
  Thou art worthy, Lamb of God!”

                             -John Newton

While I was lyric searching, I stumbled across another long but insightful looking article on this song. I find it hard for me to sit in front of the computer and just read, for a long period of time (office life is not the life for me), but what I read -in particular, the "Let Us Worship" section- was good. Tell me what you think, if you read any of it.
:)

Perfect Peace

Perfect Peace

Thou will keep me

In perfect peace when

my mind is stayed on you

Peace flowing like a river

Peace never to be stolen

Peace that you give

is not of this world

my mind is stayed on you 

                     -John Waller

"You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you. 

 Trust in the Lord forever,

    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Isaiah 26:3-4

 

"Empty me of the selfishness inside.

 Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride.

 And any foolish thing my heart holds to.

Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with You

'Cause everything is a lesser thing

 compared to You..."

                                                                                                   -From "Empty Me" Chris Sligh                                    

The Means of Grace are in My Hand

I found this hymn in the book, A Portrait of Paul (excellent book which I highly recommend).  In the particular chapter the hymn came from, the authors wrote to their fellow pastors about the subject of the apostle Paul's ministry -Christ.

"It is Christ alone whom we are to preach and Christ only who can enable us, by His Spirit, to preach in this way. Do you feel the weight of this duty? Good! Then we are ready to fall on our faces and plead with God to equip us in mind and heart and soul and strength to serve His glory by exalting His Son, Jesus Christ."

The whole book is filled with great quotes, I could hardly stop underling! It is a great book for church member and pastors. We went through this book as a small group study, at a friend's house.

The Means of Grace are in My Hand 

The means of grace are in my hand
The blessing is at God’s command
Who must the work fulfill;
And though I read, and watch and pray,
Yet here the Lord directs my way
And worketh all things still.

I cannot speak a proper word,
Nor think aright, but from the Lord
Preparing heart and tongue;
In Nature I can see no good,
But all my good proceeds from God,
And does to grace belong.

I see it now, and do confess
My utter need of Jesus’ grace,
And of His Spirit’s light;
I beg his kind and daily care;
O Lord, my heart and tongue prepare
To think and speak aright.

Prepare my heart to love thee well,
And love Thy truth which doth excel,
And love thy children dear;
Instruct me how to live by faith,
And feel the virtue of Thy death,
And find Thy presence near.

Prepare my tongue to pray and praise,
To speak of providential ways,
And heavenly truth unfold;
To strengthen well a feeble soul,
Correct the Wanton, rouse the dull,
And silence sinners bold.

           - John Berridge     

I stumbled upon a christian blogger from the Philippines who had posted this hymn. Tell me what you think.                                      

The Valley Song

"The Valley song" really covers, essentially, what this song is about. There are times when we go through the valley but,

"I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy"

I've always like the name "Jars of Clay", as it is based off of the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to know that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." Actually, just read the entire chapter, it's good. :)

The Valley Song

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I'm crying out to You

[Chorus]

I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren't listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

[Chorus] 2x

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

[Chorus]

-Jars of Clay (2003)

The tune to this is, like a lot of Jars of Clay's music, different. 

Allow me to make note about these composers/artists that I have been linking to:

"...just because we link to them does not mean that we endorse everything on the site.
The final authority is the holy and applicable, word of God..."

Likewise, I like a lot of Jars of Clay's music, but I don't necessarily agree with everything they write and believe.

                  

Blest Be The Tie That Binds

A beautiful hymn about the unity we have with one another, being bonded together by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It reminds you of that "forward look", of being together "through all eternity". It is just a gooood hymn.
This was our church's hymn of the month last year; another Baptist Trinity Hymnal find.

" The fellowship of kindred minds, is like to that above...
" We share each other's woes, our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows the sympathizing thing. "



John Fawcett, was a Baptist minister (1765) of a tiny church in Wainsgate, York (UK). He served that tiny church for fifty-four years. Though there was one noted instance where he accepted a pastoral position at a larger church in London, and would have sufficiently provided for his family, but after preaching his farewell sermon, his loving congregation changed his mind, and he stayed. He wrote many other hymns (though none which I'm familiar with) and recieved a D.D degree.
He died at age seventy- eight in 1817.

Blest Be the Tie that Binds

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.

-John Fawcett (1782)  

Note: I'm fully aware that there is no April 32nd, but you must forgive my tardiness.         :)

                                            

For the Love of God

I downloaded a free (and legal) album last year, off of Noisetrade, called Far Country. I'll admit, I had to listen to it a few times to get into it, but not I really have enjoyed a appreciated the songs. My particularly favorite songs are: Far Country, Mystery of Mercy, The Queen of Iowa, and

For the Love of God 

Yesterday we drove all night to Pittsburgh
Jamie laid her head down in the back
My little boys asleep beside their sister
They’re the best I have

I brought an old recording of your father
He was teaching men and women how to love
He carried on about his sons and daughters
Growing up

As we drove across Ohio
At the dawning of the day
I could hear the tune of truth was in his voice
And it felt just like I knew him
Though I never saw his face
Maybe that’s because I know his boys
Who live their lives

[Refrain]For the love of God
In the name of Jesus
The groom who gave his life
To love his bride

I know you thought you’d never find a woman
I never thought I’d have to write this song
But here I am and there you are together
After all

You felt like you were buried
In a city underground
All broken bits and pieces of the past
And somewhere she was searching
On the surface of the mound
She was digging for a treasure that would last
Now she’s giving you her heart

[Refrain]

Now, love is not a feeling in your chest
It is bending down to wash another’s feet
It is faithful when the sun is in the west
And in the east

It can hurt you as it holds you
In its overwhelming flood
Till only the unshakeable is left
“This new command I give you,” He said,
“Love as I have loved”
So brother, love her better than yourself
And give her your heart

[Refrain]

                                                        -Andrew Peterson (2005)

I am rather confident that you are familiar with Andrew Peterson (if not check out the links), because I know I've mentioned him more than twice. So now I can add one more post to my list.

:)