Music Monday - In the End

One of the things I struggle with understanding most in my life is when things aren't fair or just.  I am one of those people who thinks right should always win, good things should always happen to good people and those who do wrong should pay for it.  Of course, this flies in the face of the reason Jesus came to earth.  If all of this happened, we wouldn't need him.  Still, I struggle with understanding when bad things happen to "good" people and good things happen to "bad" people.  I remind myself though that in the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  It's one of those things that helps me just let go of it.  Do y'all have verses or promises that help you with your struggles?  I can just say, "Well, one day they will know and I will understand" and I can move on.  

So for this reason, this song by Natalie Grant just hit home with me.  In the end, everything be all right!  No tears, no pain, no misunderstandings.  Every single person from kings to paupers will bow and proclaim Jesus as Lord.  What a day that will be!  

Music Monday - Grace Like Rain

It's so funny how God works.  Sometimes it seems He puts things in my path over and over so I can get it.  It has been that way lately with the topic of grace.  Last week I was really thinking about it.  How I need to show grace to others the way that Jesus shows it to me.  My feelings got really hurt last week by a comment made about me being a stay at home mom.  Then I was frustrated with another situation that seemed unfair to me.  I wanted to say things and change minds, but kept being reminded of the grace that Christ shows to me.  If He shows me such grace daily, (minute by minute really) how can I not show it to others, and why don't I?  I know I don't.  I expect others to live and act on the level that I think they should.  And do things the way I think they should do it.  So showing grace to others is something that I have been chewing on and working through.  I'm sure I will for the rest of my life, but I want to be better at it.  I want God's grace to be evident in my life by how I show His grace to others each day.  

Then yesterday at church our sermon was on grace and cheapening grace by not living in the fullness and righteousness of Christ after we have been shown the grace of God.  I think God is trying to get me to see something!  

Being gracious usually conjures up thoughts of southern belles, holding their tongues, saying "Bless their hearts" and showing impeccable manners even when they don't want to.  That's kind of what I think God has been showing me.  Being gracious means showing His grace to others, even when I don't agree or think they deserve it.  It's hard.  So very hard for someone like me who pretty much has an opinion on everything.  ;)  I'm working on it though.  If you see me not showing grace, will you please tell me?  Kindly of course, unless you want to give me another opportunity to try again!  :)

This song is one of my favorites about grace. It's a version of Amazing Grace.  And it's not new, but it's a long time favorite of mine.  

 Grace Like Rain  

What a thought, grace falling like rain.  Such a great way to think about it.  Perfect really, because we can't do anything about it.  It just falls on us.  Amazing.  

Music Monday

Music Monday is back from it's long summer's break.  I first heard of Andrew Peterson when his song Dancing in the Minefields came out.  It is a sweet song about being married and loving each other through the years.  So I was extra interested when I heard this song.  It is called Rest Easy and it speaks to me so strongly.  The lyrics say, 

You don't have to work so hard,

You can rest easy.

You don't have to prove yourself, 

You're already mine.  

The verses are powerful too.  I hope it speaks to you the way it does to me.  Reminding us that we can't do any more or any less to make God love us and accept us.  We're already His!  Doesn't that just make you want to cry with thanksgiving?

Andrew had a contest for a video for this song and this was the winning video.  You may need a kleenex nearby.  I did.

Music Monday

Today's song is one my kids like.  Being someone who loves words and wordplay, I have thought this song was very clever ever since I first heard it quite a while ago.  It's fun.

Music Monday

Yesterday our church celebrated our 125th anniversary.  We invited back all of our former pastors who are still living and any relatives of former pastors who have passed away.  We had pastors and relatives from all over come back to celebrate with us.  Several of the relatives were related to pastors who had pastored in the late 1800's or early 1900's.  

It was such a special service.  Our church's theme this year is Walk by Faith and all the former pastors spoke of walking by faith during their time at our church.  The stories of God's provision and direction were amazing.  We laughed and we cried.  I was so encouraged by these men of God who were still listening to Him and following Him late into their lives.  They were so sweet and encouraging to us.  

I started thinking about Music Monday and what I wanted the song to be.  After yesterday this song, which has always been one of my very favorites immediately came to mind.  I think the lyrics echo our service yesterday perfectly.  

Music Monday

Last night we watched some of the Grammy's.  It is always a spectacle and last night was no different.  Of course, much of the show was a tribute to Whitney Houston and her too early passing.  I wanted to post a Valentine's Day love song here and since it is appropriate I thought I would post Whitney's Greatest Love of All. I was in about 5th or 6th grade I think when this came out and thought it was the best song ever.  My prayer is that Whitney knew the truly Greatest Love of All, Jesus.  

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  I hope it is filled with much love.  

Music Monday

This week's Music Monday is a song that is one of my favorites right now. It is by Kari Jobe, and again, there isn't anything I've heard by her that I don't love. This song is so challenging and reminds us of what we are - the light. If we don't shine, no one will know who we belong to. I live up on a hill and as I was listening to this song I thought about how we can look up at the lights on a hill and see them shining in the dark. It's beautiful. Are we shining?