Songs of Lent

Today I was in my car A.L.O.N.E.!! This is a VERY rare occurrence. Ezra is ALWAYS with me. But, my mother-in-law was kind enough to volunteer to watch the little tyke while I drove to pick up Derek and have a Monday night date just-the-two-of-us! Again, somewhat rare occurrence! As I was driving, the sun was shining, my sun roof was open to the fresh air and I had the radio blaring!!! Reminded me of my pre-parent, pre-married days when I could sing out as loud as I wanted!

Early in my walk, worship music spoke the loudest. I could totally connect with God, feel the Spirit's conviction and understand the depth of Christ's abundant love through really good worship music. It ruled my heart. I would go to bed at night listening to the soul stirring refrains of Shane & Shane.

Then, I married a worship leader...and worship became something different. I saw it as a job, an occupation, something that had strings attached. I became jaded. Now, my handsome worship leader didn't become jaded. I did. He led from the heart. I stopped singing from it.

Today, my spirit SANG from the heart again. Instead of Veggie Tales silly songs (for you parents), I heard precious truth in beautiful melody. I had fresh air and fresh perspective. I wanted to share some of the lyrics that "smacked me in the face in a pleasant way" today:

"Blessings" Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

"This Is Home" Switchfoot

I've got my memories
Always inside of me
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
I believe you now
I've come too far
No I can't go back
Back to how it was

Created for a place I've never known

[Chorus]
This is home
Now I'm finally where I belong
Where I Belong
Yeah, this is home
I've been searching for a place of my own
Now I've found it
Maybe this is home
This is home

Belief over misery
I've seen the enemy
And I won't go back
Back to how it was
And I got my heart set on what happens next
I got my eyes wide it's not over yet
We are miracles and we're not alone

And now after all my searching
After all my questions
I'm gonna call it home
I've got a brand new mindset
I can finally see the sunset
I'm gonna call it home

"In Christ Alone" The Getty's

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

-Anlee