Monday Music Musings

Third Day,Newsboys,Amy Grant,Barlow GirlI live a musical life.  It’s a rare day that I don’t have a song playing in my head at least some of the time.  As I’ve previously written about, I enjoy music from many genres and in many styles.  Music energizes me and lifts my spirit and in many cases turns my heart towards my Heavenly Father in praise.

This particular song has been on my mind and in my heart a lot lately.  It’s as much a prayer as it’s a song and it’s beautiful in its simplicity.  Listen to the words and hear the important message of “Lead Me Lord” as sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  TBC choir and our faithful leader Milena, I dedicate this one to you.  Bless you for what you do.

“Lead Me Lord” is an amazing song and it is a great place to start our Monday music musing but it isn’t where we will stop.  We live in an amazing time where anyone with internet access and a computer has access to a huge selection of music.  I’ve been a music fan for most of my life so narrowing down just a few for a post like this is sometimes difficult.  But not today.

As I lay down to sleep last night the songs that I wanted to celebrate today were right there in my head.  I think the Lord knew I needed some encouragement and strengthening and was ministering to me even then.  Listening to these songs this morning has really touched me and excited me; it’s great to be a child of God!

I get tears in my eyes every time I listen to this next song.  Every time.  The words and the music together form a powerful combination of hope and praise that just makes my heart feel like it is about to burst with joy.  This is the Newsboys singing “He Reigns”.

The Newsboys and their music have meant a lot to me over the years.  I have plans to do a piece that covers their ministry and discography and to share more of the unique gift that God has given them.

One more for today.  This is a song from my formative teenage years and I can remember listening to this song as I was approaching high school graduation and how it filled me with a sense of purpose.  It’s a hopeful song that is sung with power and energy and it’s 90’s rock right to the core.  Most appropriately for Matthew515.com, this is White Heart singing “Light a Candle”.  I’m posting the lyrics for this one underneath the video because they form a message that still resounds to this day.

Lyrics:
A flame is rising up in you,
A spark is struck,
Electric blue,
For the hand of love has brushed your eyes, and now it’s love that shines,
Light a candle.

There’s a surge of hope within your heart and you want to play a bigger part for you heard the word that Jesus said,
You want to turn the world upon its head,
Now lift your hands up high into the sky and light a candle.

A city of faith can not be hid,
Let the fire burn on the holy wind,
So if you want to change your world and be a living flame, light a candle.

So, on a cold and moonless night, in your window place your candlelight, and let it burn so all can see your holy torch of liberty,
And pray for love, pray for peace,
Pray the world will be released from the fear that locks us in the dark, from the hate that pulls us all apart,
In the ashes there will rise a sacred flame,
Light a candle,
Light it up now.

You’re back may be against a wall but you’ve seen the love that conquers all,
You know that he can change your world, so be a living flame,
Light a candle.

Oh, light a candle,
Oh, light a candle.

You can change your world if you believe,
Do you know you can light up the world?
Light up, light up,
Light up, light up,
Light up, light up,
Light up the world.

Light a candle,
See love shine,
Light a candle,
Light a candle,
All Gods people, all God’s people,
Would you light a candle?
Let it shine,
Oh, let it shine,
Light a candle,
See the face of all the people, see them shine.

I hope that you have been sincerely blessed by the Monday Music Musing’s and that you go about your day encouraged and with a song in your heart.

Do you have a favorite song that really gets your spiritual juices flowing?  I’d love for you to share in the comment section below!

Today, I Just Want to be Thankful

thankfulLooking back, this has been a rather long and full week in ways that aren’t necessarily good.  Every day it seems like there has been some new problem or issue that required time and attention and it’s been all too easy to lose sight of what’s really important as I dealt with each day’s trial.

So today, I just want to acknowledge my Creator and His sovereign hand in my life.  I want to affirm that no matter what kind of storm is raging around me God is bigger, mightier, strong to save and an ever present help in times of trouble.  I want to cling ever tighter to His unchanging hand as He guides me over and through whatever problems I might face.

I believe Romans 8:28 where it says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”.  I testify that through it all God is working and moving and fixing all things according to His purpose and His plan and count myself blessed to be one of His children.

As I sit and write this morning it is quiet and cool and calm.  I have no idea what is in store for me or my family or anyone else.  But I do know the One who holds the past, present and future and I trust Him and in His will and His way.  I am secure and I have peace because I rest in Him.  So right now and right here I just want to be thankful and give praise to my Maker for being my God and my King.  Thank you, Lord, for being so good to me.

My Favorite Kind of Praise

In my last post I talked about a Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir song that we also sing in my church choir.  “Thou Oh Lord” is a powerful song of praise and proclamation of God’s goodness but it also happens to be a great song in its own right.

The older I get the more I realize how important music is to me as vehicle for praise and as a way to set my thoughts towards worshiping God.  These days I often listen to something inspirational as I eat breakfast and as a way to lead into my Quiet time.  The artists and music styles I choose are varied and diverse but they all have one thing in common.  They all point the listener’s thoughts towards God and knowing Him better.

Good influences are extremely important to the Christian and if we are to practice what Paul wrote about in Colossians 3:2 where he said “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth” then we need to surround ourselves with things that inspire, bless and teach us more about God and His ways.  Because music is so important and so influential to me I strive to listen to Christian focused music on a daily basis as part of my walk with the Lord.  Doing so greatly blesses me and also shields me from many of the negative ideas and emotions found in popular music today.

That’s not to say that I listen to 100% Christian music, because I don’t.  I just make sure that the secular music that I choose doesn’t distract me with bad language or imagery and ideals that are not pleasing to God.  Fortunately there’s an abundance of good Christian artists out there singing and making music in all kinds of genres.  I encourage you to take a look at the music that you listen to and ask some tough questions about how it is influencing you and if it is promoting a Godly life.  If your music isn’t encouraging you in that way then use the power of the internet and do some searching for some Christian based music in the style that you like or visit your local Christian bookstore where you can often sample various artists’ work and talk to folks who are familiar with the material.

To finish this post up I’m going to post another video that is still completely praiseworthy yet resides in a completely different genre than “Thou Oh Lord”.  This one is loud, fast and completely awesome and I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unbdMFgDEiM

Thou Oh Lord

praiseWe sing this song at my church and it has become one of my favorites. It’s not my usual type of music as I lean more towards rock, electronic and folk but the words and presentation are powerful.

Sometimes I start my day by listening to this song and then I am assured that whatever problems I might be facing God is bigger and stronger and is going to see me through until the end. Even if this song isn’t your type of music either I encourage you to listen and watch and be encouraged. This is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing “Thou Oh Lord”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU8J5l1f5IU&rel=0