Love for Lyrics: Do Something

"Do Something" by Matthew West

I woke up this morning

Saw a world full of trouble now

Thought, how’d we ever get so far down

How’s it ever gonna turn around

So I turned my eyes to Heaven

I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”

Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of

People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery

The thought disgusted me

So, I shook my fist at Heaven

Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, I created you”

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking

About how we are God’s hands and feet

But it’s easier to say than to be

Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves

It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you

But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire

I don’t want a flame, I want a fire

I wanna be the one who stands up and says,

“I’m gonna do something”

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something

We are the salt of the earth

We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)

But we’re never gonna change the world

By standing still

No we won’t stand still

No we won’t stand still

No we won’t stand still

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something [x3]

Last night I attended a meeting a my church about how we can help refugees adjust to their new lives in our city.  It's something I've been thinking about since the Syrian Refugee Crisis started and one of my friends on Facebook started posting about how to help refugees in Memphis, the city where she lives.  
Sometime later I saw a news piece on a group that had purchased baby carriers and was greeting ferries of refugees and showing them how to wear the baby carriers and helping the mothers and fathers secure their children as they prepared to walk another 40 miles to safety.  My heart broke as I imagined the terror and relief that these parents must be facing on this journey to be met with people holding safety for their children.  I wished then that I had the means to provide even 1 baby carrier for them.
Then my church said they were bringing Restablish Richmond to our church to talk about how we could help refugee in our neighborhood and I knew my prayers had been answered!  I was so excited to attend last night!
Everything from last nights meeting just made me want to DO SOMETHING!  To get involved!  To help these people that are forced to flee their country!  This is what I want to do! To help in any way that I can.  

Love for Music: "Hello My Name Is"

"Hello, My Name Is" by Matthew West

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh

Hello, my name is regret

I’m pretty sure we have met

Every single day of your life

I’m the whisper inside

That won’t let you forget

Hello, my name is defeat

I know you recognize me

Just when you think you can win

I’ll drag you right back down again

‘Til you’ve lost all belief

Oh, these are the voices. Oh, these are the lies

And I have believed them for the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free

"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh

I am no longer defined

By all the wreckage behind

The one who makes all things new

Has proven it’s true

Just take a look at my life

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free

"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh

What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children

I am a child of the one true King

What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free

"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing

Hello, my name is child of the one true King

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh

I am a child of the one true King

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh (ah oh),

Whoa oh ah oh ah oh oh...

I've had this song saved, picked out for a post for a while, but it just kept getting pushed to a back burner. Today as I had an identity crisis at work over what my name is and whether or not I can use Jesyka on a personal delivery... I knew this would be the post for tonight. 

We can choose to live with regret and defeat, and they will surely rule our lives. I know that there are days when I look back at something I did and I just have to wonder what was I thinking? The more I dwell on it, the easier to stay down, the easier to fall next time. It's such a vicious cycle and one the devil knows how to play well. 

But if you take that step to say I am a child of God, I rise above this, I can do this! This power that stands behind you is amazing, awe-inspiring!  

When I hear this song on the radio, my heart fills with love, hope, joy, a wonder that of all the people, with my past, that I was chosen to be a child of God. That is a feeling that is beyond all cupboard and there is nothing like it in this world! 

So it doesn't matter if my name is Jessica or Jesyka or Swykes or Cee, what does matter is that my name is child of the one true King and I have been saved! 

Love for Music: "Trust and Obey"

1. Hymn: Trust and Obey
2. 
   
3. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
   What a glory He sheds on our way!
   While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
   And with all who will trust and obey.
   • Refrain:
     Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
     To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
4. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
   But His smile quickly drives it away;
   Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
   Can abide while we trust and obey.
5. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
   But our toil He doth richly repay;
   Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
   But is blessed if we trust and obey.
6. But we never can prove the delights of His love
   Until all on the altar we lay;
   For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
   Are for them who will trust and obey.
7. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
   Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
   What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
   Never fear, only trust and obey.

Growing up in my grandparents church, I learned hymns very different from the music I listen to today. This was one of my favorites. I can still remember the hymn number, #32. I felt it a very appropriate song for trust being such a strong word for me right now. 

There is such a combination in this song of relieving of our stresses, of doing His work, of being in community. It is just a simple song that reminds us to trust and obey the Lord.

Love for Music: "Pray About Everything"

"Pray About Everything" by Luke Bryan

Time is tight and money's short

River's up and the weatherman

He's calling for another storm

Pressure's on, the margins thin

Gotta figure out a fix for this awful fix I'm in

Oh Mama, what am I gonna do

She said, "Child there's only one thing you can do"

[Chorus:]

Don't worry 'bout nothing

Let it go, see what tomorrow brings

Don't worry 'bout nothing

Pray about everything

Pray about everything

Love is blind, fate don't care

Lose your grip

And your balloons go sailing off into the air

Oh Mama, what am I gonna do

She said, "Child,there's only one thing you can do"

[Repeat Chorus]

Yeah take a walk, take a breath,oh give it all a rest

Take a cane pole to the fishing hole and catch a couple fish

And just like that toss'em back and make a little wish

Don't worry 'bout nothing

Let it go, see what tomorrow brings

Don't worry 'bout it stress about it, fret about it

Don't worry 'bout nothing

Let it go, see what tommorrow brings

Don't worry 'bout nothing

Pray about everything

Yeah, pray about everything

The worries of the world are many. Money, relationships, weather, work, traffic, all of it can be a burden and to many people it is. 

Christians have a secret, only it's not such a secret. We pray. They more we pray, the less we worry. We know God has it. 

Yes, I am human. Yes, I still worry. But it is because *I* don't want to give up my control. If I were strong enough to give Him complete control of my life and trust that everything would be fine, I would have no worry. But I'm not, so I worry. 

I know I'm not perfect. Add it to the list of things I'm working on...

I pray about a lot of things, the big things, the little things and everything in between. Praying is a conversation between God and you, an intimate conversation, one that He desperately wants to hear regularly. It doesn't have to be big and fancy. It doesn't have to be spoken. It can be a mental conversation, it can be written. What is important is that you talk to Him so that you can learn to hear His voice. 

I have been changing up my personal prayer time lately, but my favorite time to pray is still when I am in my car driving my hour commute. To just talk to Him as I drive down the road, saying good morning and thank you for this day. Especially when I used to drive at sunrise and sunset. What a beautiful time to pray! 

Take a moment today to talk to your Father, say thank you for today and let go of your worries. 

Love for Music: "Reckless"

"Reckless" by Jeremy Camp

Everytime I try to play it safe
Holding back just a little part of me
I find myself forgetting what
I say that I believe
The promise of Your Word
Is all I need
I'll lay my life down
And give it up
I'll give it up

[Chorus:]
I wanna be reckless
Cause You are endless
I wanna be shameless
And shout Your greatness
I will not be afraid
To surrender my way
And follow who You are
I wanna be reckless, reckless

I will lose my life
And just let go
Because I know this world is not my home
With fearless faith
I won't be moved
Unshakeable inside Your truth
You laid Your life down
And gave it up
So I'll give it up

[Chorus]

I won't waste any more time
My life's Yours it is not mine
Use me Lord no matter what's at stake

Do you find yourself holding back? Playing it safe? Afraid? I'll admit that this is something that I am struggling with. Witnessing my faith is not easy for me. I keep trying and over the last year I have actually spoken to complete strangers about my faith several times. I still have a ways to go until I don't feel 'shoved out of my box,' but I am continuing to try.
I know there are different ways for everyone to be 'reckless' with their own faith and I know that person to person witnessing may not be mine. But I want to try.
Years ago, while I was living in Florida. I was attending a small Methodist church some distance from where I was staying. Don't ask me how I happened to decide to attend this one. I know it wasn't the closest, but the people were friendly, if not a bit older than me. A small group invited me out for Sunday brunch after service. It was just a very welcoming place.
The lady I was staying with was not very religious. She had attended services with her husband somewhere years before, but no longer had any interest.
I would come home Sunday afternoons with stories of service and brunch and all these people I had met. By the end of the summer, she started attending with me and going to Sunday brunch and the older crowd was just the right age for her to fit in.
A couple weeks later, I had to go home for college, but she kept attending. She said that my enthusiasm and spirit had renewed her own vigor.
The energy and high I received from that is something I cannot begin to describe. I only know that someday I hope to bring someone else to the Lord so that I can have His blessing for sharing His word recklessly once again.
How are you being reckless today?

Love for Music: "Go Rest High on That Mountain"

"Go Rest High On That Mountain" by Vince Gill

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain

[Chorus:]
Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and Son

Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
I wish I could see the angels faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

[Chorus]

Earlier today, a man and a woman joined Jesus in his eternal love. They now have the blessing of his never ending presence and peace.
I send prayers for their families and co-workers that they also find love and peace in a time of tragedy.

I know this song isn't perfect for the situation ... But the chorus is one that makes me think of peace and rest well earned after our work here is finished.  Amen

Love for Music: "Broken Hallelujah"

"Broken Hallelujah" by The Afters

I can barely stand right now.
Everything is crashing down,
And I wonder where You are.

I try to find the words to pray.
I don't always know what to say,
But You're the one that can hear my heart.

Even though I don't know what your plan is,
I know You're making beauty from these ashes.

I've seen joy and I've seen pain.
On my knees, I call Your name.
Here's my broken hallelujah.

With nothing left to hold onto,
I raise these empty hands to You.
Here's my broken hallelujah.

You know the things that have brought me here.
You know the story of every tear.
‘Cause You've been here from the very start.

Even though I don't know what your plan is,
I know You're making beauty from these ashes.

I've seen joy and I've seen pain.
On my knees, I call Your name.
Here's my broken hallelujah.

With nothing left to hold onto,
I raise these empty hands to You.
Here's my broken hallelujah.

When all is taken away, don't let my heart be changed.
Let me always sing Hallelujah
When I feel afraid, don't let my hope be erased
Let me always sing Hallelujah.
Let me always sing Hallelujah.

I will always sing
I will always sing
Here's my broken hallelujah.

Tonight was the last night of our Hebrews bible study and we did a wrap up / review. As I was driving home, this song came on and while I don't recall having ever heard it before, I found myself singing along with it, feeling the words and the meaning.
This summer it has amazed me at the number of times I've seen God's messages echoed from church to Sunday School to Thursday night to individual study and tonight was no exception.
This song talks about the struggle of life and brokenness and praising through it all. About not knowing what to say or how to pray, but still praising.
Everything that this song talks about, we talked about tonight.... When people ask me, how do you know God exists..... THIS..... this....... This is how I know..... When I know the words to a song I've never heard before, when they touch my soul, when they connect with me and when I realize that every single one was just mentioned an hour before....
This is what faith is.... In its simplest form. Love from my God to me. Amen!

How do you feel loved today?