"Grace Tells Another Story" - Then Sings My Soul Saturday

The first time I really heard the lyrics to this song, I think my mouth dropped open and hit the floor. In those lyrics were phrases that were almost identical to ones I'd uttered recently to friends in talking about my struggles to overcome my past. So to hear that someone else identified with those thoughts and feelings was, in a way, comforting. But what brought even greater comfort was the reminder in the rest of the song. The reminder that those things were lies fed to me by the father of lies, and that God's grace reveals another story, the TRUTH.

Enjoy the video. Lyrics are beneath.

Grace Tells Another Story - Mercy Me

They say don't waste your time

You simply cannot find

An ounce of good within the heart of man

They say we've got to lay

In the bed we've made

And live this life without a second chance

But I'm inclined to say

There must be something more

We've been told that the heart is just too far gone to save

But grace tells us another story

Where glory sends hopelessness away

Oh grace tells us another story

They say we cannot change

There is no other way

Get used to it cause this is all there is

They say don't raise your voice

Cause we don't have a choice

We're dealt this hand so learn to live with it

Well I have to believe

There must something more

We've been told that the heart is just too far gone to save

But grace tells us another story

Where glory sends hopelessness away

Oh grace tells us another story

And though we may not understand

Why You'd give us another chance

We praise You who lets us start again

We've been told that the heart is just too far gone to save

But grace tells us another story

Where glory sends hopelessness away

Oh grace tells us another story (repeat)

"While I'm Waiting" - Then Sings My Soul Saturday

No one likes waiting. It's not always fun; it's not always easy; it's not always pleasant. But there are times it is oh, so necessary. What do you do, especially when that waiting isn't necessarily something tied down to a finite timeline?

John Waller's song, While I'm Waiting, began receiving widespread airplay after the release of the movie Fireproof. The words and message were a perfect parallel to the storyline unfolding on the movie screen, where a husband was quietly trying to win back the love of his wife by demonstrating his love through acts of kindness, and by obeying God. He put feet to his faith.

Do we do the same thing, or do we treat God like a candy dispenser in the sky, dropping in our coins (prayers) and waiting for him to answer them? I love the message in this song: "I will serve you while I'm waiting; I will worship while I'm waiting..." and more importantly, "...taking every step in obedience." That line reminds me that my obedience isn't something to be bargained about with God; I will not be like a petulant child and withhold my obedience until I get what I want. That's just not how our God works.

I hope you are blessed by the words and music below.

Then Sings My Soul: I'll Join the Rocks, FFH

This week's song isn't one I've heard much on air, but is one of my favorites from an old FFH CD. The title is I'll Join the Rocks. The central message is being made for worship and doing that even if it means I'm the only one doing it. I cannot listen to this song without being drawn in and singing with it. Lyrics are included in the video.

For more songs, visit Amy at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders.

Memories

Sitting here tonight reminiscing a bit... I just sent off a note to a friend from our old church in Ohio. The note started out as one thing and turned into another, and now has morphed into this blog post.

As I was writing her and telling her about all the changes that are coming up in our life here, I thanked her for the example she and her husband were to Brian and me when we lived there. Her husband was one of the elders at our church, and both of them were awesome models of a Christian marriage, as well as of what it was to be a follower of Christ. The entire congregation as a whole was one of the most loving congregations we had ever been a part of up to that time. What I told Diane (and what I tell others when I talk about our time at this church) was that it was during our time there that I learned what it was to feel loved and served. In the 3 years or so that we attended there, I gave birth to a baby, had a medical scare with said baby, and lived through Brian being deployed for 3 months. I never had to ask for help; it came running up to me every time I needed it without me saying a word. I still am in awe of it. I don't know if I ever adequately expressed my appreciation to the jr. high and high school girls who would ask to go home with me after church during the time Brian was deployed.... and then proceed to send me off to the grocery store while they cleaned my house or folded the laundry. Or the folks that invited us to lunch with them (whether it was Dutch treat at a restaurant or at their home) and made us feel like we were really a part of their family... For a young couple whose biological families weren't nearby, those experiences were invaluable to us. Leaving that church family behind was the first move we ever made that left us in tears.

Thankfully, it wasn't the last.....

To be continued......

Then Sings My Soul: To God Alone, Aaron Shust

This is my first foray into this meme. I wish I'd found it sooner, as this is one that has meaning for me (not something you can say about a lot of memes out there).

This week's song is To God Alone, by Aaron Shust. The first thing that hooked me was the music, but the more I sing and listen, I come face-to-face with my self. I see the tendency I have to want credit for the things I do, to want recognition, appreciation, or praise. I remember all the way back to my school days, when I was often the "curve-buster" on test days. Never once did it occur to me to give God the credit for my ability to remember things (maybe that's why that ability seems to be disappearing these days!). Even more so in these days, when I am in the process of trying to lose my pride, fear, and a million other character defects that prevent me from following Christ more fully... there is the tendency to look at what *I* am doing, forgetting that I am only doing it because of Him. This song reminds me that He is the one really doing it all, not me.

Enjoy:

To God Alone

Aaron Shust

Can you take me by the hand

Can you use me as I am

Break me into who you want me to be

When the time is finally right

You will open up my eyes

Show me everything you want me to see

This life is not my own

Chorus:

To God alone be the glory

To God alone be the praise

Everything I say and do

Let it be all for you

The glory is yours alone

Yours alone Take the offering

I bring You want more than what I sing

Can I give you every part of me

Turn these pennies into gold

Take this life I call my own

Until I'm running after your heart

I'm needing to let go

We will rise and we will fall

But you remain after all

You're glorious and beautiful You're beautiful