When You Need a Song-and a Prayer

Sometimes, life boxes us into a corner. Sometimes, we help life to do just that. With our ‘interesting’ decision making process, we make choices that are at best, irrational and at worst, life damaging. The senses clear when the repercussions come knocking and then we go “what in the world did I do!”

When in situations like that, a believer calls for mercy. It is one of the things we do and should do best, since it is the very basis of our relationship with God. King David was very good at this.

When you need a song-and a prayer

Apart from this, we also need to consistently and consciously repeat God’s word to ourselves- especially to reassure ourselves not only of God’s grace and forgiveness but also of His infallible promises to go through life with us- self-inflicted horrors and all.

Personally, I find that during these times, songs that are ‘shamelessly’ lifted from The Bible work a lot. You know how the Word is for correction, reproof, edification, instruction, you name it (2Timothy 3:16). Like the worship leader said on Wednesday, when you sing these types of songs, you are worshipping, confessing, praying and praising all at the same time!

At this very point in my life, the word I’m trying desperately to clutch on to is found in Isaiah 54, especially the 10^th verse. It goes:

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.”

Apart from memorising it, I have been trying to check if there is a song that is based on that verse, or preferably that lifts it word for word. It would do me a world of good. I am yet to find one and I am not one of those musically extremely talented people who can compose a song on a whim.

However, I thank God for Christian song writers who have given us a wide range of scripture based song. This is not to say that only scripture quoting songs are edifying, but they have their times and place and use, like now.

Timeless: Babbie Mason was Right!

So I went for Philip’s wake-keeping service yesterday. Somehow, I was able to will myself not to cry even though my eyes watered, got really glassy and the tears almost dropped. I was able to get through it. I was relieved to know he was a committed believer. Here is why.

God's love is timeless. Picture from musicfortheworld.org

In all, I wasn’t the most cheerful person alive but that is alright. What do I expect his family to do? I can only put his wife and children in prayers-from time to time. You know, I used to think Philip was cool, but yesterday proved me wrong- he was super duper cool…by the grace and mercy of God, no purgatory for this one! Am I relieved or what!

I was talking with a friend, Doyin after the service about the questions that this incident has raised in my heart as regards life after death and such. Apparently we were in similar shoes but she was able to encourage me. She referred me to Apostle Paul who was ‘everly’ sure that when he opens his eyes in death, he would be gazing into the eyes of Jesus. You see why I make a case for Christian community. Together, we are better Christians.

Speaking of community, at the Children teachers’ meeting last week Saturday, one of the teachers expounded on her previous class lesson based on John 8. The teenagers were fixated on why it was repeatedly stated that the time of Jesus was not yet come. This led to deep discussion on how God holds our time in His hands. This concept on its own is very deep and can take a really long time to explain. But interestingly, the thought was very comforting for me. God holds MY time in His ends. He holds yours too and because of this, the cards are stacked in our favour. It cannot possibly ever ever ever go wrong for us. Why, because God hold our time in His hands.

While the teacher dwelt on this subject, one of my all time favourite songs popped to my mind. It is called timeless. I hope you know it. It used to be my morning alarm tune and I enjoyed waking up early. Yea, the song is that good- especially if you like Jazz.

Find the lyrics below but I before sign, I would like to share one of my all-time favourite Bible verses. It is found in Psalms 16:10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

I always like to remember this verse. I confess it into the future knowing that the grace of God will keep us to the very end- after all, even in death, His love for us is timeless.

Timeless- Babbie Mason

Before time became eternity, I was on your mind;

Now I build my world around you, since I finally found you, 

I find Your love is timeless-like the willow tree that grows

Eternal as the wind that blows

You are everything I ever dreamed and more

From age to age you are the same,

And your love will never change

Your love is timeless, like a kiss on morning dew

Your love is timeless like stars against the mid-night blue

Every moment, every minute of the day,

You show your love in a million timeless ways,

Chorus: Incomprehensible, I cannot tell it all

Oh to describe your love would be impossible

You are so beautiful to me, its in dispute of what you see

And long before I even was, you were thinking of me

Your love is timeless (2x)

(Instumentals)

Incomprehensible, I cannot tell it all

Oh to describe your love would be impossible

You are so beautiful to me, its in dispute of what you see

And long before I even was, you were thinking of me

Your love is timeless like the gentle summer breeze,

Your love is timeless like the waves are on the sea

You’re the singer whose music calms my fears

I’ll find no other love like this for your love is times (2x)

Ps: I should ‘humbly’ mention that I know the lyrics by heart and tha’s the source. Check it out anywhere. Seriously, that’s how much I love this song. I should make it my ringtone again.

That said; let us not loose the point of this post- that even in seasons of loss, confusion, doubts, and disappointments, the depth and authencity of God’s timeless love is able to keep us in the faith-Isaiah 54:10

Psalms 16:10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Have a great weekend. I definitely will as I am due to lead praise and worship on Sunday- for 3-5 year olds :-)

I leave you in God's care,

Miss August. 

FREE FRIDAY MUSIC REVUE: IF WE ARE THE BODY…

I changed my job earlier this year. Before I resumed, I anticipated a bit of stress in adjusting to the new environment and job responsibilities. I also prayed about it and asked for God’s wisdom, love and patience even as I ventured into unknown waters. I prayed to be an exceptional employee (I remember saying I wanted to be to my boss what Joseph was to Pharaoh) but most importantly, I remember praying specially for wisdom to manage the dynamics of human relations that I would experience there.

If we are the body...:www.calvaryinglewood.org

Thankfully, I remember that few days before I resumed, my pastor was saying something I can’t really remember when he mentioned the words of Jesus “wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove”…immediately, I knew that was the formula I needed to apply. I really wanted to get along with my colleagues but stay out of the politics common in workplaces these days. I really did try to prepare but nothing could have prepared me for the degree of strife, hate, gossip and bad blood that I met there. The first few days were frightening! You practically couldn’t talk to one person who was not trying to report someone else or gossip about someone else. I say people within the same gossip network gossip about co-members behind their backs…it was a zoo! I don’t remember ever seeing this level of negative workplace relationship. The ladies took malice to a whole new level and they guys weren’t so much better.

When I began relating the weird events to Isabella, my housemate, I realised she had someone similar at work herself. The only feature that we had in common is the fact almost 95% of us are Christians. The non-christian at work was one of the most amiable.  If I were a non-christian, none of these people could successfully witness to me. I didn’t want anything they had. I don’t mean to sound self-righteous. Just bear in mind that I relate this story as an observer who was new in the environment and therefore too unqualified to take sides.

Knowing that we couldn’t go far as an organisation with this kind of setup, my major prayer point switched from productivity to peace. Afterall, I had heard that among Jews, the same word for peace, ‘Shalom’ is the same word for prosperity and that with peace comes prosperity.

Unfortunately, after a while, the strife led to a permanent shut-down on our staff general devotion. Another potential church dismembered and certified dead. If we are the body, we should be one as the Son and the Father are one. I am pretty sure the trinity do NOT gossip about one another. It is extremely unthinkable for me to imagine that God the Father was busy snitching on Jesus behind His back while He was away…busy saving the world.

What’s the point of this narrative? The body of Christ needs peace. In relating with one another, we have to show grace, mercy and a little bit of compassion especially in our speech. Rev’d Scott Web came to Lagos this May/June and he talked a lot about love and relationship among Christians, especially in the local church. He narrated 2 sobering stories from his own church. The first was about how they lost a member of the church who was terminally ill at a time that the church was strongly divided and members were bickering. In his opinion (and I agree), all the strife made the church weak and near powerless. The second story was more uplifting, the same situation with a member (cancer to be exact); but this time, they had a strong, loving and united church that stood together in prayer. Gradually, God perfected the sick woman’s healing. Strife really does kill the power of the Church and even Jesus consents that the icon and stamp of Christian community is unity-not strife, malice and quarrelling.

So before y’all get tired of reading about community and Christian fellowship, I think this may be the last post in the series…except of course, I can think of something I left out. The truth is there is a lot to be said on this topic. So much.

There is a song that aptly expresses my thoughts on this song; it is by casting crowns and it is titled ‘If We are the Body’…great song. By the way, with time, you will find out that Casting Crowns is one of my super duper favourite music groups. Here is the text of the song.

If we are the Body- Casting Crowns

It's crowded in a worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way? There is a way?

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tell him that his chances
Are better out on the road

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching? 

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?

But Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?

If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way? As Jesus is the way

From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/casting-crowns-lyrics/if-we-are-the-body-lyrics.html

I leave you in God's care.

Miss August. 

FREE FRIDAY MUSIC REVUE: MORALITY TO YOU, JUSTICE TO ME

Cathy Burton:www.christianbits.com

I don’t remember who said it but I saw this quote online recently: “…morality to me, justice to you” (Hope I’m quoting it right). We can go ahead and expand, deduce, explain and interpret that quote in different ways but one thing we should consider is this- deal with people how you want them to deal with you. Don’t deal out a certain measure and expect another. The Bible tells us that we will be judged with the same measure that we judge people. Perhaps this should make us stop and think about how we treat one another. I have always found it interesting how people who are nasty towards others expect the same people to be nice to them. I believe that Jesus has called us to treating people right regardless of how they treat us but we still should learn to sow the right seeds.

Recently, I particularly have found that I need to relate with people with more grace, mercy and kindness because no matter how tough people are, everyone needs compassion. That is the opening line of Cathy Burton’s Mighty to Save. I have also heard a version by Don Moen but the message is pretty much the same- everyone needs compassion.

Since we’ve been considering the issue of fellowship among brethren this week, I thought this song drives the message home right from the very first line. People have been known to leave a church, a group and even the Christian faith because some other people were mean to them. Perhaps their reasoning sounds childish to you but not everybody has the tough skin that relating with pretty abrasive people require.

You may have met folks like that. In Scott Webb’s language, “they just seem to always rub you on the wrong side”. It is true that there are people who pick offences at the slightest misunderstanding but we still have to relate with one another with compassion. I am not certain that I will ever be confident enough to preach a message on love but I can say a few things about showing understanding and just cutting people some slack. Meanwhile, If you are the abrasive person, you are inexcusable. Think about how you’ll feel to know that someone left your church because of how you treated them.

Another way this song speaks to me is through the chorus; regardless of the category you fall into-the abrasive- frumpy- grumpy- Christian or the one who feels wronged, God is able to save you; to give you grace to be gracious and grace or to take it all in stride, depending on which group you are in.

Let’s not forget the reason for our coming together in fellowship: to affirm one another, to bless one another and to correct one another in love. It is as simple as ABC.

So before I turn a Friday post into a Monday post with the long speech, here is me saying enjoy the song (it is pretty popular), think on it, act on it.

Have a great weekend.

MIGHTY TO SAVE –CATHY BURTON

Everyone needs compassion,

A love that’s never ending

Let mercy fall on me

Every needs forgiveness

The kindness of a saviour

The hope of nations

Chorus:

Saviour, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save.

He is mighty to save.

Forever, author of salvation;

He rose and conquered the grave.

Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as you find me;

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow;

Everything I believe in,

Now I surrender.

Chorus:

Saviour, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shout it loud and let the whole world sing

For the glory of the risen king

FREE FRIDAY MUSIC REVUE: SINCE YOU WAKE UP WITH A SONG ON YOUR HEART…

There is a song on your heart every morning: www.musiccoaches.com

Many years ago, Wale Adenuga, a music minister in my church at the time drew our attention to the fact that many times, we wake up with a song on our minds. Prior to the time, I was hardly aware of the fact but once I became conscious of it, I actually began to play a game of ‘ what’s today’s wake up song’. Over time, I have found that the daily wake-up songs of our hearts tell a lot about our spiritual state and the type of content we have been feeding our minds. So I definitely pay attention to the songs I listen to-better Don Moen than Don Jazzy, better BeBe Winans than Beyonce

I have found that music matters-a lot. Sometimes, you have no words to convey your thoughts in the place of prayer or worship but a song just might help. Countless times, songs have actually helped me navigate certain seasons of life such that those songs later automatically trigger memories associated with that season of life.

I really cannot capture with words the impact this particular song (I will Rise by Chris Tomlin) has made in my life. I continue to replay the very first time I understood the lyrics and it was extremely comforting. You know- like an assurance that definitely and certainly, Jesus will return and regardless of which comes first (between death and rapture), I will rise in glory.
I can do a line by line review and every single line will make sense- like where my faith will be my eyes. The song leans heavily on scripture and almost every line calls to mind one Bible verse or the other.
This is what I call Gospel music-or Christian music if you like. God bless Chris Tomlin.

PS: I hope I can keep it up every Friday, but look out on this site for good Christian Music lyrics here. But in addition to the lyrics, try to learn the songs-they were meant to be sung you know.

Blessings,

Miss August.

I WILL RISE – CHRIS TOMLIN

There is a peace I’ve come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There is an anchor for my soul;

 I can say- it is well

Jesus has overcome,

And the grave is overwhelmed;

Victory is won; He is risen from the dead

Chorus:

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow; No more pain

I will rise on eagles’ wings, 
Before my God, fall on my knees

And rise; I will rise

There’s a day that’s drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome,

And the grave is overwhelmed;

Victory is won; He is risen from the dead

Chorus:

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles’ wings, 
Before my God, fall on my knees

And rise; I will rise

I hear the voice of many angels sing

Worthy is the lamb

And I hear the cry of every longing heart

Worthy is the lamb

I hear the voice of many angels sing

Worthy is the lamb

And I hear the cry of every longing heart

Worthy is the lamb

Worthy is the lamb.