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Category Archives: Hymns and Songs

“I Have Been There” by Mark Schultz

20 Aug

“I Have Been There” by Mark Schultz

In a room without a view, a new mother smiles and holds
The tiny fingers of her brand new baby girl.
Her husband takes her by the hand, so unsure about the future
Have no money can they make it in this world?
And they pray, Lord all we have to give is love
Then they heard a gentle voice like an echo from above,

I have been there. I know what fear is all about.
Yes, I have been there and I’m standing with you now.
I have been there
And I came to build the bridge oh so this road could lead you home.
Oh I have been there.

He’s been a pastor twenty years
But tonight he sits alone and broken hearted in the corner of the church
He tried to change a fallen world
With his words and with his wisdom but it seems like it is only getting worse
And he cries, Oh Lord I just don’t understand
Then he felt the hand of grace, and he heard a voice that said

I have been there, I know what pain is all about
Yes I have been there, and I’m standing with you now
I have been there, and I came to build a bridge
Oh so this road could lead you home
Oh I have been there.

An older man up on a hill
Holding flowers but he can’t hold back the tears.
Oh he has come to say goodbye.
He thinks about the life she lived,
Thinks about how hard it’s been to live without her
Sixty years right by his side
And he cries, oh Lord I loved her till the end
And he heard a gentle voice say you’ll see her once again

I have been there
I know what sorrow’s all about
Yes I have been there and I’m standing with you now
I have been there, and I came to build a bridge
Oh so this road could lead her home, the road could lead her home

Oh I have been there, You know I overcame the cross, yes I have been there
So her life would not be lost
Oh I have been there, and I came to build
A bridge so this road could lead you home
The road could lead you home

Oh I have been there
Yes I have been there

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Mark Mitchell Schultz

Dear God, I haven’t done two of these prayer journals in one day in a long time, but today seemed like a good day.

In 2005, I was unemployed for about six months. One of the things I did back then was make a CD of songs that comforted me. Several years later, since CDs are much of a thing anymore, I made a playlist with those songs and saved them to my iTunes. I came across that playlist today. Coincidence? Maybe not. It feels like something the Holy Spirit led me to. The songs have been great and brought back some memories. Here’s a list of the songs, in order:

All of these songs are a comfort to me. They are a touchstone to a time when I was very sad, scared, down, and even a little depressed. I’m grateful for this list.

With all of that said, “I Have Been There” by Mark Schultz is the one that brought tears to my eyes. There is nothing I can experience you haven’t experienced. I wish I could find it, but there was something fictional I heard someone read about 35 years ago that still sticks in my brain. I’m sure the person who wrote it would be flattered that it made that much of an impression on someone. In this case, it was people lining up to say what they thought you should have to experience, as God, to understand us better. These are me paraphrasing some of the things. It’s been a long time, and I only heard it once, but it was something to the effect of:

  • One person said that God should have to be poor so he can understand what it’s like to struggle without anything.
  • One person said that God should have to have to endure scandal in his family so he would understand what it’s like to be gossiped about and rejected.
  • One person said he should have to know what it’s like to be rejected for his nationality and be a foreigner.
  • One person said that God should have to lose his son and watch him die a terrible death.

The list went on and on, ultimately ending with that God should have to die to know what it’s like to fear death. Then, one by one, the people walked away because they realized you did all these things through Jesus.

So as I sit here now, feeling rejected by some, there is nothing I can experience you haven’t experienced. Like the song from Mark Schultz says, “[You] have been there.” As I stopped and listened to this song closely, playing it back a second time, I teared up. I felt you comforting me, Holy Spirit. You have been there. You know what I’m going through right now, and you have been there.

Father, I’m sorry for the times I have been a source for your sorrow. I am sorry I have caused you to be there. Thank you for comforting me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being a God who left no stone unturned so that you might know everything about me, including what it’s like to be me.

I gratefully pray all of this as your child,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 20, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Philippians 1:15-24

18 Aug

15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Philippians 1:15-24

Dear God, I know that it’s easy for me to say these words because I do not experience imminent threats to my safety or even my livelihood, but this is the attitude I aspire towards. That my life should really not matter. That I am willing to suffer if it means other will be saved.

Now that I think about it, I had some weird dreams last night. I don’t remember everything, but I remember a mixture of sorrow and joy. I remember one dream where my wife had written a screenplay about our lives that had been sold into a movie. I found out by watching a trailer for the movie and recognizing the story as ours. When I asked her how much she sold our story for, she told me and I was delighted for her and for where we are now compared to the trials I had seen depicted in the trailer. Later, I know I was crying. I’m not sure why. But I was sad about something.

Of course, I do have sorrow. My heart does ache. I guess, like my dream, I have some things in my life that bring me great joy, and other things that make me very sad. It makes me think of the Rich Mullins song “The Love of God.” One of the verses says, “Joy and sorry are this ocean. It’s in their every ebb and flow. Now the Lord a door has opened that all hell could never close. Here I’m tested and made worthy. Tossed about, yet lifted up in the reckless, raging fury that they call the love of God.”

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, today, I give you my joy and my sorrow. Both are yours. My joy comes from you and I return it to you. My sorrow is something you will comfort and refine me through. I am tested and made worthy. I’m tossed about, yet lifted up into the reckless, raging fury of your love. Thank you. Thank you.

I pray all of this grateful to be submitted to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 18, 2023 in Hymns and Songs, Philippians

 

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“In Christ Alone” Newsboys

13 Aug

“In Christ Alone” Newsboys

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
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til 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

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Donald A. Koch / Andrew Shawn Craig

Dear God, I was in church last night, and this song was one of the hymns we sang. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head while we sang it. I was thinking about political turmoil in our country and how some of your church has chosen to engage in it–wanting power and influence so that your kingdom can come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven from the top down. For whatever reason, I thought about the girl who was killed nearly 30 years ago at Columbine High School when the killer asked her if she believed in Jesus and she said yes. That made me think of the man who was healed by Jesus and was being asked by the Pharisees about who healed him and he asked, “Why, do you want to be his disciples too?” All of this was swirling in my head while I read the words Donald Koch and Andrew Craig wrote for this song.

When it comes to what I, as a Christian, am selling to this world, this is my answer. Not that I’m a good salesman, but this is my answer. This song. It’s not saving someone from the threat of hell, although maybe it should be. It’s really not even the opportunity to spend eternity with you, although that is my naivete talking and I’m sure if I really understood how amazing the next realm will be in your presence for eternity then I would only talk about that. But in my head, the message of this song is why I’m here, even in this moment.

So what is this song saying? Well, it’s mainly in the first and fourth verses. The first verse talks about the functionality of being a Christian and the help and peace in can bring me through relationship with and worship of you.

Verse 1:

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

Verse 4:

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

Then verses two and three explain who Jesus is and how he functionally made himself capable of saving me and reconciling me with you.

Verses 3 & 4

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til 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

So what do I have in you, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit?

  • Hope
  • Light
  • Strength
  • Cornerstone (foundation)
  • Solid ground (build on the rock and not sand)
  • Love
  • Peace
  • Fears stilled
  • Strivings ceased
  • Comfort
  • No guilt in life
  • No fear in death

And finally, no power of hell or scheme of man can take me from you. One of two things is certain. I will either see you return in my lifetime, or, more likely, you will call me home before your return. Either way, What I’m selling while I am here is the list I just made from verses one and four.

Father, help me to be a better maker of disciples. Help me to know how to invite people into what I have found in you. I woke up with another song going in my head that I remember from the church I used to attend when I lived in a different city: I just want to be with you. So come here and put your arms around me. I just want to love you. So come close and look right at me. So I can look into your eyes. So I can see into your heart. So I can feel you by my side and know that you’re near. One of the things I’ve always liked about that song is that it can be seen as being sung by me or by you. I think you would have those words for me, and sometimes, not frequently enough, I have those words for you. Help me, Father, be exactly who you need me to be.

I pray all of this under your authority and in worship to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 13, 2023 in Hymns and Songs, John

 

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“Forever” by Third Day

28 Jul

“Forever” by Third Day

I see a hand reaching out to help me
But I don’t understand all of your ways
You are still the Potter and I am just the clay
And though I know at times I am too proud
To reach for You, to help me out
And if I waited on myself to get it right
I would be waiting here forever

Your grace is never going to change
Your faith will always remain
Your love is the same yesterday, today, and forever

I see a world looking for an answer but I don’t know what for
When will we realize that we’re sinners in the hands of a loving God who came
And died and wants to set us free
Oh how he longs to be with you and me
And if we waited on the truth to change
We would be waiting here forever

Your grace is never going to change
Your faith will always remain
Your love is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Brian Holland / Freddie Gorman / Lamont Herbert Dozier

Dear God, this is almost a continuation from yesterday’s prayer. It plays off of Hebrews 10:31

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

When I read this for the first time this week a few days ago, it made me think of the line in the second verse of this song that says, “We are sinners in the hands of a loving God who came and died to set us free.” I believe this line from the song is also a twist on the sermon by Jonathan Edwards in the 1740s called “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

Reading the Wikipedia description of this sermon, I found this diary entry from pastor Stephen Williams, who was in attendance:

[B]efore the sermon was done there was a great moaning and crying out through the whole house — “What shall I do to be saved?” “Oh, I am going to hell!” “Oh what shall I do for a Christ?” and so forth — so that the minister was obliged to desist. [The] shrieks and cries were piercing and amazing. After some time of waiting, the congregation were still, so that a prayer was made by Mr. Wheelock, and after that we descended from the pulpit and discoursed with the people, some in one place and some in another. And amazing and astonishing: the power [of] God was seen and several souls were hopefully wrought upon that night, and oh the cheerfulness and pleasantness of their countenances that received comfort. Oh that God would strengthen and confirm [their new faith]! We sang a hymn and prayed, and dispersed the assembly.

I bolded part of his diary because that is probably the most amazing thing I’ve seen in myself and others when they come to faith in Jesus and accept your grace through him: “cheerfulness and pleasantness of their countenance that received comfort.” I’ll be frank, Father. I don’t know how I feel about threatening people with hell in order to get them to accept you, but I do know that whenever anyone makes that decision regardless of the motive, the relief and forthcoming joy after that relief is palpable.

So back to this song, for the last two days I’ve had it going in my head when I woke up in the morning. It’s been nice, and I’ve liked it. So I thought I would look at it a little and spend some time with it this morning in your presence.

Here’s the first verse again:

I see a hand reaching out to help me
But I don’t understand all of your ways
You are still the Potter and I am just the clay
And though I know at times I am too proud
To reach for You, to help me out
And if I waited on myself to get it right
I would be waiting here forever

So I truly don’t understand all of your ways. I never will this side of heaven. I can’t figure out the future. I can’t dictate what will happen in the next moment, much less the following years. Sure, I can influence by my actions, but there is no way I can see how the dominoes will fall. I also know that I cannot undo all of the things I’ve done wrong–to you or to others. I simply need grace and to learn from those mistakes so I won’t do it again.

I see a world looking for an answer but I don’t know what for
When will we realize that we’re sinners in the hands of a loving God who came
And died and wants to set us free
Oh how he longs to be with you and me
And if we waited on the truth to change
We would be waiting here forever

This is just kind of an exasperated moment. I think the writer is even exasperated with himself. He uses the collective “we” in the second line. But we do. We pursue happiness. We pursue self-fulfillment. We pursue peace. We pursue what essentially turn out to be the fruits of your Spirit, but we try to grow them by planting our seeds in rocks and thorns. In fact, I really enjoyed the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, and a lot of people who watched it loved it. It finally occurred to me that it was teaching pursuing the fruits of the Spirit. The problem is that it was doing it apart from you so it needed a contrived television script to pull it off. People are hungering for your fruit. They just don’t want to humble themselves and risk losing themselves. What they do not realize is that surrender brings them to a freedom through which they can find themselves.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, my Triune God, I give you all my praise and worship. Thank you that your grace is never gonna change and your will always remain, and your love is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 28, 2023 in Galatians, Hymns and Songs, Matthew

 

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“Rattle!” by Zach Williams & Steven Furtick

13 Jul

“Rattle!” by Zach Williams and Steven Furtick

Saturday was silent
Surely it was through
But since when has impossible
Ever stopped You

Friday’s disappointment
Is Sunday’s empty tomb?
Since when has impossible
Ever stopped You?

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

Pentecostal fire
Stirring something new
You’re not gonna run out of miracles
Anytime soon

Yeah, resurrection power
It runs in my veins, too
I believe there’s another miracle
Here in this room!

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

My God is able to save and deliver and heal
And restore anything that He wants to
Just ask the man who was thrown
On the bones of Elisha
If there’s anything that He can’t do
Just ask the stone that was rolled
At the tomb in the garden
What happens when God says to move

I feel Him moving it now
I feel Him doing it now
I feel Him doing it now
Do it now
Do it now

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
Yeah, this is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

So I prophesied as I was commanded
And as I was prophesying, there was a noise
A rattling sound and the bones came together
Bone to bone
I look, and tendons and flesh appeared on them
And skin covered them but there was no breath in them
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath
Prophesy son of man and sing to it”
This is what the sovereign Lord says
“Come breath from the four winds and breathe
Into this land, today live!”

Live!
Live!
Dry bones
Hear the word of the Lord!

Live! (Live!)
Live! (Live!)
Dry bones
Hear the word of the Lord!

Live! (Live!)
Live! (Live!)
Dry bones
Hear the word of the Lord!

Live! (Live!)
Live! (Live!)
Live! (Live!)

Oh, this is the sound of dry bones rattling
Yeah, this is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

Dear God, I feel hopeless. I feel like I’m experiencing “Friday’s disappointment.” Can you really turn this into Sunday’s empty tomb? This song is so hopeful. I feel like I need to just drive with it playing in my car and sing it as loud as I can. I know this is the second time I’ve ever done a prayer journal to it, but I didn’t feel this much despair last time. Right now, I feel desperate. I feel hopeless. Is there really hope?

Then there’s my role in all of this. What do I do next? How can I go from here? I know what my human heart wants to do. What do you want me to do?

Holy Spirit, I need your counsel. I need your light. I need your help. I need you to speak to me. I need you to speak through me. I am truly empty. Fill me, please.

I pray all of this in the name of the one true God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 13, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Let Mercy Lead” by Rich Mullins

12 Jul

“Let Mercy Lead” by Rich Mullins

Aidan you’re young
But Aidan you’re growing fast
Me and your mom
And all the love we have
We can only take you so far
As far as we can
But you’ll need something more to guide your heart
As you grow into a man

Let mercy lead
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There’ll be a drop of grace
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
And I’ll meet you in that place
Where mercy leads

Aidan the day
Aidan the day will come
You’ll run the race
That takes us way beyond
All our trials and all our failures
And all the good we dream of
But you can’t see yet where it is you’re heading
But one day you’ll see the face of love

Let mercy lead
Let love be the strength in your legs
And in every footprint that you leave
There’ll be a drop of grace
If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe
Although their foolish hearts may break
They will find peace
And I’ll meet you in that place
Let mercy lead
Let mercy lead

Let mercy lead

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: David Strasser / Richard Mullins

Dear God, at what point do we just let go of the wrongs done to us?

I came across this song this morning, and it felt providential. If I were writing words to the newborn child of a friend, could I come up with words any better than these? Mercy. Mercy. Mercy.

We will come across people throughout our lives–family and friends–who need mercy. I need mercy extended to me because despite my best efforts I have made many mistakes. I need mercy. I need to extend mercy. I need your mercy.

Father, while I sing this song for those I love, help me to live it for myself too. Help me to let mercy lead, let love be the strength of my legs, and leave drops of grace everywhere I go. Help me to reach beyond human wisdom and into your foolishness. Thank you for foolishly saving me. And even though my heart is broken, help me to find your peace.

I pray this in Jesus’s name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 12, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Keep Me in the Moment” by Jeremy Camp

14 Jun

I’ve been thinking ’bout time
And where does it go
How can I stop my life from passing me by, I don’t know
I’ve been thinking ’bout family and how it’s going so fast
Will I wake up one morning just wishing that I could go back
I’ve been thinking ’bout lately, maybe
I can make a change and let you change me
So, with all of my heart this is my prayer

Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

When I wake up in the morning
Lord, search my heart
Don’t let me stray, I just wanna stay where you are
All I got is one shot, one try
One go around in this beautiful life
Nothing is wasted when everything’s placed in your hands

Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment (Keep me in the moment)
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

I’ve been thinking about heaven
And the promise you hold
So, it’s all eyes on you
Until the day you call me home

Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
(I don’t wanna miss, I don’t wanna miss)
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

Keep me in the moment (Keep me in the moment)
Oh, keep me in the moment (Keep me in the moment)
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me (What you have for me)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Matthew West / Jordan Sapp / Jeremy Camp

Dear God, I guess I have a mixture of emotions processing through right now. I’ve traveled to help some loved ones out. They are having some physical challenges, and I am helping them get packed up and moved home. While I’m here, there is that typical mixture of emotions, as I said before, that you experience when you have a lot of history with people. Of course, there is love, which is the foundation. But then you cannot help but bump up against the scars every once in a while. Past hurts. Current hurts. They are all part of this experience as well as the job at hand—to help, love, and encourage.

So why this song today? I’ve done it before. I’ve prayed to you about the lyrics before. But like a piece of scripture that I’ve journaled on multiple times and almost always gotten something different out of it, so is this song special and meaningful.

It’s funny because I don’t like the actual music video to this song. I intentionally chose the lyrics video so that their interpretation of the song in music video form doesn’t taint what I’m thinking here. The music video I don’t like focuses on the idea of enjoying each moment with your family and such and savoring them. That’s all good and fine, but the song, for me, is much deeper than that.

It reminds me of the 15th letter in Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. In the 15th letter, the demon Screwtape tells his apprentice nephew demon Wormwood that one of the ways to torment his human “patient” is to keep him, essentially, out of the moment. Make him think about the past and his hurts and resentments. Make him think about the future and what he thinks he’ll dread or what he’s anticipating that will be better than today is. But don’t let him be solely in the current moment because the current moment is the only place in time that touches eternity and you, God (referred to by Screwtape as “The Enemy”). The moment is where I find you.

Father, as I go through this entire day, thank you for this reminder to find you in each moment. In this moment, when I am sitting in bed and typing this. In the next moment, when I get up and do what’s next. In each moment, keep me completely in your presence. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Love through me. Bless through me. Heal me and heal through me. Forgive me. Help me to forgive. Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from Satan’s plans. You are my great God, and I have nothing without you.

I pray all of this through the grace and authority of what Jesus did for me and the world,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 14, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Hurt”

09 May

“Hurt” by Nine-Inch Nails [Johnny Cash]

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s real

The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of s*** [thorns]
Upon my liars chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair

Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I will keep myself
I would find a way

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Trent Reznor

Dear God, I watched the video above last night about the song “Hurt.” It was written by the lead man for Nine-Inch Nails, Trent Reznor, ironically before he fell into a deep and self-destructive pattern of addiction. It was almost a premonition of what was to come. About ten years after he wrote and recorded it, Johnny Cash covered it less than a year before his death.

You’ll notice I put one word in brackets above: thorns. That’s the word that changed it from a Nine-Inch Nails song to a Johnny Cash song. Reznor was writing in hopelessness. Of just wanting to let go from all of the destruction he had caused to himself and those around him. His empire of dirt had nothing to offer anyone. Hopeless. Helpless. Those are the words that keep coming to my mind over and over again when I think about Reznor’s version.

Cash’s version, however, is possibly more about what your gospel is about than anything–any other song. YOU can have it all. Reznor is talking to the unknown “you.” The “you” who is the audience. Cash is talking to YOU.

My wife and I just watched the series “Daisy Jones and the Six,” which is based on a bestselling book my wife loves. In it, I saw a lot of empire of nothing. I saw a lot of emptiness and destruction. Self-destruction. Even one character’s sobriety was about abstaining from substances, not healing and finding healthy ways to go through life.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. thank you for taking all of my…well, my empire of dirt. Thank you for hurting for me. Thank you for the hope that Cash had when he died. I’m sure he still had doubts in his heart that you could love him like he wanted to be loved. I pray that Mr. Reznor might know that hope. I pray that you will help me to share that hope with others. Yes, I will die one day. Yes, I will leave behind assets to my wife or divided among my children (should I outlive her). But it’s all a pile of dirt. There is a lot of pain mixed up in all of that. There is a lot of sin. There is a lot of selfishness. But you have set me free from it. As I sit here right now, I can sit here in peace. I can sit here knowing that shame doesn’t have to have a place in my life because of the crown of thorns you endured. Because of the nails. Because you cared. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I pray all of this through the power of this amazing gift from you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 9, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney

06 May

“Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney

I turned on the evening news
Saw an old man being interviewed
Turning a hundred and two today

Asked him what’s the secret to life?
He looked up from his old pipe
Laughed and said, “All I can say is

Don’t blink, just like that you’re six years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you’re twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don’t blink, you just might miss
Your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed
And you’re praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years
Goes faster than you think, so don’t blink

I was glued to my TV, when it looked
Like he looked at me and said
“Best start putting first things first”

‘Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can’t flip it over and start again
Take every breathe God gives you for what it’s worth

Don’t blink, ’cause just like that you’re six years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you’re twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don’t blink, you just might miss
Your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed
And you’re praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years
Goes faster than you think, so don’t blink

So I’ve been trying to slow it down
I’ve been trying to take it in
In this ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ world we’re living in

So don’t blink, ’cause just like that you’re six years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you’re twenty-five
And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don’t blink, you just might miss
Your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads
Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed
And you’re praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years
Goes faster than you think, so don’t blink

No, don’t blink

Don’t blink
Life goes faster than you think
So don’t blink

Life goes faster than you think
Don’t blink

Don’t blink
Life goes faster than you think

Source: Musixmatch

Dear God, I started this on Wednesday morning, but I’ve truly been so busy I haven’t been able to get back to it. It was an incredibly busy week at work, but it was good too. Very good. I’m grateful. You answered a lot of prayers–especially for our fundraising dinner Tuesday night. My wife did the invocation for about 290 people in attendance, and part of it was leading everyone in the first verse and chorus of “To God Be The Glory.” It set the tone for the rest of the night. It was inspired, and I really felt like the Holy Spirit was among us all evening. I am humbled and grateful. Did we raise money and reach our goals? Yes. But more importantly, it felt like everyone (or at least everyone I talked to) left feeling inspired and joyful. I pray they realized from all we said and did that they understood it was you they were feeling.

I was meeting with a friend Wednesday afternoon and we were talking about his struggles and stresses at work. I asked him a question that, to my surprise, seemed to unnerve him a little. I asked, “What do you do to take care of yourself?” He didn’t have an answer for it. I talked to him a day later and it was still sitting with him. He told me the next day that he was realizing he was doing a lot of religious things but he wasn’t really paying any attention to his relationship with you.

So how does all of this relate to this Kenny Chesney song? Well, the second verse has rolled around in my head ever since I heard this song earlier this week:

I was glued to my TV, when it looked
Like he looked at me and said
“Best start putting first things first”

‘Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can’t flip it over and start again
Take every breathe God gives you for what it’s worth

Especially the line, “Best start putting first things first.” I think at some point when we mature as adults we wrestle with the question of what is the first thing that I should be putting first? It made me think of the “One thing” line from the movie City Slickers:

By the end of the movie, Billy Crystal’s character decided that his “one thing” was his family. That was the most important thing to him. But I’ve learned something different over the years. And this would probably hurt some feelings to hear this, but, frankly, it isn’t fair to my family to make them my “one thing.”

I was listening to a pastor interviewed in June 2020 about surviving Covid and the pastor interviewing him asked him if he had one particular message to share with people. He said (my paraphrase), “Yes. We have made an idol out of certainty. We put our certainty in our spouse, our children, our job, our health, our economy, our government, etc. But God is the only thing that is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” At that point, as I’ve recounted here many times in the past, I started evaluating all of the things in my life that caused me angst and tried to honestly evaluate whether or not they had become idols to me. And I’ve identified a few. The U.S. military was one that I am ashamed to admit was an idol. When I hear about an advancement that another country like China or Russia has over us (like hypersonic missiles), it bothers me. Why? Ninety-five percent of the world goes to bed each night without the protection of the United States Military, and an awful lot of them are Christians and yet they are somehow able to sleep. Why is that so important to me? It’s an idol I’ve used to give me a sense of certainty. I’m sure there are more idols I haven’t identified, and I’m sorry for that.

So what’s my one thing? What is my first thing that must be put first? It’s you. It’s my relationship with you. It’s the submitting of myself to the two great commandments: Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving my neighbor as myself. To quote Curly in the City Slickers quote above, “[If I] do that [then] everything else don’t mean s***.”

Father, it’s hard to do. It’s so much easier to put my certainty and priorities on tangible things. But Billy Crystal’s character Mitch will one day learn that his family can’t be his one thing either. It’s not fair to them. If you are my one thing then you will make sure I am loving my family the way I need to. If I am listening to your Holy Spirit, then you will guide me into loving them well. Thursday morning, I was getting my haircut and your Spirit nudged me to pay for the haircut of the man behind me. Later, the barber told me that the man, who was there with his wife, was just laid off from a business that closed and he was there to get a haircut as he went out and applied for jobs. That humbled and delighted me. Not because I did something nice, but because I must have heard your Holy Spirit talking to me and I acted upon it. So I give you everything. You are my first thing that I will put first. You are my one thing. To quote Rich Mullins from his song “One Thing,” “Everybody I know says they need just one thing. But what they really mean is they need just one thing more.” Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, if I live the life of Job and you take away everything, I would hope that I could say that you are still the only one thing that I need.

I pray all of this through the grace of Jesus through the blood he shed for me,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 6, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Lay Down the Burden of Your Heart” by Amy Grant

26 Mar

“Lay Down The Burden of Your Heart” by Amy Grant

It’s a cold, cold world
That we walk in through.
Lay down the burden of your heart.
But it’s warm as toast
Walking two by two,
Lay down the burden of your heart.

Lay down the burden of your heart.
I know you’ll never miss it.
Show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

It’s a fine, fine line
Betwixt love and hate.
Why, it’s tough to tell the two apart.
But you know it’s love
That He offers you.
Lay down the burden of your heart.

Lay down the burden of your heart.
I know you’ll never miss it.
Ohh-ohh, show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

Lay down the burden of your heart.
I know you’ll never miss it.
Ohh-ohh, show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

Ohh-ohh, show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Adrian Plass / David Clifton / Ian David Blythe / Philip Andrew Baggaley

Dear God, the other day I was doing a prayer through the song “The Words I Would Say” by Sidewalk Prophets that I told you at the time I normally sing for others, but maybe it was meant for me. This song is the opposite. I normally sing this old Amy Grant song for myself, but this morning, I have a couple of people on my heart for whom I want to sing this. They are hurting. From a distance, it seems like they are trying to figure out how to lay them down, but they don’t know how. One in particular doesn’t seem to know to to submit to you and let go. This song this morning is for them. It’s my prayer for them.

This song is off of Amy Grant’s second album, “My Father’s Eyes,” released in 1979. I remember my dad owning the LP. As I recall (and this could be wrong because it’s been a long time), the liner notes had a message from Amy to the girls in her dorm. She was 19-ish when she was recording this album so her life was unique at this point. I’m sure she looks back now as a 63-year-old woman and wonders how she had the audacity to tell anyone anything about you at such a young age. I certainly do when I look back on my naivete from when I was younger and hadn’t gone through some of life’s trials that accumulate over the years of living. I can’t help but wonder what kind of burdens were on the heart of 19-year-old Amy that she had in mind as she sang vs. the burdens on 63-year-old Amy’s life. I can tell you that 19-year-old me had a totally different view of life than 53-year-old me has.

Looking back on this song, the verses are okay, but it’s the chorus mixed with her soft voice that makes it comforting. “Lay down the burden of your heart. I know you’ll never miss it. Show your daddy where it hurts, and let your daddy lift it.”

Father, I am rifling through a list of people in my head right now who are carrying burdens that need laid down. This is my prayer for them. Show me my role in their lives. Raise up others in their lives who can speak into them with your voice. Bring them to you. Bring them (and me) into repentance and the freedom that you offer through it. Oh, please be merciful. And show me how to lay down the burdens on my heart as well.

I pray all of this through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection for my sake,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 26, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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