Lyrics On Friday

Needtobreathe have been rocking my ears off for the last few weeks…

I am chosen, bought out and broken by the light, I have inside
Our love is greater than I could ever give to you, I must confess
If this song is all I have now it would fall way short of you

I am more than
I am more than tonight
I am counted, called out by the light

You heard we were playing our songs tonight and you thought you might stop by
Your eyes opened and cried out to get back
All the time you took to find
If I wouldn’t sing so softly
Would those stars be in your eyes

I am more than
I am more than tonight
I am counted, called out and alive
I am more than

I am more than
I am lost without your love
I am lost
I am more than
I am more than
I won’t ever leave you now,
No I won’t

[More Than – Needtobreathe]

What are you listening to?

Vicky Beeching

Yesterday I received a lovely little email from Vicky Beeching with a pre-release of her new EP, which I’ve been listening to a lot today. In my opinion, it’s a slight change of direction that really suits her. Very guitar driven as usual, but more electric. The EP is out on Feb 9th.

[Always nice to see Daley’s work as album covers too.]

Past, Present & Future

“To live in the past and future is easy. To live in the present is like threading a needle.”

[Walker Percy]

Turn Your Eyes

11:15. Coffee in hand, I find a seat in the auditorium and watch friends mill in across the room.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus…”

The refrain fills the auditorium. My friend is on stage, leading us in worship. I’d forgotten how amazing her voice is. It’s beautiful. The music is low, peaceful; we sing the words again and again and I find my thumping spirit slow and still.

Our songs wind their way through waiting & drawing close, on mountaintops and in valleys. Words of hope, words of encouragement.

“This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is a God who provides”

As we share communion, I meditate on what it means to break my body and pour my life out on behalf of the people around me. I feel weak. I wonder why God would choose to use us in his plan to redeem and restore the world.

Third Day

My friend is back on stage, singing a love song. I’ve got tears in my eyes. She is lost in awe; surrendered to what the Father is doing. There is a tenderness in her voice, and I can’t help but think of all that the Father has brought her through. All the pain & suffering in her life, and here she stands on stage singing,

“When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me…”

Emotion overcomes me. I desire to sing those words with the same tenderness she does, yet so often I feel far from it. I speak harshly to those around me; I act rashly. I desire mercy yet speak judgement. I am a bundle of paradoxes.

I’m thankful that there is grace; that I don’t have to live with regret…

If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns
violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves

And so I turn my eyes upon Jesus, thankful for my friend’s example. What are you thankful for today?