Saturday, December 4, 2010

Songs of the Season - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Our next song of the season comes from an artist whose singing "emotes more feeling in a single line than most artists conjure up in an entire album," according to ChristianityToday.com. In her very first Christmas album O Holy Night (released in 2008), singer-songwriter Sara Groves recreates classic holiday melodies that will warm your heart and point you to the Savior. Groves' rendition of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" adds a chorus that proclaims:

Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heaven's all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels, to hear them sing

As you allow this song to lead you into the Christmas season, remember to acknowledge the magnificent grace and peace that God has bestowed upon his people through the gift of his son, Jesus.



Lyrics:
It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold

Peace on earth, good will to men
From heaven's all gracious King
The earth in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels, to hear them sing

O ye beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps so slow

Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
Oh, rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels, and hear them sing

Singing peace on earth, good will to men
From heaven's all gracious King
The earth in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels, the angels sing, sing, sing

Still through the broken skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
Over all the weary world

Above its sad and lonely plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever over Babel sounds
The blessed angels, the angels sing, sing, sing

And I can hear the angels sing
And I can hear the angels
And I still hear the angels sing
And I still hear the angels

Glory hallelujah!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Songs of the Season - Welcome to Our World

Our second song of the season comes from inspirational songwriter Chris Rice. "Welcome to Our World" echoes humanity's yearning—a quiet, constant yearning—for the Messiah. Rice's poignant lyrics serve as a reminder of God's redemptive work through the gift of his son Jesus Christ. But this song is not simply about Christ's coming; rather, it is about why Christ has come. Rice describes the infant Christ this way:

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born, unto us is born

This song reminds us that the story of Christmas does not end with the cradle, but with the cross. Meditate on this truth as you listen to the song below.


Lyrics:

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome holy child, welcome holy child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited holy stranger
Make yourself at home, please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking heaven's silence
Welcome to our world, welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born, unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God, perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world

Friday, November 26, 2010

Songs of the Season - In the Bleak Midwinter

First off, I apologize. This blog has remained dormant for much too long. Thankfully, however, the holiday season has granted me some spare time to update this blog.

And now, since Thanksgiving is behind us and the Christmas season is at hand, I have decided to create a new set of posts called Songs of the Season. Each week, I will post two Christmas songs (one song on Mondays and one song on Fridays) that, I hope, will put you in the Christmas spirit and remind you of "the old, old story of the power of death undone by an infant born of glory."

This week's offering comes from the brand new Christmas album (appropriately titled Christmas) by husband-and-wife songwriting duo Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn. Gullahorn's soothing guitar playing sets the perfect tone for Christina Rossetti's famous lyrics. The song, though unfamiliar to some, will lead you into the Christmas season by reminding you that even in the bleak midwinter, there is hope in the person of Jesus Christ.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy.


Lyrics:

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty winds made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
The snow had fallen
Snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long ago

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim
In the air
But his mother Mary
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss

Heaven cannot hold him
Nor can earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall fall away
When he comes to reign

What then can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
What then can I give him?
I will give my heart

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Song Highlight: Only Your Blood Is Enough

This week, we introduced another song from the music ministry of Sojourn Community Church called "Only Your Blood Is Enough." What makes this song unique is the rawness of its lyrics. "Only Your Blood Is Enough" fully acknowledges that without the blood of Jesus Christ, we are hopeless. Utterly hopeless.

The song itself lifts phrases right out of scripture to describe our depraved condition: "conceived in sin," "defiled in every part," to name a few. But while these lyrics appear to paint a dismal picture of life, there is still hope in this song. The bridge takes dramatic lyrical turn--asking God to recreate our hearts. All of the aforementioned lyrics of confession and repentance culminate in a prayer for renewal and recreation. And the song ends declaring that "no bleeding bird, no bleeding beast, no hyssop branch, no priest, no running brook, no flood, no sea can wash away this stain from me."

What can wash away this stain? Only the blood of Jesus. What a magnificent, uplifting truth to proclaim day after day. Reflect on this truth as you listen to the song below.



Lyrics:

I am ashamed, conceived in sin, I've always been
Born in a world where Adam's fall corrupts us
Rooted is the seed of death in life's first breath
The Law demands a perfect heart, but I'm defiled in every part

For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me

All this guilt disturbs my peace, I find no release
Who will save me from my crime? I'm helpless
Behold, I fall before your face in need of grace
So speak to me in a gentle voice, for in your mercies I rejoice

Lord, create my heart anew (Father, come and make us wise)
Only you are pure and true (Lead us away from our demise)
Lord, you are the remedy (For only your blood can set us free)
Only your blood can set us free, only your blood can set us free

No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast, no hyssop branch, no priest
No running brook, no flood, no sea can wash away this stain from me

Monday, August 23, 2010

Song Highlight: Wonderful Maker

"For I have chosen [Abraham], that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." -Genesis 18:19

As we examined Genesis 19 this week, we saw a direct contrast between Abraham and his nephew Lot. In chapter 18, God reveals the proper way to lead a family: to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice. But, as we learned, Lot and his family do not keep the way of the LORD; rather, they are lured into darkness by their depraved surroundings.

As we reflect on this, we come to the realization that our earthly fathers, whether they are following the way of the LORD or not, still stumble and fall into sin. This is an inevitable truth of our fallen world. But we can have hope, for our heavenly Father will never fail us. The same God who created the universe is working in our hearts today. He is working to recreate us—to make us new. He is, as Chris Tomlin's song proclaims, a wonderful maker.

Reflect on this truth as you listen to the song below.



Lyrics:

You spread out the skies over empty space
Said, "Let there be light," and to a dark and formless world
Your light was born

You spread out your arms over empty hearts
Said, "Let there be light," and to a dark and hopeless world
Your son was born

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent your only son, for you are good

What a wonderful maker, what a wonderful savior
How majestic your whispers, how humble your love
With a strength like no other and the heart of a father
How majestic your whispers, what a wonderful God

No eye has fully seen how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard the faintest whispers of
How great you are

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Have No Fear!

You may have noticed that this blog hasn't been updated in the past week. That's because I've been moving back onto Asbury University's campus, which explains the blog blackout. But have no fear! More blog posts are here... well... on the way!

Stay tuned!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Song Highlight: Refuge

For our song of reflection this week, we turned once again to the music of Sojourn Community Church. "Refuge" is a song that highlights the hope that the people of God have even when they are surrounded by the forces of darkness.

In our study of Abraham this week (Genesis 18:16-33), we encountered Abraham's plea to spare the city of Sodom for the sake of the righteous people living there. Abraham is concerned that, when the city is eventually consumed by fire, God will not spare the righteous. However, at the conclusion of their conversation, God tells Abraham that if 10 righteous people are found, he will not destroy the city. Thus, God shows Abraham his unwavering devotion to his people.

Our world today resembles the ancient city of Sodom more than we realize. And we know from scripture that one day, judgment will be rendered and this world will be destroyed. But, unlike Abraham, we do not have to fear. Our sins have been washed white by the blood of Jesus Christ. So when the day of judgment comes, we will be judged as righteous. And we know from this passage that God cares and provides for his people. There is no need to fear.

Reflect on this truth as you listen to the song below.



Lyrics:

Unto your hands, O God of truth, my spirit I commit
You have redeemed my soul from death and saved me from the pit
The passions of my hope and fear maintain a doubtful strife
While sorrow, pain, and sin conspire to take away my life

I know my days are in your hands
Though I draw near to dust
You are the God in whom I trust
You are my refuge

So lift up your voice and sing aloud
And praise him, all you saints
How wondrous is his grace
He is our refuge

Make your most beloved face to shine upon me now
And save me for your mercy's sake, for I am lost without
While in my haste I'm quick to say, "Where is your help for me?"
But you attend me when I pray, and you have heard my plea