"Upon a Life" a Hymn

"Upon a Life I have not lived,
Upon a Death I did not die,
Another’s Life; Another’s Death,
I stake my whole eternity."

I had the privilege to lead worship this weekend, and because we were focused on the belt of truth as discussed in Ephesians 6, took the opportunity to introduce to the church a song we'd not sung together before. Our whole set was focused on singing back many truths of our faith ("O Church Arise," "The Church's One Foundation," "This I Believe [The Creed]"), and especially singing of and to Jesus ("In Christ Alone," "Cornerstone"), who is Himself our ultimate Truth. The rich lyrics of this updated hymn seemed to fit well.

For those curious, this song was originally written by Horatius Bonar as part of a longer Communion hymn. You can download music and read additional commentary from the Indelible Grace artists who updated this tune on their Hymnbook page. Their work on this song, as so many, is much appreciated. Please enjoy a listen.

Resurrection Day 2015: How Long, O Lord? and other cries of the human heart

We recently covered a song (above – yep that's us) during a Sunday morning worship time which seems to have resonated with many in ways we did not anticipate. The question put forth by the song based on Psalm 13 is, “How long, O Lord?”

We ask such human questions of our lives and the lives of others in our confusion and weakness as we experience the broken things of this world. So did the writers of many Psalms and other Scriptures. I thought of some friends going through frightening medical concerns shortly before approaching the mic that morning. Others, of course, processed questions through their own unique lenses. Why is this happening? God, where are you? Are you there? Do you care?

We can find it a comfort, then, that the Perfect Human, the God-Man, asked a question too. Even through His pain on the cross, “...at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34)
   
Unlike us, however, Jesus knew a bigger and ultimate picture, and the answer to His question allows us to see ahead to something greater as well.

Jesus’ question quotes the beginning of Psalm 22, which also pointed ahead to all He was suffering in great detail. While David, the Psalm’s author, experienced this question in frustration and fear as we might, and our suffering may be truly unjust or simply unexplained, Jesus is the only one who can ask this question as the completely innocent sufferer undeserving of such horrifying abandonment. Though He never did wrong, Jesus was willing to leave the comforts of Heaven and suffer too, to hang between Earth and sky, the mediator between the perfection of God and our broken desires to persist in ways God warns against, and which can only lead to our death and separation from Him.

Jesus was forsaken in that moment to briefly experience this separation and death so we ultimately don’t have to, so our relationship with God can be renewed, along with our world, forever. His resurrection three days later shows us His power to restore all things. Through this, He calls us back to Himself and gives hope in every question we may ask if we go to Jesus, abandon our own broken desires and believe Him.

Because of the cross, the answer to a painful, “How long?,” can be, “Not forever.” Life in this world is much shorter than we think, but eternity is beyond anything we can imagine. I urge you to think seriously about who Jesus is and what He’s done, and to trust Him through every question and cry of your own heart.

Resurrection Day blessings †

Original recording by Sojourn Music...

Cover Tune Grab Bag: "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"

You want some fun? Check out "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" as performed by MercyMe, Jars Of Clay, Matt Maher, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Afters and Lecrae in what may be the longest hallway in the world.

I knew I got into worship bands for some reason.

well worth a listen: Stephen Miller

I completely love accidentally discovering great music. Those who know me know I tend to get a little (ok, a lot) excited about bands that catch my ear. But let's just ramp that up a level.

I recently happened to catch Stephen Miller at The Journey in St. Louis. (No, not the "Fly Like an Eagle" guy. But I dig him as a classic.)

The first time was just a free Saturday night I stopped by for worship. I got in a little late dealing with bizarre traffic, so I missed the intro and wasn't sure who he was. But I knew he sounded extremely professional, had a great, clean sound, and I was hearing lyrics I recently came to realize I rarely do hear, such as,

"Sovereign King, I’m amazed even more
That You’d chosen me when you founded the world"

That alone said volumes. I wasn't able to get an album that night without cash, but I couldn't stop thinking about those words.

I saw him next at the latest Acts 29 Midwest Regional Quarterly. Again, no idea he'd be there, but I heard that song again, "Awaken My Heart." It's just incredible live in worship, and he added in portions of other songs such as "How Great Thou Art." This time, because it's a training conference, they actually gave the album away. I haven't stopped listening in my car since. Solid theologically and musically, and he's writing concepts I'm really camped out on lately.

"You can break my heart to bring me joy
You can take it all to make me more like You
Oooh, I trust in You, I trust in You
You are sovereign Here"

Given recent experience, I amen that every time. Just phenomenal stuff.

Thus I was very pleasantly surprised to learn he's now actually on staff at The Journey. Their music guys have been awesome about sharing their stuff with us to use with our church, so I think he's in with a pretty great bunch. Even got out at the eleventh hour to catch his first night leading worship in that capacity so my very musical husband could hear too.

So, since he was kind enough to provide a free album, and facilitate some fantastic worship times, I'd like to return the favor with a little promotion here. Right now you can download the "People of Redemption" album free with some promo of your own. Take advantage of that offer while it's available.

And here is a song I referenced above. They were touring with a group called Aerial Experience, which explains the performance artist, but you'll get the idea.

I really do praise God for using music like this to cause me to praise Him more. Enjoy it for His glory.

You Are Sovereign Here

"I Will Rise"

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." -Paul the Apostle, Philippians 1:21 (NKJV)

I just got to see Chris Tomlin live for the first time last weekend near Chicago. We also got to go to a small worship leader's gathering before the show. Wasn't quite what I expected, and I don't agree with every lyric or story I heard (which is pretty much the case with everyone when I compare their words to Scripture). But I do love his style and still hold to the fact that this guy's got some great stuff, so I had a good time worshiping along to the solid tunes.

One of the songs off the new album "Hello Love" which caught my attention pretty quick is called "I Will Rise." Before I even knew why the song was written, it didn't take me long to say, "I want that played at my funeral."

That statement might freak some people out. But since we are all destined to die, have no idea when the Lord will call us out of the race here on Earth, and I dream often about being in His presence, I think this sort of thing merits some consideration. I echo what John Piper says, that I have a vested interest in making my Lord Jesus look really good in life and when I die. I only pray that whenever and however He takes me, He'll use it to glorify Himself.

Check out the lyrics...

I Will Rise
by Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, Jesse Reeves, Matt Maher

Song lyrics | I Will Rise lyrics


Tomlin played this one at the concert, along with the side note that his grandfather just passed away, recently requesting Chris play it at his funeral. That was last Tuesday, and I hope he got through it.

Here's what Chris Tomlin has to say about the song:



I love that bridge too, and I know what He's saying, about that future hope of Glory and being forever in God's presence praising Him. But it's important to note that hope only comes in looking back to what Christ did in His death on the cross, dying for the sin of those who accept Him and rising again. I think the song communicates that fact, but I never want to assume my entire audience truly gets this vital concept, or that any of us can ever hear it enough.

This is eternal perspective. It looks forward and backward simultaneously. It is why we worship, why we will worship eternally and the only hope we have in this life or the next.

I should share that I attended four funerals in the first 2 weeks of this year, two of which I sang at, and some carried more hope than others depending in part upon how loudly the reality of the Gospel could be proclaimed through the life of the deceased. So again, I pray by God's grace that reality will be spoken and sung loud and clear whenever my time comes, even as I enter into the joy of my Master, worshiping in the presence of His Glory.

Worthy is the Lamb, indeed.

"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him." -2 Corinthians 5:1-9 (NKJV)

drumming the pride right out of me

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." -Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

Music has always been a big thing in my life. If you look at some of my older posts, you'll see all kinds of lyrical references. I love singing, despite being traumatized as a small child by people who reckoned this little kid could sing and stuck me onstage, and at least once ran off when I noticed the audience.

So I've had my time behind the mic. Nothing big, just fun stuff mostly. But a few years ago I found myself becoming frustrated when I wasn't allowed to sing in our church praise band. It wasn't for malicious reasons. Leadership at the time said they didn't have space, and I didn't push too hard. But I eventually realized there was more to it than openings, especially since I had to question my own motives in the end. I noticed pride pushing it's way to the surface, and it wasn't until I really got past some things and desired to truly live to glorify the Lord that I was finally allowed to take part under a new regime. Now I sing, to God and for God, in the band about once a month, which is more than I even asked for. All His timing.

So, a lesson there was learned. But occasionally I realize class on this particular topic is still in session.

A few weeks ago we drove 12 hours to northern Wisconsin for a high school/college retreat. This was my third year, but this time hubby and I both went along as sponsors. Even nicer, we also asked a friend who helped us get a little praise band together. Hubby wails on electric guitar, and I can keep a rhythm on drums, so we got a few other people together and a band was born.

Like I said, I can keep a beat, but this was my first time ever playing with an actual band. I took drum lessons for a brief while back in high school, and sometimes we jam in the basement just goofing around. But to do this thing for real with intros and outros and all that, I was pretty nervous.

I prayed a lot. I wanted to play skillfully for the Lord and do this thing up right for Him. I even found myself practicing rhythms to the ceiling fan in my cabin. My buddy helped cue me a lot, which was pretty much invaluable since I do everything by feel. He also recorded some sessions, so I got to hear myself and found I was really doing much better than I thought (partly because I didn't have a monitor back there).

So by the end of the week, I was pretty comfortable and getting braver. We were starting to seriously nail everything on "Indescribable," which got me really excited since I love that song so much. I thought the times of worship were great and things were looking good.

Then, on the last session of the last day, I looked out and noticed someone had a camera. They were videoing the band. They were recording me. So I got it in my head to do some nice little riff for the vid.

Not kidding, no sooner did I think that and go to do it than the drumstick not so much fell as flew out of my hand and landed in the absolute weirdest spot. Thinking fast, I switched my remaining stick to the other hand and and kept the rhythm while trying to reach down and grab the flyaway.

And then I just started laughing. Quietly, but I had to laugh at my own stupidity and pride and the whole situation and say, "Yes, Lord, I get it. It's all for you."

Thank God for His sense of humor and His gentleness in leading us to see our sin when we're actually paying attention. And I thank Him for His mercy, because I realize getting a drumstick knocked out of your hand is pretty generous compared to what I truly deserve and would get without His grace.

"Indescribable"

Believe it or not, praise music, especially of the modern variety, is something I'm really just discovering (with lots of help from Pandora), and Chris Tomlin is suddenly one of my favorite artists.

I absolutely love this song (written by Laura story and performed by Tomlin) because it is so utterly true. There are many homemade vids for it out there, but this is by far the best I've seen. Take it all in.

30 DoW: Day 30!

Wow, it's the last day of 30 Days of Worship. But it doesn't have to end here.

If you're just tuning in, scroll down to June 1/Day 1 and start your own 30 days, focusing on the various attributes of God.

If you're playing along at home, keep going! As I said, you've only got 150 psalms to choose from. Try using other portions of the Bible. See how many attributes you can come up with. I'm fairly sure this effort is inexhaustible.

Hope you enjoyed/enjoy this as much as I did. I ebbed and flowed as I went, sure. Schedules happen. If you miss a day, just catch back up. Trust me, it's definitely worth it.

Now, for my final post...

I chose Psalm 1501 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

attribute & reaction:
Great. Last day. Last psalm. Makes sense. Actually, I almost did this one the other day but chose to wait.

But check it out. Look at all the celebrating. I can practically hear the music, all those instruments, and see the dancing. Strings and flutes and percussion. And voices for sure. This isn't the reserved, stone-still, lackluster "worship" many of us are used to in this era. It's not a wild and pointless display either. This is an expression of excitement and rejoicing and, most of all, praise because of the greatness of God. If that's not something to get excited about, what really is?

People get all worked up about everything else—sports, rock bands, television, the internet, etc. ad nauseum—but can't move in many church settings without motives being judged? That is a ridiculous problem.

I say we get serious and lighten up. Praise Him! Don't hold back. Don't act stupid. And, whatever you do, don't judge the motives of anyone else. This is your Creator you're worshiping here, the One who gave us life and every good thing. If you know Him, He asks for your worship. So be humbled and give Him what He asks.

He is Great. He is worthy. Praise Him!

30 DoW: Psalm 138

Psalm 138
1 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.

4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth.

5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.

6 Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

attribute & response:
Praiseworthy. He is the only God who is, the only Being worthy of praise. He alone can cause us to be bold and save us from trouble. He looks upon those of us who bow before Him, and He is the one who fulfills the purposes for which He created us. That is amazing. We desire so much autonomy, yet the only true and living God enables our every move. For this and so much more we sing to Him, we praise Him, we bow down before Him.

I love the fact that He loves music, and I love to sing to Him. I'm amazed and humbled by the fact that He even cares about my worship, cares to draw me to Him, wants to use me in any way for His service. My only logical response is to praise Him for it all.