Pursuit

Do you ever have a song stop you in your tracks? This one does it for me every time. Daniel Bashta released a new album last week, and I swear I could write a separate blog post about each song. The album is amazing, completely God-breathed. There were moments as I was listening to the CD that I thought, "I think God had Daniel Bashta write these songs just for me." Every single one has spoken to me. 

There is one that I have to listen to over and over. It features one of my favorite singers, Kim Walker, so of course it was going to be one of my favorite songs on the album. It came on the other day when I was driving, I hit repeat and sang along at the top of my lungs. As I sang, I couldn't help but let the tears flow. I wasn't just singing. This was my prayer, my shout to God, a pouring from my heart. 

"I will pursue You..."

We've all been guilty of it. We are on our knees during the hard times. We pray like never before, we read our Bibles. Then life takes over, things seem to be going well, and our pursuit of Him becomes second. And then something happens, big or small, and we are back at the feet of Him.

I will pursue You, no matter what - good days, bad days, okay days. 

I will pursue You - for me, for Michael, for my family, for my friends. 

"Strip everything away..."

I feel like God has been doing that in my life, especially in the last couple of weeks. Stripping down everything -  our finances, our ministry in worship, our relationships, our "normal" - until all I see is Him. A word of caution - if you ask Him to strip everything away, He will, and it will be painful. But He will make it beautiful. 

"I can't live without Your presence..."

Sometimes I think I can. I really do. I've got this, God. I can manage. 

But the reality is, I can't. No matter how much I try, no matter how much planning I do - I can't. 

I hope this song speaks to you as much as it has to me. 

Pursuit - Daniel Bashta, Kim Walker

Strip everything away

'Till all I have is You

Undo the veils

So all I see is You

I will pursue You

I will pursue Your presence

I will pursue You

I will pursue Your presence

Open my eyes

Search me inside

I can't live without Your presence

I can't live without Your presence

I'm pressing into You

So do not pass me by

I'm breaking through the boundaries

I will not be denied

I can't live without Your presence

I can't live without Your presence

I will pursue...

Take Heart

Music has a way to express what we feel when we ourselves do not know how to express it. Music makes us cry, feel happy and sad, dance, worship. Music moves us to a place that most other things cannot move us to. Throughout the Bible we see music, and how it was used to praise our Creator. What an incredible form of worship, to play sweet things and sing beautiful songs back to Him who made it all. The Israelites sang praises to God; David played instruments and danced before the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 20, we see how the worshippers were sent out on the front lines of battle, and how the Israelites singing ultimately defeated their enemies. Throughout Scripture, we find that we are told to sing and play our instruments before the Lord. I love how Psalms even says to address God loudly! We worship God through music. I believe He speaks back to us through music. Just look at all of the beautifully written hymns, songs, contemporary songs. There is no way the authors of those songs did it themselves - they are God-breathed and created to speak to us with perfect words at the perfect moment. 

There is a newer Hillsong song that I believe will speak to you. It speaks to me every time I sing it and hear it. The words are rich and full of truth, and I pray it blesses you.

There is a light, it burns brighter than the sun

He steals the night, and casts no shadow.

There is a hope

Should oceans rise and mountains fall

He never fails

So take heart

Let his love lead us through the night

Hold on to hope

And take courage again

In death by love, the fallen world was overcome

He wears the scars of our freedom

In His name, all our fears are swept away

He never fails

All our troubles and all our tears

God our hope, He has overcome

All our failure and all our fears

God our love, He has overcome

All our heartache and all our pain

God our healer, He has overcome

All our burdens and all our shame

God our freedom, He has overcome

All our failures and all our fear

God our love, He has overcome

God our justice, God our grace

God our freedom, He has overcome

God our refuge and God our strength

GOD IS WITH US

HE HAS OVERCOME!

Amen and amen! He HAS overcome! Not He will overcome. He already has! Everything, all of it, the past, present, and future, He has overcome it all. All of your pain, all of your "why's." Be strong, take heart, be courageous - He is our overcomer. 

Blessed Assurance

The following is from one of my favorite blogs, Bowen's Heart. It is exactly what I needed to hear today. I and so many that are close to me are going through so many struggles, so I know you will be encouraged by it today, too.

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I in my Savior am happy and blessed.

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

-Frances J. Crosby

"When you realize you are not in control, it becomes clear how important it is to know who is. I've come to hold a high view of the sovereignty of God through my struggles. In simple words, I believe that God is in control and do my best to submit my worries into His care."

So today, I will sing at the top of my lungs, "Blessed Assurance! Jesus, You are mine!" The chorus of the song is actually where I got my blog title. Oh, the rich words of this old classic have become so fresh!

Blessed assurance! Jesus is mine!

Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! 

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of His spirit, washed in His blood. 

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long!

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long!

Perfect submission, all is at rest.

I in my Savior am happy and blessed.

Watching and waiting, looking above

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long!

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long!

Song of The Week!

This song brought me to tears the first time I heard it - it spoke right to me where I was/am at. 

Song of The Week

Song of The Week

I LOVE this version of the great classic...enjoy!

Playlist

I am a music junkie and an itunes addict. I could spend hours listening to and searching for music. I guess that is expected, because I do have a degree in music, and music has been in my soul since birth. So, I've decided to share with you part of my playlist. This playlist contains just a sampling of my favorites, not all, because there is no way I could fit them all into this post. You will recognize some, and other probably will be new. They are from all different genres - Christian, pop, rock, classical, R&B, the list goes on. I hope you find some new ones that you can enjoy too!!!

AC/DC - Back in Black
Jake Hamilton - The Anthem
Delirious - Live at Willow Creek (entire album!)

Lifehouse - Everything

Aerosmith - Dream On

Jon McLaughlin - So Close

Usher - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love

Grayson Kessenich - All Things New

Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Pride and Joy
Cream - White Room, Sunshine of Your Love

Edwin McCain - I'll Be
Guns 'n Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Michael Jackson - Billy Jean
Billy Joel - Goodnight, My Angel
Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Hey You
Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence
Nat King Cole - Unforgettable
Roger Williams - Somewhere in Time
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Michael Kamen - Band of Brothers Requiem
Boston - More Than A Feeling
Collective Soul - Crown
Janis Joplin - Me & Bobby McGee
Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Hoobastank - The Reason
Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child
Jon Foreman EPs
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
REO Speedwagon - Ridin' the Storm Out
Sheryl Crow - Picture
U2 - Yahweh
White Lion - When the Children Cry

Adele - Make You Feel My Love

Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats

Dashboard Confessional - Stolen

Fall Out Boy - This Ain't A Scene

The Fire Theft - Heaven

Fisher - I Will Love You

Goo Goo Dolls - Iris

Jewel - Hands

Judy Collins - Someday Soon

Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around

Matchbox Twenty - Bright Lights

Norah Jones - Turn Me On

Taylor Swift - Change

OneRepublic - Stop and Stare

The Frames - Falling Slowly

Coldplay - The Scientist, Fix You

Beatles - Elanor Rigby, In My Life

Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feelin

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are

Rita Springer - Worth It All

Misty Edwards - My Soul Longs For You

Hillsong - Desert Song

Meredith Andrews - Can Anybody Hear Me

Kin Walker - Holy

John Mark McMillan - How He Loves

Sara Groves - What Do I Know

Kerrie Roberts - No Matter What

Christy Nockels - Healing is In Your Hands

Chris Tomlin - Our God

Hillson United - Tear Down The Walls

Kari Jobe - Healer

Gateway Worship - Revelation Song

Selah - Unreedemed

Kristene Mueller - Trust, St. Francis

Michael W. Smith - Healing Rain/Let It Rain

Desperation Band - Overcome, Angel Song

Heather Williams - Hallelujah

Natalie Grant - Your Great Name

Chopin - Nocturnes

Beethoven - All Nine Symphonies and 24 Piano Sonatas

Haydn - Piano Trio in A Major

Dvorak - New World Symphony

Josh Groban - February Song

Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Pagnini

Daniel Bashta - Awakening

Elgar - Serenade For Strings in E Minor

Rob Pattinson - Let Me Sign

Elevation Worship - Kingdom Come
Jesus Culture (all albums)
Hillsong and Hillsong United (all albums)

Whew! That is a long list! And believe me, it could go on forever...
Happy Listening!

ps. What are some of your favorites?

Song of the Week

Song of the Week!

Trust

I love this song by Kristene Mueller...actually, the whole album is awesome. This song, Trust, has been speaking to me in so many ways. I hope it blesses you as well. 

You Raise Me Up

Can I just say how incredibly blessed I am by two amazing women in my life! They are godly women in every sense of the word. They mean more to me than they will ever know. They are my support, my strength, and God speaks to me through them. Today I received a word from my girl through texting. Five minutes later, I received another word from my other girl. Both of them had been given a word from God to give to me. And they obeyed. And my life is blessed because of it. Christy and Jessica, I love you beyond words. You are my sisters, given to me by God for such a time as this. I can't help but think of this song....