Tuesdays on Repeat: "Learning to be the Light" by Newworldson

This is the song that has been on my heart this week.  It's got a catchy tune, but even better is the words. They hit home.  With all the darkness around us these days, wouldn't it be great if we could learn to be the light?  It takes effort - but it can be done!!

"Learning to be the Light"

When the stars came crashing down
In tiny pieces to the ground
I was all alone down here
Trapped beneath the atmosphere
Then I, thought somebody called my name
I spun around and caught a flame
I gave into a God I didn't know
And now everything is falling into place
A brand new life is calling and I owe it all to grace

It's so much brighter living in Your world
Savior, what You did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see
When we struggle and it all goes wrong
Only You can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa

When a heart is cold as ice
You can't melt it with advice
No one wants to listen to
A list of things they shouldn't do
So I build a city on a hill
And I light a candle on the sill
Knowing You'll be always knocking at the door
Oh God I just want to love on everyone
All I have is Yours to give so let the people come

It's so much brighter living in Your world
Savior what You did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see
When we struggle and it all goes wrong
Only You can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light

That makes the shadows hide
The light that breaks the curse of pride
The light that takes the weary in its arms

When it all came crashing down
There was only darkness all around
But in the distance I could see
A flame

It's so much brighter living in Your world
Savior what You did for me
You gave me something I want everyone, I mean everyone to see
When we struggle and it all goes wrong
Only You can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
Whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light!

****To listen to the video, please turn off the blog music player by scrolling down to the very bottom and hitting stop or pause.  Thank you friends.****

Tuesdays on Repeat: "Redeemed" by Big Daddy Weave

This song has been in my head and heart for a few weeks now!  Such a song of renewal and acceptance.  My friend, regardless of what you have been told about Christ, or what you think you may know of Him, I want to share that He loves you and accepts you as you are.
Are you flawed?  Do you fall short of everyone's expectations - even your own?  Well, do not fear.  He knows all about you and He loves you anyway.  He doesn't want you chained to the guilt and shame of past sins and secrets.  He doesn't want you to carry that heavy burden that has been placed on you... He wants to lighten that load.  Let Him carry you through.  He will make you new.

"Redeemed"

Seems like all I could see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, I'm redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me
'Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be
Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be
Jesus, I'm not who I used to be
'Cause I am redeemed
Thank God, redeemed

*before playing the video, you can disable the blog music by scrolling down and hitting pause or stop on the music playlist on the right*

What song(s) do you have on repeat right now? Share in the comments!

March Photo A Day :: Day Ten|Loud

My daughter's (borrowed) bass guitar.  I love that she is getting past her fear of playing in front of people. She has been playing with our worship team at church.  I love it!  It can definitely get loud! She practices with ear phones. For that, we are thankful. =)  Taken with my Android Revolution Edited with Pixlr-o-matic

31 Days Fall Challenge: Week Two~Setting the atmosphere with music

Welcome back friends! We are into our second week of the 31 Days Fall Challenge hosted by Courtney at Women Living Well Ministries.  Last week, she challenged us to burn a candle in the home to cozy up the atmosphere, but also to remind us to say a prayer of peace for our home and our family.  I am happy to say that I was able to meet the challenge and while I do often burn a candle in my home, my children noticed that this one had a special meaning to it.
My four year old knows not to touch the candles or play with them in any way.  He also knows now that he is not to blow them out unless I want them blown out.  A couple times he came to me and asked if he could blow out the candle for me and I explained that I wanted it to stay on because it reminds us to pray for each other.  Now he goes over to it and says that we can't blow this candle out 'cause it helps us pray for each other. =)

See how far our candle has burned down already? =)

Now, on to the challenge for this week.  This was copied from Courtney's blog:

"This week’s challenge is two-fold also:

Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose music that the family enjoys.

Then, focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships.

Role model gentleness with your words this week and while you’re add it have a little fun.  Since the music is going,  grab your husband or children and dance!"

Well, it sounds so easy, doesn't it?  Our family loves music.  We love all kinds of music.  My daughter Hannah has an especially diverse taste in music.  She is like most teenagers and likes to have music on all the time and she likes it loud.  I love that she usually shows great discretion in the music she chooses - but she likes all genres.  I love to play music in our home.  I usually play Contemporary Christian Music, because that is my preference, but sometimes I will play something like Big Band, top 40, oldies, country... haha Just to switch things up a little.  I usually don't mind different styles as long as the lyrics are clean and the topic isn't off the wall inappropriate. Everybody has their own standards, right?  My little guy loves to show us his "dance moves" and we are his best audience.  It's all fun and brings us together!

Well, Courtney goes on to challenge us with some other thoughts that I'll let you go to her blog to read, but that is where I got a little nervous about this weeks challenge. haha.  She talks about speaking kindly, refraining from talking harshly or yelling.  I grew up in a very loud home.  We yelled even if we weren't upset.  She challenges us to not let someone else's anger get us angry.  THIS will be the real challenge for me.  I'd love to say that I am the epitome of how a meek and quiet spirit should look, but that would be a bold faced lie. haha.  That is why I NEED this challenge.
 Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Remember that this fall challenge is all about making  your home a haven.  It's about creating an atmosphere in your home that is peaceful and loving and kind.  

I am definitely going to have the house clean, my candle burning and the music on when my kids come home from school.  I know that it's harder for mom's that have a different schedule or work outside the home - that was me last year and all the years before - but you can still be thoughtful of this and maybe play some music and work on having quiet conversation during dinner or right before bed time or maybe you all need to get your wiggles out and play something fun and upbeat like "Walking on Sunshine".  Let all the kids have a little dance off in the living room.  Join in and have some fun with them.  Show them your silly side and let loose.  These are the memories that your children will look back on when they're older.

If you don't have an iPod or MP3 player, you could always use free music services that are on-line.  I like Pandora.  You can set up the music you like and delete anything you don't like.  Just play it from your computer if you have to!

Here's a fun song that we love in our home!  Enjoy!

Are you taking part in the challenge?  I'd love to see what you are have to share. Leave me a link!

What Do I Know of Holy?

My first goal for 3 in 30 was about my Quiet Time. My time each day that I spend praying, meditating, worshipping, reflecting ...on my Creator...my Savior. I am wanting it to be something more of a natural habit. Something as easy and necessary as breathing...
I was working at my craft table early this week when this song came on my Pandora. It is called "What Do I Know of Holy?" and is by Addison Road. As it played, I listened to the words. I had never heard it before. Before long, this song had me putting down my paint brush and I immediately paused my Pandora and had to look up the song on YouTube. I needed to see the lyrics and hear it again clearly.
This song literally brought me to my knees. These lines here: "If You touched my face would I know You? Looked into my eyes could I behold You?" I often feel like we spend so much time trying to know about "religion" and "laws" and we spend so much time being busy working for Him that we really miss who HE really is. Then these lines stood out too: "I guess I thought that I had figured You out. I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about...How You were mighty to save. Those were only empty words on a page. Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be. The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees." Wow. I don't want to just rattle off a bunch of things that I learned in Sunday School or go around trying to convince people that what I believe is the Only Way... Instead, I want them to see Christ so real in me that they too might wonder what made me that way. I want them to see me love others regardless of their color, their class, their language, or lifestyle.
I was so encouraged by this song. It touched me so deeply and really made me think about my beliefs. I am a spiritual person. I am on a daily journey trying to peel away all of the layers of false teachings, prideful spirits, legalistic demands, etc. As each layer falls aways, I can see my Lord more clearly and I feel lighter and more free to worship Him and point others to Him.