Eureka! Rediscover!

Another music post because I love music.

I was looking at the different folders that I used to not 

include in my playlist because I thought of them as boring.  

For example, hymns from Selah; songs from Casting Crowns; 

and other old praise songs.  I rather preferred to fill my

playlists with favorites from the radio or new, contemporary

praise songs.

Well, I ran into folder of Selah and Casting Crowns, and I

figured that I haven't listened to them in a while.  So, I put 

them in my playlist.  After listening to the lyrics of their songs,

I started to tell myself, "Wow, what was I thinking for not

putting these songs in my lists?!"

I am loving the hymns that Selah is singing and Casting Crowns

takes different stories in the Bible and make them into modern

songs, portraying those same truth in their songs.  All these are

things that help me to appreciate God's Word a lot more.

Some songs I have been loving for the past 3 days:

Prodigal - Casting Crowns

No One Like You - David Crowder Band

By and By - Selah

There is a Fountain - Selah

Your Love is Strong - Jon Foreman

Music Through Languages

I couldn't sleep, so I was searching through my folder filled

with songs and ran into this song: By and By [Selah]

Don't know what the language is, but it's great that God's

praise is being sung through different languages such as this.

A little bit about this song: It's basically talking about how

we'll understand everything that God has provided/made

for us when time passes by.

Enjoy!

Mpasi, ntantu ta kwisa
Beto bakisa yau ve
Nki nzila Yesu baka kwa zulu
Kansi Yandi twadisa
Beto ku landa Yandi
Beto bakisa yau mbote by and by

Chorus:
By and by, bu nsuka ta kwisa
Bana ya Nzambi ta kwenda na zulu
Beto yimbila kilumbu beto ndandu
Beto bakisa yau mbote by and by

(English Translation)

We are often tossed and driven

On the restless sea of time.

Somber skies and howling tempests

Oft succeed a bright sunshine.

In that land of perfect day,

When the mists have rolled away,

We will understand it better by and by.

Chorus

By and by when the morning comes.

When the saints of God are gathered home.

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

How Much Sweeter is the Gift of Grace

Romans 5:15-17

"But the free gift is not like the trespass.  For if many died through

one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free

gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin.  For

the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but

the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.  For if,

because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man,

much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the

free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."

If one man's sin is able to bring death to many, then the death of one man,

Jesus Christ, brings life to many.  How much sweeter is the grace of God,

knowing that we died because of the inheritance of one man's sin.  This tells

us just how much joy this death of Jesus Christ should bring in us.  I love this

verse with the song Joy by Pages CXVI.

Naive view of Worship

In one of my previous post, I talked about corporate worship

and how it should be.  A gigantic choir singing to God of all his

wonderful character.  That's it; that's all the purpose of it should

be.  And rightfully so!  For he deserves all the praise and worship.

However, too often we think of worship as something that is in our

control.  Bob Kauflin addresses this issue in this manner: "Praise

is God's invitation to us ... to lift our eyes above trials ... and

weaknesses ... to see that we have a great redeemer."  Praise is

GOD'S INVITATION to us to come to him, despite all the

troubles and sufferings we had throughout our week.  It doesn't

state that praise is our invitation to worship God however we

please, but it is God's way of telling us to come to him despite

what happened.

Not only is it an invitation from God, but it is a way for us to

enable the Word of God to dwell in us.  Sometimes, we sing

songs of praise nonchalantly without thinking about the message

trying to be portrayed to us.  We sing because we have to sing and

is part of the routine of being a Christian.  I think everyone of us

should understand what we are singing for 1) it challenges us to

see if the songs we sing are biblically sound, 2) it helps us to

appreciate and love God deeply, and 3) it helps us to keep God's

Word in our hearts even when we praise.

Worship leaders aren't exempt from this just because they are leading

worship.  We as leaders should also question what we're singing to see

the truth.  We as leaders should help the congregation to understand

the songs we sing.  We should not assume that the congregation will

know what the songs are saying.  We should help the congregation in

whatever way we can to encourage a greater appreciation of God.

Such a naive view I had of worship before I ran into the postings 

of Bob Kauflin.  Praise God that everytime I think I'm ready to lead 

worship, He comes by, slaps me in the back of the head, and points 

at things that humbles me, putting me back in a heart of prayer to 

God to strengthen me with his power and knowledge for I can't do 

it by myself.  Praise God, for He is good all the time.

I love it when...

• Brothers and sisters in Christ remind me constantly of what 
  Scripture says and encourages me.
• Brothers and sisters in Christ teach me something new when
  talking about the Scripture
• I praise out loud without a care of who is listening
• I praise and I hear someone else praising with me, whether
  they are there or not.
• I sit back and listen to brothers and sisters sing their hearts
  out to our Father in Heaven, like one big gigantic choir
• I don't question God's mysterious being, but just accepts it
• I am humbled by a brother or sister despite the initial feelings
  that happen
• I am humbled by God because it's just one way of God to slap
  me in the back of my head and lead me to the right direction
• I imagine nature as only a glimpse of God's beauty
• I look at a candid picture, and see all the wonderful faces of
  brothers and sisters
• I look at a candid picture, and see all the joy expressed on
  the faces of brothers and sisters
• I jam with people because it's another way to bond
• Brothers give me encouragements despite your mistakes
  during a sports game
• God taught me something crazy when I read the Bible
• I am able to relate to people despite their differences
• Brothers and Sisters act crazy and silly, bringing joy into
  people's lives
• I'm constantly reminded by what Christ has done when
  I fall.
• my family are enjoying each other's company, laughing at
  the jokes made at each other.
• God answers prayers

There's a lot of things I'm grateful for.  I'm glad that I took a step

back and see what God has blessed me with.  I'm glad that I'm

able to say thanks to God for the blessings.  I hope I continue to

have a thankful and grateful heart towards God.

Another Music Post

So Long Self [MercyMe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpyKXcMYMS8

Here's another music post that I really liked after

listening to it for like a long time.

You know how there are people who love poetry or

books because of the message in there or the inspiration

that the author received to write.  I feel just like that

with music, trying to find out what the artists are

saying to their audience.

For the link above, it's a fun little song that makes me

smile despite the seriousness of it.  We were once

sinful people, loving sin and dwelling in it.  However,

what this song is telling us that once we found Christ,

we throw away our sinful self and embrace our joyful,

freed self.

So long self, it's been fun but I found something bigger

than the universe itself.  It's much better than

anything in this world!