Shadows

“Love.” What a beautiful concept to have deep affection for another. To feel love is to feel alive, to feel blessed and to know that hope is present. But love becomes complicated when one chooses to love the created more than he shows devotion to the Creator. Do you see what I’m saying? Chasing after, say, a person, is really chasing after a mirror of the Lord Himself.

God never said we weren’t to be in union with one another. He wants us to love one another. In fact, He commands it: John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

So what’s the problem then, if we love each other, we love God. Let me ask you this: Are you holding on to anything tighter than you hold on to God? This is called misguided love. And this is the idea explored in the song “Shadows” by Tenth Avenue North.

We live in a fallen world. There is no escaping the fact that this place is filled with deception, lies and hurt. But, we have a Savior that can separate us from those things—far from those things. The track reflects a deep desire to build that distance between this world and the next, between the temporary and the eternal. To seek “the source behind all the shadows” and leave fleeting pleasures in the dust.

Let us not seek anything with more heart, passion and longing than the Lord Jesus. Let us cling tightly to the One who will never change and know that beauty, though reflected in creation, is nothing compared to the author of beauty Himself. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Lyrics: Shadows

We’re born into the longing
With hearts, bent toward possessing
All that our eyes are seeing
Our souls, they never stop wanting
Beauty never intended to be more than a reflection

Oh, Lord, light up my dark eyes
Teach me to let go
I’ve been runnin’
Chasing nothing but shadows

My heart is an ocean raging
And Your grace is all that keeps me from drowning
My mind creates deceptions
So I cling the treasure sinking

Oh, Lord, light up my dark eyes
Teach me to let go
I’ve been runnin’
Chasing nothing but shadows
Oh, Lord, please come and
Raise my dead heart, let me know
You can keep me from
Chasing after the shadows

All that I run to, all that I cling to
Everything seems to only slip through my hands
All that I run to, all that I cling to
Everything seems to only slip through my hands

But I keep running, I keep chasing
Left holding on to only the after glow
Lord, light up my eyes, let me follow You
To the source behind all the shadows

I keep running, I keep chasing
Left holding on to only the after glow
Lord, light up my eyes, let me follow You
To the source behind all the shadows
Oh, Lord, light up my dark eyes
Teach me to let go
I’ve been runnin’
Chasing nothing but shadows

Oh, Lord, please come and
Raise my dead heart, let me know
You can keep me from
Chasing after the shadows
The shadows
Keep runnin’, keep runnin’, keep runnin’

WEBSITE: http://tenthavenuenorth.com

More music and lyrics from Tenth Avenue North’s album “The Struggle:”

1. “Worn:” http://themusiccentre.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/the-struggle/

2. “Losing:”http://themusiccentre.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/losing-tenth-avenue-north/ 

Find Your Way

Lost and Found. The concept brings us back to grade school and the image of a large, ruffled box filled with mismatched items of all sorts. But how about lost and found in terms of people? Here the subject becomes quite different. Feelings of mismatch and isolation in the emotional sense often lead us to stray from our initial paths… but only if we let them. Let us not forget that what was once lost can ALWAYS be found. God promises never to leave us nor forsake us, to walk beside us in our trials and our triumphs. His infinite love is never too far gone from our missteps. In fact, it is during our most confused, saddened state, where we can feel His presence the most, for His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Personally, I have grown the most and felt God’s overwhelming presence in the midst of my own struggles. He never promised this life would be easy, only that He would walk with us along the path.

The Afters recently released their newest album “Life Is Beautiful,” which features a number of inspiring and praiseful songs about the beauty of simple blessings, and the struggles that make each of our lives magnificently artwork. A song which speaks particularly of the concept of never being alone is titled “Find Your Way.” The lyrics point to God’s amazing grace, and how none of us can fall below its redeeming might. All we must do is allow Him to work in us and through us, repositioning us toward the path of life as we stumble along the way.

Romans 8: 38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Lyrics: Find Your Way

(Verse)

Don’t believe, the bridge from you to me

Could somehow ever be washed away.

Don’t give in.

Don’t start listening to voices

Whispering things I’d never say.

There is nothing you could do to make me turn my back on you.

(Chorus)

You’re never too lost to know where the road is.

It could be dark, you could be hopeless

But I’ll wait ‘til you find your way.

You’re never too far to be forgotten.

Here in my heart, I hear you calling.

So I’ll wait ‘til you find your way back home.

‘Til you find your way

‘Til you find your way home

‘Til you find your way

‘Til you find your way home

(Verse)

The hardest thing is to just sit waiting.

My heart breaking for you.

There’s an empty space

Where I save your place

Knowing that someday I’ll look at you.

(Chorus)

You’re never too lost to know where the road is.

It could be dark, you could be hopeless

But I’ll wait ‘til you find your way.

You’re never too far to be forgotten.

Here in my heart, I hear you calling.

So I’ll wait ‘til you find your way back home.

‘Til you find your way

‘Til you find your way home

‘Til you find your way

‘Til you find your way home

(Bridge)

With my heart still hoping

And my arms wide open,

I’ll never give up this fight.

I know we’ll talk like we used to,

And we’ll walk like we used to.

It’s just a matter of time.

There is nothing you could do to make me turn my back on you.

(Chorus)

You’re never too lost to know where the road is.

It could be dark, you could be hopeless

But I’ll wait ‘til you find your way.

You’re never too far to be forgotten.

Here in my heart, I hear you calling.

So I’ll wait ‘til you find your way back home.

‘Til you find your way

‘Til you find your way home

‘Til you find your way

‘Til you find your way home

WEBSITE: http://theafters.com/#!/ss:facebook

PREVIOUS POST ON THE AFTERS: http://themusiccentre.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/life-is-beautiful-8-2/

Hide your Love Away

It has been said that expectation is the root of let down. To some degree, I have found this to be true in my own life. To another, it has been the thread that’s kept my course woven together. Expect. Expect good things to happen. Expect that God will provide a path for you, better than you could have fashioned in your wildest imagination.

The same can be said for relationships. Oftentimes, we witness people settling for that “right now” person—someone who might not hold our true desires, but will fill the place for the moment. What I am here to say is that true love is worth waiting for, worth passing up other opportunities to have. Patience holds the key.

So pray for that person now. This unknown soul is out there, for you.

When we try to write our own love story, the road is ridden with heartbreak. But when we give the pen back to God, he will put a character in your life who He believes deserves your heart.

Anthem Lights’ new single “Hide Your Love Away” speaks just of this concept. “Hide your love away and wait for me…There will come a day when I will finally say, staring in your eyes, I’ve waited my whole life for this night.”

Don’t despair, don’t let go of hope. Love is real and alive. Even when you can’t feel it or see it, you have it. Open your eyes to the possibility of a greater reality. Break the chains of the typical, and EXPECT the unexpected. God is, after all, the King of creating miracles out of our most disheartened situations. Happy Valentine’s Day all.

Story Behind the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhAHIuZbM-A

Something to Think About # 1: Words

How we respond to controversy defines how we see ourselves. Just think about it. How many times in life do we really reflect on the choices we’ve made, the people we’ve encountered and the possibility that we handled everything just as it should be? Every word we utter not only holds a consequence in our own conscience, but for the way in which we mirror a given circumstance.

We are really only given one chance to say what needs to be said, stay silent for what need not be uttered and smile through life’s ups and downs. So take the time today to make the choice of using your words to heal, not to break. To build each other up in song, and leave anger at the foot of the door; realizing that the gift of this day is a one-time deal… no take-backs, do-overs or white out for the mistakes we need not make when we take the time to care for others, the same way we want others to care for us.

“Words” By Hawk Nelson (feat. Bart Millard of MercyMe)

Jesus In Disguise: Brandon Heath

Why is it always so instinctual for people to run away from problems when life gets tough? Why do many feel as though remaining in the midst of turmoil will lead to further destruction?

Look at it this way, when difficulties faced Christ did He run away? Of course not! He stood, remaining faithful to the word, faithful to His purpose. And we are called to do the same.

Oftentimes, we are given the privilege, yes, I’ll say that again, the privilege of suffering for the sake of Christ. Though we may feel like He is far and not present in our trials, He is closer than you could ever imagine. He’s always beside us, giving us the words to speak and showing us which path to take.

If you ever question the closeness of Christ, take note of songs like Brandon Heath’s single “Jesus in Disguise” off his upcoming album Blue Mountain. Have heart, Christ is right in the midst of our suffering, we just may not recognize Him because He is perhaps in ‘disguise’ from our most apparent consciousness, but very much real with each new day.

Jesus In Disguise

Ever get something in your head
It’s nothing you’ve heard, or something you’ve read
Ever had a cut, but you never saw a blade
Brought to your knees, but you never prayed

(Chorus)
Jesus in disguise
Jehovah passing by
The burden of a tear
Hanging in your eye
Jesus in disguise
A scar across the sky
You were looking for a king
You would never recognize
Jesus in disguise

Ever feel like you’ve been somewhere before
You hold the key, you know which door
Speak the word your lips have never known
Because your heart told you so

Chorus

So open my eyes, wide as I can
Blind as I am, blind as I am
So open my eyes as wide as I can
Blind as I am, blind as I am

Jesus in disguise
Jesus in disguise

WEBSITE: http://brandonheath.net

For more Music and Lyrics: http://themusiccentre.wordpress.com/music-and-lyrics/

I Wonder: Leeland

I remember the first time I really grasped the magnitude of what Christ had done for me, done for humanity. It was so brave and such an act of pure love. I felt so unworthy. It is not the norm for people to love with such an unselfish nature. I was, you could say ‘afraid’ that I could fall short of such an amazing gift. But even if we don’t feel worthy of this sort of love, believe that it exists and is ever-present and flowing from our Savior.

This song, “I Wonder” by Leeland displays in such a simple way how we as people cannot really comprehend the heavenly being that is the Lord, so we lay in wonder, seeking Him, grateful for all He has done and all He is.

“I Wonder”

At the stars in the night, I wonder
At Your lightning in the sky, I shudder
Your glory is a blanket that covers
Every living thing
I’m in awe at the majesty of who You are
Your love is a seal burnt inside my heart
All of the day I want to be where You are
Holy Father

And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me
With all these words, all my heart can sing is holy
You are holy

Jesus Christ
You bled Your love, laid down Yourself
And gave me life
In naked shame You hung and You were lifted high
Here I lay in awe and wonder
I am afraid
For no one’s ever sacrificed and loved me this way

So on my face I fall under Your heavy grace
Here I lay in awe and wonder
And I wonder

I’m in awe at the majesty of who You are
Your love is a seal burnt inside my heart
All of the day I want to be where You are
Holy Father

And it feels like there’s not enough praise inside of me
With all these words, all my heart can sing is holy
You are holy

WEBSITE: http://leelandonline.com

For more Music and Lyrics: http://themusiccentre.wordpress.com/music-and-lyrics/

The Struggle

“Hallelujah we are free to struggle.” But, “We’re not struggling to be free.” Tenth Avenue North’s anthems speak loudly in their third studio album titled The Struggle, about how life will send us difficulties, trials, obstacles, though, Amen, we are not struggling for our salvation. Our acts of tribulation are human, beaten down by the weight of this world, our temporary home.

The album illustrates that God wants nothing from us. Come as you are, a broken heart seeking redemption, and He will love you just the same. An inspiring song titled “Worn” off the album is unbelievably relatable. Here’s a sample of the lyrics:

“Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn”

I am grateful for Tenth Avenue North’s words of hope. The whole album demonstrates that struggling brings us to our knees, where we are able to be made whole again. Thank God in your struggles and know He gives you grace and allows you to grow in this time the most.

INTERVIEW with lead singer Mike Donehey about life’s struggles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqu2j0IM3lg

The entire track and lyrics “Worn”

“Worn”

Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zulKcYItKIA

I’m tired I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes
To keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That You can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I’m too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

My prayers are wearing thin
And I’m worn
Even before the day begins
I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
So Heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Yes, all that’s dead inside will be reborn

Though I’m worn
I’m worn

WEBSITE: http://tenthavenuenorth.com