Saintmichaeldefendthem1 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 Greetings everyone,I thought I'd open up a different kind of thread. Amy Grant's song is a touching one. Growing up in a Pentacostal environment, I was always drawn to question the incessant need for enthusiastic, upbeat worship. This environment certainly has its charm, but I never thought it touched upon true joy that's not always serendipidous and sappy.God loves a lullabyIn a mothers tears in the dead of nightBetter than a Hallelujah sometimes.God loves a drunkards cry,The soldiers plea not to let him dieBetter than a Hallelujah sometimes.The Bible says to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. When it's always rejoicing, who comforts the sorrowful?We pour out our miseriesGod just hears a melodyBeautiful the mess we areThe honest cries of breaking heartsAre better than a HallelujahDid Jesus smile alot? We never read that he smiled but we certainly read that he wept. Jesus lived in a time of much suffering. Do you think he was always trying to cheer people up? I think he enjoined himself to our miseries and in doing so showed us true joy that wasn't falsely chipper.The woman holding on for life,The dying man giving up the fightAre better than a Hallelujah sometimesThe tears of shame for what's been done,The silence when the words won't comeAre better than a Hallelujah sometimes.Genuine joy is a painful smile when our afflictions remind us that this is not our home. We are strangers and sojourners, but Jesus said, "I go to make a place for you" and the hope this brings to us anchors our soul and brings us through the most painful trials.We pour out our miseriesGod just hears a melodyPraise God who never asks me to put on appearances! I can tell Him that I'm not ok. I can tell him that it hurts sometimes. When God says, "How are you?" I can answer honestly.Beautiful the mess we areThe honest cries of breaking heartsAre better than a Hallelujah"You say 'I am rich, I have become wealth, and have need of nothing'...and don't know you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." (Rev 1:17) God sees of me what others don't...and loves me.Better than a church bell ringing,Better than a choir singing out,singing out.The best praise is the sacrifice of praise. As Job said, "He giveth, and he taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."We pour out our miseriesGod just hears a melodyBeautiful the mess we areThe honest cries of breaking heartsAre better than a HallelujahKnow the difference between genuine joy and contrived joy. The latter can, on a whim, be donned like a mask. The former comes from brokenness, grief, and ultimately sweet trust in Jesus through the worst that life can bring.In the Sacred Heart of Christ. Quote
Lisa-marie Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 The best praise is the sacrifice of praise. As Job said, "He giveth, and he taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Remind's me of a Pentecostal song... the name of the song is "Blessed be the name of the Lord" Blessed be your name In a land that is plentiful Where your steams of abundance flow Blessed be your name. Blessed be your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Lord blessed be your name. Every blessing you pore out I'll turn back to praise and when the darkness closes in Lord still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your name Blessed be your Glorious name. Blessed be your name When the sun's shinning down on me, when the world's all as it should be Blessed be your name. Blessed be your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be your name. Every blessing you pore out I'll turn back to praise and when the darkness closes in Lord still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your name Blessed be your Glorious name. Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your name Blessed be your Glorious name. You give and take away, you give and take away, My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name. You give and take away, you give and take away, My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name. You give and take away, you give and take away, My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your Glorious name. Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your Glorious name. I'm not sure how relevant it is, I think the lyrics speak for themselves so I wont elaborate... hope you can see why it came to mind when reading through this... Quote
Saintmichaeldefendthem1 Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Posted January 21, 2011 Yep. Every time I come across that quote from Job, that song pops into my head. "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns always seems to be coupled with that song in my mind. Job's wife represents the rest of the world in thinking we ought to curse God when affliction dawns on us. But Job praised God anyway, even though he didn't understand the why's. I think it infuriates the devil when nothing he throws at us can vex our unbroken praise of the Almighty. Thank you for posting that. Quote
Saintmichaeldefendthem1 Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Posted January 21, 2011 I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. Chorus: And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry to You and raised me up again my strength is almost gone how can I carry on if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away Chorus I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth I lift my eyes onto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth Chorus Quote
Guest Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 I love this one by Gary Valenciano - a Filipino artist Just what is it in me Sometimes I just don't know What keeps me in your love Why you never let me go And though you're in me now I fall and hurt you still My Lord, please show me how To know just how you feel You have forgiven me Too many times, it seems I feel I'm not what you might call A worthy Christian after all And though I love you so Temptation find its way to me Teach me to trust in you with all of my heart To lean not on my own understanding 'Cause I just forget You won't give me what I can't bear Take me out of the dark, my Lord I don't wanna be there You've never left my side You gave your hand to me to hold you, Oh Jesus, I'm no longer in the cold And yet, I leave you there When I feel satisfied I'd like to thank you everyday Not only when I feel that way I've never known a man who'd give his life For sinners like me And yet because he loves us so He's promised us eternity And we can have that promise and be His If we have faith and just believe Teach us to trust in you with all of our heart To lean not on our own understanding 'Cause we just forget You won't give us what we can't bear Take us out of the dark, my Lord 'Coz we don't wanna be alone Take us out of the dark, my Lord we don't wanna be there my Lord Quote
Saintmichaeldefendthem1 Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Posted January 21, 2011 You gave your hand to meto hold you, Oh Jesus,I'm no longer in the coldAnd yet, I leave you thereWhen I feel satisfiedI'd like to thank you everydayNot only when I feel that wayYes! There's that theme again. We're on a roll here. Quote
Lisa-marie Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 Thats cool... you will also find that even through everything Jesus went through, he was still thankful, i a weird kinda way at times but still, i think we are going well Quote
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