Reason to Sing - All Sons and Daughters

This time away from tech has been amazing and I really needed this time off. While down at the beach I decided to be intentional with my listening to music for more than just the warm feeling it produces within. As I started listening to this song I felt the Lord speak to me in my walls and barriers. I did not realize why at times I really did not want to talk about the Lord, be in community, encourage others, or preach the Gospel to myself. I just had no desire to be in connection with the Lord, but as I have been away I can see that the reason I sing is because of the sacrifice of Christ. If I truly believe that Jesus came to the world for our salvation than my heart will know that he is worthy of my life, time, efforts, and everything that I am.

This may just be a jumble of thoughts but my main thought from this writing is the Reason that I sing. I sing because Christ has paid for my sin, he has paid the price that was assigned to me. All by the Blood of Jesus!

Here is more insight into the song from the writers and performers themselves!

This is a call to all the dead and disappointed

The ones who feel like they are done

This is a word to all the ones who feel forgotten

But you are not

Oh you are not

We're alive, alive, alive we're singing

We're alive, alive, alive and we're shaken

We're alive, alive, alive, alive in You

We are soaked in all the grace that we've been given

Unchained from all that we have done

Your mercy's rising like the sun on the horizon

We're coming home

We're alive, alive, alive we're singing

We're alive, alive, alive and we're shaken

We're alive, alive, alive, alive in You

All is Great in the Lord

Paul Shackelford

Rise Again - Needtobreathe

I have been reading a book about the arts and Christians role in creating culture. Steve Turner, the author, asserts a major critique that modern Christian art does not speak about real life. The art created does not sound genuine or have any ties to real life that people outside the faith can connect with. While reading the book I listened through this album and I think that this song does a great job of breaking the mold. The members of Needtobreathe are all outspoken followers of Jesus but very little of the art that they produce mentions Jesus or Christianity at all. Instead they craft creative music, written from places of pain and joy. "Rise Again" steps through pain that occurs in life as we see relationships stretched and torn. The bitterness of broken hearts and friendships is then contrasted with the truth that we will get up from this pain and rise again. "I can see us moving on, I can feel that coming on strong", the joy that comes after the

Twenty-Four - Jess Ray

Lately I have been listening to lots of music and podcasts while working and biking to work. I was feeling a need for some new music so I turned to NoiseTrade to check out some new artists. My favorite thus far is Jess Ray because of the honest lyrics, tastefully simple musicality and overall enjoyable listening environment. While on my flight back to Atlanta I was struck by this song at first because of the drums that propel this song behind the walking guitar. If I were to add drums to a track like this it would have been done in a very similar manner. Once I got past the drums I was awe struck by the simple power of these lyrics, take a read below and follow the link to her blog to listen. To me it was not written for an outward expression of hope or encouragement but rather as a inward proclamation to the soul. As the psalmist often choose to sing, this song speaks inward in a call to stand up and be reminded of truth all to often forgotten. As I gear up for the star

You Will Be My Ain True Love - Alison Kraus

This song has so much power, even if you remove the lyrics. I just decided to take in the full potential of the song by turning the stereo all the way up and playing the song a few times. Before even looking for a video of this song I knew it was related to the Civil War and the separation that occurred between loved ones. This song starts out explaining the battle field and how the soldier has survived the terrors of war. As the song continues to build you can tell that the soldier wants to be with his love. They have been separated by this war and now he wants to be back with her. The last few lines portray his death and how he has been reunited with his "True Love". I believe that this song describes his "True Love" as God, our eternal True Love. He has returned to his maker after being killed in Battle and this song paints that picture so well. This song has tons of power in the music behind the lyrics, it adds so much to the meaning of this song!

Letters from Lilongwe

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