This week an amazing song popped its head up from Thousand Foot Krutch’s album The End Is Where We Begin (2012). The song is So Far Gone, and for a band that is known for their heavy rock and loud anthems, I find their softer songs are filled with so much depth.

I think the song’s message is simple. It’s about always talking, reading and doing things for Christ, that the things of this world just don’t capture any attention because they don’t speak of Christ. But I think that concept is so deep.

I’ve heard this song many times, but it’s only now that I understand it. And that’s only because I am so far gone, but now I want to go further.

I know they say that the space between,
Can make it stronger than we’ve ever seen,
They might be right but I disagree,
‘Cause I’ve never felt stronger than when you’re with me,

Sometimes I wonder why you even care,
‘Cause even when I leave you’re always there with me,
And like a candle makes a brighter place,
This mark you’ve made on me can’t be erased.

I wanna be so far gone in you,
So far nothing else will ever do,
I wanna be so far gone in you,
In you.

I’ve stood alone and I’ve fallen down,
Your hands were there to pick me off the ground,
Sometimes I cry cause I can’t believe,
Your love is big enough to cover me,

Sometimes I’ve wondered if you’re even there,
But when I feel far away you meet me there,
And like a candle makes a brighter place,
This mark you’ve made on me can’t be erased,

I wanna be so far gone in you,
So far nothing else will ever do,
I wanna be so far gone in you,
In you.

I wanna be lost in you,
Like a ship in the night,
I wanna get lost in you,
Underneath your sky,
I wanna be lost in you,
Like a ship in the night,
So far gone tonight.

So Far Gone – TFK

This week I had a song picked out last Thursday, but since then what I planned to write about Do Something by Matthew West from Into The Light (2012) has changed dramatically.

When I first thought about what to write with this song I had in mind the things I was doing and wanted to boast about how I felt I was doing something. But now I don’t think I should tell you that. Instead I’m going to say that I forget to do something all the time and need the reminder all throughout my day.

I am so bad, I constantly forget to pray, I forget to read my bible and I forget about other people. All I can say is, “Lord, help me to do something.”

I woke up this morning,
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought,
How’d we ever get so far down, and,
How’s it ever gonna turn around,
So I turned my eyes to Heaven,
I thought, God, why don’t You do something?
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of,
People living in poverty,
Children sold into slavery,
The thought disgusted me,
So, I shook my fist at Heaven,
Said, God, why don’t You do something?
He said, I did, yeah, I created you,

If not us, then who,
If not me and you,
Right now, it’s time for us to do something, yeah,
If not now, then when,
Will we see an end,
To all this pain,
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing,
It’s time for us to do something.

I’m so tired of talking about,
How we are God’s hands and feet,
But it’s easier to say than to be,
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves,
It’s alright, somebody else will do something,
Well, I don’t know about you,
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire,
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire and,
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
I’m gonna do something…

We are the salt of the earth,
We are a city on a hill,
We’re never gonna change the world,
By standing still,
No, we won’t stand still.

In my life, I constantly need the reminder to do something, but I’m aware that the something is either pray, read or love. I need to pray more, read the bible more and love those around me.

Do Something – Matthew West

Over the past few weeks I’ve been looking closely at the style of writing Paul and others use in the New Testament letters. The song this week relates to what I’ve seen in these letters, but is also a song that helped me redirect my focus when I needed it. It’s My Saviour My God by Aaron Shust from Anything Worth Saying (2005).

I am not skilled to understand,
What God has willed, what God has planned,
I only know at his right hand,
Stands one who is my Saviour,

I take him at His word and deed,
Christ died to save me: this I read,
And in my heart I find a need,
Of Him to be my Saviour,

That He would leave His place on high,
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange, so once did I,
Before I knew my Saviour…

My Saviour loves, my Saviour lives,
My Saviour’s always there for me,
My God He was, my God He is,
My God He’s always gonna be!

Yes, living, dying, let me bring,
My Strength, my solace from this spring,
That He who lives to be my King,
Once died to be my Saviour,

I now have a greater appreciation for how they wrote and the ideas they relate and articulate. One thing I noticed was the way they referenced God and Jesus. Not just one interchangeable title, but three separate identities that work together.

There are times when I have no idea what is going on in my life, but the first line, I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed, what God has planned, I only know at his right hand, stands one who is my Saviour. I may have no idea what God is doing, but I know I have hope and comfort in Jesus Christ my Saviour.

My Saviour My God – Aaron Shust

This week my heart has been heavy with the desire to point to Christ with every single word I speak, and action I take. Even a few months ago I wasn’t even thinking about this, but as I grow closer to God, I really want to live for Him with every thought, every action and every word. This week Reign In Me by Jeremy Camp from Reckless (2013) spoke into what has been on my heart.

I have seen so many teardrops,
Fall to the ground,
I’ve held the hand of God’s children,
Once lost and now found,
I have walked it and I know,
That my king is alive,
And no other one,
Has the love you provide…

I want all who I meet,
To see you through me,
I want all that I speak to be you…

If there’s anything that I would pray,
It’s that the whole world would seek your face,
And in spite of who I can be,
Please reign in me,
Reign in me.

I know it starts with the desire,
To give you control,
To lay down all my dreams,
So you have my heart in full,
Lord I know this weary battle,
It begins on my knees,
In everything I want you to be pleased…

Some weeks I don’t say much, and mainly that’s because I don’t have much to say, but this week it’s because I don’t feel like there’s anything I need to add to the lyrics.

But also this week is a bit different, I also need to mention another song, that I think works with Reign In Me, and has for me this week. The other song is Reckless, also by Jeremy Camp off the same album Reckless (2013) 

Every time I try to play it safe,
Holding back just a little part of me,
I find myself forgetting what,
I say that I believe,
The promise of your word,
Is all I need, its all I need,
I’ll lay my life down,
And give it up,
I’ll give it up…

The first verse is what speaks to me the most. So often I find myself talking about things that don’t have eternal value because it’s easy, and less scary than talking about Christ. But now I am determined to talk about Christ and what matters all the time.

Over this past week I’ve seen how just talking about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is helping me and others around me grow closer to Him. 

Reign In Me – Jeremy Camp

Reckless – Jeremy Camp

There were a few songs I could’ve chosen this week, all from Keith Green’s album No Compromise (1978). But the words from Make My Life A Prayer To You, just have a little bit more meaning in my life currently. 

I’ve only recently started listening to Keith Green, and I am so disappointed that I didn’t do it sooner. I’ve found many incredible songs that are lyric driven mixed with unique vocal talent. This song stands out to me now because, as I said a few weeks ago, I want to pray more often. And now I’m learning that I need to pray. It has very quickly gone from something I wanted to do more, to something I need to do more and more because of the battles I’m fighting.

And the more I pray, the more I want it to be my life.

Make my life a prayer to you,
I wanna do what you want me to,
No empty words and no white lies,
No token prayers, no compromise,
I wanna shine the light you gave,
Through your son you sent to save us,
From ourselves and our despair,
It comforts me to know you’re really there…

Well I wanna thank you now,
For being patient with me,
Oh it’s so hard to see,
When my eyes are on me,
I guess I’ll have to trust,
And just believe what you say,
Oh you’re coming again,
Coming to take me away.

Every line of this song impacts on my life, and encourages me to live the way God wants me to. It’s confronting because it’s so hard to see, and yet provides so much hope that He’s coming to take me away.

I wanna die and let you give,
Your life to me so I might live,
And share the hope you gave me,
The love that set me free,
I wanna tell the world out there,
You’re not some fable or fairy tale,
That I’ve made up inside my head,
You’re God the son and you’ve risen from the dead…

Make My Life A Prayer To You – Keith Green

This week I heard a song and suddenly I found it reflecting my heart so much. Even though I’ve heard Nobody by Casting Crowns from Only Jesus (2018) many times, it’s only recently that I’ve committed to point to Christ.

Why You ever chose me,
Has always been a mystery,
All my life, I’ve been told I belong,
At the end of a line,
With all the other not-quites,
With all the never-get-it-rights,
But it turns out they’re the ones You were looking for all this time…

‘Cause I’m just a nobody,
Trying to tell everybody,
All about Somebody,
Who saved my soul,
Ever since You rescued me,
You gave my heart a song to sing,
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus,
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus.

I would be humble, but that came more from not wanting to be noticed or stand out. So I wouldn’t then point to Christ even though I should’ve. Even though I know what I do is good and something to be proud of, I use it as a way to point to Christ. I’ll say, “They are not my talents or words, God gave them to me and I intend to use them only to point to Christ.”

Moses had stage fright,
And David brought a rock to a sword fight,
You picked twelve outsiders nobody would’ve chosen,
And You changed the world,
Well, the moral of the story is,
Everybody’s got a purpose,
So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying,
“Who do you think you are?” I say…

So let me go down, down, down in history,
As another blood-bought faithful member of the family,
And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me,
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus.

I’m not sure whether to share this or not. But since I’ve felt it more and more I feel I should. The album that Nobody is on, Only Jesus also has this song on it called In The Hands Of The Potter, and one line in that stood out to me, And now the enemy is afraid of what You’re making me. This line gives me strength to preserve and just continue pointing to Christ despite the increasing obstacles.

Nobody – Casting Crowns

When I was beaten to the ground and falling apart on the weekend I found it hard to pray and focus on God, even though I knew I desperately needed to. But even when I didn’t look to Him, He was still there for me. Through God’s Not Done With You by Tauren Wells from Hills and Valleys (2017) I was able to just keep going, knowing that even though there will be a scar, it isn’t the end.

Standing in your ruins, feels a lot like the end,
So used to losing, you’re afraid to try again,
Right now all you see are ashes,
Where there was a flame,
The truth is that you’re not forgotten,
‘Cause Grace knows your name,

God’s not done with you,
Even with your broken heart and your wounds and your scars,
God’s not done with you,
Even when you’re lost and it’s hard and you’re falling apart,
God’s not done with you,
It’s not over, it’s only begun,
So don’t hide, don’t run,
‘Cause God’s not done with you.

I wondered a few months ago if I should be afraid of a complete breakdown? Because if I’m not afraid of it I’ll be able to put myself in situations where I know it’ll happen that I currently avoid. I’m still wondering about that, but I know that I breakdown a lot anyway and need to look to God more during them.

There’s a light you don’t notice,
Until you’re standing in the dark,
And there’s a strength that’s growing,
Inside your shattered heart…

He’s got a plan, this is part of it,
He’s gonna finish what He started,
He’s got a plan, this is part of it,
He’s gonna finish what He started,
He’s not done,
God’s not done writing your story,
No, He’s not done,
God’s not done with you!

God’s Not Done With You – Tauren Wells

I bought an album from Steven Curtis Chapman online this week (Speechless (1999), highly recommended), and while I did that, I noticed something else. A single called Warrior (2015), a tie in with the movie War Room. When I saw War Room I enjoyed this song in the credits, so when I saw the single I bought it straight away.

I see the smoke on the horizon,
I feel my heart pounding in my chest,
I hear the war raging all around me,
And somehow I feel like I was born for this,
I can taste the fear, but I choose courage,
As I raise my shield and lift my sword…

And I fall on my knees and I fight like a warrior,
I am a warrior on my knees,
I call on the Name of the One Who is Conqueror,
I’m more than a conqueror when I believe,
The enemy trembles every time,
‘Cause he knows the battle is no longer mine,
When I fall on my knees and I fight like a warrior, like a warrior.

What I didn’t realise, was that what I bought was the song inter-cut with Miss Clara’s prayer from the movie. Because her prayer is there, the version I’ve been listening to doesn’t include the second verse and bridge.

Daughters and sons, we can hear your calling,
Broken and weak, we can hear your cry,
And even though our enemy roars like a lion,
The Lion of Judah is on our side,
And He will go before us and behind us,
Fighting on the left and on the right…

Our weapons are trust, our weapons are hope,
In the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
He says I am with you so don’t be afraid,
‘Cause I’ve already won this war…

So fall on your knees and fight with me,
We are the warriors when we’re on our knees,
The enemy trembles…

But I’m very happy I got Miss Clara’s prayer. It is so much more powerful. I often pray along with her and want to pray so much more and be part of the generation she calls up. I want to be a warrior who stands on the gospel and hates to be lukewarm. I want to seek his guidance and go into battle.

Miss Clara’s Prayer:
You’ve done it again Lord, you’ve done it again. You are good and you are mighty and you are merciful.. And you keep taking care of me when I don’t deserve it. Praise you Jesus, you are Lord.

Give me another one Lord. Guide me to who you want me to help. Raise up more that will call upon your name. Raise up those that love you and seek you and trust you. Raise them up Lord, raise them up. Lord we need a generation of believers who are not ashamed of the gospel. 

We need an army of believers, Lord, that hate to be lukewarm and will stand on your word above all else. Raise them up, Lord, raise them up. I pray for unity among those that love you. I pray that you open their eyes so they can see your truth Lord. I pray for your hand of protection and guidance. Raise up a generation, Lord, that will take light into this world, that will not compromise when under pressure, that will not cower Lord when others fall away. Raise them up Lord.

Raise them up Lord, that they will proclaim that there is salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees, who will worship you with their whole hearts Lord. Lord, call us to battle, that we may proclaim you King of kings and Lord of lords. I pray these things with all my heart. Raise them up Lord, raise them up.

The video unfortunately doesn’t have Miss Clara’s prayer either. But it does feature scenes from War Room (2015).

Warrior – Steven Curtis Chapman

Last week I helped out with a kids holiday program. I just took really bad photos and helped if I was needed elsewhere. But all throughout the week I was scared and thought anyone could do a better job than me. I survived last week and this week Here I Am Anyway by Josh Wilson from Carry Me (2013), reminded me why I was there.

I’m like Moses in the desert,
When that bush went up in flames,
You said, Go and tell your story,
He said, God, what will I say,
I’m so scared, unprepared,
What difference will I make,
Sometimes I feel the same…

Sometimes is more like all the time for me.

If it’s weakness that You want,
I’ve got more than enough,
Some days I am so afraid,
To show this world your love,
I’ll give You all of me,
And my insecurities,
God I don’t have what it takes,
But here I am anyway,
Here I am anyway.

I was at the program to serve the kids, the other leaders and God. I was there in a position where God can use my life to bring Himself glory. Even though I was scared, terrified at times, I pray God uses it for His glory.

God, I’ve got so many questions,
Wonder why You placed me here,
You have given me these passions,
But they come with so much fear,
Sometimes it don’t make sense at all,
But I guess if I was brave,
Then I wouldn’t walk by faith…

Three side notes here:
I love when songs reference other songs. I never know if the reference is deliberate though. Anyway, there is a song called Walk By Faith by Jeremy Camp.

I’ve listened to a few other Josh Wilson albums during the week and noticed that the feeling of inadequacy or fear is common in his songs.

This video is an acoustic version. There’s is a bit of talk at the start, but they don’t hold up the song long.

Here I Am Anyway – Josh Wilson

On Monday I wrote up my testimony for my bible study group, and since it involves a song I thought I’d share part of it with you. The song that means a lot to me is Never Let You Go by Manafest from Fighter (2012).

As a child I grew up Christian, and received a strong biblical influence from my parents and friends. But I was fairly comfortable, and then my health turned downhill. My legs slowly stopped working and I became wheelchair restricted.

This pulled me out of much of daily life and all I saw ahead of me was nothing. Because of this wheelchair I couldn’t see any use for me. I felt completely helpless.

It was then that I heard Never Let You Go…

When you’re awake and you can’t believe your eyes,
Cause all the truth that you knew has turned to lies,
When you’re scared and you can’t see past a day,
Remember who holds tomorrow,
Know his love will light your way…

These words spoke perfectly into my situation. And with a strong biblical upbringing I was reminded who holds tomorrow.

Hold on when everything is shaking,
Stand strong when the ground is falling through,
Reach out to my hand in the darkness,
That’s holding you,
I’ll be your peace in the waiting,
Your strength when you’re broken on the floor,
Hold on, it’s all worth fighting for,
Cause I will never let you go,
I will never let you go.

I also remember a time late at night when I was crying on the floor. I didn’t want to be in the chair, so I got out and struggled over to the corner and just cried. 

When you look in the mirror and you run away,
Cause all you see are the scars from yesterday,
When the parade goes by and you feel alone,
Never lose hope to sorrow,
You’re closer than you know…

When the road is hard and your faith is shaken,
Never look back on the steps you’re taking,
You’re more to me than you could ever know…

I still struggle heaps, but I come back to this song every now and then to remind me.

Never Let You Go – Manafest