I know the last time I wrote about a 7eventh Time Down song, I wasn’t that impressed. But this time is better. I really like The 99 by 7eventh Time Down from Brand New Day (2019). 

I can feel the earth slipping from my feet,
Got lost chasing dreams that I can’t seem to reach,
But You never stopped chasing me,
I’ve been hiding from my past,
Wasting time ticking fast,
Thought I was out of reach,
But You never stopped chasing me…

You would search the whole world over to find me,
There’s no place You wouldn’t go,
You’re searching high and low,
You leave the ninety-nine to lead me home,
I can’t outrun Your love,
There’s no road that’s long enough,
You leave the ninety-nine to lead me home,
There’s no place You wouldn’t go,
There’s no place You wouldn’t go.

As I read the bible I look at it from different angles and ask questions to think deeply about the meaning. The line, “There’s no place You wouldn’t go,” made me ask a question. “Is there any place I wouldn’t go?”

In a song that comforts and reminds me of God’s never-ending love, I’m thinking about the lost unbeliever. 

To me this song is a challenge to leave behind the 99 saved souls, go out and look for the lost one.

I can hear the sound of struggle fade away,
When I hear You call my name,
And I can finally see,
What You see when You look at me,
You’re convinced I’m worth it all,
Nailed the proof up on the cross,
So I can finally see…

The 99 – 7eventh Time Down

A month or so ago I posted a Petra song that draws directly from Scripture. Since then, I’ve noticed other songs that do the same thing. Today’s song, Your Love Oh Lord by Third Day from Time (1999) draws its lyrics from Psalm 36.

Your love, oh Lord,
Reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky,
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
Your justice flows like the ocean’s tide,

I will lift my voice,
To worship You, my King,
I will find my strength,
In the shadow of Your wings.

Verse five of Psalm 36 is where the song picks up the words. And I’m glad Third Day didn’t start with verse one, or end with verse twelve.

But I can’t understand the song fully without knowing the wider context of the Psalm. Starting with the sinful world, and ending with judgement. Your love, oh Lord, is in the middle of that, but it’s the part I need to come back to amidst all my frustrations and work. And Third Day reminds me of that.

Your Love Oh Lord – Third Day

Last week I opened my music collection and told myself I wanted to listen to something different, a music genre that I haven’t listened to for a while. Then I see the album Something Different (2015) by Sidewalk Prophets. The title track, Something Different isn’t different to what I’ve been listening to lately, but I can’t say it wasn’t what I was looking for.

When we walk down the street,
It’d be to a whole ‘nother beat,
And you would see,
A light in you and me,
Maybe a remedy,
Some kinda relief,
And they’d be like
Ooh aah, look at ’em go,
Whata they know that I don’t know,
Ooh aah every move we make,
Don’t ya know that we can,
Help see ’em saved…

There’s something different,
Something different,
And I gotta have it,
I can’t describe it,
Can’t describe it,
But I know that I need it,
I don’t know what it is,
But I need a dose of it,
C’mon C’mon,
Can ya feel it,
There’s something different.

Recently, I’ve been trying to redirect my heart. Trying to tell myself that I need to stand out, that I’ve been made to stand out. And that goes completely against my demeanour as a shy, anxious, humble person who would rather be left alone in the shadows.

Yeah we got that spark,
It’s a break from the dark,
So real so right,
And they be like,
I think I need it in my life,
Oooh Aaah,
Stop them guys,
Whata you have that I don’t have,
Ooh,
I would do it differently,
But ya know that we can help,
See ’em saved…

I’ma tell you what it is,
I’m about to tell you what it is,
It’s a love like you’ve never known,
It’s a feeling like being home,
It’s always knowing that you’re never alone,
It’s a shock to your sleeping soul,
It’s a love like you’ve never known,
It’s a feeling like being home,
It’s always knowing that you’re never alone,
It’s Jesus Christ and He’s In my soul.

I think this song talks to both sides of the coin, those who know Christ and those who don’t. As a Christian I’m meant to ask myself “ Am I something different? Do I stand out?” And for those who don’t know Christ, He is the answer, find someone different to tell you about Him.

C’mon C’mon, C’mon,
You can feel it,
You need that something different,
I’ma tell you what it is,
I’ma tell you what it is,
Jesus Christ is something different.

Also, I adore the instrumental at the end. It sounds like something I’d hear as the footballer walk out before kick-off, or like something I’d hear on the FIFA soundtrack.

Something Different – Sidewalk Prophets

As I’m exercising I play music, often a new album I bought. The new album I’ve played recently is Better (2019) by Stars Go Dim. For a song to stand out while I’m exercising has to be good, and this one is. It’s called You Know Me Better.

Can’t wrap my mind around it,
The way You see me like gold,
You stand in my mess,
And call out the best in me,
When my mind gets crowded with the lies that I’m told,
You tell me the truth,
And show me that You believe in me,
You believe in me…

For some reason I forget that God sending His son to die relates directly to me. God is saying directly to me that He cares for me, He forgives me and He believes in me.

You know me as honest,
You know me as good,
You know me the way that I wish I could,
You know me worthy,
You know me loved,
You know me better.

When I don’t know where to find me,
Show me where to start,
Show me who You are,
So I know who I am,
‘Cause You know who I am,

You know me completely,
You know me true,
You know me as someone who looks like You,
You know me perfect,
You know me strong,
You know me better.

I am who You say I am,
Your word will never change.

The thing that caught my attention while I was breathing heavily was the choir backing in the bridge, I am who You say I am, Your word will never change.

This week is also my local Christian radio stations financial appeal. They’re using the Lauren Daigle song You Say as their appeal song, and this song says the same thing.

You Know Me Better – Stars Go Dim

This week I’ve noticed hardness creeping in. And the reason I’ve noticed is because of two different talks I’ve heard. Both have reminded me to long for Christ and I was reminded of Don’t Let Your Heart Be Hardened by Petra from This Means War (1987).

Don’t let your heart be hardened,
Don’t let your love grow cold,
May it always stay so childlike,
May it never grow too old,
Don’t let your heart be hardened,
May you always know the cure,
Keep it broken before Jesus,
Keep it thankful, meek, and pure.

May it always feel compassion,
May it beat as one with God’s,
May it never be contrary,
May it never be at odds,
May it always be forgiving,
May it never know conceit,
May it always be encouraged,
May it never know defeat,

May your heart be always open,
Never satisfied with right,
May your heat be filled with courage,
And be strengthened with all might,

Let His love rain down upon you,
Breaking up your fallow ground,
Let it loosen all the binding,
Till only tenderness is found.

I’ve noticed that songs are becoming stale. I’ve heard them so much. But instead of filling me with thankfulness and joy, they often don’t make me think and wonder at all. And this amazing song was one that became stale. The words stopped speaking to me. Don’t let that happen.

After I realised my heart was hardening I thought of the cure, thankfulness, meekness and purity. I’m reminding myself why I’m thankful, who is in control and how I should live to honour God.

Don’t Let Your Heart Be Hardened – Petra

I keep coming back to this song. Over the past few years I find myself going to this particular song again and again. I’ve heard No Matter What by Kerrie Roberts from Kerrie Roberts (2010) many, many times. But every time I hear it I get renewed strength to trust in God.

I’m running back to your promises one more time,
Lord that’s all I can hold on to,
I gotta say this has taken me by surprise,
But nothing surprises You,
Before a heartache can ever touch my life,
It has to go through Your hands,
And even though I keep asking why,
I keep asking why…

No matter what, I’m gonna love You,
No matter what I’m gonna need You,
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain,
But if not, I’ll trust you,
No matter what, no matter what.

When I’m stuck and there’s nothing else by myself,
I’m just sitting in silence,
There’s no way I can make it without Your help,
I won’t even try it,
I know You have Your reasons for everything,
So I will keep believing,
Whatever I might be feeling, God, You are my hope,
And You will be my strength…

Anything I don’t have You can give it to me,
But it’s okay if You don’t, I’m not here for those things,
The touch of Your love is enough on its own,
No matter what I still love You and I’m gonna need You…

I’ve found it difficult to add anything to the lyrics this week, mainly because I’m still in the middle of things. I came back to this song on Thursday, and it was Friday that I really needed it.

No Matter What – Kerrie Roberts

I often wonder about my technique for choosing songs to share with you here. Because if I have a solid technique I’ll always have a song to share. But the more I think, the more I realise it’s completely random. A better way to put it, revealed by God. One week it might be a song on the radio, a phrase I linked to the song, a new song just out, an new CD I bought, or, like this week, I read a passage of Scripture and thought of the song. And this week that song is Here Am I by MercyMe from Almost There (2001).

The passage is Isaiah 6 and tells us about his calling by God, to which Isaiah responds, “Here am I. Send me.”

On the other side of the world,
She stands on the ocean shore,
Gazing at the heavens she wonders,
Is there something more,
Never been told the name of Jesus,
She turns and walks away,
What a shame…

Just across the street in your hometown,
Leaving from his nine to five,
Gazing down the road he wonders,
Is this all there is to life,
Never been told the name of Jesus,
He continues on his way,
What a shame…

Whom shall I send,
Who will go for me,
To the ends of the earth,
Who will rise up for the King,
Here am I send me,
Here am I send me.

Whether foreign land or neighbours,
Everyone’s the same,
Searching for the answers,
That lie within your name,
I wanna proclaim the love of Jesus,
In all I do and say,
Unashamed…

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news,
Proclaiming peace and your salvation.

That there about beautiful feet is also Isaiah, chapter 52.

Here Am I – MercyMe

At times this week I found myself wanting to listen to something soft. Not quite instrumental, but very soft. Eventually I found the track that matched my mood. Wait On You by Full Hearts is the final track from Full Hearts (2010), and the ironic thing is the rest of the album features loud drums and heavy guitars.

The vocals are the standout. The only instruments are soft keyboard and light cymbal work. Think She’s Out Of My Life by Michael Jackson. The vocal’s drive the song because they’re so emotional and sung beautifully.

No valley deep,
No maintain high,
Could overcome this love that gave me life.

No raging sea,
No storm or fire,
Could take the hope I have in Jesus Christ.

When the waters rise I’ll sing to you,
In the raging fire I’ll wait upon you Lord.

Jesus you’re all that I need, you’re everything to me,
Jesus you’re all that I need, you’re everything to me.

Over the past few weeks, I think waiting on the Lord is right where I’m at. But it needs to be the right kind of waiting, fully reliant on Christ. Just like the song says. And why rely on Christ? Because he’s the one that gave me life.

This week I’ve had an entire album on repeat, yet the more I listen the more I enjoy it. The album is another worship album, Petra Praise – The Rock Cries Out (1989) by Petra. And from those 14 fantastic songs I enjoy I Will Call Upon The Lord the most.

I will call upon the Lord,
Who is worthy to be praised,
So shall I be saved from my enemies…

The Lord liveth,
And blessed be the rock,
And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

That all in terms of lyrics, it’s rocked up and they do the rounds with the congregation, which sound great, but for lyrics that it.

When I got this album I liked the song, like many on the album, but it’s only been recently that I discovered another dimension to those lyrics. They’re taken directly from Scripture. 2 Samuel 22 verse four and verse forty-seven to be exact.

“4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” – 2 Samuel 22:4 (KJV)

“47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.” – 2 Samuel 22:47 (KJV)

Once I realised they were taken directly from Scripture the first thing I did was read 2 Samuel 22. With all of that context behind this simple song, I suddenly see so many extra layers of depth.

Another song on the album, King Of Glory is inspired by Psalm 24, again in the KJV. Take Me In speaks of the desire to go into the inner-most part of the temple where God dwelt. When The Spirit Of The Lord celebrates King David’s songs, dances and prayers.

Another song, No Weapon Formed Against Us Shall Prosper, takes its lyrics from Isaiah 54:17, the last verse of Isaiah 54. The lead-up to verse 17 once again adds so much context and depth to what seems a simple song.

No weapon formed against us shall prosper,
All those who rise up against us shall fall,
I will not fear what the devil may bring me,
I am a servant of God, I am a servant of God.

“17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” – Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)

I hoped it wouldn’t happen again, but it did. And this breakdown should’ve been the last. It left me broken and confused. Yesterday, barely able to move, I put on Jeremy Camp’s album We Cry Out: The Worship Project (2010). While I searched for answers I realised that no matter the answer, it wouldn’t help me now. What I need to do now is rebuild, and the next song, Not Ashamed told me exactly what the foundation is.

You are the fullness of the beauty I seek,
You are, You are,
You are the healer of the broken and weak,
You are, You are,

Even though few may stand and proclaim,
Your great name,
It’s the life I want to live,
I’m convinced, there is none like You…

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel,
I’m not ashamed of Jesus Christ,
I will stand and boldly say,
This is my life.

I need to start with Christ and build on Him, because I want to boldly say this is my life.

You are the author of salvation and faith,
You are, You are,
You are the victory that conquered the grave,
You are, You are,

Also, since this week is big, I’m going to reference other songs on We Cry Out: The Worship Project. Listening to it, I feel an appropriate title for the the album is You Are. That phase occurs in a number of songs (The Way, You Are The Lord, Everlasting God, You Never Let Go, Unrestrained and King Jesus) and could apply to a few more, eg. (You Are) Mighty To Save, We Cry Out (Because You Are).

Last time I broke this bad, I’m not sure I was fully better after two years. so I wonder how long this will take. But I know I will Overcome, by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

Alone I am always unstable, always fearful, always volatile and always suicidal. But Christ covers all that. And because He is Mighty To Save, I surrender.

Not Ashamed – Jeremy Camp