I really like the song, “Desert Song” by Hillsong from their album This Is Our God. The lyrics resonate in me in a deep and profound way – mainly the following..

“All of my life. In every season.  You are still God. I have a reason to sing.  I have a reason to worship.”

I’ve come back to these lyrics through the good, the bad and the ugly.  Literally I found life in these words in all of those seasons.

Recently I came across a video about one of the performers on this song, Jill McCloghry.  Leading up to the recording of this album,, Jill went through an incredible heartache – the loss of a child.

Have a watch of the following video for her testimony and be moved by Jill’s story and how in every season, God is still God – and there is always a reason to worship.

I’ve posted about Jamendo before.  If your looking for some awesome free and legal to download music, then you need to check out www.jamendo.com

I personally really enjoy the instrumental, electronica, atmospheric genre of music while I work and Jamendo has a few great artists on board.  Below are some of my favourite artists.  Feel free to download to your heart’s content. It’s free and totally legal.

Just came across the video clip to Skillet’s song, “Awake & Alive.”  Skillet is one of my favourite bands mainly due to their awesome symphonic rock music style but also their non cliché lyrics.

Skillet has a “angry” style which does well to tap into my frustrated temperament.  Frustrated that I can’t connect with God on a deeper level – and frustrated that this stupid world of ours is so damn shallow that, to connect with it, would require me to ignore so much of what makes me, me.

And that’s the reason why I so like their song, “Awake & Alive” – some of my favourite lines are…

I’m at war with the world and they try to pull me into the dark. I struggle to find my faith as I’m slippin’ from your arms”

It’s getting harder to stay awake and my strength is fading fast.  You breathe into me at last”

I’m at war with the world cause I ain’t never gonna sell my soul. I’ve already made up my mind.  No matter what I can’t be bought or sold”

These lyrics remind me of what Pauls talks about in Romans 6:21-24

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Living in this world makes me feel like a refugee as, in my inner being, I delight in God.  But because I live in this world, I am tarnished by it and yet, refuse to yield to it.  

And Skillet’s song Awake & Alive captures this reality nicely.  Lyrics below the video..

V1
I’m at war with the world and they
Try to pull me into the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I’m slippin’ from your arms
It’s getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last

Chorus
I’m awake I’m alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ’cause this is my life
here, right now
I’ll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive

V2
I’m at war with the world cause I
Ain’t never gonna sell my soul
I’ve already made up my mind
No matter what I can’t be bought or sold
When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again

Bridge
Waking up waking up
In the dark
I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you

The new music video from Fireflight, “For Those Who Wait” has now been released.  Check out the clip below.  Lyrics under the video..

This is for those who wait

Another day another waiting game
A little different but it’s still the same
I am here but wheres the One I’m longing for
I’m having troubles feeling all alone
When my heart find a home
I want to hope but sometimes I just don’t know
I know I’m not the only one

(Chorus)
So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set Your heart on fire
Let it set You free
When you’re fighting to believe in a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

I want to open up my eyes
I know that I’m in need is time
I’m growing stronger every single day
God, I’m gonna lead them to You now
Letting go all of my fear and doubt
I can’t do this on my own so I’ll give You control
I know I’m not the only one

(Chorus)
So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set Your heart on fire
Let it set You free
When you’re fighting to believe in a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
And the difference makes it worth it

(Chrous)
So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set Your heart on fire
Let it set You free
When you’re fighting to believe in a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait
Set your heart on fire
This is for those who wait

Simply awesome song!

Flyleaf’s new album, Memento Mori, is now out.  Suffice to say, I’m very happy!  This band is awesome and this album has been described as more of “them” and less of the record company.

This can only be seen as a good thing as it allows them to express themselves without having to bow down to the demands of their record label.

Having said this, Flyleaf is faithful to their own style and this is exemplified in the following video, “Beautiful Bride”.  I had a good chuckle at some of the comments left on their YouTube page on this song.  Comments like, “this is a scary clip” were all over the place.

But I really, really like this song and the lyrics are simply awesome.  Have a watch of the clip and then watch it while reading the lyrics.  You’ll simply love it…

Lyrics to the song…

beautified diversity
functioning as one body
every part encouraged by the other
no one independent of another
you're irreplaceable, indispensable
you're incredible, incredible

beautiful bride
body of Christ
one flesh abiding
strong and unifying
fighting ends in forgiveness
unite and fight all division
beautiful bride

strengthen your arms now
train your fingers for battle
urgencys here now
train your fingers for battle
fighting this violence
with your feet wrapped in peace
sad tears and silence
now screams of joy
victory

beautiful bride
body of christ
one flesh abiding
strong and unifying
fighting ends in forgiveness
unite and fight all division
beautiful bride

beautiful bride
body of Christ
one flesh abiding
strong and unifying

we're not gonna fall and forget
how far you went to pick us up
if one parts hurt the whole body's sick
if one part mourns we all mourn with him
rejoice, well sing with you
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

beautiful bride
body of Christ
one flesh abiding
strong and unifying
fighting ends in forgiveness
unite and fight all division
beautiful bride

beautiful bride
body of Christ
one flesh abiding
strong and unifying
fighting ends in forgiveness
unite and fight all division
beautiful bride