Lyrical Devotions - Healing Rain Series - "Tonight"

Healing Rain Series

His Relentless Love

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39


Tonight - Rush of Fools

"I'm so aware of what I deserve
I should be drowning in the Red Sea tonight
But so aware of what You impart
I'm only drowning in Your love tonight
I'm only drowning in Your love

'Cause You give when You should take away
And You take what should have been my pain
And You offer good when I've none in me
You're the only love that makes me complete

You draw me closer than the air
You wipe away all my despair tonight
You pull me out to where You are
Until I'm drowning in Your love tonight
I'm only drowning in Your love

'Cause You give when You should take away
And You take what should have been my pain
And You offer good when I've none in me
You're the only love that makes me complete

Make me complete"

Ever felt like you were completely alone in a deep, dark, damp well with no way of climbing out? Have you ever felt the pain closing in on you and there was nothing you could do to keep it from crushing the life from your body?

It's at that very moment that He wants to scoop us up, draw us to Himself, and drown us with His immeasurable love. There is no greater comfort in the world... no surer security... than the love of our Savior who gave when we deserve nothing. Only He makes us complete. Only He can patch the gaping hole.

Let yourself drown tonight.

______________________________________



Every year, I create a playlist centered around that year's theme. The first year I did this was 2008. It was a very painful time for me. I was in need of some major healing. God used a lot of songs to minister to me during that time. That's how the very first "year in review" playlist was born. I called it Healing Rain, and it is sorted into five categories - His Relentless Love, His Healing Touch, His forgiveness, His Powerful Work, and His Wonderful Glory . I will share with you the songs and why they mean so much to me over the next several weeks.

I can't keep it a secret any longer

My absolute, most favorite Christian band is Tenth Avenue North. It's not because they sound cool. It's not because they dance around on a stage and blow pretty smoke in front of their drums. It's not because they look like pop stars. It is because every single song so clearly communicates their passion for God, and their firm belief in who He is and who we are because of Him. Every song is packed full of thought provoking truth and the healing words of God's freeing love. This is a band that understands the sovereignty of God and the glory of God.

In an interview with Christianity Today, Mike Donehey, the band leader, was asked, "Your music's been described as a vehicle to educate, entertain and enlighten. Would you agree?" Mike replied,

"Entertaining could be good or bad, but I hope it's meant more in the Webster's definition of "to hold one's attention." I think that's been my desire as I've gotten older. I'm dissatisfied with writing a song where people just sit back and have a good time. I want to be more intentional about saying something - like understanding the Gospel better and letting people know they're loved by God so they can love him back."

Well, Mike Donehey, I guess I'm only one listener, but I would say God is definitely holding my attention through your songs.

Tenth Avenue North is so passionate about the message of God's freeing truth that they have made every one of their songs from both of their albums available in full length versions for anyone to listen to online. As it cycles through the songs, they have a little history blurp underneath the playing song talking about what inspired them to write that song. You can also check out their journal, where you will find more thought provoking, candid expositions of truth.

I was going to share my favorite song, but you know, I just can't pick one. I do, however, love the concept of the song, "Any Other Way", especially after hearing Mike's thoughts behind it.

Lyrical Devotions - Healing Rain Series - "Beloved"

Every year, I create a playlist centered around that year's theme. The first year I did this was 2008. It was a very painful time for me. I was in need of some major healing. God used a lot of songs to minister to me during that time. That's how the very first "year in review" playlist was born. I called it Healing Rain, and it is sorted into five categories - His Relentless Love, His Healing Touch, His forgiveness, His Powerful Work, and His Wonderful Glory . I will share with you the songs and why they mean so much to me over the next several weeks.

Healing Rain Series

His Relentless Love

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39


Beloved - Tenth Avenue North

"Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
Give me your life
Lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
It binds you to me
It's a mystery

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh come running home to me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
and Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
and it binds you to me

Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers that won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And taste new life

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
it binds you to me
It's a mystery"

The word picture communicated in this song is of a disillusioned lover, searching in the wrong places for love and satisfaction, and their true lover wooing them back, promising to bring all fulfillment. What? Wait a minute. So this person cheated, ran to other lovers and took delight in lust, living a lie to all those around them.... and their true lover is not only forgiving them, but wooing them?

This is unheard of these days. All we have to do is stand in line at the grocery store and glance at the magazines. The cover is always about who's cheating on who and who's divorcing who because of it. We probably all personally know at least one couple who have been torn apart by adultery and divorce. It's all around us. It is much more rare to hear of someone who experienced the pain of adultery and not only forgives, but woos their spouse back to them, in an honest desire to keep their vows and love their spouse "til death do us part". (**please see note below)

And yet, this is the love of our Savior. We run after other things and people, taking His love for granted. We gallivant with our delights, then shrug Him off when He comes near. And yet He never gives up. He continues to call out to us and gently woo us to Himself. Amazing love. Truly amazing.


**I am not talking about inappropriate dependence when one continues to allow their spouse to continually hurt them. I am talking about a true love... A choice to forgive. A choice to heal. A choice to love. A choice to be the wife/husband their spouse needs.  

Lyrical Devotions - Sovereignty, Dependence, and Trust

Kerrie Roberts - No Matter What



"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 that You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, if not, I’ll trust You, no matter what

No matter what

When I’m stuck in this nothingness 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

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

No matter what

Anything I don’t have, You can give it to me,

but it’s OK 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

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, if not, I’ll trust You
I know You can find a way to keep me from the pain
But if not, but if not, I’ll trust You

No matter what"

This song is definitely one of my all time favorites. The lyrics are simply a cry from a wounded heart, and yet there's such incredible depth and understanding. When this heart is ripped open, we find inside a naked and complete trust, stripped of all pretense and pride.

It is not a trust that God will always give the heart everything that will make it happy. It is a trust that God will give what He deems best. It is a trust that God has a reason for every detail in life, even the ones that tear into the very soul.

It is a trust that God has everything under His control. It is a trust that nothing happens without His stamp of approval. It is a trust that even though the heart may not understand, He does.

It is not a trust that "somehow I'll get through this". It is a trust that "I can't do this". It is a trust that He will give strength and help at the weakest hour. It is a trust that is not based on emotion.

A trust that allows the heart to say, "Hey, I'm ripped to shreds, but I still love and trust my God, for He is my hope and strength!"

This is the Christian heart living out it's firm belief in the sovereignty of God. His complete sovereignty is not something to wince at, but something to embrace, for in it, there is great comfort and peace in the midst of turmoil and chaos.



Lyrical Devotions - He is my Strong Tower

Kutless - Strong Tower

"In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek"

I think we probably all have fears, doubts, and hurts that stalk us. Sometimes sleathily... other times, they shout in our face and thunder in our soul. But no matter how they present themselves, He is always there for us. Always there to take us in, heal our heats, and bring us joy in the morning.

This past summer, I was having one of those "battle of the mind" days... you know, when the doubts, the fears, the hurts just won't leave you alone, and no matter how hard you try, you can't turn it off. I was driving through town with the radio up, trying desperately to drown out the thoughts, when Kutless's "Strong Tower" came on. And the tears poured down.

The snipers and ghosts that attack the mind and heart cannot be quieted with willpower or music. Safety is only found in the Tower of our God. Only He can silence the fears. Only He can heal our wounds.

I came home that afternoon and wrote the following story. I hope it brings as much healing and comfort to you as it did to me to write it out.

Strong Tower

“Thou hast been a shelter for me,
and a strong tower from the enemy.”Ps. 61:3

She could hear it faintly through her loud, raspy breathing and the thunderous pounding of her feet as they hit the ground. It was coming closer and closer with her every step. She knew she was running as fast as she possibly could, and yet she felt as if she were crawling. She peered over her shoulder into the darkness, feeling the urge to freeze in a paralyzed stupor, but knew she must go on, for Fear would soon reach out its gnarled fingers and squeeze the life from her soul. She could hear the rustling steps much closer now and could feel Fear’s warm breath on her neck. The air around her began to reek with an indescribable, evil stench, threatening to intoxicate her.

She must run faster. Surely somewhere, somehow she possessed some sort of unknown inner power that could drive her beyond her failing strength. Her foot caught hold of a stone. She fell in slow motion to the ground, feeling as if she had hit a brick wall. Everything seemed far away… everything but the darkness. It closed in with suppressing thickness. For a second, she entertained the idea of giving in to its heaviness, but the rustling of Fear’s steps jolted her from her comatose state. She pulled herself to her feet and groped in the darkness, trying to find her bearings.

Only as she began, once again, to force one foot in front of the other, did she noticed the piercing pain shooting through her leg. Her steady pace turned quickly to a limping fast walk. How long must she run? When would this end?

Suddenly, she stopped. What was that lurking in the darkness? It flittered past her again. Her hair fluttered with the breeze created by its movements. There it was again. This time, it brushed her as it passed. It must be Memory, the stalker she had heard horror stories of. She must keep going. But before she could move an inch, Memory returned, knocking into her and ripping at her with his sharp claws. Blood poured from her chest. She could feel the breeze and knew he was coming at her again. She tried with all that was in her to duck out of the way, but Memory predicted her every maneuver and hit her again and again, each time ripping deeper and deeper into her chest. She knew she must run. She must get away before he reached her heart and ceased its beating.

She turned and, with as much strength and speed as she could muster, limped away. Blood poured from her wounds, and she could feel herself fading in and out of reality. When would this stop? She felt a tiny sting in her right shoulder that soon burned as hot as fire. Another hit the middle of her back. Then another and another. The snipers of Reminder showered her with darts. Doubt and defeat began to creep in. She wasn’t sure she could keep going. Fear’s rustlings following her… Memory’s breezes threatening her… the snipers of Reminder pelting her. There was just no way she could outrun them. Not with these extensive wounds. There was nothing left. No strength. No speed. No power. Not even a desire to run. If she could just find a shelter of sorts where she could hide from it all and rest.

Then something caught her eye... a tall, dark shadow looming before her. Unable to stay on her feet any longer, she fell to the ground. Grasping roots and stones, she pulled herself closer and closer to the looming shadow, hoping with everything inside her that it was a place of safety and not another trap. She looked up, trying to make out its shape. A glimmer of hope ignited within her. It appeared to be a tower… a strong, high tower of stone. If she could just drag herself the last ten feet, she would be at its base. One pull after another brought her within a mere foot. She reached out her hand, her fingers slightly brushing the wall. Just one more pull. But there was no strength left in her. She laid her head on the ground in defeat. At that moment, she felt herself being lifted and carried. She cracked her eyes open just enough to notice she was passing through a stone doorway. She was gently being lowered and her wounds were being washed and tended. She could stay awake no longer and finally let herself drift away from everything. It was a good sleep… a healing sleep.

The joyful song of birds filled her ears as she slowly opened her eyes. She gingerly ran her fingers across her chest. The wounds had closed. All the pain she had felt the night before no longer consumed her. She turned her eyes to the window where sunlight was streaming in. Morning had arrived and with it… hope, joy, and healing.