"Sparrows" by Jason Gray

Does this song resonate with anybody else??? I love it.  My favorite part: "You can't change a single thing by freaking out!"


Sparrows Lyrics:

You can't add a single day by worrying
You'll worry your life away
Oh don't worry your life away
You can't change a single thing by freaking out

It's just gonna close you in
Oh don't let the trouble win

You may feel alone
But you're not on your own

If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow

Knows He holds tomorrow

Lean in and it's hard to miss
Everything can change

When you make it His
Oh He wants to carry it
Carefree in the care of God
When you let it go

You'll find that He's enough
Oh you never leave His love

You don't walk alone

If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow

There's not a single star that's out of place
There's nothing broken He can't remake
If you long for hope when you're afraid
Oh look at the sparrow
Look at the sparrow

If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow

Knows He holds tomorrow
Even the sparrow knows
He holds tomorrow

Songwriters: MIA FIELDES, JASON GRAY, JONATHAN LINDLEY SMITH

© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

"My Victory" by Crowder

Heard this at Church the other day and went nuts in worship.  A song of Freedom!

Interview with Chris McCabe

"Two Voices" by Chris McCabe

If you don't have this album, go on iTunes and get it for $3.96! If you can't afford that, I'll buy it for you.

"Two Voices" lyrics by Chris McCabe

(Intro) 

You don’t know my name
You don’t know my name
And I don’t really care
And I don’t really care
You don’t know my  name
You don’t know my name
And I don’t really care
And I don’t really care I’ve got something to say

(Verse) 

I gather up the energy to write the first line
I can’t feel a thing, then right on time
I feel it, I feel it, going inside my mind
It’s happening now, this music is coming alive
I can see it right in front of me, taking shape
Yeah I gotta say, hey, theres something that I gotta say
They hope in that American dream, and say they never pray
I think they do, they just do it in a different way
Hands high, yeah, we’re getting baptized
By dollar signs, believing a lie
Go to school get a job sell drugs don’t stop,
Chasing money, security; worshipping our paper god
Cuz all that money’s gonna fade
It can’t buy peace or release the chains
I’m going for it even though its hard to say
I gotta got this off my chest, whatever it takes 

(Chorus) 

I got two voices inside of my head
What needs to be said or what you want to hear
So many people throw it all, all away
With a mic and a producer, and nothing to say
I’d rather move one person than draw a crowd
Cuz I don’t care about what they care about
I don’t want to be rich, I don’t need any fame
And I don’t really care who knows my name 

(Verse) 

Yeah, so where my underdogs at
Overwhelming odds, you don’t care about that
Going hard in the paint, you’re attacking the glass
Waiting to rebound, but the ball’s not coming back
It ain’t right, ain’t fair, life doesn’t fight fair
Slip left, hands up but it hit you with the chair
Breaking apart, you’re end at the end of you’re rope
You’re up against the ropes though and you’re losing you’re hope
Yeah, the meds didn’t work, you can’t find work
No food in your stomach, can’t hide the hurt
Yeah, she never called back, never called back
Hung up on the things that you can’t have, yeah
But life is more, than money and status
It’s more than we’ve imagined, hands high like a fanatic
Listen to the music build scream with all your passion
We won’t shut up, we don’t care who’s asking 

(Chorus) 

(Bridge) 

Breakthrough all your insecurities
Yes you, I know you feel the weight of
Trying to prove what you’re worth, you don’t understand
Breakthrough and reach to the Savior
I’m tearing down the walls
Smash those voices down like a house of cards
Lets go, where we’ve never gone before
Yeah, this is our breakthrough
I know what society says about you
You’re a reject you don’t matter, that ain’t true
God’s got a plan for your life, I wouldn’t lie
Look me in the eyes you won’t see dollar signs
I’m here to walk with you, not play for the crowds
I know those voices your hearing, tune ’em out
Your identity is not what happened in the past
Christ died for that, so be free, no more looking back 

(Chorus)
(Outro) 

Two voices inside of my head
What needs to be said or what you want

Dont Be a Leader. Be a Follower.

Oceans (live at Boston University)

Worship night with Hillsong at Boston University with my wife and some friends.  I love being immersed in people who give themselves over to worship. There were thousands of people in the arena just letting themselves go in worship.  The last time I let myself go in a concert was at a Snoop Dogg show 11 years ago at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim.

Recently i've had a huge conviction; namely, "I'm pretty pathetic if I can loose myself in a Snoop Dogg show but worry about what people think if I raise my hands in Church!"

How about you friends?  Do you ever sit in Church and think, "I wonder what people will think if I loose myself while worshipping God?"  That is pathetic.

But thank God for his grace and mercy. He allowed me to be pathetic all those years.  I heard his voice with so much clarity tonight.  He told me, "Welcome to freedom son.  I've given you the gift of sight.  You can see clearly now. Your soul can breathe.  You are aware.  Be satisfied in me."

I love it. 

Forever (we sing hallelujah)

Probably my favorite Easter song of all time.  

Getting Amped Up for Resurrection Sunday!

Truth to kickstart your heart for our risen Lord! I'm determined to memorize these three because when I come into Church this Sunday I want to worship in music the entire time with my eyes closed and focused on HIM. Find out what songs your Church will be playing and get your hearts ready for worshipping our King.

Father You Are All We Need

Not much to add to this...

except this: 2 Peter 1:3 - 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Open Mic @ "The Well" (CBC Annex)

There's one thing I love more than sharing the gospel with people - and that's sharing the gospel with people as a family...

"In Tenderness" (cover) from RBAR on Vimeo.

I Am No Longer A Slave

 This morning I stumbled across this song.  All I needed to see was the title to know that I liked it.  "NO LONGER SLAVES." Yes.  I could care less if that was the only lyric in the song, if it was acapella or if the guitar was out of tune.  This is truth to be celebrated in and sung from the top of my lungs...because I am no longer a slave.

-no longer a slave to walking into a worship service and judging others.
-no longer a slave to other peoples opinions over God's opinion of me.
-no longer a slave to fear of sharing exactly what God saved me from.
-no longer a slave to defending myself.
-no longer a slave to legalistic Bibliolatry.
-no longer a slave to facing hurts.
-no longer a slave to exposing evil thoughts that come through my mind.
-no longer a slave to avoiding prayer with my wife.
-no longer a slave to prideful thoughts that I am better than others.
-no longer a slave to tying my identity into my profession.
-no longer a slave to revenge.
-no longer a slave to putting my joy in winning an award.
-no longer a slave to my wife living up to an expectation I can't even keep.
-no longer a slave to displacing my sinfulness onto my children when they have done no wrong.
-and the list goes on and on and on...

You can see now why a song like this will almost immediately bring me to my knees.

Know this truth and meditate on it:

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Peter 2:16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 6:18 And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:21 That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Good, Good Father - Kalley Heiligenthal(Bethel Church)

My sister sent me this link today.  I can't reflect on this truth enough; that is, who HE is and who I AM in Him.  I need this reminder every moment of every day.  If we're being honest, we all need this reminder, which a problem solved by the body.  If you come across a gospel-saturated video, send it to someone you love.

The sin of defending self

I must confess, I am addicted to defending myself.  It is my go to sin when I feel insecure.  It is the shelter that I resort to when I take my eyes off of Christ.

Then I hear the voice of God whispering to me the beautiful truth of the gospel - "you've been set free son.  I am your rock and your defense.  There is no need to defend yourself.  That's my job."  And on and on I hear the truths of the Scriptures.  I hear Galatians 5:1 - walk in freedom son!  I hear Ephesians 6:12 - your wife is not the enemy; spiritual forces are your struggle.  I hear 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - don't fight this issue with your words and your self-defense mechanisms.  Pray.

Anger and rage almost always follow my knee-jerk self-defense reactions.  When I am quick to respond, "No I wasn't.  I didn't do that.  I wasn't mad."  What comes next is evil thoughts: "Gosh you're an idiot."  Then come the hurtful words in the form of eternal nows: "You always attack me.  You always get mad."  Finally, come the knockout punch phrases, "You know what!? You're stupid.  I hate you."

Anybody relate to this progression?  Christians?  Let's be honest.  You can relate far too well.  Your evil thoughts turn into evil words.  In some cases, some of us resort turn to physical abuse.  Some of us believe the lie that flirting with someone else is appropriate "payback."  Some go to craigslist to gratify the desires of their flesh.

The devil is in the details.  Let's avoid the temptation of dissecting and analyzing the details of the fight with our spouses and just get to the bottom of it.

Today, my sin, was defending myself (i.e. Idolatry).

Let's stop analyzing the flight patterns of the flies in our house and just take out the trash.
Let's stop spraying air freshener in the bathroom and just flush the toilet.

I commit myself to analyzing my own heart instead of looking at everyone else around me.
Today, I confess my idolatry and say, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you for your forgiveness. Amen."

Let's worship...

-- DEFENDER LYRICS 
A torrent of destruction hid
My darkened soul from rescuing
I cried to God for help, he heard my voice

The tainted earth, it rocked and reeled
The heavens bowed, the mountains kneeled
The thunderous voice of God my covering

I will not be afraid
For my hope is in his name
 Who is a rock but our God
Who’s blood has sealed our freedom
Jesus, our savior, defender, redeemer

He brought me to a safer place
Equipped my hands and feet with strength
So I advance with confidence in Christ
His precious truth delivers me
From lies that wage a war in me
Your victory is mine for all my days

I will not be afraid
For my hope is in his name
 Who is a rock but our God
Who’s blood has sealed our freedom
Jesus, our savior, defender, redeemer

You kneel down to raise me up
You my Lord, you my God
You rescue me with reckless love
Oh my Lord, oh my God
Who is a rock but our God
Who’s blood has sealed our freedom
Jesus, our savior, defender, redeemer
Jesus, our savior, defender, our redeemer
ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh, ohhh, ohhh
ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh, ohhh, ohhh

Jesus Is Better - Austin Stone

This song is dedicated to a friend of mine who discovered today that Jesus is better than unforgiveness.  Stay free and stay connected to the body my friend.

Gotta love it when worship leaders are lead worshippers - role models of how to enter the sacred space of worshipping Jesus.

Most of us, if we admit it, have spent our entire lives holding back in worship because we cared too much about what others thought rather than what God thinks.  What a foolish fear.  Be free.

Jesus is better.

Marvellous Light by Ellie Holcomb

Yes!  Another song of Freedom.  God's good and gracious freedom for the Believer.  Pay attention to the lyrics.  If you know what she's talking about, you've probably experienced the joy of being freed from shame, guilt and being critical of songs that were meant to bless you.

"Stars in the Night" by Tenth Avenue North Video Journal

"We all have those days, those season of life we just wish would go on forever, you know, where the sun is shining the sky is open before us and feels like, feels like dreams could go on forever. Then everyday comes to an end doesn’t it? The light gets chased from the sky and the night comes in, Darkness falls and we fall too. Fall into the doubt and shame. We lose hope, we lose faith. The midnight of the soul reminds us that we’re still in this world trembling in the wake of the fall, and yet when the night falls the stars come out. And I think about how sailors used to be guided by the stars, you know, fixed their gaze on the constellation and through the darkest night they just kept sailing. And I can’t help but think how the stars kinda like God’s promises to us. In the night of our shame we can hear Him in the sky echoing through the night, there’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In the night of our confusion and our pain we don’t even have words to muster, we can gaze upon that promise where He says, “the spirit intercedes for us” cuz we don’t even know what to pray for. I know my life is gonna see some nights, but I’m thankful that the God who created both day and night remembered to make the stars. I’ve got a feeling that if I keep my eyes fixed, I’ll see the sunshine again."

"Broken Vessels" (Amazing Grace) by Hillsong Worship

This song was played by the music team this morning.  The truth in it brought me to tears...  May the truth speak to you today.  I've added it to my "SONGS OF FREEDOM" playlist.

All Sons & Daughters - Brokenness Aside

Broken Girl by Matthew West

Zero Platoon: Dustin Kensrue Interview and "Carry the Fire" acoustic

More music inspiration by Dustin Kensrue.