I have a stack of CD's in my car. Every now and then I alternate the one playing, but for quite some time now the disc inserted has been Casting Crowns, their first CD released in 2003.Thankfully I backed up the CD onto my laptop, because this poor thing is wore out! The first couple songs play fine, but more and more lately it gets so far into the CD and starts skipping. I play it anyway, jumping past the parts that skip as I sing along to it, letting the words sink in.
Each song speaks to me, the message of each song rings clear through their words. I found a YouTube video of each one and thought I'd share them if you have time to watch them...
What If His People Prayed - This is a powerful song about the power of prayer. Sometimes we're so blind as to why God isn't moving, and why our circumstances are stuck at a stand still. How many miracles of God could take place if the church as a whole, starting with us each one by one, began to hit their knees and seek God's face over each and every circumstance... not just when they think they need something. It's so easy to get comfortable in our everyday habits that we forget that HE should be our purpose, adviser, deliverer and support system!
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
If We Are The Body - Certainly a song of conviction! How easy is it so figure someone else will greet the new person, someone else will minister to the bum on the corner, someone else will invite the neighbor to church, someone else will stand up for what is right to save us the humiliation. Isn't it enough that you pray for others, are nice to people, and set a general example by going to church, participating in events, and share bible verses online in your Facebook feed or blog? YOU are a part of the body of Christ... if someone is put in our path, it's an ordained moment by God to be a witness of the sacrifice of His son... that blood shed not just for us, but for ALL. We need to rely less on others and pointing fingers that declare it's someone else's responsibility, and work more together as the body of Christ moving in one direction with unison!
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
(I Corinthians 12:24-27)
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
(James 2:10)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(James 2:26)
Voice Of Truth - We all have our days of feeling insignificant because of our trials and failures. The enemy loves to remind of us these moments so we'll give up or remain frustrated with our circumstances and lose sight of the ONE who gets us through those times and uses them as a source of His glory and a testimony that will uplift others who may be going through the very same situation. This is such a song of an encouraging remind that HIS voice will ring out above Satan's whispering taunts... if we're willing to listen. God isn't intimidated by what circumstances we are in, and that strength is what we need to depend on.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:13-14)
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
(Psalm 25:5)
Who Am I - It's all about giving God glory for what He has done and the sacrifice Jesus provided on the cross of Calvary. Did you get a promotion? Pay off your car? Give extra in the offering plate? Help someone change a tire? Have a worry free day at work? Sleep peacefully through the night? Guess what... it has nothing to do with self or coincidence... it's all God's goodness! He provides and inspires all things good in our lives, and to Him goes all glory, honor, and praise!!
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
(James 1:17)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
American Dream - This song is a wake up call. We get so focused on stuff. Working to pay off a car, house, credit card bills, loans, and all the extras. Perhaps if switched the roles of our priorities... putting that much effort into serving the Lord, and gave the time we currently put toward the Lord, towards the "stuff"... my oh my how much more the Lord could move within us! God doesn't want our focus on the things of this world... all He wants is US! He wants our time, love, praise, attention, and obedience. It's not about getting and having, it's about Him! The stuff stays behind when our time on earth is done. It's all worthless materialistic man-made objects that will not withstand... but what we do for the Lord will determine our place for eternity. Put your sights on the Rock... the rest just washes away, leaving us drained and stressed.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Here I Go Again - This is one that reminds us of the importance of ministering to those around us. The video I found for this song puts a powerful image with the words of the song (watch it full screen if you're able). It's a reminder that our next moments are not promised, and neither are those of the lost friends and loved ones in our lives. Be a witness, declare the Lord's love, and don't give up on sharing the Truth with those in your life! It may bring criticism and mockery, but Jesus suffered the ultimate form of that so we could be redeemed... how are we better than He? It just might save your loved one from an eternity of damnation.
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
(Mark 8:38)
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
(Philippians 1:27-28)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(Mark 16:15)
Praise You With The Dance - This is an terrific song of praise. The Lord brings us through so much more than we give Him credit for. He's an awesome God that deserves every ounce of glory, praise, and thanks that we have within us. Regardless of our past we were all sinners unworthy of His mercy, and yet He thought enough of us to send His son as a redeeming sacrifice. How is that not worth of endless praise!?
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
(Psalm 150:1-6)
Glory - Another worship song, glorifying God, declaring to Him worthiness, holiness, and dedication to serving Him. I love to play this one on repeat in my car, singing along as loud and whole-heartedly as I can. It pulls your heart and mind into the frame of worship and celebrating everything we have to be thankful for. Psalm 22:3 tells us He inhabits the praises of His people... WE are His people! And He embraces the worship we give to our King of Kings!
Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
(Isaiah 12:5)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
(Hebrews 13:15)
Life Of Praise - Another terrific praise song that I like to crank up and absorb myself in. Often we think that our blessings are the things He provides us with. My blessings include the depths He had to reach down into in order to rescue me. It includes the forgiveness I receive daily when I humbly ask Him of it. Not forgetting the strength and protection He covers me with each and every day. He's awesome, and this song glorifies that, calling out His name in so many forms of recognition. It's about more than just raising our hands to praise Him, it's about praising Him with our life.
My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
(Psalm 71:23)
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
(Psalm 34:1-3)
Your Love Is Extravagant - For me, this song goes beyond praise and worship. When I play this, I imagine myself standing before the Lord, speaking to Him, expressing my personal thoughts and feeling to Him. It's like a love letter in song format to our Savior. It's gentle, soft, and a heart tugging reminder of the Love that surpasses all. It's easy for us to say "I love my husband to death" or "I'd die for my kids"... those are words... Christ put it into action with the most majestic form of love possible, and carries us in that love.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
(Psalm 36:5-7)
