Do you know the band Skillet?  You should.  Solid rock band with powerful lyrics and sound.  One Day Too Late is from their new album Awake.  Do you remember when you thought time moved so slow?  When you wish you would hurry up and get on with your life?  This song beautifully and passionately encourages us to not life “one step behind.”
Tick tock, hear the clock countdown
Wish the minute hand could be rewound
So much to do and so much I need to say
Will tomorrow be too late?

Today, I’m gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
‘Cause we don’t have long, gonna make the most of it

Gutsy vocals by the lead singer that leaves you feeling he deeply knows what this song is talking about.  This is definitely a roll down the windows and crank up the music kind of song…. Take a listen and enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_imfiEI4Lk

Do you need a sweet, gentle song that speaks directly to the hurt in your heart?  Laura Story delivers just such a song called Blessings.  Her clear, passionate voice shares the pain and faith that God reaches into our lives for our good with each prayer we lift– whether it’s answered the way we want are not.  Here’s the big question…”What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”  Laura calls this song a “Diary entry” because it is so personal.  Thank you for sharing…

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

I have two videos.  One a chance to hear her lovely voice and song and the other where she tells of the struggles with her husband’s health which inspired the song.  ALSO if you are in the St Louis area, she will be here in concert through Joyfm on Feb. 9th. I’m there!  Who’s going? For more info: http://joyfmonline.org/extras/sofa-series.asp

The song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajwUPdcmZ24

The story behind the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDiTuSLSJB8

Would you believe that this song “Make a Move” makes me want to move?  It’s got great rhythm and the lead vocalist for Royal Tailor, Tauren Wells,  has a smooth singing voice that still punches a lot of energy.  My favorite line is “I’ve been captured by the unimportant.”  To many days that is frighteningly true.

Mr. Good Intentions, so much I wanna do
My mouth just keeps on running, but I never follow through
I heard that true religion, is love with hands and feet
I wanna find my own way to reach a world in need
Yeah, I’ve been captured by the unimportant
Locked in, and now it’s time to break free

There’s more to life
Open my eyes
Someone is needing You
So I gotta make a move
What good are words
When this world hurts
Real faith will come through
When I make a move

This is another singing group that will be in the JoyFM Birthday Sofa Concert Series if you happen to be in the St Louis area.  Here’s the link for more info: http://joyfmonline.org/extras/sofa-series.asp

Enjoy the video…not just for the music but they’re pretty snappy dressers too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbELfw2H_Xc

Some songs are just beautiful.  “I mean throw back your head, close your eyes and let it wash over you” beautiful.  This song draws me for the beauty of the guitar and the gentleness of Aaron Shust’s voice.  But as always with me, I live and breathe the lyrics.  Maybe they’re just what you need to hear too.

I tried to run
I tried to fight You
But I’m done
I’m giving up
I’ve learned to trust You, Your love

No I’m singing…

Can You take over?
Take over
Can You take over me?
I’ve been here over and over again
Here on my knees
I’m only closer and closer
To where I wanna be
When You take over, take over
Can You take over me?

I tried before
To let go
And I just hold on more
Amazing Lord
I need the strength to let go
And be Yours

So now I’m singing…

That’s favorite line in the song is “So now I’m singing…”  How about you?  Are you singing now?

I found a neat video that has Aaron Shust playing acoustic Guitar and teaching how he plays the song.  Then he sings this sweet song.  Here is is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzH1ivve1iw

OH YEAH!  Aaron Shust is also coming to St Louis if you’re in the area.  Here’s the link to more info…http://joyfmonline.org/extras/sofa-series.asp

This may the purest, sweetest song I have heard in a while.  Marine Master Sgt. Robert Allen wrote and performs this wonderful song for his wife.   There is something about seeing a marine, in uniform, sitting in the middle of Afghanistan singing about not only the wife and family he misses but of all the things you and I so easily take for granted.  Watch the video, thank the Lord for the small blessings of Christmas and thank a man or woman in uniform.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k76haWHvXSc

It’s HERE!  Christmas time.  Matthew West has written what I hope becomes a Christmas Classic.  It grabs both the joy of Christmas but maybe more importantly, it grabs the HOPE of Christmas.  Don’t we all want this Christmas to be extraordinary?  Don’t we want the presence of the Lord to restore our lives in some new and glorious way?  Isn’t rebirth the whole message of the New Born King?

What if we all did as Matthew West asks in the opening lines of the song… what if we prayed for us to come back to the heart of Christmas and find renewal from the Christ Child this Christmas?  Sounds good to me.

I’m gonna make a wish this Christmas
I’m gonna say a little prayer
I’m gonna stop here for a moment
Before the moment disappears

The world’s in a hurry this December
City streets and shopping malls
I wish we could slow down and remember
The meaning of it all

Wherever you are, no matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it
Don’t miss it, the heart of Christmas

You’ll love the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJktrBObrI

I really like this band and I really like this song.  With their deep rich voices, Lifehouse clearly displays the powerful feelings of brokenness.  But I love the way they reveal hope.  It’s subtle the way hope so often comes into a dark time in our life.  The lyrics say he’s still barely holdin’ on.  But what has he found to hang onto? The meaning he finds in the name of the Lord.  Sometimes you can’t hear Him, see Him or feel Him.  Sometimes our faith is just holdin’ on to the power of His name– faith in who He is…

I’m falling apart, I’m barely breathing
with a broken heart that’s still beating
In the pain (in the pain), is there healing
In your name (in your name) I find meaning
So I’m holdin’ on (I’m still holdin’), I’m holdin’ on (I’m still holdin’), I’m holdin’ on (I’m still holdin’)
I’m barely holdin’ on to you

I’m hangin’ on another day
Just to see what you throw my way
And I’m hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will be OK

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven’t forgotten my way home

POWERFUL VIDEO!  Don’t miss it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6cdPeYJh0s&ob=av2e

It’s one thing to say “I love this cheeseburger’ or “I love those boots”,  but when you are loving people in a deep profound way, you have a love that must come from God.  That’s why love songs that give God the credit make my heart sing.  When you hold your baby in your arms, feel the touch of someone that wants to be with you forever or know the gift of sacrificial love, it’s so much easier to see the love of God shining all over your life.  Blake Shelton sings so beautifully about the tender humility that comes with being blessed with a love that is truly a gift from God.

I’ve been a walking heartache
I’ve made a mess of me
The person that I’ve been lately
Ain’t who I wanna be

There’s more here than what were seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You’ll always be love’s great martyr
Ill be the flattered fool
And I need you

The video will make you smile and want to say I love you to someone precious in your life… give it a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCf2PoTuh4Q&ob=av3e

This is some good music!  Do you need a little lift to your morning?  Do you need to hear and feel a little joy of the Lord?  Have I got a song for YOU!  Mandisa has teamed up with Toby Mac to deliver a put-a-smile-on-your-face morning song.  Love Mandisa, love Toby Mac, love this song.

Give it a listen and down below, listen to Mandisa tell you how the song came about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24oRPAsTFkM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nux4TiR9Vw8

So when was the last time you walked on the water?  When was the last time Jesus called you to step out of your cozy comfort zone and come towards Him in the middle of a storm?  Maybe you invited your neighbor to an event up at church or you offered to pray for a coworker facing a hard time.  Maybe you got help for a problem you know has been pulling your life off track.  Britt Nicole uses her soothing yet passionate voice to identify with the fears of walking towards Christ.   It’s like she says “Your insecurities they try to hold to you.”

This song softly nestles into my mind and then it’s like a shout out right into my soul– “What are you waiting for?”  Before I know it, I’m singing along and wondering the same thing.

You look around, staring back at you
Another wave of doubt, will it pull you under? You wonder
What if I’m overtaken? What if I never make it?
What if no one’s there? Will You hear my prayer?

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you’re made for more, so don’t be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too

Don’t ignore your call to walk on the water and draw closer to your Lord.  Amen to that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wddc8UzNiG8