As I rediscovered the magic of this song, I was writing open letters to people whose relationships have changed. I listened once on Spotify, then again with Halsey's lyric video, then once more with Marshmello's. As I read the lyrics, listening to it the second time, I couldn't help but tear up. I didn't realize how sad it was--at least to me. Be Kind reminded me of a struggling battle I had with a friend (read more about it here). It stings but it's also comforting and encouraging to see mainstream artists like Halsey and Marshmello making music beyond romantic relationships. I mean...music is art, and it can be translated any way the listener wishes. And to me personally, it hits deep with the resonating message.
Honestly, I'm so exhausted over this relationship, but it sure is encouraging to know there are other people who go through the same relationship pains as I do. Dear reader, if you are reading these words with a heaviness in your heart over the loss or status of a relationship like this song describes, know this: one, I am here for you. Message me if you ever need a friend to talk to. Two, you are not alone, no matter how invisible it may seem. Most people don't showcase their struggles. And three, I pray you'll look upon this painful relationship with mercy and recognize the beauty and lessons you've gained from it. Upwards and onwards.
I believe in the power of testimonies. They are proof of God's faithfulness and divine control and peace despite chaotic circumstances. "My Story" is a song that every Christian can relate to. The chorus is so beautiful:
If I should speak then let it be
Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him
Just thinking of these words make me shiver in awe of the power of Jesus. He's transformed my mind, my body, my soul. I can say that with full confidence. He's reversed the curse of sin so that, though I still sin on this earth, I have full forgiveness and I can move forward without shame. He's healing my mindset about others and myself so that I recognize the depth of their value and the amount of love and grace we ALL need, including me. He's healing my bodily habits so that I can honor Him through my "living temple," as Paul writes (1 Cor. 6:19). And He's turned my soul from Satan to Him so that my desires and heart seek to honor God.
God's grace is so so good, and I am so humbled every day with the gift of life He continues to grant me, despite not deserving any of it. God has given me a new chance every day, every hour to live and praise Him and the LEAST I can do is give Him the glory. My story is over without Him. But with Jesus, my story is still happening and testifying to the truth and realness and power of Christ.
The first time I heard this song was at a church I was visiting. I thought it was one of the most beautiful hymns I'd ever heard.
2020 hasn't been as hopeful as you may have imagined. But in these season where, globally, we are frozen in waiting for life to go on again...here in the waiting, we CAN have hope. We don't have to succumb to the ways of the world, whether that be rebellion against authorities or wallowing in worry and hoarding.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all of his iniquities.
Does this psalm resonate with you? Have you cried out to Him in prayer? Wished for a different reality? Asked God to take away the virus? Did you take time to wait on the Lord and soak up His Spirit and His peace? You should try it some time!
We're in such a unique period of time and God has given us open doors and made space and time FOR us. What if we used this extra time to grow closer to Him? To truly wait and listen and be in His presence? What if we took the time to simply wait for Him?
I'm challenging YOU and myself as well to INTENTIONALLY set aside time to just. be. with. God. No distractions, no phone, no one around. Just you and God. Your open heart waiting for Him to fill you with His presence and peace. Whatever you're carrying, you are FREE--oh, so free!--to let go of and just give it to God. Anxious thoughts? Tell Him. And then let go of them and be filled with His steadfast love. There is no negative feeling, no negative thought, no negative action that God cannot redeem. Even this nasty virus. God is working in so many ways, dear friend; all you gotta do is look!
If you liked this post, leave a comment below and let me know! Have a great week!
I'M LITERALLY OBSESSED WITH THIS SONG. The last time I posted for Music Monday was a loooong time ago (sorry!) but here we go! Hopefully I won't be as bad with posting as last year. 🙈
Like I've said before, finding a great contemporary song while being God-honoring is sometimes hard to find, so when I stumbled upon this song, I was stoked. Songs in the electronic/dance genres are especially hard to find. I've honestly never heard of Built By Titan or Svrcina. I literally found this song from googling "Christian EDM songs." Honestly, most of those results are usually not contemporary enough or too same-ol' sounding during the entire song, but I found this gem and I ended up buying it the next day.
I gotta admit, when I first listened to the chorus, I was like, what in the world is this song about? Is this actually a Christian song? When listening to it in the car for the first time with the family, my mom was, like, "Ummm...what is this song about?"
In the darkness/In the darkness/I will find You/In the darkness
It sounded like a dark song so to speak...pun unintended. Then I realized that it's about going through dark valleys in life but still seeing the Light through it all; a theme I love.
When you go through dark stages in life, do you seek the Light or do you just wallow away?
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8).
If you're going through a dark valley right now, pray this verse:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps 27:1)
Remember,
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1:5).
This stage in life will pass in time, but for now, hold on to - seek - cling - to the Light; Jesus. Just because we live in a world and culture that loves darkness, doesn't mean we should act like them. We are a chosen people! No, being different isn't easy, but it beats being in the darkness all the time.
For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness (1 Thes 5:5).
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Col 1:13).
Friends, I hope you will not just enjoy this song for it's sound but savor the words and really think about what you do in the darkness. Do you seek Light?
Merry Christmas, friends! Today I want to share a song with you. It's not a Christmas song, however, it does describe what Christmas is centered around - Jesus' real, perfect love for us. Hope you enjoy this song, and savor it's meaning.
REAL LOVE IS WORTH DYING FOR.
REAL LOVE LASTS FOREVER.
REAL LOVE IS JESUS.
In our day and age, love is being sold for getting whatever you want, fulfilling your happiness and everything. This is true, but it's unattainable by anyone other than Jesus. Why? Because people are sinful. They can still love, but they don't have perfect love. Their emotions often sway their so-called love, and dash it to pieces. Real love does not forsake. Real love does not die. Real love does not hide. 1 John 3:16 (NLT) says,
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Jesus is the perfect example of real love because He really was perfect. Experiencing this radical love can happen and has happened with millions of people. It's supernatural.
Another VERIDIA song! "Mechanical Planet" is my top favorite. It's empowering, with an addicting rhythm and fierce message.
Set in the perspective of regret, the first verse begins with:
I'm your regret I'll/make you forget all/you were made to be
How many times have you regretted something you've done, or something you didn't do? I've done it plenty of times. I've regretted not speaking up for an innocent person. I've regretted speaking harshly to that friend. I've regretted not spending my time better. Regret can kill you. It will make you hate who you are and wish for the moments you wasted. The danger of it is it can make you unsatisfied, fast, especially because often, there's nothing we can do to get those moments back. The chorus of the song goes like this:
I never want you to know/you were made for perfection/not created defective/on this mechanical planet/you were not made to be/just some broken machine/on this/mechanical planet
See, regret is Satan's whisper. He's the Prince of Lies, and he'll do anything he can to distract you and keep you from accepting the truth. Satan wants you to believe that you're defective, broken and worthless. He wants to keep you from clearly seeing who you are - who God made you to be. Friends, God made each and every one of you for a special purpose. You are not worthless; you are priceless. You are not hopeless; there is always hope. God created worth in you and a beautiful purpose; something only you can fulfill with His power.
Don't let this mechanical planet deceive you. You're not a broken machine; you were made for perfection!
A little different then Hollyn's normal music, "In Awe" is a worship song, crying out to God in awe of His love. It's absolutely beautiful; one of my favorites off of Hollyn's new album, "One Way Conversations." This song is filled with Hollyn marveling about His amazing love for us, despite our sinfulness. I love the chorus:
I'm living in awe/You don't need me at all/but You couldn't love me more/I'm living in awe/every day I fall/but You never let me go/I'm living in awe
By hearing this song, I hope this opens your eyes to God's love if they haven't already been. If you already know of God's amazing love, I hope this brings you to worship Him even more.
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GUYS. I just found this band, and I literally can't stop listening to them. (Apologies to my sisters for playing it repetitively.) I think VERIDIA is my new favorite album. VERIDIA is a rock/alternative band with wholesome music. I first heard them on Air1 with "Pretty Lies," which was a decent song, but when I heard "Still Breathing" a few weeks ago, I was hooked. I looked them up, and it turns out they're a newer band. Formed in 2013, VERIDIA is made up of four members: Deena Jakoub (vocals), Brandon Brown (guitar), Trevor Hinesley (guitar), and Kyle Levy (drums). Wondering about the name? I did, too. VERIDIA is a combination of the words "veritas" (Latin for "truth") and "veridical" (also meaning "truth"), so, as Deena Jakoub says, "VERIDIA means 'of truth'" (Wikipedia). Pretty cool. :) The big thing about VERIDIA, for me, that won me over is the combination of creativity in their songs (versus albums with songs that sound pretty much the same), infectious beats, clean and meaningful lyrics, and heart for God. Unlike most mainstream songs that have this level of musicality, VERIDIA has deeper, purer messages in their songs. "Say A Prayer" is one of my favorites. Refreshing and encouraging, it's about remembering others who are in hard circumstances and praying for them. We can get so caught up about how "hard" our circumstances are that we forget how much harder others have it. "Say A Prayer" is a great reminder to pray for those who can't speak out. Oh, did you notice something different? I revamped my blog yesterday, so let me know if you like this design or my old design better in the comment section!
The first time I heard this cover of "Mary, Did You Know?" I got the chills. The vocals are hauntingly beautiful, and the melody is absolutely gorgeous. Naturally, this is one of my favorite Pentatonix Christmas songs, along with "Hark! The Harold Angel Sings," "White Winter Hymnal," "Coldest Winter," and "Up On the Housetop."
Do you like Pentatonix? What songs are you favorite?
Okay, so I'm kinda bummed there's no Royal Tailor anymore, but I'm excited that Tauren Wells will still continue making music. "Love Is Action" has a similar message to Hollyn's "Love With Your Life." I LOVE the dance feel in this song.
I love Lauren Daigle. Her unique voice, her God-centered songs, and her story. Not too long ago, she released a deluxe edition of her album, How Can It Be. One of those songs added to it was "Now is Forever." This is my favorite of her songs so far - so much that I have listened to it looped about fifteen times before. :) It's such a yearning of being with God in heaven, being like God, and denying herself. It's a beautiful and refreshing song of pure worship, and I hope you enjoy listening to "Now is Forever."
In "Exhale," Plumb sings about not hiding from God and instead exhaling and letting go. It's a beautiful reminder of how God, as holy as He is, still embraces us even though we are full of swarming mistakes, sins, and struggles. Colossians 1:21-22 confirms this refreshing truth:
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
Be reminded that you don't have to hide from Him - that you can come to Him and find healing and simply exhale!
If you haven't heard of Two Steps From Hell (pardon the name, please), they're an epic/soundtrack artist. I really like listening to their songs because they have so much emotion and drama in them. Some of their songs make you feel triumphant, or motivated (like this song), sad or cheerful. Hope you enjoy "For the Win"!
This is my favorite song right now. It's so good, one of the reasons being it's Hollyn! :) Her brand new single, "Love With Your Life," is about making a change in the world by loving with your life. The phrase, "Actions speak louder than words" are rooted in "Love With Your Life." The opening line says,
There's only so much you can say til' words turn into noise.
It's very true. Sometimes, we get so caught up in telling others to love, or just saying empty words, that we don't actually live it out in our lives, and it does become noise. I know, because I have definitely done it. The Bible backs up this truth in various places, one of them being in 1 John 3:18:
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
James 1:22 also says,
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
When you love with your life, you also make a change in the world. Talk is cheap. People can say whatever, and it won't change a thing. When you do something, though, it changes the world. Friends, we were called to make a difference! I love what Hollyn says at the end:
I don't want another day to pass, not another moment. I wanna live intentionally in light of eternity. I wanna love like You [Jesus] loved. I wanna love with my life.
I hope this encourages you to "Love With Your Life!"
Happy Fourth of July! Lol I decided to pick this song for Music Monday because in the beginning, Hollyn sings,
"When we are together we pop off like 4th of July. And when we're apart I can still see the lights in the sky. I've been around and around the world, I've never found anything better."
It's a good song though, so it's a win-win for the holiday and Music Monday. :P
"Nothin' On You" has a fun beat, one of my favorites from Hollyn. Let me know what you think about this song via comments, reaction, or the contact box. Thanks for stopping by!
Now this is my kind of song. I can totally relate with Jonny Diaz as he sings of the struggles of being busy and getting so caught up with a crazy life. "Breathe" calms me down, because it reminds me that sometimes, "Chaos calls, but all you really need is to just breathe." SO TRUE! The second verse especially hits me:
I'm busy busy busy And there's no surprise to see That I only have time for me There's gotta be something more To this crazy life I'm hanging on tight To another wild day When it starts to fall apart In my heart I hear you say Just breathe
It's so true. Sometimes, I am super busy, and I don't have enough time to help out. At least that's what I think in my head. But it's not true. Jesus was busy. I mean, He had crowds of people always wanting to see Him, and He ministered to a lot of people. Despite people constantly swarming Him, Jesus was never too busy to help someone. See, He made time for others. I should be more like Jesus and remember that, even when "I'm busy busy busy," like the song says, I can be filled with "the peace of God that overcomes." Soak in this beautiful peace. I promise it will calm you.
So...if you're feeling the weight of this "busy busy busy," crazy life...
Today's song is "Remain" by Royal Tailor - one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands! :) I love the piano in it and the overall song and lyrics. Another great message - it talks about how God's love will always remain, even though:
The sky could fall, the ground could shake, the stars burn out and season change. The time will pass and beauty fade, but all my love will remain.
It's so true, and it aligns with 1 Corinthians 13:13, which makes it an even stronger song:
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Let me know what you think of "Remain" by commenting or picking a reaction. Thanks!
Today's pick is "Beloved" by Jordan Feliz, a great reminder of who we are, and our true value. He sings,
Your heart is beating, alive and breathing, and there's a reason why. You are essential, not accidental, and you should realize you are beloved.
This is rooted in Scripture, as Psalm 139:13-14 ESV proclaim,
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
God made you for a PURPOSE. You are not an accident; you are a beautiful work of art, created fearfully and wonderfully by God the Creator. I love this song not only because of the uplifting message, but also because of the catchy tune and beat. I hope you enjoy "Beloved" as much as I do!
It's Music Monday! Today's pick is "Guard Your Heart" by 1GN. These days, it's hard to find songs with good musicality and positive, wholesome messages. Personally, I like pop and dance music, but the majority of songs in that genre sadly tend to have inappropriate lyrics. One reason why I like "Guard Your Heart" is because of the perfect blend of a pure, biblical message and great musicality. It has a fun beat and great lyrics that encourage. The song talks about guarding your heart from the temptations in this world and saving yourself for marriage. Though the ways of the world may look beautiful and easy, they're actually sugar-coated lies. Romans 12:2 says:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
So you see, if you refrain from conforming to the pattern of this world, you'll be able to understand God's good, pleasing and perfect will.
Don't just live for the moment. Live for Jesus or, as Capital Kings and Royal Tailor sing, be "living for the other side." Every decision you make now affects what will happen after life. When you are tempted to give in, pray that you will "keep your faith and guard your heart," as it says in the song.
Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV (emphasis added) states:
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
As 1GN say themselves,
Social media has dramatically changed the way we all communicate with one another. So much of our lives and interactions are now online. We often think we are safe there because it feels anonymous, but when we post something online - about ourselves or about someone else - it's there forever. It never goes away. We spend so much time on our mobile devices that we rarely realize how much damage can be done. The dangers are real. Plus, the images and messages hitting us in pop culture are often overly sexualized or filled with hate, bullying, violence and division. This is not the path God has called us to. As 1GN, we are about much more than music. 1GN is a movement. We can change the world only when we "give careful thought to our paths" and remain steadfast in all our ways. Our mission is to encourage each other to guard our hearts from these things, to protect our lives online, to overcome hate with love, and to live boldly for Christ, even while having fun. Haters gonna hate, but as Jesus taught us... love them anyway. Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART! And let's UNITE! - Kayli, Lauryn and Carmen
Therefore...know your worth, because you are priceless, and GUARD YOUR HEART.
