Song Lyrics

I like to think that in another life, where I am much cooler than I am now, I would be able to play the guitar and write amazing songs. Sadly, I'm me, and I can't. But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good lyric when I hear one. Probably because I'm a word person, I listen to lyrics a lot more closely than most people I know (which probably explains why I don't listen to many of the songs my students listen to....), and often times I find that they are particularly apt at speaking to certain things going on in my life. This was really true over the past week and a half or so. So, I thought it would be fun if I summed up my recent life in lyrics. (And, I'm also considering making this an assignment for my students sometime....)

"Light up, light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you cannot hear my voice

I'll be right beside you dear."

-"Run" by Snow Patrol

So this song isn't about God at all, but this makes me think about Him anyway. I was feeling a little deserted and alone, but when I listened to this song on the way to visit my sister, it reminded me that even when I feel like He's forgotten about me, God is right with me all the time.

"I never learned to count my blessings,

I choose to dwell in my disasters."

-"Empty" by Ray LaMontagne

Story of my life. And it reminds me that I have a choice--I can focus on the bad things, which is so easy to do, or I can force myself to turn my mind to the good.

"I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
'Tis in this way' The Lord replied
'I answer prayer for grace and faith'

'These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.'"

-"I Asked the Lord" lyrics by John Newton

So we sang this song at church on Sunday, and it was like someone had looked

into my heart and written down exactly how I've been feeling. Particularly the

part about hoping God would grant one of my requests and "subdue" my sin but

He makes my sin more clear instead. It also made me remember how thankful I

should be when God doesn't give me what I want.