Chains are Broken, Scales are on the Floor

Singing today...  I am all He says I am (from Gateway Worship)




He whispers in my ear
Tells me that I'm fearless
He shares a melody
Tells me to repeat it
And it makes me whole
It reminds my soul

I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
And He says I am His own

I was blinded by scales upon my eyes
Then He came like a light
And burned up all the lies
He set me free
He reminded me

I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
An He says I am His own

Chains are broken
Scales are on the floor
Truth is spoken
I'm no orphan anymore

I am loved
I am new again
I am free
I'm no slave to sin
I'm saint
I am righteousness
I'm alive

My "In Season" Song Playlist: Hearing the "Now Word" of God

I am learning to try to be sensitive to the things that God is speaking to me in certain seasons.  Have you ever felt God is taking you on a journey during a certain season---a journey about grace, or peace, or forgiveness? 

With the journey in mind, I keep a spiritual journal, a written map of what I hear God saying across time.  As I re-read the map, I see the connection of dots, the consistent themes, the "now word" ("rhema word") for me and my family. 

In addition to a journal, I have recently compiled a playlist--this is a compilation of songs God has been using to speak to me recently.  I call the playlist "In Season." These are the melodies, scriptures, words, meditations placed on my heart this season with God.  

The Bible uses the term "rhema" for words from God that are for a particular season or a particular person.  They are "now words" for you to meditate on and treasure as part of your journey with a personal God.  

Examples of scriptures using "word" as translated from "rhema" are below--

Matthew 4:4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁴ But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

John 6:63

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶³ The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.


Here are some of the songs on my "in season" playlist now:

Desert Song by Hillsong United
Nothing is Wasted by Jason Gray
From This One Place by Sara Groves


What songs resonate with you this season? 

Triumphs and Tragedies: What Is The Meditation of Your Heart?

There are often tragedies around us, perhaps on the news, in our neighborhood, in our households.  Why is it so easy to meditate on these things, to sit in front of the television and stare for hours at destruction?  Why is it so easy to keep talking to friends about the sadness that occured, about the struggles and difficulties of our friends?  Do we also talk for hours about the wonderful things, the triumphs, the breakthroughs, the unexpected blessings? 

I am not suggesting we turn a blind eye to what is happening, good or bad.  Do you have a health symptoms?--get it checked out.  Are there people grieving in your neighborhood?--comfort them.  I am speaking here about the meditation of our heart.  What do we meditate on for hours.  What do we let live and grow in our spirit?  Where is our attention and focus?  We give power to whatever we are giving our focus to...We should chose wisely.

Consider Matt Redman's song 10,000 reasons--

I love the clip of lyrics here: "Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes"

Let's choose to focus on goodness.  There are 10,000 reasons to sing...  Join me in the song.

10,000 Reasons Sung by Kim Walker-Smith

Inspiration: Hi Hopes Band

The Hi Hopes Band is made up of individuals with developmental disabilities who have a "genius" for music.  Many are considered musical savants.  Included in the group are members with the following conditions:  Down Syndrome, Autism, Williams Syndrome, Prader-Will Syndrome, Fragile X, PKU, and other intellectual disabilities.  They perform almost any genre of music and have committed hundreds of songs to memory.

Check out their website Hope University and their YouTube videos.

Music: Sara Groves

Sara Groves is an Christian vocal artist I have loved for quite a while.  I would describe her as having a simple and gentle style.  Her lyrics are so pure and thoughtful.  She has a song on her Station Wagon album called "Prayers for this Child."  It is a beautiful lyrical song about how she asks God for wisdom about how to pray for her child.  Lyrics Link "Prayers for this Child"

I was praying for a friend yesterday who was going through a very difficult transition.  She has experienced much loss this year and isn't sure what comes next.  While I was praying, I heard this Sara Groves song played.  I had never heard it before, but it was just the right song for my friend.

From This One Place song link

Lyrics:

I was about to give up and that's no lie
cardinal landed outside my windowthrew his head back and sang a song
so beautiful it made me cry

took me back to a childhood tree
full of birds and dreams

from this one place I can't see very far
in this one moment I'm square in the dark
these are the things I will trust in my heart
you can see something else
something else

I don't know what's making me so afraid
tiny cloud over my head
heavy and grey with a hint of dread
I don't like to feel this way

take me back to a window seat
with clouds beneath my feet

Maybe this is the right song for you today too...

Freedom

Singing this song this morning:

Redeemed: Big Daddy Weave

Here is the video link:  Redeemed: Big Daddy Weave



Seems like all I can see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then you look at this prisoner and say to me 
"son stop fighting a fight that's already been won"

Chorus

I am redeemed , you set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain
Now I'm not who I used to be 
I am redeemed.....I'm redeemed

2nd Verse

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear you whisper "child lift up your head"
I remember oh God you're not done with me yet

Chorus

I am redeemed , you set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain
Now I'm not who I used to be 

Bridge

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me 
'cause his day is long dead and gone because 
I've got a new name , a new life I'm not the same 
and a hope that will carry me home 

Chorus

I am redeemed , you set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains and
Wipe away every stain
Now I'm not who I used to be 

I am redeemed you set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains and 
And wipe away every stain
Now I'm not who I used to be
Oh God I'm not who I used to be
Jesus I'm not who I used to be 

'Cause I am redeemed 
Thank God redeemed

I Have A Reason To Sing

The Desert Song by Hillsong has been floating through my mind today.  

I am singing:

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship


Sing with me!