"Life as a Music Video" Monday

If you're like me, music is like an extension of your soul. I am convinced I would be perfectly content if situationally appropriate songs hovered over me like a theatrical rain cloud. So, to share that affection for melody, harmony and all the ways they apply to our every day... welcome to "Life as a Music Video" Mondays.

Song: Wherever You Go   Artist:  Audrey Assad

“Can you just sit with me a minute,” Champion whispered into my heart. I glanced wistfully at the clean silverware and decided it could wait. I took a seat at my table; at His feet. 

Just then, Audrey’s voice pierced the open air of the messy kitchen and my heart. “I’m coming for you, coming for you wherever you go.”

I have a chronic problem with trying to live out of my own strength. It’s usually a subtle shift, but all at once, I’ll feel it. Like an awkward stare - so intense you have to stop and look up. As I glance around, I’ll see His eyes - yards or days or heartbeats away from where I have taken my own path.

All at once the weight of my efforts will cripple me, and the tears fall in the silly realization that I’ve done it again. But He, my Champion, just comes to me with a compassionate gaze. “This way, love.” He whispers, as he lifts me to my feet, brushes the dust from my knees and leads me on, a knowing smile on His redemptive lips.

And I don’t understand... why He keeps fighting for me. I know it’s not because of MY virtue. Ha ha! I know it’s because of His beauty, His faithfulness - measureless and utterly inhuman. 

That day, as He wrapped my heart in His again, I thought of you - all the girls I love. We all strive in so many ways, and, yes, I know - there is much to be done. But it can be accomplished in peace and grace if we will take off our Martha mind and put on our Mary heart. It’s there at His feet; it’s there in His heart, His eyes. There is no greater bliss - and the silverware can wait at least a few minutes more... 

He has come for you... LISTEN <3   (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 31:3-6)

Wherever You Go (Link)

Buy it (Cause it's Audrey, and she's that amazing!)

“Life as a Music Video” Monday

If you're like me, music is like an extension of your soul. I am convinced I would be perfectly content if situationally appropriate songs hovered over me like a theatrical rain cloud. So, to share that affection for melody, harmony and all the ways they apply to our everyday... welcome to "Life as a Music Video" Mondays.

Song: Outta My Mind  Band:  Anthem Lights

It was a bit of a rough week. People hurting people - people hurting me. Somehow I’d slipped back into the lie that I had some semblance of power when it came to others’ actions or attitudes... apparently not noticing as I sidled through the backdoor of that mindset. But my Champion, who will never let me stay content in brokenness, allowed the false walls to crumble once again - revealing a well-known backdrop of disillusionment. And like Jonah, I was cranky over the death of a vine I had never given life to in the first place.

Seeing a lie and climbing out of it are two different things. I struggled for days to surrender my mindset - rifling through details that, if I could simply understand, might lead me to avoiding this feeling in the future (yah right - because that’s how you grow... through avoidance... lol). 

It was in said struggle that I found myself driving down the road, my 3 little princes belted safely behind me. The wind tossed our chariot around a bit, and as the line of cars in front of me slowed inexplicably, I had an extra moment to catch sight of a hawk. You’ve seen little birds in high wind, right? The way they hover in mid-air, riding currents invisible to our eyes? Always beautiful. And here was this HAWK - massive, majestic bird; gorgeous wingspan - floating on the wind without the slightest effort. It was breathtaking. I had never before seen a bird of that size conquering such a feat.

The Spirit stirred within my spirit and my Champion whispered in wordless truths. There will always be downdrafts: circumstances we absolutely cannot control, people we can’t stop from hurting those we love, people condemning our best intentions. But we have a choice. We can let the downdrafts have us, sucking us deeper toward a fallen earth, or we can soar on the wind, allowing a greater Hand to lift us beyond mere, visible horizons. Just then this song came on the radio and completed the refrain.  Our minds can become a trap, a downdraft, unless we surrender to His heart. It doesn’t always have to make sense. And when we surrender our thoughts to Him (2 Cor. 10:5), He lifts us up on the wings of the unseen... faith. And when we're trusting Him in each breath - that's when He can really use us! Check out the song here.