the song post

I'm going to sing to you.

HA just kidding. 

On a less frightening note, this will be about songs that have somewhat ministered to me.

Reader, I’m trying to express my liking for these songs in the least cheesy way possible, so bear with me here.  I love my tunes. I love sharing tunes. And in college you listen to a lot of tunes while arting, studying, casual hammocking, etc. so my mind has been on, in, and around the tunes. Let’s see how many times I can use the word “tunes”. Tunes.

I’m thinking I’ll just share some of the big ones from the past few years, the songs that really helped me get to know God better. Isn’t it cool how God can speak through music? So tight.

Lord, I Need You - Chris Tomlin

Lord, I need You, oh I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

This one is a newbie for me as of this week. It’s kind of like my freshman year anthem so far, just the simple phrase “Lord I NEED you”. And every hour. Not just when the situation is convenient. Dang.

You Have Called Me Higher - All Sons & Daughters

And I could be safe

I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home

Never let these walls down

But you have called me higher

You have called me deeper

And I will go where you will lead me Lord

Another freshman year anthem. I have no doubt in my mind the Lord wants me here at SCAD, even though I wasn’t exactly sure why. My college choice seemed clear when I made it, until when I actually got here and things were drastically different from home. The whole first week I wondered why I had the desire to give up familiarity, football games, car access, automatic “sisters”, and Texas. And now five weeks into it I realize that I have grown in crazily different ways than I would’ve if I just went to a normal school. Not bashing normal schools at all, but this for me personally was my latest “deeper” that the Lord wanted me to reach.

I Am Set Free- All Sons & Daughters

All Sons and Daughters. Shooki I love these guys. The title is most of the chorus. Just a jam-worthy song full of truth. We are set free from our sinful nature. P.S. Their brand new album is BUMPIN.

The Earth is Yours - Gungor

Creation sees You

And starts composing

The fields and trees they start rejoicing.

Holy, Holy Lord

The earth is Yours and singing

If you look up “The Earth is Yours in a Forest” on youtube you will find the acoustic/awesome version of this song where the people of Gungor use tree branches as percussion as they sing this song in a forest, no big deal. Gungor has been on my list for a while, and they worship in one of the most beautifully unique ways. Also the two lead singers, Michael and Lisa Gungor, are married… Yes please.  

From The Inside Out - Hillsong

Your will above all else

My purpose remains

The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

Classic. This song ministered to me in junior high, when I was kind of grasping what it meant to worship the Lord via song without just singing empty words. I remember fancying the line “the art of losing myself”. First of all, it marked surrender as an “art”, which caught my attention (hello fine arts major). Second of all, it taught me that worshipping the Lord is not about me, and that sounds obvious but we totally do make it about us. And towards the end the song goes “and the cry of my heart is to bring You praise”- so many times my heart has cried for help to stop making it about me, and all I can do is ask for God’s help to focus on Him.

Oh, Happiness- David Crowder Band

Oh, happiness!

There's grace. Enough for us, and the whole human race.

I wrote this on my senior wall square. Just a joyous statement. Why are we happy? There’s grace given abundantly for all who accept it, that’s why.

No Fight Left – JJ Heller

There is no fight left on the inside

But maybe that's where I should be

I've given up trying

I'm giving it all to you

My girl JJ Heller. Her tunes are perfect for naps or nice days, and her lyrics are just genuine nuggets that sound so sweet. She’s a mom of two little daughters and her husband, Dave, plays music with her, and I will play her songs while my future babies fall asleep because she is that soothing. This song is a beaut, for it helped to remind me that defeat is where we should personally be, because it’s the Lord’s battle. And we’re victorious because He is victorious, not because we fight on our own. I remember listening to this song driving to school and using it as kind of a declaration of surrender for the day.

Your Love is Strong- Jon Foreman

Two things you told me

That you are strong

And you love me

Even though I knew and loved this song before Baby Ruths, it reminds me of camp this particular summer. The first night we were told that even though we were scared and overwhelmed, God is BIG and God is HERE. Simple as that. This song expresses this same simple thought, that His love is strong. And it’s so affirming to proclaim that. Also the rest of the song is full of beautiful scripture-inspired lyrics.

Sailing on a Ship – Phil Wickham

I’m sailing on a ship that’s bound for life

I wrestle with the wind against the tide

I'd leave it all behind to reach for more

I’m sailing on to Your golden shore

The skies go blue to grey

And I’m thrown from wave to wave

You still will hear these lungs singing hard

With every storm I face

I find a greater grace

That pulls me deeper into Your heart

This song gives me memories of laying out plates and silverware on the tables this past summer at camp. In the midst of the bustle to get meals ready for the campers, this song would play in the dining hall and I would feel this sense of floating rest as I tried not to spill pitchers of water and pink drink walking from table to table. Even though the words talk about being in a storm, I felt huge peace in finding greater grace going through life's uncertainty with Him. 

Carry Me on Your Back - Leeland

Even heroes fall down

And mountains won't last forever

But Your promise never fails

When the ocean is raging

I find stillness in Your presence

And I lift my voice to say

“Jesus take me away”

Another calm-in-the-storm song. I just love the illustration of that. Caught in the waves, the unpredictable winds, the darkness- yet you’re comforted and bound to the strong Savior. And when the strongest earthly things fail, He won't. Ever. Also this song was played in a camp video one year and I just keep on imagining smiling kids going down the zip line in slow-motion.

Always – Pine Cove Worship

I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm

My help is on the way, my help is on the way

Oh, my God, He will not delay

My refuge and strength always

I will not fear, His promise is true

My God will come through always, always

And again with dependence on God. SO many songs about His kept promises in uncertainty! So good to dwell on. This was a big song for me this past summer when it came out on the new Pine Cove worship CD. We sang it at PCBC Fish Camp when I was a counselor for precious 5^th and 6^th grade girls. You worship differently when you are in a position like that, depending on the Lord to fill you up to pour out. Also this song played on loop while working in the PC camp store, sweet nostalgia.

Divine Romance – Phil Wickham

In Your presence God, I'm completely satisfied

My favorite line of the whole song. Dank.

Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly) – Sanctus Real

Whatever you're doing inside of me

It feels like chaos somehow there's peace

It's hard to surrender to what I can't see

but I'm giving in to something heavenly

I think I discovered this song my freshman year of high school. A year where I didn’t know what the heck I was doing. Not really knowing what’s going on, not being sure of yourself or your identity… This song and the passage in Jeremiah 17:7-10 about the heart being deceitful really helped me absorb the fact that I didn’t need to have everything in order to live a life for God- He knows and holds my heart, and that’s certainly enough.

So, there’s a few of the many... maybe you found something new for your next road trip playlist. Or if that doesn't suit, I could just sing to you. Do Re Mi.