This song brings me back to the meaning of the gospel and I want it to be my daily prayer. Jesus, perfect and sinless, took my punishment. My sin caused Him so much pain. It breaks my heart to remember, but I never want to forget.

Strange Way to Save the World

This has been my favorite Christmas song for a long time.
Happy Christmas Eve!

Strange Way to Save World
by Mark Harris

Sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
'Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem
And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel come to life
And Joseph said...

(CHORUS)
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth
But Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought...

(CHORUS)
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world

Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world
...this is such a strange way to save the world.

Concert

Tonight is the Derek Webb concert. I'm so excited! We get to hear great music, it's a date night, we are meeting with good friends, and Grant gets to sleep over at Grandma's house. Everyone's happy!

This Too Shall Be Made Right...

This song moves me everytime I hear it. Derek Webb's music is incredible.

This Too Shall Be Made Right
Derek Webb

People love you the most for the things you hate
And hate you for loving the things you can't keep straight
People judge you on a curve
And tell you you’re getting what you deserve
This too shall be made right

Children cannot learn when children cannot eat
Stack them like lumber and children cannot sleep
Children dream of wishing wells
Whose waters quench all the fires of Hell
This too shall be made right

The earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
Wars and abuses have nature groaning with death
We say we’re just trying to stay alive
But it looks so much more like a way to die
This too shall be made right

There’s a time for peace and there is a time for war
A time to forgive and a time to settle the score
A time for babies to lose their lives
A time for hunger and genocide
This too shall be made right

I don’t know the suffering of people outside my front door
I join the oppressors of those I choose to ignore
I’m trading comfort for human life
And that’s not just murder it’s suicide
This too shall be made right

Wrinkles

Since I turned 35 this year, I guess I am officially at "middle age." I believe that age is just a number, so it hasn't bothered me. But there is no denying that when those numbers get higher, no matter how young I feel on the inside, things change on the outside. I'm aware that the wrinkles are starting to show, but here's how I'm looking at them...

Wrinkles
by Diamond Rio

Gettin' out of the tub all drawn up like a raisin
Showed my fingers to my Daddy while he was shavin'
Said look at my toes Dad what's wrong with my skin
Will this go away, will I be normal again

Well, he picked me up and set me down on the hamper
Wiped off his face while he gave me the answer
For the first time I noticed the lines in his grin
As he dabbed a little foam on the end of my chin, he said

Those wrinkles ain't nothin' to be scared of
They're just a product of time and true love
Some are gonna come and go
Some are gonna come and stay
Son, you're still young, you're gonna be ok

Well, I walked down the hall, saw my Mom gettin ready
For a long over due date, dinner with Daddy
She was cussin' those crows feet, didn't know I was listenin'
Started talkin' ‘bout her younger years
And how much she missed them and I said

Those wrinkles ain't nothin' to be scared of
They're just a product of time and true love
Some are gonna come and go
Some are gonna come and stay
Mom you still look young, you're gonna be ok

As I get a little older, I'm startin' to get a few
And I'm sure I gave Mom and Dad at least one or two
We're all gonna have ‘em, there ain't no doubt
But those wrinkles in life ain't nothin' you can't iron out

Those wrinkles ain't nothin' to be scared of
They're just a product of time and true love
Some are gonna come and go
Some are gonna come and stay
I still feel young, I'm gonna be ok

Blessed be Your Name

Life happens. Most of the time it's beautiful, sometimes it's not. Sometimes bad things happen and there are no real answers. The one thing that we can always be sure of is that nothing takes God by surprise. He is always worthy of our praises, always faithful, and always present. There are moments that it will take everything within us to choose to praise Him. In my experience, that choice makes all the difference.

This song helped me during one of those moments.

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

From the rising of the sun over us
To the setting of the same
Though there's pain in the offering
Lord, Blessed be your name
Blessed be, blessed be, blessed be
Your Holy Name.

Another song...

I love the message in this song. I think I've listened to it 10 times this week.

Befriended
Matt Redmond

Befriended, befriended by the King above all Kings
Surrendered, surrendered to a friend above all friends
Invited, invited deep into this mystery
Delighted, delighted by the wonders I have seen

This will be my story
This will be my song
You'll always be my savior.
Jesus, You will always have my heart

Astounded, astounded that Your gospel beckoned me
Surrounded, surrounded but I've never been so free
Determined, determined now to live this life for You
You're so worthy my greatest gift would be the least You're due

This will be my story
This will be my song
You'll always be my Savior.
Jesus You will always have my heart