I haven’t blogged in a little while, but not because I haven’t had a few entries in my head, that I’ve yet to write. I’m going to start with the one requiring the least amount of additional resources (This was initially out of laziness, but by the time I finished this entry, it was no longer a lazy one, lol!). Anyway, it highlights a topic close to my heart: Christian music. I’m writing both to share my testimony and some tunes that God’s been using for my spiritual growth.
If you know me well enough (or have read my blog long enough), you’re aware that I’m a huge supporter of Christian music, especially Contemporary Christian music. The short of my testimony is that I started listening to it almost exclusively during my freshman year of college. Almost immediately, I noticed the impact it had on helping me set my mind on things above – heavenly, God-honoring thoughts. Before then, I did not think that listening mostly to secular music was a big deal – especially if the music wasn’t “bad” or raunchy (and even if a song here and there was off color, I reasoned, it had a “good beat” and I did not even focus on the words). I also thought that secular music was just better anyway.
As I got more into Christian music, I also began to hear increasingly more stories about people like me who had made the “big switch” primarily to Christian music and had seen the big-yet-unexpected change.
More than 12 years later, I’m still blasting Christian music. And I can say that I believe, categorically, without exception, that all Christians should listen to Christian music – not necessarily exclusively, but as a significant part of meditation through song, which is just what music is. I think it’s also true that you are more likely to listen to Christian music if you play at least some music styles that you actually enjoy, not just ones that you think sound “more holy” than others. God accepts praise that comes from more than just an organ!
When I think back to the greatest influence on my ultimate choice to "go Christian music,” it was my youth group leaders. During summer missions trips in high school, we spent hours-long car rides listening to Christian music. We also attended youth events where I was exposed to many different Contemporary Christian artists. And when God prompted me to listen to more Christian music during freshman year in college, it was first some of the tapes (remember those?) that I had gotten from my youth pastor.
Now, I’m doing the same thing with teens I lead at my church. I went to a couple great Christian concerts last year, and had the opportunity to take the teen girls in my small group to one. I just generally love anyone under the age of 21 (and pray to be a mommy to lots of kids, but at least one, Amen!). I love that they are generally teachable, impressionable (even the ones who think they aren’t), and curious about life. What perfect ingredients to introduce them to a God who will never fail them throughout their lives?!?!
I’ve led a teen or college girls small groups for several years, but the last couple have been my first working with middle school girls in particular. While I believe middle school is the worst time in a human’s life for reasons I have no need to mention here, it also has been one of my favorite age groups to work with! The tweens, thirteen and fourteen year olds are in such a position to learn about Jesus and making wise choices before they even set foot in a high school or go off to college and, prayerfully, will avoid temptations that can come as they near adulthood. I think encouraging them to listen to Christian music is part of that process.
In December we took the girls to a TobyMac concert featuring various other Christian artists, including Jamie Grace, Mandisa, Britt Nicole, Group 1 Crew, Brandon Heath and Chris August (several who are among my favorites!). The concert was awesome (the girls thought so too!), really reminded me of the journey that led to me love Christian music, and prompted this entry.
At the concert I purchased TobyMac’s latest CD, “Eye On It” (which I just learned from the link was only the third Christian album ever to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200). I also remembered that I already had the latest Group 1 Crew CD, “Fearless,” but hadn’t listened to it yet. I started playing them both, and have not stopped since! The words and sounds have been so profitable that I want to share a few lines from each capturing them in a nutshell. I highly recommend them!
“EYE ON IT” (TOBYMAC)
“Unstoppable”: (About the Body of Christ): “We make our moves in mysterious ways. We’d rather burn out than stick to the shade. Not of this world so we live on the run. We keep our eyes set [and hearts set] on what is to come. We are unstoppable…That’s who we are” - in Christ!
“Me Without You” (God): “Where would I be without you? I’d be packin’ my bags when I need to stay. I’d be chasin’ every breeze that blows my way. I’d be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away. It’s true – that’s me without You…Don’t know where I’d be without You.”
“Steal My Show”: About asking God to get the glory in his performances, and in your life: “If You [God] want to steal my show sit back and watch You go. If you have something to say go on and take it away. Can’t wait to watch You go…No matter who we are, no matter what we do, every day we can choose to say, ‘If you want to steal my show'…My plans, my heart, my family, my career...take it away…It’s You I want to live for.”
“Eye On It”: When I listened to this song, I immediately thought of it as a rallying cry for Philippians 3: 7-14, which was likely the inspiration: pressing - every day - toward the goal, to win the prize for which God calls us heavenward in Christ Jesus - “Reaching for what lies ahead…I got my eye on it…pressing on with everything I’ve got. I’ve got my eye on it…Let me run in the race…I will not quit.” #eyeonit!
“Speak Life”: “It’s crazy amazing we can turn a heart with the words we say. Mountains crumble, with every syllable, hope can live or die. So Speak life, speak life…look into the eyes of the brokenhearted watch them come alive as you soon as you speak hope, you speak love, you speak life…”
“Lose Myself”: Thought of Matthew 10: 38-39 (a biblical principle TobyMac likes to come back to in his music) – “Take all of the good, and all of the bad, ‘cause all of it’s [so] me. Take all of my ways, the things that I chase, the things that control me. And all that I hide could you bring it to light, could you open my eyes and show me. Take all that was me, and shape it to be reflecting You solely. I want to lose myself...to find You…I don’t care how it sounds, burn it all to the ground; Your Kingdom I desire. I want to lose myself…to find You.”
“Thankful For You”: TobyMac shares his testimony about being in the music industry and his thankfulness to God for directing his life: “Well it started out in a spare bedroom. Two turntables, uh, and a microphone…It’s never been my dream to see my face in magazines. It’s always been about the music hopin’ God would use it; set some people free. But I can say without a doubt, I’ve never had it figured out, Lord you’ve opened every door I’ve stepped through. I’ve tried to keep my head about me so thankful for the friends around me - I’m Thankful for You.”
He adds this about his career: “I’ve been on this road and you [fans] come to my shows. Sometimes just a few of y’all, other times… in droves. But you’ve been right there to rock with us, we come together we lift Him up. Seein' you there inspires me, puts a fire in me."
“Made for Me”: About his wife. The whole song is soooooo cute – it talks about their differences but also their commonality in love: “She was made for me, given to me, said I’d hold loosely but I so wanna squeeze. She’s just right for me…light for me, I can’t believe I get to call her mine…I got white skin, and she got brown skin, but milk and coffee’s always been a beautiful blend.”
"Forgiveness": "'Cause we all make mistakes sometimes, and we all step across that line. But nothin's sweeter than the day we find forgiveness."
GROUP 1 CREW: “FEARLESS”
Most of the songs on this CD have been very beneficial, too. Here are excerpts:
“He Said”: I’ll confess that my initial thought was to pick at the theology in the beginning of the song a little bit – perhaps tweak it, but I like the spirit of the song. The inspiration is likely 1 Corinthians 10: 13 - “I won’t give you more…than you can take. I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break…I’ll never let you go. Don’t you forget what He said.”
“His Kind of Love”: This.Is.My.JAYYYYYM!!! I have only been listening to this CD for about a month, but iTunes tells me this song is currently my most played one of all time (I just keep hitting repeat!). It epitomes modern worship, now my favorite genre (from pop). Just a little of it (can't do it complete justice here - you'll have to listen!):
“There are no words, no phrase I could create. There is no melody that I could make. How do you sing about a love so deep without feelin’ like you missed something? I can try but I cannot explain. His kind of love… is reckless for us. His kind of love…will never give up ‘til the whole world knows how far He went to show His kind of love. Tell me what kind of God would choose to save the bruised, the broken, the sinners, the runaways? How do you ever try to comprehend this love that knows no limits? I could try but I could not explain…This is our God, He is strong and His mercy is our song. He won’t stop chasin’ us, that’s just His kind of love.”
“Dangerous”: “Lived a life so reckless, I don’t know how I made it through. Always takin' chances, but tryin' everything but you. So why am I playin’ it safe when it comes to givin’ You my life? I can’t let fear hold me back from doing what I know is right... I want to live dangerous, riskin’ all for you Lord. I need you to wake me up from the life I’ve known before. Whatever it takes, I want You to make me more like You. There’s nothing I won’t give up, I wanna live dangerous.”
“Fearless”: “Through the dark You’re my light and Salvation, all that’s in me will trust in You Lord, I’m fearless. If You’re with me who can be against me – I have no reason to fear. If you’re with me who can be against me, I know You’re keeping me near. As I stand in the eye of the storm it’s Your love that’s guiding me home. I’m fearless.” See Romans 8:31.
“Mr. & Mrs. (I Do This For You)”: This is just a great romantic love song: “Just saw a movie and it made me think, 'My life ain’t Hollywood, love don’t come that easily.' And when I try so hard, and just can’t get it right, it still amazes me love [could] be here by my side. 'Cause every day we get down on our knees asking God to help us be who we need to be. We’re far from perfect but I believe…you and me can grow a heart that will truly say, ‘I’ll do this for you, I’ll do this for love, I’ll do this for the life we’ve been dreamin' of. I’ll give you my word, attached with my heart, and nothing in this world can ever tear us apart. I’ll do this for you.'”
“Not the End of Me”: A song about a breakup, which I think is an important topic to address too: “The end of us, is not the end of me… Every second gets easier to breathe. Push the fear away, face another day. Every moment I’m starting to believe: I’m not broken, I’ll keep hopin’ there’s a part of me waiting to love again. The end of us is not the end of me.”
"Steppin": “ I feel called to something more, beyond what I have known…I have more to give, but I have been afraid…I’m steppin’ out to take a chance and if I fly, or if I fall, it’s in Your hands. You’re the Maker of my dreams, and You’ll make a way for me, so I’m steppin’ out…to take a chance…I believe in the grace You’ve shown me, I believe in the words You say. I believe there’s an untold story that You’re tellin’ through me.”
"Forsaken" (Not): “There were times when my fear controlled me…But my God you have shown Your mercy, through my good and my darkest days, so whom shall I fear if You are for me, Jesus? But here I stand, I’m broken, here with an open heart. And in Your hands I give You all of me, forgive me with a brand new start. Let Your spirit reign over me. I’m down on my knees. I’m giving you everything; I know I’ll never be forsaken.” See Psalm 27.
"Darkest Valley": A great song of personal testimonies about walking in the darkest valleys and overcoming through Christ: “I knew that I was made for more than rockin’ heels and designer skirts… In my darkest valley I could see the sun above my earth…Jesus gave me hope beyond the pain of what my eyes could see…that truth is here to set you free.”
THE VIRTUES, THE MUSIC
In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible talks about three virtues that remain: faith, hope and love – the greatest being love. I like to think about how God is cultivating these virtues in my life. Most recently, He has been growing me in hope. Scripture has been a big part of that, and so has Christian music (which also is most often derived from Scripture!). By meditating on God’s promises through song, I am learning to hope in God more, and am becoming more aware of the ways that He already has done so. And I pray the same growth in teens everywhere, and the Body of Christ collectively!
The title of this entry is borrowed from TobyMac’s song, "Thankful For You". I’ll repeat the key section: “It’s always been about the music, prayin' God would use it; set some people free.”
That’s just what God does through Christian music – helps us live the abundant, free life in Him. We can mediate on just “positive” thoughts through a number of avenues the world offers, or we can mediate on heavenly thoughts. One is okay, one is excellent – the best way. I pray that if you don’t already, you’ll make Christian music part of your regular diet, too. The Music – Christian Music – is about Jesus, and makes all the daily difference!
