songs.

You know when you really don't want to do something, but you know you should.  So, you do ... and then you are sooooo glad you did???

Well, that was me last night.  Callie and I started the Beth Moore study with the women at The Hill last week and then Wed. rolled back around and I was tired, had a cold, and Callie and Wells were sick so they weren't coming ... I just wanted to drive home and curl up under a blanket and sleep.  But, somehow, God got me over the "don't go" hurdle ... and I went and was so thankful!  I love it when He does that.

Tonight's video looked at songs.  Now I know I've confessed here that I'm not a HUGE music person ... but maybe that wasn't all accurate.  It IS true, that I often have a TV or movie playing in the background rather than music.  But, I cannot underestimate the power of music in my life.  It's strange all the emotion a song can evoke.  I can still remember walking through the grocery store with Maggie one night when we were discussing the country song that would most characterize our lives at the moment (pretty sure she declared mine to be: Texas Size Heartache ...  sorry, Gav!)  and I'm pretty sure that Laura scrolled these lyrics from LeeAnn Womack across the computer for a while: "It may be my family's a redneck nature, Rubbin' off, bringin' out unlady like behavior."  I still can't listen to Garth Brooks without some serious Fairfield, TX flashbacks and then there's this one from Diamond Rio and many others that evoke road trip memories and some fun times!  Yep, it's some powerful stuff.

On a more serious, less country note, I remember going for a run the morning after Miley died with tears streaming down my face as I listened to the words to Held. 
Even now with Pandora on instead of the TV, I am hearing these sweet words like balm to my soul ...
There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh my fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say it is well ...
I can remember sitting in staff meeting at Prestonwood when all of us joined in singing the words to Heart of Worship. 
Beulah Land will always make me think of funerals (can ya'll make sure no one sings that at my funeral, please??) 
And who can deny the power of those precious old hymns?
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Powerful stuff. 

Beth says,
Emotions and experiences can be expressed through songs in ways spoken words can never satisfy.

So true.  My deepest prayers have come through songs so often.  My most worshipful moments are often with tears streaming down my face as I sing my heart to God.   There is just something we can say in the words of a song that we struggle to articulate in the simple words of a prayer ... and so, the singing of the song and the emotions wrapped up in it become our prayer.

Maybe that's why God gave us this gift.  Songs didn't originate with us.  God created it AND us.

"For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zeph 3:17