Audio Adrenaline - Get Down

Lavishly our lives are wasted
Humbleness is left untasted
You can't live your life to please yourself, yeah
That's a tip from my mistakes
Exactly what it doesn't take
To win you've got to come in last place
To live your life you've got to lose it
And all the losers get a crown

CHORUS
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down
Every time I'm down the Lord lifts me up

All I need's another day
Where I can't seem to get away
From the many things that drag me down, yeah
I'm sure you've had a day like me
Where nothing seems to set you free
From the burdens you can't carry all alone
In your weakness He is stronger
In Your darkness He shines through
When you're crying He's your comfort
When all alone, He's carrying you

CHORUS

This valley is so deep
I can barely see the sun
I cry out for mercy, Lord
You lift me up again

Behind the Song:
“We wrote this in a van on our way to a camp, kind of a retreat and intense writing weekend at Hume Lake in California. We were just being all silly in the van and me, Mark and our friend Mike were talking about the Beastie Boys and came up with this stupid rap. Then we’re like ‘That’s kind of catchy.’ So we lost all that stupid kind of Beastie Boys stuff and kept the chorus and kept singing it and that song came out pretty quick. We actually wrote ‘Mighty Good Leader’ and ‘Get Down’ up at the Hume Lake, which are songs we still play to this day.” - Will McGinniss (Audio Adrenaline)


Audio Adrenaline may have been silly, but this song is so meaningful! I've seen the days when I was so weak, helpless, hopeless and how God works His way through and shine through me! Thank you, Lord for using me and teaching me to trust in You and knowing that You care and do not let me down.

The Museum - My Help Comes from The Lord

When sorrows come and hope seems gone
You’re the Rock I rest upon
When waters rise and I can’t breathe
You’re the love that rescues me

Out of the darkness
I lift up my eyes
Unto the hills
I feel my faith rise

Chorus

Maker of heaven, giver of life
You are my strength, my song in the night
My refuge, my shelter
Now and forevermore
My help comes from the Lord

When I’m broken, scarred by sin
Death gives way to life again
When I suffer, when I’m bound
In You I’m free, in You I’m found

Out of the darkness
I lift up my eyes
Unto the hills
I feel my faith rise

Chorus

Maker of heaven, giver of life
You are my strength
You’re my refuge
Now and forevermore

Chorus

My help comes from the Lord
My help comes from the Lord

I love CCM because they are always uplifting and positive. Late July, right after my birthday, God gave me a big surprise! It was a promotion which also comes with bigger and heavier responsibility.

No one expected this incident to happen the way it did. Someone left the company with less than 10 days notice and 10 days are definitely not enough time to transfer all the responsibility and knowledge to another person. I am here in Asia and the person in Americas region. In fact, before I get the surprise another team of a few others were doing all the "ground work".

In desperation, the manager was looking for a person to take over as it is a high risk job. So with all that is happening, my name came up as they felt that I am able to do the job and I have some related knowledge that would help the transition.

As I get deeper into the role, I realize that the job will be total opposite of what I was previously doing. It is a bigger business, dealing with more people in a wider network. I know that I cannot do this alone without my colleagues help, and above all God's help. The new job is more demanding. Demands more of my time, more patience to learn and pick up bits and pieces of things that are all scatterred around.

It has been 3 weeks since I take on this new role. First week was the quarter close and I was sick. Somehow God preserved me and I was able to work night shift for 4 or 5 days, and to adjust back to normal routine. It was difficult, but we did it. I knew that if this promotion comes from God, He will guide me through it. He helped me to rely fully on Him and also helped me to have more faith and trust in Him. I know I can count on my Almighty God because He is living, He is real and He loves me.

Thank you, my Sweet Jesus for helping me go through this. I will do my best so that when men see this, they will acknowledge that You are the One who is to be glorified. Help me to work hard not for men, but for You!.

Josh Wilson - Before The Morning

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you?
If there's a God who loves you
Where is He now?

Or maybe there are things you can't see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Someday, somehow you'll see, you'll see

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
And you know where you're going
You just don't know how you'll get there
So say a prayer

And hold on
'Cause there's good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time, but you'll see the bigger picture

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the dark before the morning

Yeah, yeah, before the morning
Yeah, yeah

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory
Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory, memory, memory, yeah

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still got a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still got a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It can't compare to the joy that's coming

Come on, you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the hurt before the healing

Oh, the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the dark before the morning
Yeah, yeah, before the morning
Yeah, yeah, before the morning



Sometimes it takes quite a few plays for me to hear what the song is about. The lines that had me double taking were " 'Cause the pain that you've been feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming".

No one likes to feel pain or hurt, including me. Some people I know have been going through pain and hurt for more than 10 years..maybe more than that too. Do you think that this song would give them any comfort? How long more do they have to go through the rough times before joy comes?

Why does God let us go through difficult roads? If we had life that's like a bed of roses, we may start to think that we don't need God and we can rely on ourselves.

But what if someone who loves God still go through tough times?

Can we trust God when He said that He will not let us be tested beyond our limit?

Josh wrote this song for his friend that went through a difficult time. His friend's baby was having a heart disease and doctors do not think that the baby will make it a few days after being born. How the parent's heart broke when the doctors said that. But the wife told the husband that if they trust God with their lives for the future, why not also start to trust God now.

Such joy it is, the baby is now about 8 years old!

This the the video or a little documentary of this song.

This song definitely helps to encourage people who are facing difficult times.

Casting Crowns - Lifesong

Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to You


Behind the Song:
“Worship is so much more than the songs I sing. Instead, worship is in the heart that lifts the song. If you think about it, worship began when I woke up this morning. My life purpose is to give God glory through everything I do. If my life does not worship Him, my songs don’t either.” - Mark Hall (Casting Crowns)


I was chatting with a friend and she asked me which ministry am I serving in church. So I told her that I'm serving in the Sunday School. She asked how's the class and I mentioned that we have more teachers now and we take turns to teach. So in a year, I only have 4 to 6 (or maybe 8?) lessons per year.

Then she posed another question: "Is that enough? Have you ever consider taking up more ministries since you only have so few lessons in a year"? I don't know in what context she is asking, but from the tone of the question it intimidates me a little.

I was pondering over her "challenge" for quite some time. It bothers me a lot. Am I doing enough for God? Why didn't I think of getting involve in more ministries? Will people think that I am anti social? Or will they think that I do not have any talent? Or if I am selfish and do not want to use my time for church ministries?

Why do I care so much of what people think?

What does God want from me?

Thinking back, I taught in Sunday School for about 8 years already and it started out with only 2 teachers, only one class and I was one of them. Back then, I have to prepare for lessons almost every week, and considering that I don't have a lot of free time since I worked till very late every weekday.

And after 8 years, the church grew and we have 5 classes and my class alone now has 5 teachers. Obviously we have more time and teachers can also sit in for sermons more frequently. Before, I remember struggling attending church on Saturday so I can listen to the sermon and Sunday I can spend time with the children. And before the church has only one service, I do not get to listen to the sermon (although there is a recorded version available).

What will make God happy? I don't think that being involved in so many ministry is the only way to please God. I don't want to get burn out just doing the work and not being able to enjoy Him. I think "ministry" goes beyond doing the work only. Talking to people, being a listening ear, being a good company, smiling and appreciating someone is also a ministry.

Well, I am not discouraging anyone from taking up more ministries in church. God sees us with different set of eyes from man's eyes. Jesus knows what we do privately and He'll reward us when we please Him.

Just don't let others pull you down if they belittle your tangible contribution because in the end, it is God that we want to worship and please, not human and there is no point to show to everyone what we do because we do it for His glory and not ours.

Let my lifesong sing to You my God, not to anyone else.

The longest post so far, but I hope it can encourage those who faced this situation too.

Aaron Shust - Give Me Words to Speak

Calloused and bruised
Dazed and confused
My Spirit is left wanting something more
Than my selfish hopes and my selfish dreams
I’m lying with my face down to the floor
I’m crying out for more

Give me Words to speak
Don’t let my Spirit sleep
Cause I can’t think of anything worth saying
But I know that I owe You my life
So give me Words to speak
Don’t let my Spirit sleep

Every night, every day
I find that I have nothing left to say
So I stand here in silence awaiting Your guidance
I’m wanting only Your voice to be heard
Let them be Your Words

Give me Words to speak
Don’t let my Spirit sleep
Cause I can’t think of anything worth saying
But I know that I owe You my life
So give me Words to speak
Don’t let my Spirit sleep

I just don’t understand this life that I’ve been living
I just don’t understand (x2)
I just don’t understand these lies I’ve been believing
I just don’t understand (x2)


Behind the Song:
"One day back in 2002, I had writer’s block from trying too hard to write a song. Finding no words of inspiration, I “threw up my hands,” as it were, and asked God, Give me words to speak, ‘cause I can’t think of anything worth saying. I felt that somehow God might be responding, “Well, Aaron, write about that.” At the time I recorded my first album, Anything Worth Saying, I only had the chorus written, and I included it at the beginning as the song snippet “Give Me Words.” After that album was released, I sat down and wrote the verses to this song, not thinking they would ever end up being used as final song lyrics. The verses simply flowed from my thoughts to the paper, and that never happens for me—I typically take months of wrestling and crafting to write a song! Yet every time I tried to revisit these lyrics, I couldn’t divorce myself from the words that you now hear on this recording. As often happens with a song that sits around for a while, I didn’t want to use it on this album—I had moved on to “newer” songs. My record label and my producer wouldn’t let me off the hook, though, and insisted that I record it as a “possibility,” and it’s turned out to be one of my favorite songs on the record. " - Aaron Shust


This is one song that can easily engage my emotions when I hear it or sing to it. While the lyric is so simple and short, it's just amazing to know how this song was produced. God can turn nothing into something! Just like how Jesus turned water into wine. On the other hand, I also hope this song can help us to remember to look up to Jesus whenever we are lost or do not know what to do.

Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say


Behind the Song:
"The Words I Would Say is a fairly autobiographical song. Many nights, God would lay a friend or family member on my heart, and I wouldn’t be able to rest without literally writing them a letter. All of the “simple truths” contained in the chorus have, at one time or another, entered into those letters. One of the great appeals of this song is the perspective. It could represent a father or mother writing to a child who has left, a fiancé writing his bride to be, a friend writing a friend. No matter where the listener is in life, this song will hopefully remind them of someone that needs to hear about how much they are loved by the writer of the letter and by God. “The Words I Would Say,” is our letter to inspire many more letters." - Sidewalk Prophets


Such an encouraging and inspiring song from Sidewalk Prophets. I watched them perform the acoustic version of this song and I can feel and see that they really mean the words they sing from the heart!

Share this song with someone who needs some encouragement! God bless =)