Lyrical Tuesdays: Just a Girl (Brandon Heath)

 Hello everyone!  Today I'm sharing with you the lyrics and the video link for an absolutely fantastic Christmas song called "Just a Girl" by Brandon Heath.  This song nearly brings me to tears every time I hear it.  It's not a traditional song, and I really like finding and listening to those more serious Christmas songs that require me to think about the true message of Christmas and what it might have been like way back when on the night that Jesus came. 

Just a Girl (lyrics found here) 

I wonder if you've heard the story
Of little fame and lesser glory
The night the keeper of the inn
The little town of Bethlehem
Encountered Joseph and his Mary
About to birth the Savior of the world

His wife said go and see who's knocking
He ran down to the gate unlocked it
The moment he heard Mary's cry
He couldn't look them in the eye
Denied them and went back to bed
When his wife asked who was there
He said I don't know

Just a girl
Just a couple gypsies begging at the door
Told them we don't have room for anymore
And closed the door
It was just a girl

He tried to sleep and wasn't able
He snuck out to the dirty stable
The two had found for covering
And later in her suffering
The keeper knelt outside the barn
And in the light of that great star
He prayed what have I done

He's just a babe
Just minutes old there trembling in the hay
I could have found a room for them to stay
I'm so ashamed
He's just a babe

There was no robe
There was no crown
The shepherds stood
On royal ground
The keeper wept
For what he'd done
He turned away
God's own Son

Just a King
Just a million angels crowding in to see
Jesus there among humanity

Just a babe
Just minutes old there trembling in the hay
Staring at his mother in the face
She's just a girl

Just a girl
Does she even know that she just changed the world
Does she even know that He will save the world
Does Mary know that He will save the world
She's just a girl
Just a girl
Just a girl

***

(video link here)

Stopping to think about what that night might have been like for a very pregnant Mary who was refused a (probably not even very) comfortable place to rest after her journey, and then ended up going into labor while surrounded by donkeys and possibly horses and cattle and sheep puts a different spin on the Christmas story.  The traditional Christmas hymns and cheerful songs are wonderful and it's fun to get caught up in the gaiety of the season, but we shouldn't forget the true fabric of the story-- that God chose to send a King to be born in a stable, and He chose to first announce the birth to the outcasts of the town, and He chose the mother to be a girl who was faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks and obeyed faithfully.  Let this be a lesson to me, God, to approach Your will with confidence because You have woven together a story that only You could create. 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Lyrical Thurdsay: RATTLE!

Oh this one is good.  Elevation Worship has a new hit song called RATTLE!  We LOVE when it comes on the radio, and I downloaded it into my Amazon Prime music as well so I can listen to it in my classroom in the mornings before school.   

Here are the lyrics (courtesy of  Google). 

RATTLE

Saturday was silent
Surely it was through
But since when has impossible
Ever stopped You
Friday's disappointment
Is Sunday's empty tomb
Since when has impossible
Ever stopped You

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

Pentecostal fire stirring something new
You're not gonna run out of miracles anytime soon
Yeah, resurrection power runs in my veins too
I believe there's another miracle here in this room

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

Yeah
Whoa
Do you hear it?
Do you hear it?
Do you hear it?

My God is able to save and deliver and heal
And restore anything that He wants to
Just ask the man who was thrown
On the bones of Elisha
If there's anything that He can't do
Just ask the stone that was rolled
At the tomb in the garden
What happens when God says to move

I feel Him moving it now
I feel Him doing it now
I feel Him doing it now
Do it now, do it now

This is the sound
This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling, rattling, yeah

I hear the sound (I hear the sound)
I hear the sound (I hear the sound)
I hear the sound (I hear the sound)
I hear the sound (I hear the sound)

And the bones began to rattle
Rattle, rattle
Rattle
God said live, God said live
Hear the Word
And this is what He said

Live, live
Dry bones hear the Word of the Lord
Live (live), live (live)
Dry bones hear the Word of the Lord
Live (live), live (live)
Dry bones hear the Word of the Lord
Live (live), live (live)
Dry bones hear the Word of the Lord
Live (live), live (live)
Dry bones hear the Word of the Lord
Live (live), live (live)
Live, live, live, live, live

This is the sound of dry bones rattling, yeah
This is the praise make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling
Dry bones rattle
Dry bones rattle

Rattle, rattle, rattle
Live, live, live
Live, live
Live, live

*******

My favorite lines are "My God is able to save and deliver and heal

And restore anything that He wants to
Just ask the man who was thrown
On the bones of Elisha
If there's anything that He can't do
Just ask the stone that was rolled
At the tomb in the garden
What happens when God says to move."

SO GOOD.   It's such a great reminder that nothing is impossible with God. 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Lyrical Sundays: Sparrows

 I heard this song for the first time today as I was driving through town.  Some of the lyrics really spoke to me and I wanted to share them here with you too.  Last night, I kept having this recurring dream of a certain president-elect actually taking office even though it is unwarranted and achieved without merit.  I woke several times to attend to diabetes issues and every time I went back to sleep, I'd have the dream continue even though I prayed beforehand that God would grant me rest and not the discomfort of political turmoil and unrest.  

However, I'm certain He allowed me to continue despairing in my sleep and feel the effects of the over-tiredness today so that I could lament to my mom at church this morning so she could remind me "Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." (John 19:11).  You see, the president-elect would not be in office if it was not in God's plan.  This is in no way to say that this is the most honorable choice or even the most meritorious or godly.  This is to say that God is still in control and will remain in control to guard us and to protect us in the midst of political unrest in our country.  

Therefore, when I heard the song "Sparrows" by Cory Asbury on the radio this afternoon, I was reminded again that God is good and He cares for us more than the rest of His creation and we shouldn't worry or fear, but instead should place our hope in Him.  I know the ending of the story.   Life on earth is a blip of time.  Life in Heaven is eternal. 

(I'm placing in italics the lyrics that stuck out to me.)

***

Sparrows

Cory Asbury

The sparrow's not worried about tomorrow
Or the troubles to come
The lily's not thinking about the seasons
The drought or the flood
The tree that's planted by the water
Isn't phased by the fire
So why should I be?

'Cause you take good care of me
You take good care of me
You know what I need before I even ask a thing
And you hold me in your hands
With a kindness that never ends
I'm carried in your love, no matter what the future brings
Yeah, you take good care of me

The sun's not worried about the winter
'Cause soon it will pass
The light's not thinking about the darkness
Or the shadow it cast
A heart that's planted in forgiveness
Doesn't dwell in the past
So why should I be?

'Cause you take good care of me
You take good care of me
You know what I need before I even ask a thing
And you hold me in your hands
With a kindness that never ends
I'm carried in your love, no matter what the future brings
Yeah, you take good care of me

I know there must be more
But I can't get past your kindness
I know there's got to be more
But I can't get past your goodness
I know there must be more
But I can't get past your kindness
I know there's got to be more
But I can't get past your goodness

You take good care of me
You take good care of me
You know what I need before I even ask a thing
You hold me in your hands
With a kindness that never ends
I'm carried in your love, no matter what the future brings
Oh, you take good care of me

(Lyrics from Google). 

(Video Link from YouTube). 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Lyrical Fridays: The Water (Meant for Me)

I was recently downloading songs to my phone via Amazon Prime music, and I decided to download an entire album by the band "I am They."  This band sings some of my favorite contemporary Christian songs to include "Make A Way," "Scars," "My Feet Are on The Rock," etc.  As I was listening to the album, a new favorite arose.  It is called "The Water (Meant for Me)."  Any song that has the phrase "this far" speaks so deeply to me.  It re-centers me and beckons me to remember that God is still holding onto us and that nothing we have gone through has surprised Him.  This is such a comfort to me.  Nine times out of ten, this remembrance will bring tears to my ears.




Lyrics:

This far, He has held us
Through the waters as they crash against
This far, He is with us, He is for us
Through the stormy depths
I will soar on wings like eagles
O God, You've carried me
This far, this far

There is power, victory
Hope for the broken-hearted
Healing meant for me
There is goodness, justice
Rest for the weak and weary
Love that's meant for me

This far, He has lead us
Through the darkness to the light of day
This far, He has shown us
Love and mercy and unfailing grace
When my hope is lost in the shadows
This promise, You have made
It's not far, not far

There is power, victory
Hope for the broken-hearted
Healing meant for me
There is goodness, justice
Rest for the weak and weary
Love that's meant for me

When the water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna save us
The water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna rescue us
When the water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna save us
The water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna rescue us
When the water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna save us
The water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna rescue us

There is power, victory
Hope for the broken-hearted
Healing meant for me
There is goodness, justice
Rest for the weak and weary
Love that's meant for me

When the water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna, He's gonna save us
The water, the water, the water is crashing over
He's gonna rescue us

***

I hope this has spoken to you as it has to me. 




Until Next Time, 
Much love, Reba