Hard-Hitting Songs (Worship or Otherwise) To You

This is a thread for us to share songs and lyrics that have personally meant something to us. Share the lyrics if you can, and tell why this song has ministered to you.

This song actually made me evaluate (not for the first time, but for the most recent time) what my reaction might have been to all the wonders that Christ's followers would have seen first hand. I wonder, would I fall down and worship at His feet? Or would I walk away?

2000 Years
Travis Cottrell from the CD FOUND

If I could see 2000 years ago, travel back in time and walk in the
Day when just one Man turned this world upside down;
If I could be a guest at the wedding and taste wine that was water moments before,
Would I realize what was really in store...
That there would be so much more?

Would I fall down and worship, leave all that I treasure behind,
For a chance to be closer to the Man who might be the One who saves my life?

If I could hear His voice call to Lazarus,
Stand and stare as my friend stumbles out of the tomb;
Witness blind men see their first morning sky,
Would I believe what He says to be true?
If I was there the night soldiers took Him away,
Would I flee the scene like most of His friends?
Then witness on the cross what I thought was the end...
What would I do then?

Would I fall down and worship, leave all that I treasure behind,
For a chance to be closer to the Man who might be the One who saves my life?

And what would it be like after three days gone by?
Would I believe what they said, or want to see with my own eyes?
Put my hands on the scars, only then realize
My Lord, My God, alive!

Will I fall down and worship, leave all that I treasure behind,
For a chance to be closer, for He is still alive... and the One who saves my life!

 

In light of the Christmas season, this song was pulled out by one of my choir members and sung in service last Sunday. It's a great reminder that Jesus paid the price for our sins, and the reason He came was to be an example and shoulder the weight of our wrong, because He loves us.

We are the Reason
David Meece from the CD ODYSSEY

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn,
Of all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find.
But we never realized a Baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives.

We are the reason that He gave His life.
We are the reason that He suffered and died.
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.

As the years went by, we learned more about gifts:
The giving of ourselves and what that means.
On a dark and cloudy day, a Man hung crying in the rain
Because of love, because of love.

We are the reason that He gave His life.
We are the reason that He suffered and died.
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.

I've finally found a reason for living:
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him.
In all that I do, everything that I say,
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him!

We are the reason that He gave His life.
We are the reason that He suffered and died.
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.
He is my reason to live!

 

This song revisits the idea of being a living sacrifice vs. trials we go through. Do we put our whole lives on the altar, by climbing on and striking the match? Or do we lay down pieces of out lives one at a time?

Burnin'
Nichole Nordeman from the CD WIDE EYED

Started rubbing sticks together, I thought a spark would take forever,
I never dreamt this fire would appear.
When Moses saw the bush in flames and heard the branches speak his name,
I wonder if he felt this kind of fear?

'Cause I'm burnin', yeah, I'm burnin',
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames.
So I'll stay here 'till this smoke clears
And I'll find You in the ashes that remain.

Used to be that I could say my faith was one arm's length away
From any flame that ever felt too warm.
Asked for matches, but I received a gallon full of gasoline
Now my cozy campfire days are gone.

'Cause I'm burnin', yeah, I'm burnin',
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames.
So I'll stay here 'till this smoke clears
And I'll find You in the ashes that remain.

'Knock with caution at the door,' they said, 'beware of what you're praying for,'
So I'll stand here with my whole desire in the middle of this forest fire
'Till I've nothing left to show and new life begins to grow.

'Cause I'm burnin', yeah, I'm burnin',
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames.
So I'll stay here 'till this smoke clears
And I'll find You in the ashes that remain.

 

This song explores the need of people for Adonai, our LORD. Not only is He our Creator, He creates in us a need for Him, and a desire to spread His love to others.

Adonai
Avalon from the CD A MAZE OF GRACE

One single drop of rain, Your salty tear became blue ocean.
One tiny grain of sand turning in Your hand, a world in motion.
You're out beyond the furthest morning star,
Yet close enough to hold me in Your arms.

Adonai, I lift up my heart and I cry, my Adonai!
You're the Maker of each moment,
Father of my hope and freedom, O my Adonai!

One timid faithful knock resounds upon the Rock of Ages.
One trembling heart and soul becomes a servant bold and courageous.
You call across the mountains and the seas,
I answer from the deepest part of me.

Adonai, I lift up my heart and I cry, my Adonai!
You're the Maker of each moment,
Father of my hope and freedom, O my Adonai!

From age to age, You reign in majesty;
Today You're making miracles in me!

Adonai, I lift up my heart and I cry, my Adonai!
You're the Maker of each moment,
Father of my hope and freedom, O my Adonai!

 

This hymn is one that we use in worship some... and it is beautiful. As far as I can tell, it is a more "contemporary" take on Out of the Deep I Call, the hymn by Henry Baker. I'm not certain if one of the Caedmon's Call members re-wrote it or not, but I like it alot.

Be Merciful to Me
Caedmon's Call from the CD IN THE COMPANY OF ANGELS II

Out from the deep I call
To Thee, O Lord, to Thee
Before Thy throne I fall
Be merciful to me

Be merciful to me
Be merciful to me
Through shadow dark and valley deep
Be merciful to me

From the garden to the cross
Thy mercy did endure
My soul purged from all dross
In blood made pure

Be merciful to me
Be merciful to me
Through shadow dark and valley deep
Be merciful to me

Thy mercy, Lord, is true
As ever truth will be
But still I cry for You
Be merciful to me

Be merciful to me
Be merciful to me
Through shadow dark and valley deep
Be merciful to me

 

This song is composed of elements of Isaiah 55:6, 65:24, and Jeremiah 33:3. It's a great reminder that the Lord will show great things to those that seek Him and call on His name. We use this in worship at our church.

Call to Me
Chris Rodriguez from the CD WORD OF GOD SPEAK: ILLUMINATE

Seek the Lord while He may be found
Call upon Him while He is here
Seek the Lord while He may be found
Call upon Him while He is here

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer
While they're still speaking I will hear
Call to Me, and I will answer you
And show you great and mighty things!
Call to Me, and I will answer you
And show you great and mighty things that You do not know!

Seek the Lord while He may be found
Call upon Him while He is here
Seek the Lord while He may be found
Call upon Him while He is here

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer
While they're still speaking I will hear
Call to Me, and I will answer you
And show you great and mighty things!
Call to Me, and I will answer you
And show you great and mighty things that You do not know!

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer
While they're still speaking I will hear
Call to Me, and I will answer you
And show you great and mighty things!
Call to Me, and I will answer you
And show you great and mighty things that You do not know!

 

This song has the line "I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me." It reminds me that even after I give my sins to Jesus, and ask to be forgiven, sometimes I dive back into the sea of forgetfulness to get my sins back. I have to stop that! I've been saved from these sins... and I need to stop picking these chains back up after I've laid them down.

East to West
Casting Crowns from the CD THE ALTAR AND THE DOOR

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in Your sea of forgetfulness,
The chains of yesterday surround me; I yearn for peace and rest.
I don't want to end up where You found me,
And it echoes in my mind... keeps me awake tonight.

I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west,
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned.
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way.

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west,
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been, rising up in me again.
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest,
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west:
From one scarred hand to the other.

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin.
Time and time again the truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in.
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way.

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west,
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been, rising up in me again.
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest,
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west:
From one scarred hand to the other.

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light,
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night.
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your Word reveals,
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me.
You're holding on to me!

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west,
I don't have to see the man I've been rising up in me again.
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest,
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west:
From one scarred hand to the other.

 

The homeless woman that came into our church office today asking for assistance reminded me of this song by Chris Rice. What if she was Jesus? Was I compassionate? Was I loving? Or was she a nuisance?

The Face of Christ
Chris Rice from the CD SMELL THE COLOR 9

He shares a room outside with a dozen other guys
And the only roof he knows is that sometimes starry sky.
A tattered sleeping bag on a concrete slab is his bed
And it's too cold to talk tonight
So I just sit with him instead and think:

How did I find myself in a better place?
I can't look down on the from on the other guy's face.
'Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing with the face of Christ.

After sixteen years in a cold, gray prison yard,
Somehow his heart is soft, but keeping simple faith is hard.
He lays His Bible open on the table next to me
And as I hear his humble prayer
I feel his longing to be free someday.

How did I find myself in a better place?
I can't look down on the from on the other guy's face.
'Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing with the face of Christ.

See, you had no choice which day you would be born
Or the color of your skin, or what planet you'd be on.
Would your mind be strong, would your eyes be blue or brown;
Whether daddy would be rich, or if momma stuck around at all.

So if you find yourself in a better place
You can't look down on the frown on the other guy's face
You gotta stoop down low, look him square in the eyes
And get a funny feeling, 'cause you might be dealing...

How did I find myself in a better place?
I can't look down on the from on the other guy's face.
'Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing with the face of Christ.

 

Don't be sorry! This is a great hymn of the faith and certainly worth tearing up over LeB!

 

One of my favorite "new" hymns, because it tells the whole gospel story. Excellent writer(s) of this one, and they've got plenty of good ones!

In Christ Alone
Keith Getty and Stuart Townend from the CD IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
That heights of love, what depths of peace,
Then fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
Me comforter, my all in all -
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned byt he ones He came to save.
Til on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisified;
For every sin on Him was laid -
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the groun His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death -
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home -
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

 

Agreed rbell.