You know, I find myself resisting what comes very naturally to me with this blog. I want to share songs that have recently meant something extra special to me, or copy lyrics here that I just think everyone needs to hear, and then I hesitate, thinking, 'Nah, they're probably so sick of reading words to my favorite songs.' Then, I thought some more, and decided, you don't have to read these posts, and maybe every song I love doesn't mean a thing to anyone else. But, since it's my blog, and I love music and feel that God speaks very clearly through these lyrics, then it's o.k. if ya'll get NOTHING out of them. Maybe they're just for me to meditate on, in my corner. If you visit, and they strike a chord with you, then that is awesome. And, if not, at least I will have journaled what was on my heart, right?
Many of us on this loop of blogs seem to be pondering simplifying our lives, how to say no and to weed out things that distract us, and how to focus on what really matters. I mean, it's almost a bit scary that we're so concerned, which must mean we think we're currently NOT doing what is most important and filling our lives with lots of other decent stuff, but maybe not the priorities that God really intends for us to be focused on. So, this song just entered my brain today, and I was again struck by the words of one verse especially. It's (of course) by Rich Mullins, and he obviously dealt with the same struggle, and (this gives me hope!) he figured it out - his purpose was to live on an Indian reservation teaching music to children. He left the "normal," comfortable world of being a contemporary Christian musician behind to just be a missionary, took a tiny portion of the royalties from his recordings (barely enough to live off of), moved into a trailer, and fulfilled his passion. It wasn't even radical to him - it was just the obviously right thing to do. He did simplify his life, but that wasn't his goal - it wasn't about him at all. That's why I love him so much and it was what he believed and autographed every time he signed a CD - Be God's. If we do that, wholeheartedly focusing on Him instead of US, then everything will become much simpler, you know? A quote he had in the liner notes with this song is by Kirkegaard, and it says "Purity of heart is to will one thing." So, as he quotes a phrase from the Beatitudes in the lyrics, he must be thinking if we are pure in heart, and that is willing one thing, we will see God. And, I guess a truly pure heart would want God's will, so that is pretty logical. Wow. I must be so dense to have to work so hard to figure this out.
O.k., so here's a song, and if you don't want to read it, then come back another day. :-)
My One Thing
Everybody I know says they need just one thing
And what they really mean is that they
need just one thing more
And everybody seems to think
They've got it coming
Well, I know that I don't deserve You
Still I want to love and serve You
More and more
You're my one thing
Save me from those things
That might distract me
Please take them away and purify my heart
I don't want to lose the eternal for
The things that are passing
'Cause what will I have when the world is gone
If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with
CHORUS:
My one thing, You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
You're my one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope
To find down here on earth
I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already, I'm sure
I'd find You're
CHORUS
Every night and every day
You hold on tight
Or you drift away
And you're left to live
With the choices you make
Oh Lord, please give me the strength
To watch and work and love and sing and pray
'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus?
And what better could I hope
To find down here on earth?
Well, I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find
7 comments:
Paul said this in Phlippians 3:12-14. It has always been on of my favorite passages.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Focusing on one thing...a better thing is proper.
I really feel that God is preparing all of our hearts for something so much bigger than ourselves...it is awesome and scary at the same time.
Linnea's husband went to Rich's ministry training school in Texas, Last Days..now I see the art in ministry connection!
Thanks for sharing your heart.
Your whole first paragraph is so right on ... our blogs should be about our personal journey and if someone along the way is ministered, then that's the blessing.
I needed to read what you wrote. Many of my friendly bloggers have been challenging my own take on the busyness ... and God is slowly revealing Himself to me in this way. I'm so looking forward to naptime this afternoon so I can reflect and listen for His voice.
Yea - a Rich Mullins song that I know! I gain so much from reading your blog. Insight into who you are and who God is. Small reminders. Big messages. And it isn't about you, it is about God working in you and in others that seek HIM. I love to see the Holy Spirit flow through you!
Hey, corner - please please please continue posting songs and whatever it is that gives you hope in world. I need it! This blog world keeps me honest. I hate the idea of any of us feeling like we can't write what is on our heart because "they" might not want to hear it or we might bore "them."
although, I still am a bit wimpish in my writing. Getting more and more honest, but not quite where I wanna be. heh. I reckon that is what the passage dad referred to is talking about, right?
Bring on the songs! Music is such a big part of me, too. I think it was Dick Clark that said "Music is the soundtrack to life." I believe that. So many of the songs you've mentioned remind me of seasons, past or present, in my life. They bring back the things I learned or am still trying to learn :).
I also think that a blog is a place for us to process through our thoughts and beliefs. It's really for the author. Honesty is the best way to complete that process. Thank you for being true to you and for letting us be a part of it.
love you.
Be yourself, you don't have the grace to be anything else!
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