In Over My Head

Every once in a while comes a song that resonates deeply in my heart. I am a music lover (probably an obvious statement if you've read previous posts) so I am usually very emotionally invested in the music I listen to, but sometimes there's a song that goes beyond. Often it's because of the lyrics; the right words coming at the right time in my life. This week I was randomly introduced to the song "In Over My Head" by Bethel. It was on in the background and the first time it wasn't until the bridge that it caught my attention. The second time through it had me at the first line.

I have come to a place in my life 
I'm full but I'm not satisfied

I love the heart that this song has. The heart of coming to God, knowing that we believe but maybe aren't quite in the head-space that we want to be.

This song is a prayer to be known and to know more, and I absolutely love it.

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in
Let love come and teach me who You are again
Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You
And all I wanted was just to be with You
Come and do whatever You want to

I pray that this week you are encouraged to take this song seriously, because I think that it's more than a song. It's more like an extremely bold prayer. A prayer that God would take you from lukewarm to piping hot; from complacent to completely in love.

 

Rend Collective

Just released!

Song: One and Only

Artist: Rend Collective

Even When It Hurts

Song: Even When It Hurts (Praise Song)

Artist: Hillsong United

Greatly to be Praised

 

Song: Greatly to be Praised

Artist: Citizens & Saints

My Stress-Buster Playlist

This week has been a bit nuts (and by a bit I mean absolutely, completely nuts). Here's some of the songs I've been using to try and keep my stress levels down:

• Vapor - The Liturgists
• Hallelujah, To Saving Grace - Bellarive
• Salt & Light - Lauren Daigle
• This Is Living (Acoustic) - Hillsong Young & Free
• He Knows - Jeremy Camp
• Furious - Jeremy Riddle
• I Know You - Bellarive
• The Ruins - Jonathan Thulin feat. Moriah Peters

Top 4

Book I've Been Reading:

Find it here

 Song on Repeat:

Over and Over Again - Lauren Daigle

Quote:

"Happiness, not in another place but in this place... not for another hour, but this hour."

- Walt Whitman

Fashion Item:

Donate to an autism charity and look cute (via Sevenly)

 

Top 4

Song  on repeat:

 

Vapor - The Liturgists

 Quote:

"If nothing else the Christian faith is one masterful story of life emerging from the grave. We are resurrection people who audaciously believe that the ultimate end of our story is life not death."

Jenny Simmons

On my closet's wishlist:

via

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect re-read for the post-Easter season:

synopsis here

  

Waiting.

To some, this is a sombre day. The day that Jesus was in the grave. But to me it isn't so much a sad day as it is an amazingly beautiful day. If I had been there at the time I would like to think that it would be have been a deeply sombre day, but with the hindsight that we have in the Bible this Saturday doesn't have to be sad, it can be a joyful one. Jesus has risen. We know this and we we know that He was risen for us.

One of the most beautiful parts of the crucifixion story for me is the part where the Temple's veil is torn in two (Mark 15:38). It separated the holiest of holy areas from the not-quite-as-holy places and was where God's presence was. The tearing of the veil (to me) symbolizes that God no longer needed to be in the Temple receiving sacrifices - He had received the final, necessary sacrifice through His Son. We don't have to separate our not-quite-as-holy places with our God-filled places anymore. He looks at those places and still calls us beloved because of what Jesus did on the cross.

Nothing But The Blood - Corey Voss

Good Friday

Struck by these beautiful words that popped up on my computer screen this afternoon. I think they do an amazing job of describing this day:

"It is finished. Complete.
And hear this today - really hear it: Because it is finished, there is nothing that any one of us can contribute to Jesus' work on the cross to bring us any closer to salvation."
- She Reads Truth, Lent Day 45

True Love - Phil Wickham

(my favorite Easter song) 

Worship On Repeat

It's been a slow year for finding new artists that I love for some reason. Here's a list of worship tunes that I've had on repeat lately - in the background for studying, my devotions and just in general!

Forever - Passion

Love the amazing truth that they sing about throughout this. The verses are incredibly written!

Unstoppable God - Elevation Worship

Loving the simpleness of this song and the truth it proclaims!

Holy (Wedding Day) - The City Harmonic

The lyrics in this one give me shivers every. single. time.

Great Are You Lord - All Sons and Daughters

This chorus though... seriously can't get enough

Drops in the Ocean - Hawk Nelson

A little more upbeat than the rest - I love the perspective it takes!        

Top 4

Since I've found myself posting mostly music stuff lately, I thought I'd attempt to do a post every week that hit all the different things that I've highlighted on this blog in the past, to cover all my bases. So, you'll find my "top 4" of the week here - song, quote, book I want to read, fashion trend/item!

Song:

Holy (Wedding Day) - The City Harmonic

Quote:

Book:

Buy it here

 

Fashion Item:

Buy it here

 

 

SOTW - My Heart is Ready

I'm fairly confident that I have gushed about Jonathan Thulin in previous posts, so this time I will refrain (seriously, though, he is insanely talented... okay, I'll stop)

Song: My Heart is Ready

Artist: Jonathan Thulin

p.s. His new album drops this Tuesday! I got a sneak preview on newreleasetuesday.com

and man, is it phenomenal!

SOTW - He Knows

So encouraged by this song today!

"We may faint and we may sink; feel the pain and near the brink. But the dark begins to shrink when you find the One who knows."

Song: He Knows

Artist: Jeremy Camp

New Music!

Yay for new music! 

Found these guys on newreleasetuesday.com!

Song: Over and Over Again

Artist: I Am They

Song of the Week: This is Living

Song: This Is Living (Acoustic)

Artist: Hillsong Young & Free

My Top 5 Christmas Songs

Here are my top 5 always-on-repeat Christmas songs for the year (they didn't necessarily come out this year) in no particular order:

1. All Is Well - Carrie Underwood & Michael W. Smith - can you really ever go wrong with Carrie Underwood? Beautiful lyrics and beautiful harmonies

2. Nothing Like Christmas - Anthem Lights - I've had a new-found appreciation for these talented guys since I started listening to their covers this summer. I love the thoughtfulness of these lyrics!

3. Emmanuel - Love & The Outcome - These two nail it every time and this one is absolutely no exception! Beautiful vocals!

4. December 25 - Francesca Battistelli - A cute, upbeat song to put on in the background while you're Christmas cookie making!

5. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Pentatonix - Seriously... how talented can you get? Mind. Blown! 

SOTW - Resolution

As mentioned here I love new Christmas songs. Yes, the classics will always be... classic, but there's something about an artist being able to dip into that Christmas magic and creating something new that I find really special. 

Here's one that I found recently! Their whole Christmas EP is playing as we speak, but this one really caught my attention (although their rendition of the beautiful Silent Night is also an attention getter)!

Song: Resolution

Artist: Everfound

Song of the Week - Wanted Man

To be honest, I never really liked these guys until I saw them live. That was a few months ago and I am just now getting into their stuff (and by getting into it I mean it's been on all. the. time.). This one is my current favorite:

Song: Wanted Man

Artist: Needtobreathe

SOTW: What It Costs

From Tim Foreman's beautiful, raw vocals to the phenomenal way the instruments create a mournful mood that somehow fits with the thoughtful lyrics in a way that's so powerful, this song is definitely in my top 10 of all time. 

Song: What It Costs

Artist: Switchfoot

3 Must-have New Releases

It's been a while since I've posted here, so I thought I'd finally get back to it... even if this is going to be a quick post (and not a full CD review)

Here is my quick list of 3 CDs I think you definitely need to invest in that have just released:

1. The Edge of the Earth - Switchfoot

Ok, so technically this is an EP... but it's also new Switchfoot music, which to me translates into: must have! It's just indie enough, with the powerful/thoughtful lyrics that you expect from Switchfoot, and (an added bonus) we get to hear Tim Foreman on lead vocals for the first time! 

My favorites: What it Costs and Liberty

2. Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. - For King & Country

If I'm being honest I haven't even made it through the whole album yet... whoops! But seriously, can you ever go wrong with For King & Country? I don't think so. 

It's pop without being obnoxious, it's full of phenomenal lyrics, it has a fantastic mixture of upbeat, positive songs and thought-provoking, heart-wrenching songs (check out "Without You" a duet between Luke and his wife). These guys are consistently fantastic, and this one definitely didn't disappoint.

My favorites: Without You and It's Not Over Yet

3. How Can It Be - Lauren Daigle

New-ish on the Christian music stage, Lauren has vocal talent that is up there with the greats. Sure, this one is also considered an EP but each track is fantastic music, harmony, melodic and everything-else wise. Let's get the word out there about this fantastic new artist!! I've talked about her Christmas stuff before, and this EP is right up there with those fantastic songs!

My favorite: Dry Bones and Light of the World