Buried in the Grave-All Sons and Daughters

He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee Luke 24:6

Our hope comes from the resurrection of Jesus. His defeat of death means life eternal for us. If there is no resurrection, there is no eternal life just a dead man. But we have this hope, this joy that our Lord is alive and we will reign with Him forever if we repent and believe.

 

 There was a day we held our breath
And felt the sting of bitter death
When all our hopes were buried in the grave

Our eyes awake, Our hearts were torn
Between our faith and what we knew
Before our King was buried in the grave

Grace was in the tension
Of everything we've lost
Standing empty handed
Shattered by the cross

All we had, all we had
Was a promise like a thread
Holding us, keeping us
oh from fraying at the edge

All we knew, all we knew
is you said you'd come again
You'd rise, you'd rise up from the dead

There was a day we looked for proof
That you had risen from the tomb
And all our doubts began to roll away

We touched the scars upon your hands
You kept your word, Son of Man
You buried death by taking on the grave

You came here to save us
'Cause everything was lost
No longer empty handed
Clinging to the cross

Thief-Third Day

And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise Luke 23: 41-43

My favorite song to listen to on Good Friday is Thief by Third Day. They paint the portrait of the thief next to Jesus with such peorty and emotion:

  I am a thief, I am a murderer
Walking up this lonely hill
What have I done? I don't remember
No one knows just how I feel
and I know that my time is coming soon.
It's been so long. Oh, such a long time
Since I've lived with peace and rest
Now I am here, my destination
guess things work for the best
and I know that my time is coming soon
Who is this man? This man beside me
They call the King of the Jews
They don't believe that He's the Messiah
But, somehow I know it's true.
And they laugh at Him in mockery,
and beat Him till he bleeds
They nail Him to the rugged cross,
and raise Him, they raise Him up next to me
My time has come, I'm slowly fading
I deserve what I receive
Jesus when You are in Your kingdom
Could You please remember me
and He looks at me still holding on
the tears fall from His eyes
He says I tell the truth
Today, you will live with Me in paradise
and I know that my time is coming soon
and I know paradise is coming soon.

Carry My Cross-Third Day

So I’ll carry my cross
And I’ll carry the shame
To the end of the road
Through the struggle and pain
And I’ll do it for love
No, it won’t be in vain
Yes, I’ll carry my cross
And I’ll carry the shame

I feel like I’m alone here
And I’m treated like a criminal
The time has come for me now
Even though I’ve done no wrong
Father, please forgive them
They know not what they’ve done
In this world

 

Here is Jesus, the sinless Son of God, giving Himself up for the sins of the world. He carried the cross of guilt, shame, and punishment for everyone who ever lived, past, present, and future. His life was not taken from Him-He gave it for you and for me.

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha John 19:17

Let that thought sink in as we reflect on Good Friday and why we called it good.

Can't Take the Pain-Third Day

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. Matthew 26:69-74

Jesus told Peter that he )Peter) would deny Him (Jesus) but Peter said he would never do such a thing. Yet after Jesus had been arrested and his world turned upside down, Peter did deny Jesus.

Third Day captures what might have been through Peter's mind and heart at this time:

No, I didn't see this one coming
It suddenly snuck up on me
I can't say you didn't tell me so
I can't say you didn't warn me
I can't take the pain of knowing that I left You
I can't bear the shame of knowing I was wrong
But I'll take the blame for everything that I've done
I can't take the pain of leaving you alone
Of leaving you alone

I was there when they accused you
but I guess I was too afraid
Not just once and not just twice
But three times I denied your name

I never thought I'd get even a second chance
But you've given that and so much more
And then for every time I ever did deny
You ask me if I love you, You know I do, Lord

So I'm off to follow in your steps
it won't be easy, it's safe to say
There are only tow roads I can walk on down
The road less traveled is the one you paved

Lord, You took the pain even though I left You
And You took the shame and You made it all Your own
Why'd you take the blame for everything that I've done?
Lord, You took the pain
You and You alone, You and You alone

 

We also have moments where we deny Jesus, maybe not directly but when we fail to speak up for Jesus or when our actions do not show that we are believers. We must do as Peter did, repent and resolve to follow and share Christ whenever and with whoever possible.

Jealous Kind-Jars of Clay

They made Him jealous with strange gods;

With abominations they provoked Him to anger

Deuteronomy 32:16

 

We are an adulterous people. We claim to love the Lord and promise to be faithful to Him, but we tend to stray. The Lord is jealous for those He loves. He made the sacrifice for us and yet we turn to worldly pleasures that do not last.

 

In their song Jealous Kind, Jars of Clay paints a picture of us as harlots and God as our jealous lover: 

 

 You know I've been unfaithful
With lovers in lines
While you're turning over tables
With the rage of a jealous kind
I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind
Love of a jealous kind

Tryin' to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
Solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I'd rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than be broken by a lover I don't understand
'Cause I don't understand

We cannot understand the great love that God has for us, however, we must make every effort to be His faithful bride.

Alas My Love-dc Talk

Alas my love, you say goodbye
Wipe the poison from my brow
Alas my love, this guilty night
It gives me up like a foster child
And in this moment I take my vow
These angels sleeping at my feet
And in this moment you do not know how
How my spirit wants to flee

You see it was one man against the night
Taking on a multitude
That had left Him high and dry
No candle burning vigil could light the way
Darkness hit the ground like a fallen satellite
He wrestled until morning
With human souls and dark angels
And there He finished His work
On the third day

 

Easter is near. This poem written by Kevin Max of depicts how Jesus might have felt during His prayer in the gargen before His crucifixition:

 

 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39 

Mind's Eye-dc Talk

Can you catch the wind? See a breeze?
Its presence is revealed by
The leaves on a tree
An image of my faith in the unseen

In my mind's eye
I see Your face
You smile as you show me grace
In my mind's eye
You take my hand
We walk through foreign lands
The foreign lands of life

This is the best song about seeing God without actually seeing Him. I remember the first time I heard it and how much sense it made that though we cannot see God with our eyes, He is the lens through which we see everything else. I do not have a visual picture of God, but I have a mental picture because of His word and how He has worked in my life and those around me.

Jesus tells us about the Spirit:
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8

When the Holy Spirit is in us we are able to see spiritual things even if others do not. That is how we can tell the work of the Spirit in our lives. This is our faith.

What Have We Become-dc Talk

What have we become?
A self indulgent people
What have we become?
Tell me where are the righteous ones?
What have we become?
In a world degenerating
What have we become?

Speak your mind, look out for yourself
The answer to it all is a life of wealth
Grab all you can cause you live just once
You got the right to do whatever you want
Don't worry about others or where you came from
It ain't what you were, it's what you have become

Our culture tells us that the most important person in the world is ourselves. We are the only thing that matters, therefore, we should be able to do and say anything that makes us happy. The problem with selfish people is that no one looks out for those who cannot help themselves like the orphan and sick. People have made themselves gods and do whatever their flesh tells them; and in the process they have devoured all those who stand against them. They cry for justice but give none, for tolerance but show none. They mock the Lord and laugh at Christ. The Bible tells us these people are fools.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools Romans 1:21-22

We must be on guard about popular ideology and hold true to what the Bible says in regards to how we are to conduct our lives. We will either be fools in the worlds' eyes or fools in God's eyes. Let us be careful of what we become.

In the Light-dc Talk

I wanna be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
'Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light

Darkness and light can have no part of each other. If we have darkness in us, then we cannot be a part of the Light. If we have Light in us then darkness can have no part of us. Jesus is the Light that cast away the darkness of sin in our lives. When we walk in the Light of Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we are able to enjoy the presence of God and other believers.

but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin 1 John 1:7

Like it, Love it, Need it-dc Talk

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatains 5:1

Jesus is the only One who can set us free from the bondage of slavery. Once we receive the freedom
that comes from forgivesnes of sin, it is foolish to return to that same sin. Yet, though it is foolishness, many times we find ourselves returning to the things that we know we were freed from. We must turn to Jesus and ask His help to keep us from our foolishness. Once we truly let go of what keeps us in bondage and embrace our freedom, we will wind that we like it, love it and need it.

You gotta like it, you gotta love it
I know you need some freedom from the strife
You gotta like it, you gotta love it
I know you need some Jesus in your life

Between You and Me-dc Talk

If confession is the road to healing
Forgiveness is the promised land
I'm reaching out in my conviction
I'm longing to make amends
So, I'm sorry for the words I've spoken
For I've betrayed a friend
We've got a love that's worth preserving
And a bond I will defend

Just between you and me
I've got something' to say
I wanna get it straight
Before the sun goes down
Just between you and me
Confession needs to be made
Recompense is my way to freedom now
Just between you and me
I've got something to say

Relationships are hard work regardless of the type it is-parents, family, friends, spouses, etc. We say and do things we wish we could take back but we can't. We also are wronged by others. In those moments, we have to choose how we will handle the situation.

Paul tells us:
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, Ephesians 4:26

It is OK to get angry at certain things as long as it is a righteous anger. But, we have a responsibility to deal with the situation and not let it go on for days and days as it festers. We must give and receive grace and forgiveness to those we love.

Day by Day-dc Talk

"Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways," Isaiah 58:2a

dc Talk tells us how we can seek God each day:

Day by day, day by day
Oh dear Lord, three things I pray [one, two, three]
To see thee more clearly [day by day]
To love thee more dearly [day by day]
To follow thee more nearly [I got to take it]
Day by day

We must take the veil off our eyes to God as He is in the light of His truth found in the Bible.
We must love Him above anything and everything else in this world.
We must walk as He walked in service and love to Him and others.
By doing these things, we will daily grow in our walk with God.

What If I Stumble-dc Talk

Father please forgive me for I can not compose
The fear that lives within me
Or the rate at which it grows
If struggle has a purpose on the narrow road you've carved
Why do I dread my trespasses will leave a deadly scar
Do they see the fear in my eyes? Are they so revealing?
This time I cannot disguise all the doubt I'm feeling

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

All of us have some kind of fear of failing. Especially with those we care about the most. One reason is the judgement that comes from others when we do stumble or fail. As followers of Christ, many people on the outside are looking at us waiting for us to fall from grace. Not only them, but also other Christians. It is a sticky trap we can fall into-not wanting do anything wrong but also not being legalistic. We have freedom in Christ not to live up to the expectation of others but we should not use our freedom to cause others to stumble in their faith.

Paul puts it like this:
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. Romans 14:13

There is grace to cover our stumbles and falls, therefore we should extend that grace to others when they also stumble and fall. We need to be mindful of our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and help them and not cause them to fall in their faith. 

Jesus Freak-dc Talk

What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth

Jesus Freak by dc Talk is my absolute favorite song in the world. I was 15 years old when I heard it and was a relatively new Christian at the time. It seemed at the time that I was the only Christian at my school and I felt a heavy burden to share the light and love of Christ without compromising my beliefs. This song became my anthem. Most of my fellow classmates did not understand my devotion to Christ and my faith and this song encouraged me every time I felt defeated. This song taught me that the only opinion of me that matters is that of God's.

As followers of Christ, many people are going to ridicule and insult us, but we must stand firm in our faith and remember to never be ashamed to boldly claim that we are JESUS FREAKS.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

Colored People-dc Talk

Ignorance has wronged some races
And vengeance is the Lord's
If we aspire to share this space
Repentance is the cure

We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace

People try to separate themselves from others whether it be sex, race, social status, age, etc due to their own insecurities. We don't like things that are different because they scare us. We want to remain in our comfortable little bubble where everything is safe and secure. History is filled with wars due to the oppression of a people for some external factor. 

If we are honest with ourselves, all of us are prone to prejudice in some form. The only cure is to realize that we must see people as Jesus sees them. God is impartial. He loves all of His created children the same. His offer of grace and redemption is extended to all. External factors cannot save us from our sin, only Jesus can, therefore all who are saved are the same in the eyes of God. 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Let us put our prejudices and differences aside and truly become the body and bride that Christ died for.

So Help Me God-dc Talk

I throw myself at mercy for I am the chief of sinners
But daily taking up my cross
Has brought it's share of splinters

You're there when I call
And You're there when I fall
Even though I don't deserve it all
You, You light my way
Through the night and the day
And from You I will not stray

So help me God
To put my faith in You
So help me God
Before I come unglued
Call it my addiction
I can't get enough of You
So help me God
To put my faith in You

 

Faith is hard. Trust is hard. But grace makes both possible. The hope we have when our cross seems too heavy to bear is Jesus crucified. He died that we will live. When we realize He gives us faith though we are faithless, He gives us trust though we are untrustworthy, and He gives us grace though we are sinners, we will truly understand the mercy of God. It will cause us to run to Him and never let go despite our deficiencies.

 

Paul reminds us that though we are great sinners, God's mercy is greater through Jesus:  

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life 1Timothy 1:15-16

There are times in our lives when our faith is weak and small; in those times we must cry out to the Lord and ask for His help in trusting Him.

Jesus Freak album-dc talk

There is one album that transformed my life. It is my go-to album and the one album I would keep if I could only have one. It is Jesus Freak by dc talk. I can still remember the first time I listened to it and the feeling I had. The next several post will come from the entire album. It's that good.

The Shadow Proves the Sunshine-Switchfoot

We have a tendency to focus on the negative. I just spent 35 hours either in an airport or plane with plenty of delays and surprises. I could focus on the negative but I choose to focus on the fact that I am in one of the most beautiful places on God's earth.

Switchfoot tells us to remember that we cannot see a shadow without the sun.

Oh Lord why did you forsake me
Oh Lord don’t be far away, away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord don’t look the other way

I’m a crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain, when
The shadow proves the sunshine
The shadow proves the sunshine

We all feel forsaken like there are only shadows in our lives:

But You, O Lord , be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. (Psalms 22:19 NASB)

Let us remember that instead of complaining about the shadows, we should rejoice in sun.

My Hope is You-Third Day

To You, O Lord , I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. (Psalms 25:1, 2 NASB)

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
In you, O God, I place my trust
Do not let me be put to shame
Nor let my enemies triumph over me

My hope is you
Show me your ways
Guide me in Truth
In all my days
My hope is you

I am, O Lord, filled with your love
You are, O God, my salvation
Guard my life and rescue me
My broken spirit shouts
My mended heart cries out...

Boasting-Lecrae

But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:17

We like to boast in many things: sport teams, friends, family, possessions, and ourselves. But the Bible tells us that we should only boast in the Lord.

Rap music is known for boasting in the wrong things, but Lecrae changes that with his song boasting:

If this Life has anything to gain at all
I count it lost if I can’t hear you, feel you, ’cause I need you.
Can’t Walk this Earth Alone.
I recognize I am not my own, so before I fall
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boasting you alone.

Tomorrow’s never promised, but it is we swear.
Think we holding our own, just a fist full of air.
God has never been obligated to give us life.
If we fall for our rights, we be in hell tonight.
Mere sinners own nothing but a fierce hand.
We never loved him we pushed away his pierced hands.
I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy.
Dying of thirst, yet, willing to die thirsty.
Eternally worthy, how could I live for less?
Patiently you turn my heart away from selfishness.
I volunteer for your sanctifying surgery.
I know the spirits purging me of everything that’s hurting me.
Remove the vale from my darkened eyes.
So now every morning I open your word and see the Son rise.
I hope in nothin, boast in nothin, only in your suffering.
I live to show your glory, dying to tell your story

 

Let learn from Lecrae and spend our lives not bragging on ourselves but on what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for His glory.

Everything I Hoped You'd Be-Bebo Norman

To You, O L ord , I lift up my soul. (Psalms 25:1 NASB)

Take me to the desert
You will be the water
I will drink forever to fill my soul

Lead me through the fire of darkness and desire
You will be my shelter, You will be my shelter
I'll find you there, I'll find you there

It's here that I call out It's here that I fall down
It's here that I find out
That you are everything I hoped you'd be

Take me to the river
Lead me to the healer
Let it wash me over, oh my soul

Take me to the mountain
Lead me to the alter
We will build together And I will remember

I found you there, I found you there...

It's here that I call out It's here that I fall down
It's here that I find out
That you are everything

I hoped You'd be the sun that always shines
I hoped You'd be the everlasting life

It's here that I call out It's here that I fall down
It's here that I find out
That you are everything
I hoped You'd be

A Man With a Hammer-Showbread

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)

So many times Christians like to claim this verse for themselves but not for others. They categorize sinners into groups of sinners like themselves- the ones who do minor sins- and "major" sinners. But that is not what this verse is talking about. Whether we lied to our parents, stole from people, or murdered someone, we are all guilty before the Holy One. God looks at all people the same-condemned. But because The Lord is holy, just, and love, He did not leave us in condemnation. He provided the slain Lamb-Jesus to take away our sin; regardless of how big or small we think it is. It is because of His great love and nothing we have done.

Oh the thought of what sets a person free
Before I could ever love you back
You gave your love to me
Now I see my sentencing reprieve
You offer me your everything
Even though I am still me

Thieves and liars
Murderers and whores
Homosexuals, extortionists
Pedophiles, abortionists
Junkies and rapists
Adulterers and terrorists
Every woman, every man
All ransomed by your love for them

After Your Heart-Phil Wickham

Acts 13:22 tells us that David- 2nd king of Israel- had a special title:
After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will

A man after God's own heart. Through all of his successes and failures, David is forever remembered as the one person who God called a man after His heart. David received this title because of his great love and devotion to the Lord. When confronted with his sin, David wept and repented. HE did not try to justify his sin like others, he acknowledge it and went before the Lord a broken man. He worshipped the Lord with reckless abandon and did not worry about what others thought.

Phil Wickham encourages us to be a people after God's heart:

Can I have your attention
What are we starting here
Just look around you the answer is clear
Listen, listen
and hear the coming sound
All of the children are singing it loud

Let’s be the revolution
That lives for hold nothing back, nothing back

We’re after Your heart, after Your heart
All of the walls now are breaking apart
Live like we see it love like we mean it
This is the start we’re after Your heart

Start the ascension
Begin the holy climb
Up to where heaven and the earth collide
Bring your affection
All that you have inside
Enter the kingdom and become alive

We must cast off the opinions of others and follow hard after the Lord. We must be diligent in pursuing the things of God's heart-love who He loves, serve who He serves,  give as He gives. When we lay aside all that worries us and chase God's heart, we will become alive and find true freedom

Breaking the Legs of Sheep-Kids in the Way

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls 1 Peter 2:25

When a sheep continuously wanders away, the shepherd must discipline it by breaking its legs and carrying it on his shoulders. This may seem quite cruel, but it is for the good of the sheep. There are many dangers that await a lost, lonely sheep-wolves, cliffs, death. Therefore, the shepherd must teach the sheep that to remain with the herd is the safest place,

We are prone to wander from the Lord like sheep. And we, like sheep, need discipline not for harm but for our good. If we are left on our own in the wilderness, then many perils are sure to come our way that leads to death. We have a good Shepherd who loves His sheep so much that HE died for them so they could live. He knows that we are safest when with Him.

Kids in the Way understood this concept in their song Breaking the Legs of Sheep:

Lay me down in fields of green
This heart has seen things I never should have seen
You're breaking my legs and teaching me

I never saw my own pride
I never thought my lips could taste of lies, and kiss your crying eyes
And all the scars you've gained, from crimson covered hands
That held your face when they were strong, my hands used to be so strong
Oh, the damage they've done

I found my place among the seas, I found this grace upon my knees

When we realize that we are being disciplined because of our wanderings, we must do as the song says and fall to our knees to repent and receive grace.