Toward the Goal » Song of the Day http://www.toward-the-goal.net Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:23:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Wonderful Cross http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/02/17/the-wonderful-cross/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/02/17/the-wonderful-cross/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:53:24 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1141 I just wrapped up some, well, not-so-quiet quiet time with God… strumming the guitar a bit and reflecting on the worship songs I played. I ended with “The Wonderful Cross”, a variation on a classic hymn with lyrics that absolutely blow me away.

Check it out:

The Wonderful Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of Nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Yes. When I reflect upon the cross… when I reflect upon the blood flowing from Christ’s head, hands, and feet… when I allow myself to begin to more fully grasp that this sacrifice was given wholly out of love for you and me….

I’m driven to my knees in praise and worship of God, my Heavenly Father.

Such sacrifice… such love… such amazing and awesome love!

It calls out to us, asking us to respond. It declares to us the unsearchable depth of the love of God the Father. It urges us to turn to Him… to repent of sin and forsake everything except Him. To give our very lives to the one who has made life itself.

That we might TRULY live.

That’s the power of the wondrous cross.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/02/17/the-wonderful-cross/feed/ 1 My Savior, My God http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/08/20/my-savior-my-god/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/08/20/my-savior-my-god/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:15:20 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=890 Been a while since I’ve posted a song of the day, but Aaron Shust’s “My Savior, My God” came up a couple nights back as I was playing guitar. I was just goofing around, and ended up playing a chord combination that brought this song to mind. It wasn’t long and I had the whole tune, and it’s been in my head ever since.

It’s a great song, available as track 9 on his album, “Anything Worth Saying”. Lyrics follow, with a youtube clip below that.

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at his right hand
Stands one who is my savior

I take him at his word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
For him to be my savior

That he would leave his place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my savior

My savior loves, my savior lives
My savior’s always there for me
My God he was, my God he is
My God he’s always gonna be

My savior loves, my savior lives
My savior’s always there for me
My God he was, my God he is
My God he’s always gonna be

Yes, living, dying; let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring
That he who lives to be my king
Once died to be my savior

That he would leave his place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my savior

My savior loves, my savior lives
My savior’s always there for me
My God he was, my God he is
My God he’s always gonna be

My savior loves, my savior lives
My savior’s always there for me
My God he was, my God he is
My God he’s always gonna be

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/08/20/my-savior-my-god/feed/ 1 Lightning! http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/07/21/lightning/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/07/21/lightning/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:46:08 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=865 We had a few isolated thunderstorms passing through the area tonight, putting on a spectacular lightning show. I had to break out the camera and try to get a few photos.

Here’s the best of the bunch…

I couldn’t help but think of the verse and chorus from Chris Tomlin’s song, “Indescribable”:

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light?
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night.

None can fathom!

Indescribable! Uncontainable!
You placed the stars in the sky, and you know them by name!
You are amazing God!
All powerful! Untameable!
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim,
You are amazing God!

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/07/21/lightning/feed/ 0 Empty Me http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/06/09/empty-me/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/06/09/empty-me/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:01:38 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=846 Been a while since I’ve posted a song of the day, but ran across one today that was particularly good… Chris Sligh’s, “Empty Me”.

Talk about great lyrics! Here’s the chorus:

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you.

And, for something new… here it is on youtube:

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/06/09/empty-me/feed/ 0 Somewhere in the Middle http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/01/07/somewhere-in-the-middle/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/01/07/somewhere-in-the-middle/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:07:15 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/01/07/somewhere-in-the-middle/ For Christmas, Nancy got me the latest Casting Crowns CD, “The Altar and the Door”. I’m not sure it’s as good, musically, as their previous two offerings, but the lyrics are top notch (as always).

“Somewhere in the Middle” is simply phenomenal, which makes it my Song of the Day. Click above to find a preview (it’s track 7).

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You’re making me
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You’ll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You’re by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I’m caught in the middle

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/01/07/somewhere-in-the-middle/feed/ 2 Favorite Christmas Song? http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/12/20/favorite-christmas-song/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/12/20/favorite-christmas-song/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:48:37 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/12/20/favorite-christmas-song/ Yesterday I asked about your favorite Christmas Scripture (or at least which one really speaks to you this year).

How about Christmas songs? What’s at (or at least near) the top of your playlist this year?

For me, it’s either, “Born in Bethlehem”, or “Jesus, Light of the World”, both by Third Day, found on their Christmas Offerings album (tracks 3 and 7 respectively). Check out some of these lyrics:

Born in Bethlehem
Baby Jesus, born in a stable
A humble Savior’s birth
You left Your throne in Heaven above
To live here on the earth

Baby Jesus lying in a manger
Crying for the world
The angels told the shepherds of
The good news for us all

Hallelujah, the King is here
Given for all men
For today, the holy Son of God
Is born in Bethlehem

Come now sinners and you saints
All peasants and all kings
And bow before the earth’s Redeemer
Let all voices sing

Hallelujah, the King is here
Given for all men
For today, the holy Son of God
Is born in Bethlehem

Baby Jesus, do you know
You’ll die for all our sins
Don’t be afraid, for in three days
You will rise again
You will rise again

Jesus, Light of the World
The most beautiful night of the year
All the stars light up the sky
And the city is sparkling with silver and gold
From a million points of light
A reflection of something that’s deeper within
Just a flicker of something more

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight

Who is this child in a manger?
Kings bow down and angels sing
The Lord of the Universe
Has come here to save us
A precious Offering
All the heavens above and the earth below
Are filled with the light of Your love

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight

Jesus, Light of the World
Shine through the darkness
Bright as the day
Jesus, Light of the World
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way

Jesus, shine, shine
Show us the way
Light of the world
Shine in our hearts
Show us the way tonight,
Oh, Show us the way tonight

It’s not hard to figure out why these are high on my list, given how vividly clear the thought of Jesus as an infant has been to me this year. Both songs clearly focus on our Savior’s birth and the meaning of His birth… yeah… Christmas at its very root.

How about you? What Christmas songs are especially meaningful to you this year?

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/12/20/favorite-christmas-song/feed/ 3 Twilight http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/10/12/twilight/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/10/12/twilight/#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:00:21 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/10/12/twilight/ Here’s a change for ya… a Friday photo and song of the day, all in one.

First… the photo (taken a couple years back)… twilight.

twilight.jpg

Next up, the song… “Twilight”, by Shaun Groves.

Like the sky before the dawn
While the night is holding on
Sun and moon together in the gray
So my soul is shared by two
The worst of me, the best of You
Saint and sinner mingle in my veins
And I pray You’ll end this twilight

Twilight, twilight
I’m torn inside my soul tonight
The dawning Day, the dying night
Oh rid my soul of twilight
Oh rid my soul of twilight

Good I love but evil’s done
Good intentions come undone
Good to know I know the One
Who saves me from myself and

Twilight, twilight
I’m torn inside my soul tonight
The dawning Day, the dying night
Oh rid my soul of twilight
Oh rid my soul of twilight

Oh Lord, paint my heart a solid hue
The shade of You
Oh Lord, break this dreadful in between
inside of me
Oh let it be morning

Twilight, twilight
I’m torn inside my soul tonight
The dawning Day, the dying night
Oh rid my soul of twilight
Oh rid my soul of twilight

I know the sun is coming up
Oh, the sun is coming up
Yes, the sun is coming up
In me, in me.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/10/12/twilight/feed/ 1 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus… http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/09/05/turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/09/05/turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/#comments Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:06:08 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/09/05/turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/ A simple hymn… a powerful message.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
and life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/09/05/turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/feed/ 0 How Can I Keep from Singing? http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/03/20/how-can-i-keep-from-singing/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/03/20/how-can-i-keep-from-singing/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:03:53 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/03/20/how-can-i-keep-from-singing/ Isn’t it awesome how God meets our needs? I needed a little lift today, and God provided it… even before I’d thought to ask.

It came in the form of a Chris Tomlin song, “How Can I Keep from Singing?” (it’s track one on the album See the Morning). Here’s the lyrics…

“How Can I Keep From Singing”

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You
Knowing You’ll see me through
And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing ’cause You pick me up
Sing ’cause You’re there
I can sing ’cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I’ll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

Life’s troubles are, as Paul writes, light and momentary… at least when seen in the light of God’s love for us.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2007/03/20/how-can-i-keep-from-singing/feed/ 0 Favorite Christmas Song / Album? http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2006/12/08/favorite-christmas-song-album/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2006/12/08/favorite-christmas-song-album/#comments Sat, 09 Dec 2006 05:17:30 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2006/12/08/favorite-christmas-song-album/ Here’s a lighter topic for a change… what Christmas song (or album) are you enjoying most this year?

Me? It’s no contest this year… Third Day, Christmas Offerings picks up the win in a laugher.

My favorite song from that album? It’s gotta be, “Jesus, Light of the World”. Check out these lyrics, then the sample you can find on their website, and tell me this isn’t one of the best original Christmas songs out there…

The most beautiful night of the year,
All the stars light up the sky.
And the city is sparkling with silver and gold
from a million points of light.
A reflection of something that’s deeper within,
just a flicker of something more.

Jesus, light of the world,
Shine through the darkness bright as the day.
Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in our hearts, show us the way, tonight!

Who is this child in the manger?
Kings bow down, and angels sing.
The Lord of the universe has come here to save us,
A precious offering.
All the heavens above and the earth below,
Are filled with the light of your love.

Jesus, light of the world,
Shine through the darkness bright as the day.
Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in our hearts, show us the way, tonight!

I’m telling you, I haven’t heard a song this powerful in a long time. Great stuff… check it out. You won’t be disappointed!

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