Mere Reflections

So I may have inadvertently recorded an acoustic EP in the studio today (yes, Trey, I did use that word here). It’s just vocals, guitar, and the occasional djembe.

Please don’t try to download the songs, wait until I release them. That helps me and you out by you getting the best version. Anyways, enjoy! Here’s the track listing for all you organized types.

1. Indecision

2. Tinted Glasses

3. Enough

4. Open Us Up

-Riley

A song I wrote today for how I’m feeling. Hate to put it before my larger post (which is in fact coming, all you hatespeakers!), but honestly felt really inspired for this one.

These are the trying times
The times that test the lines between obedience and faith
And these are the dying times
The times that show the growth and simultaneous decay

Sometimes you never know where you’ll end up
All you know is where to cling
And when your time’s all spent up
You’ve counted costs and laid down everything

So open our eyes so that we may see
Your power displayed in everything
Your love constantly intercedes
Open them up, open them
Open our mouths so that we may speak
Your words, they are merciful and meek
With power and courage when we are weak
Open them up, open them

These are testing times
Times that put our discipline and trust in Him to test
But these are destined times
Times that prove that God is God; Christ alone can conquer sinful flesh

Sometimes you never know where you’ll end up
All you know is where to cling
And when you’re times all spent up
You’ve counted costs and laid down everything

So open our eyes so that we may see
Your power displayed in everything
Your love constantly intercedes
Open them up, open them
Open our mouths so that we may speak
Your words, they are merciful and meek
With power and courage when we are weak
Open them up, open them

These are occurring times
Times that prove the battlefield is still a place of war
Oh LORD, may these be stirring times
Stir in us a passion for You and the world that shakes us to the core

-Riley

Btw… I forgot to sing the third verse… haha.

I don’t wanna go back but at the same time I do
I invest in lies but want to withdraw the truth
Give me one day one ticket one way back to you
‘Cause it’s the last few moments that we regret
And the second hand chases away things that we’ve said
And you’re left with the loud sound of silence in your head

Oh, I’m a bird that swims, I’m a fish that flies
I’m the very thing that I despise
A streak of grey in a greater light
The sun is setting on the current age but I can’t seem to turn the page
‘Cause it’s never “I’ll move on” but instead “I don’t know” is what I say

Can’t keep going I’m far off track
‘Cause I can’t bear to look forward, can’t bear to look back
Can’t move on I’m far behind because I can’t make up my mind

This life is a life of indecision… or isn’t it?
I run from a place and the next day I want to revisit it
So for a while I’ll be the one quite easy to find
‘Cause I’ll be waiting at the crossroads just trying to decide

third verse I forgot:
The door is open but I won’t go through
I debate it in my head but I know it’s the truth
That simply I don’t know what to do
There’s a perfect balance in between accepting change and the old routine
But how can I accept something when I’m too busy overthinking

And when I try to think of a way outside
Nothing comes to mind except for what You provide
Because You see all of me and who I’ll be
So help me to decide

Listen to the original, albeit 8th grade, full band version here.

Praise God for sanctification and maturity! Praise God that in my weakness and indecisiveness, He is still LORD! May I continually be humbled to submission to Christ and submission to the fact that I have so much more to learn and so much farther to go to be like Jesus.

On Christ the solid rock we stand.

-Riley

Listen to the Demo here.

Rough mix, and crappy vocals. But I’m pretty happy for it being a demoish recording.

And yes, at “the sky grew dark” I forgot the words.

A story long told but never fleeting
Hope for the young and the old
The broken, the beaten, the sinful, the needy
Love came down in the flesh that we are made
But truly holy He remained

Emmanuel, Holy One
Heaven’s Son, Emmanuel

You were the Light, You knew the Plan
That innocent blood must be spilled for the plight of the unholy man
The sky grew dark; the Father turned His face away
As the Son was crushed, my debt was paid

Emmanuel, Holy One
Heaven’s Son, Emmanuel

The grave couldn’t keep you and sin could not defeat you
The grave couldn’t keep you anymore, no no

The grave couldn’t keep you and sin could not defeat you
The grave couldn’t keep you anymore, no no

Emmanuel, Holy One
Heaven’s Son, Emmanuel

-Riley

For your listening pleasure.

The sun sets in the west leaving only behind

White clouds tainted red in the blue evening sky

The daytime has passed and we see it no more

For its glory is hidden ’til the coming of morn’

-

So we turn to the east and we stare at the moon

Our only guarantee that the sun’s shining through

The long hours of night and the darkness that hides

All the face of the earth from the sun’s glorious light

-

At times the clouds veil the moon’s face from our eyes

The reflection grows pale–our hearts’ hope starts to die

But then it breaks through the mist, though it’s clouded and dim
Giving life to our faith that the sun’s shining still

-

The night draws to a close; we can see all the clues

Of the dawn’s fast approach, finally brining our proof

That hope won’t disappoint, that the Spirit can’t lie

That the light in our hearts is the glory of Christ