Mere Reflections

I seem to be especially pitchy on this recording. But it’s probably because the key I like playing it in is slightly too high for me to sing. Anyways, take a listen, if you like. And if you can judge it on the songwriting, not the performance, that would be cool. Lyrics below.

This evening I’ve been hit with a feeling
I’m not sure I like
And it’s leaving, leaving me weak
From the bleeding inside
But this feeling ain’t all bad ’cause it’s bringing
A change in my life
And the stinging is almost relief
‘Cause it’s healing up right

It’s the bittersweet pain of humility learned
When my self-esteem’s bane brings me down to the dirt
But the sharp pruning shears spare the harvester’s axe
And the crucible’s flames save from burning at last
(So thank you for the pain)

I’m losing all my rights to assuming
I’m doing just fine
I was fooling, fooling myself
And excusing my pride
Now You are removing all the thoughts I had of choosing
What I did and didn’t do with my life
Now Your love’s abusing all the sin that had been ruining
Every good thing that I’d tried

God, You are destroying all my arrogance and foiling
The confidence I put in myself
Like a snake You’re coiling I know there’s no avoiding
That you’ll choke out the flesh before it chokes out my joy

So for some reason or another Bebo Norman’s most recent album (which, oddly enough, is self-titled even though it’s his third) has really rung true in my heart/mind/soul, and I can really seem to connect with what the songs are saying, more so than with most whole albums from artists I like. Anyways, I wanted to share one of the songs that I’ve found especially true for me. It’s called “The Only Hope”.

I want to run, it’s my nature to run
And I want to fight, it’s my nature to fight
And I want to live, but you tell me to die
I have resolved that I’m much better off in your hands than mine

I’m begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to take my life from me

I want a crumb, but you are a feast
I want a song, but you are a symphony
I want a star, but you are a galaxy
And I have resolved that I’m much better off in what you have for me

I’m begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to take my life from me
So tell me you won’t let go
Tell me you won’t let go
Cause you are the only hope for me

Take my life from me, It’s the only hope for me
Take my life from me, It’s the only hope for me
And I’ll never want for more
I’ll never want for more

I’m begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to take my life from me
So tell me you won’t let go
Tell me you won’t let go
Cause you are the only hope for me

You’re the only hope for me
Yeah, you’re the only hope for me

Well, I got a camera recently that takes HD video, and the sound is pretty decent quality too, so I decided to maybe start posting an occasional video to break the monotony of plain text from musings and quotes an such. Whether I do this with any consistency or not is yet to be seen. Mostly I’ll probably post songs through this medium, since it’s much less work than trying to record and edit demos in ProTools. However, this means that all the songs you hear will be complete with voice cracks and pitchy-ness and wrong chords/notes. So give me some slack when you listen to it. Anyways, here it is.

So Zach’s small suggestion to post your favorite hymn(s) which apparently got noticed started me thinking: why do people like hymns? I mean, I know more or less why I like hymns, but I wonder if everyone else agrees. So let us know what you think (or I guess, more like how you think). What makes you like hymns? And do you like original arrangements, or creative new ways of playing them? Or if you don’t like hymns at all, why not?

We want your thoughts.

Just as a little add-on to Trey’s Assurance of Salvation series he has recently posted, I encourage you to give the old hymn Blessed Assurance as listen. I’ve found it’s a great song to sing when I’m having doubts about my faith. (Though I would prescribe worship to any number of spiritual conditions…actually, all of them.) Anyway, here are the words:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

written in 1873 by Fanny J. Crosby

My favorite arrangement of this song is by Jadon Lavik, off of his CD “Roots Run Deep.” Here’s the recording, complete with lyrics and random background pictures. (I recommend the CD!)

What is/are your favorite hymn(s)?

This is the song I wrote based on Nehemiah 9 (obviously). Lyrics below.

God of our fathers and all of creation
Perfect in all of Your ways
Blessing and honor and glory and power
Belong to Your glorious Name

Through all our history You have been faithful to
Guide us and save us from harm
You have proved stronger than all our oppressors
(by) The pow’r of Your mighty right arm

As it once was, now let it be (we cry…)

Oh, let it be known: that you are the Lord of all of creation
Oh, let it be seen: that you have the strength to make everything whole
Oh, let it be plain: that you are the author of every salvation
Oh, let it be known: that you have the power to melt away, to melt this cold heart of stone

Lord, You continued in covenant love for us
Though we despised your commands
O’er and again we rebelled in our arrogance
Spurning the gifts from Your hands

Free from chains but bound by sin
So You broke us to heal us again (so we cried)

Oh, let it be known: that you are the Lord of all of creation
Oh, let it be seen: that you have the strength to make everything whole
Oh, let it be plain: that you are the author of every salvation
Oh, let it be known: that you have the power to melt away, to melt this cold heart of stone

Here we are now once again crying out to You:
“God, don’t You see our distress?”
Enslaved by a foreign king, taunted by enemies
Here where You promised us rest

(But) Lord, we believe that there is no disease
That the touch of Your hand cannot heal
Lord we declare that no demon can dare
Show his face before the Throne’s rightful Heir
Lord we proclaim that no shackles or chains
Are too strong for Your power to break
Jesus we trust in the power of Your blood
To bring healing to all of our pain

Oh, let it be known: that you are the Lord of all of creation
Oh, let it be seen: that you have the strength to make everything whole
Oh, let it be plain: that you are the author of every salvation
Oh, let it be known: that you have the power to melt away, to melt our cold hearts of stone

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