Hidden in the lyrics... hidden in the life...

I'm listening to music as I ponder the passing of Nelson Mandela, reflecting on his life and how he lived, a man just like me, with foibles and faults but also a man that from what I have read pondered on the word of God and on his release acted on this. For this we are grateful. Let us cherish the best of his life as a country.

Now it struck me that often a song that I like has hidden in the lyrics words from God... this is one such. By the way the singer is from what I have read also a Christian.

In a world of desire,
oh who would come and catch you when you fall
in the wind and the fire?
oh who would come to save you?

High above any danger…
Locked inside the tower of your mind,
dreams are veiled; passion blinded.
Safe from fear and fire.
Oh who will find me?
In your midnight eyes, I see a summer sunrise.
Fly far beyond these silver winter skies.
I see a beautiful life. Oh, come and get away.
Do you see the horizon?
Walk upon the water, you will find
all is still and yet alive
in the morning light.
Oh who will find me?
In your midnight eyes, I see a summer sunrise.
Fly far beyond these silver winter skies.
I see a beautiful life. Oh, come and get away.
Dance dance in the morning light.
Open your darkened eyes.
Hey, hey, it’s a beautiful day.
It’ll be ok. It’ll be ok.
Take a look, spin around, this is where I find you… where the roses bloom.
Leave your cares, leave your fears, leave them all behind you… yeayah.
It’s a beautiful day in the city of shining light.
It’s a beautiful day. This is where I find you… yeayah

Jesus walked on water and he is the Light and he promises that we will be with him in the City of Light one day.
Just as Jesus gives us hope for a life everlasting we pray that Madiba's life wil inspire others too.


So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Taken, blessed, broken, given

Watch it all...
 
Lord let me also be like the bread of communion. 
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." Matthew 26:26

God of wonders...

Truly he is! 
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5

"Insanity of God" from imb connecting on Vimeo.
This book is inspirational, a must read!

"Be faithful, even to the point of death . . ."

Revelation 2:10

Trance for Christ

this is an awesome remix of Matthew Parkers great song "I am Yours"

Thank you DJ Jireh...for making Trance with the message of the Gospel. Heavenly Trance indeed!

Here, here I am
Take my hand and fill me with your spirit, Lord
I am yours
And I'll do what you command
Coz I am yours, I am yours
Here I am, Lord
I am yours

There's nothing that I'd rather do then follow you
You bought me with your blood and I belong to you
Here I am, all of me, I give myself completely, Lord
Take my hand, I want to be, wholly, wholly, wholly yours

Here, here I am
Take my hand and fill me with your spirit, Lord

Here, here I am
Take my hand and fill me with your spirit, Lord
I am yours
And I'll do what you command
Coz I am yours, I am yours
Here I am, Lord
I am yours

"Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." Martin Luther

White Flag

 
"White Flag" Chris Tomlin, from the album Burning Lights

The battle rages on
As storm and tempest roar
We cannot win this fight
Inside our rebel hearts
We're laying down our weapons now

We raise our white flag
We surrender
All to You
All for You

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

Here on this Holy ground
You made a way for peace
Laying your body down
You took our rightful place
This freedom song is marching on

We raise our white flag
We surrender
All to You
All for You

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

Your love has won

We lift the cross
Lift it high lift it high [x8]

We raise our white flag
We surrender
All to You
All for You

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

We raise our white flag
We surrender
All to You
All for You

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

We lift the cross
Lift it high lift it high [x4] 
I love this song... It describes how we should surrender to God and lay everything at his feet.
"We raise our white flag, the war is over, Love has come, Your love has won!"

When you see a big flash in the sky...

duck... wait for the boom... then take a look outside.
Rule #1 from the Meteor Strike Survival Guide, adapted from the "How to survive a nuclear strike handbook.". 
Jokes aside it must have been an awesome and somewhat frightening experience to have been in the Ural mountains Friday last week.
This all happened while MD and I were on our way to a real Boeretroue in Hoopstad. For those that have not attended one and wish to maintain some form of diet... do not accept the invitation!
It was virtually non stop eating from the moment we arrived on the farm until we left on Sunday morning late. Biltong by the bucket load and other delights, then at the reception even more followed by salads and bykosse to die for and enough braai to feed a small army.


Coming back to the meteor... it reminds me of this passage from Matthew 24;
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 

Let us therefore be prepared and live our lives as if each day is the day we will meet Jesus face to face.

Thank you Jesus

 "And all these things have finally been complete"

When the world falls apart...

When the world falls apart,
I will hold you in my arms like a friend!
Great song with a lot of meaning, especially when we have a friend like Jesus! I know it is not a gospel song as such but when I heard it for the first time and then found the lyrics it was another of those songs with hidden meaning. Thank you Jeffrey Sutorius, aka Dash Berlinfor making great Dance music that still has meaning.


When the world falls apart,
I will hold you in my arms like a friend!

When the worlds unkind,
I will make you smile,
I will stay right by your side until the end!

Through the dark of night,
When no hopes in sight
When the walls start closing in,
I'll be your friend!

When the world falls apart,
If you should ever feel so broken that you can't go on,
When your world falls apart,
I will hold you in my arms like a friend.

Until the end...


When the world falls apart,
If you should ever feel so broken that you can't go on,
When your world falls apart,
I will hold you in my arms like a friend.

Till the end x 4

When the world makes you cry,
I will make you smile,
I will stay right by your side until the end!


Through the dark of night,
When no hopes inside
When the walls start closing in,
I'll be your friend!


If the world falls apart,
I will hold you in my arms like a friend!

Till the end...x 2
 "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. That is what "World Falls Apart" is about. Being a real friend to someone."
 Dash Berlin on Facebook

Eish! Some people had Angels watching.

Ht Firehand.
Some more background on the clip here as well...
Junk on the road together with potholes must contribute to the horrific toll on our roads as well... be careful out there!

That reminded me that God promised us that he would keep watch over us, here are just a few references to illustrate this promise.

Matthew 4:6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.

Luke 4:10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;

Luke 4:11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

1 Samuel 2:9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 91:11 For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do.

Psalm 103:20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Proverbs 4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Daniel 6:22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

There are many more if you are willing to read the Bible...

The most important promise however is that God will give you strength to keep your faith no matter what life throws your way once you have made the decision that He truly is the the way and the light of salvation.
Only when we realize that God has done what he promised through Jesus do we have the ability to do as asked in the Lords Prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen

Lifebook

Strange how one thing leads to another...
It started with a link to this amazing video of the Grimsvotn eruption in Iceland.

Volcanic Eruption in Grimsvotn, Iceland May 21 2011 from Jon Gustafsson on Vimeo.

The music on the video side tracked me to Veigar's site, some of the music is just stunning and to the producer Jon Gustafsson's blog where this video called "Lífsbókin" blew my socks off...

Of course I had to find out what "Lífsbókin" means and that got me googled to the amazing idea of the Gideons at Lifebook Movement... Go there and download your own copy of this book/bible written as an outreach to kids of today, you may just be amazed to learn something new!
This "trip" across the internet also showed me something else as well that is so true of my life and many other Christians lives. I have experienced many amazing things, gone through many trails and survived because in the end I have come to depend on The Life Book that God provided for us. Thank you Father for putting things in place for us to be able to get to know you through the Bible, translated and printed in virtually every language known, this to me is another proof that you want everyone saved.
Thank you God that we can enjoy the world we live in as well and gaze in awe at your works.
By the way, here are the lyrics in Icelandic, when I get the english I will add them too.
Lífsbókin by BERGþóRA ÁRNADóTTIR
Ljúktu nú upp lífsbókinni
lokaðu ekki sálina inni.
Leyfðu henni í ljóði og myndum,
leika ofar hæstu tindum.

Svipta burtu svikahulu.
Syngja aftur gamla þulu
líta bæði ljós og skugga,
langa til að bæta og hugga.

Breyta þeim sem böli valda
breyta stríði margra alda.
Breyta þeim sem lygin lamar,
leiða vit og krafta framar.

Gull og metorð gagna ekki
gangir þú með sálarhlekki.

Found two more renditions of the song, I love the Icelandic Airforce Choir version too..

and this one by Ragnheiður Gröndal...


Blogging is also a form of Lifebook like a diary come to think of it...
"God will one day hold us each accountable for all the things He created for us to enjoy, but we refused to do so." Rabbanic Saying

The wonders like You

Who is like You?
Who is like the wonders, the wonders, the wonders, the wonders of You?

From alpha to Omega
No Ones greater
While your cutting the wax
And cross up the fader
You can cross the fade
But can't fade the cross
Divine blood drops
Can set free the lost
Love personified
Makes seas divide
Eyes of the storm
Of the tempest ride
Who can compare
Who can dare to stare in the eyes of the Most High and die

Often imitated
Never duplicated
Only One original
Underrated
Perfect in ways in which we could be
Others like Him
Never will be

Ancient of days
In mysterious ways
Works wonders
Setting bushes a blaze
40 years in a maze
With a pillar of fire
Dancing on waves
My life's desire
Who is like you
Who was, is and will be
Who can do what you can do simply?
He who has an ear, let him hear
Speaking through the speaker to your ears
Is my transmission clear?
I have nothing to add... but this...
"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." ~St. Augustine

Does it count...

being a confessing, practicing follower of Jesus?
So often Christians will hide their lamp under the bushel in fear of ridicule and persecution in the workplace when in fact that is where Gos has asked them to be disciples.
I used to be like that until God filled my life and heart with the realization of his love and that nothing in creation can tear me away from his hands because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. Because of this I cannot keep it for myself anymore, I have to tell others and show God's love in my life.
Today I got an e-mail from a co-worker that confirmed that I have not been bold in vain... God lets us get a pat on the back once in a while.

Mr.C
Soms is n mens se lewe vol glasstukke,
Wat baie seer en diep sny,
Maar die Here skraap al die stukkies glas bymekaar
Herrangskik dit en maak die mooiste mosaiek daaruit.
Dis hoekom jy so 'n mooi mens is,
Jy het toegelaat dat GOD jou skep, Elke dag!

Geniet jou dag en dankie dat jy‑so spesiaal is..
Moenie vandag probeer om GOD se hand vas te hou nie...
Laat Hy joune vashou! Hy doen die hou werk,
doen jy net die vertrou werk.

Dankie…vir 2010 sonder jou hulp sou ek dit nooit
gemaak het nie met al sy draaie en grille nie.

Geniet die feestyd.
Ontspan en rus…baie dat ons weer saam 2011 kan aanpak.

Groete
G

For non Afrikaans viewers here is the translation;

Sometimes a person's life is filled with shards of glass,
That cut painfully and deep,
But the Lord scrapes all the shards together,
rearranges them to make a most beautiful mosaic form the glass.
That is why you are a special person,
You let God reshape you, every day!

Enjoy your day and thank you for being so special.
Do not try to hold on to God's hand today...
Let Him hold yours! He does the holding,
you just do the trusting.

Thanks for 2010, without your help we would not have made it through with all the twists and turns during the year
Enjoy the festive time, relax and rest a lot so that we can tackle 2011 together.
So go and be disciples to all you meet, God will hold your hand and be your strength in this world.
"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self..." –C.S. Lewis

Dont let it fade

A song to make you think. Andy Hunter is a Christian DJ and Cathy Burton sings a lot of other Christian songs... You will find them both on YouTube, well worth the time to find and listen to. Also great to see musicians that have the love of God in their hearts and spread the Word in their unique way.

Andy Hunter ft Cathy Burton - Fade
When you walk out of my light, the colour fades, the colour fades.
When you lose your way and walk alone, the colour fades and runs
Like tears down my face.

I can give you life. I can give you hope. I can give your heart the love it's looking for.
Give you feeling, I can bring you joy. I can make you who you are. Who you are.

When you walk a rugged road, your heart is heavy. Darker than the evening sky.
When the path is sinking sand, I am reaching out to pull you through to higher land.

The colour fades when you walk out of my light.
The colour fades when you choose to walk alone.
The colour fades when your path is sinking sand.

The love of God is spoken in these words as well as his sadness when we chose to turn our back on him, may we chose every day to walk in the Light, no longer alone, no longer sinking.
I often wondered if God really loved me... until a day in 2007... standing on a mountain top he spoke to me in a thought. "You are so special to me that I created all you see... both on Earth and the Heavens above so that I can reveal my Love and plan for you. For each person that is born I do this..." That was the turning point for me and I wept when I realized that this meant that Jesus had truly given all for me... because he loves me... forever!

Remember this. "When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God." ~Augustine.

It's my right

We here that so often these days, especially with all the strikes going on in Sunny SA these days but... when and where does it end?
The news is full of items where the strikes have actually led to fatalities and where striking teachers have literally struck children that just want an education. In one case the girl ended up with a broken collar bone.
I mean, hitting kids with a knobkierie! What barbarism is this?
The worst part is that these striking workers will end up with less and the Union leadership with more...
My question to all these strikers is "When did you stop and think about other peoples rights?"
I seriously doubt that Jesus would have joined in if he were here with us today...
"I would say that if you really wished to be a working member of the community, don't go out on strike because then there's no work and no potential of work."
Dick Wolf

He is Lord

He has risen...

Nothing compares...

to the love that was shown on this day.

"Once at Golgotha, Jesus was stripped and nailed to the beam and hung between two convicted thieves. According to Mark's Gospel, he endured the torment for some six hours, from the third hour^{[Mk. 15:25]} until his death at the ninth hour.^[15:34-37] The soldiers affixed a sign above his head stating "King of the Jews" in three languages, divided his garments and cast lots for his seamless robe, and offered him wine mixed with gall to drink, before eventually piercing his side with a spear to be certain that he had died. The gospels mention a total of seven statements that Jesus made while he was being crucified, as well as several supernatural events that occurred. Following his death, his body was removed from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and buried in a rock-hewn tomb, with Nicodemus assisting."
All I can do is fall on my knees with thanks.
"It is finished"

Oh the Irony...

Ironic that a staunch proponent of Atheism gets a Bible Advert on his Blog... maybe someone is trying to tell Charles something? I used to frequent his blog but then something happened when Obama came on the scene... LFG went to the Darkside!
Update: 01-12-2009
Somehow I can no longer access his blog... I think he has banned me!

Thou shalt have no other gods...

I never quite got that until these last few days. I was not going to comment on MJ but as things have happened that have bearing on celebrities and life in general that have to do with hero worship I am putting finger to keyboard. God is very clear in this regard and the consequence of not following His Word.
We have filled our modern lives with gods and idols, even going so far as to create a TV show to create idols! But it is the lesser idols and gods that do the most damage, the most insidious and harmful is what causes peer pressure. For when you look up to others for approval and worth you open yourself up to getting hurt and abused, very often without even realizing it. Only by loving God and having the realization of your worth in His eyes can protect you from this.
If I knew this when I was a kid I would have been a happier person, so would many others.
"A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized." Fred Allen (1894 - 1956)

Unfailing Love

This is the last of my Passover postings...