Monthly Archives: July 2015
Message Behind Flawless – Bart Millard
Flawless – A Devotional
[Article reposted from “Hear It First”. Written by Elise Cleary]
Loved. Welcomed. Flawless.
My eight-year-old son has a new favorite song: Flawless, by MercyMe.
It could be because of the music video. Being covered in paint is every child’s idea of a great time.
It could be because of the people shown in the music video, and the things they struggle with:
- Sicknesses
- Disorders
- Regret
- Fear
- Pain
As much as I might wish my children did not know some of these feelings, some of these fears, at the same time, it is part of being human.
And it is part of being made Flawless.
Perhaps that is what my son loves so much about the song. It’s what brings tears to my eyes every time I watch the video. The people who admit to their sicknesses and struggles, fears and failures, regrets and rashness … each of them begin to smile. And in the place of those things is one word.
Flawless.
Cleansed. Made pure. Washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Imperfect, yes. That we know all too well, every time we look in the mirror, every time we search our own heart.
But altogether beautiful.
Passionately loved.
Forever saved. Welcomed into the presence of the Father through the sacrifice of the Son.
Flawless.
Where God Wants to Live
Altogether Beautiful … Flawless
Flawless – MercyMe
“Flawless” Lyrics
There’s got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there’s worth in what you do
Then Like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace
No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Could it possibly be
That we simply can’t believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that’s exactly what He did
No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I’m ok
Because the cross was enough
Then Like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to grace grace
God’s grace
No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
No matter what they say
Or what you think you are
The day you called His name
He made you flawless
He made you flawless
No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless
MercyMe
Surrender – When My Knees Hit the Ground
“The sooner we realize that you can’t control any of it, but that God is in control, the sooner we can get on with living the life God has called us to live, which is a life operating in freedom. One way or another, everybody’s going to end up on their knees, either because they fall or stumble — God puts them there, basically — or we put ourselves on our knees by choice and that’s when we experience God.
That’s when we touch the sky.”
Watch the Video: Touch the Sky by Hillsong
Submission Your Trademark – A Prayer
Let me be led by Your Spirit, guided by Your hand. Let these not be just words but the deep prayer of my heart. Help me to surrender to You in every way, even when it means giving up some of my so-called rights. Lord, You had every right, and made Yourself a servant. I have no rights, and make myself a queen.
Forgive me. I know You have. Your grace is renewed each morning. Thank You for that, dear Lord. Help me to lean on You and in leaning, find my strength, my direction, and my joy.
Lord, it is hard to imagine, harder to fathom. That You, everything perfect and good and righteous and holy – beautiful beyond all reckoning and wise beyond all knowing – became a baby, a child, a man. Stepped down to this place, so torn with sin and brokenness and paralyzed in fear. So shadowed in darkness.
God, You came to bring Light, for Jesus, You were the Light. With every quiet healing, with every hungry mouth fed, every tear that was dried, every mother who got to hold her child again, God, you wiped away the tears and brought Life.
For You are the Author of Life. Such love. Bringing life and light and hope, knowing that in order to do so, You would have to die. But willing, so willing. Though it grieved You to even think of it. You stepped forward in combat, not fearlessly arrogant, but kneeling in surrender to Your Father’s will.
Submission was your trademark, and love your essence. I have known the story for as long as I can remember, but it still fills my soul with wonder. I cannot understand it. I can only accept it, thank You for it, and beg, plead for you to stay by my side, to give me such love as only You have, such grace as only You can give, such love for the Father, for those around me, as only You can bestow.
And I know that You will, for bringing healing and heaven is who you are. It is what You do. When You walked the earth, for moments of beauty and renewal, a glimpse into life itself. But one day, one day you will bring life again and the light of the world will come to stay. Thank You, Lord Jesus.
Thank You, and even so come.
Finding Joy and Finding Home
The Greatest Answer
Touch the Sky – Hillsong United
Touch the Sky, Hillsong United
Lyrics
What fortune lies beyond the stars
Those dazzling heights too vast to climb
I got so high to fall so far
But I found heaven as love swept low
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
What treasure waits within Your scars
This gift of freedom gold can’t buy
I bought the world and sold my heart
You traded heaven to have me again
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever
Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground
Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out in surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky
When my knees hit the ground
Mighty to Save – Story Behind the Song
[Reposted from Crosswalk.com, by Laura Story]
My first time hearing “Mighty to Save” (by Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding) was while planning a worship service at my church, and one of our pastors tossed me the latest Hillsong United CD.
Though I enjoyed learning it and sharing it with our team, it wasn’t until we were leading this song one Sunday morning that the truth of this powerful anthem began to grip my heart. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God is “mighty to save,” but what does that mean? Is this Old Testament prophet speaking about the power of the gospel to bring hopeless, lifeless souls into a transforming encounter with Christ? Or is He referring to the sheer momentum by which God is building His church, a power so great that the gates of hell cannot prevail? Or maybe Zephaniah was speaking of God’s heart for redeeming those from every tongue and tribe and nation?
Each time I sing the song, God brings to mind new implications of this verse. And each time, I get a little lump in my throat as I consider that by His might, God saved me. It’s hard to fathom why a God who is able to move mountains would choose to focus His strength on redeeming the very souls who have so deeply offended Him. But this is the gospel. Though we have done nothing to merit His favor, God, full of mercy and grace, sent His only son, Jesus, to pay the debt we could never pay. He is truly mighty to save.
— Laura Story
Mixture of Glory and Grime
How shall I pray?
Are tears prayers, Lord?
… or groans
or sighs …
Can trembling hands be lifted to you,
or clenched fists
or the cold sweat that trickles down my back
or the cramps that knot my stomach?
Will you accept my prayers, Lord,
my real prayers,
rooted in the muck and mud and rock of my life,
and not just my pretty, cut-flower, gracefully arranged
bouquet of words?
Will you accept me, Lord,
as I really am,
messed up mixture of glory and grime?
Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace
By Sacrifice
Christian Music and Inspirational Quotes 