Music

Featured Song – November 2018

By Catechist's Aide on November 13, 2018 0

^“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

The song “Unfinished” from Mandisa draws from this verse, reminding us that God has started something good in each of us, and His work continues throughout our lives. Even when things seem to go horribly wrong, and doubt begins to set in, we can draw on the truth that God’s plan for us may not be evident, but it is good.

God already knows the whole picture of our lives, but for us, it’s difficult to see. It’s like standing too close to a painting. We can see small details, even individual brush strokes, but the full image isn’t clear unless we are able to take a step back. Only then can the whole picture come into view.

This is a message that young people need to hear. When we’re young we tend to paint a picture of how things will be as we get older. But things don’t always go as planned and disappointment can set in. We can begin to feel disillusioned, hopeless. Worse yet – we can begin to believe that we are a failure – and that things will never change. If we could only take a step back, remember God’s great love for us, and trust in His plan for our lives, we can find the strength to persevere through these difficult times.

Featured Song – October 2018

By Catechist's Aide on October 16, 2018 0

We feature another upbeat song this month, “Bulletproof” by Citizen Way. The band’s website explains that the members consider themselves “musicianaries or musicians with a missionary-like calling.” To their credit, their vocation comes shining through in their music. In “Bulletproof” they enthusiastically proclaim how relying on God’s strength makes us bulletproof to the devil’s weapons of fear and doubt. The song is a perfect complement to a study on Ephesians 6 – battling against evil with the armor of God.

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

Featured Song – September 2018

By Catechist's Aide on September 25, 2018 0

This month’s featured song comes from Jamie Grace, a talented young singer/songwriter from Atlanta. “Hold Me ” is her first hit from 2011 which earned Grace the 2012 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. The song is light and infectious but still carries an important message about the security awaiting us in the loving arms of our heavenly Father.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

“The song came from my yearning that I want to be held and I want to feel important to someone. I ended up trying to write a love song, and I didn’t know where to go with it because I’ve never been in love. I got a little bit of the song written, and I knew I wanted to sing “I love the way You hold me.”
My confidence and my understanding grew as I started to really understand the greatest love I’ve ever known. It has nothing to do with needing the coolest car or a boyfriend or awesome clothes. Love is all about trusting in God to hold you no matter what you are going through. I’ve had a lot of experiences in my life of needing to trust in God to hold me. He’s the only one who is going to be there. That’s what the song is about, knowing that God is there to hold you and the joy that comes with that knowledge and understanding.” (Davis. “Behind the Song with Kevin Davis”)