Categories
Jesus Life

Painting

PainterFeatured songs: Paint My Life and The Mystery, by John Michael Talbot and Terry Talbot from their 1980 album, The Painter.

I enjoy songs that explain a facet of God, whom I cannot see, by comparing it with something I can see.

There are also writers and poets who, during the past 2000 years, have done their best to describe facets of God and His nature. Some of them have written their descriptions in the form of prayers that stay with us to this day.

One of the most famous of these was written by St. Francis of Assisi, who lived back in the early 13th century. He is remembered as a founder of the Franciscans, a Catholic religious order. During his life, he dedicated himself to more closely identifying with the teachings of Jesus Christ, to the point of taking a vow of poverty, and preaching repentance. His Prayer Of St. Francis is translated as follows:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

I was not raised as a Catholic, but during part of my childhood I lived in South Bend, Indiana, the home of the Catholic-based Notre Dame University. Back in the days when televisions stations did not broadcast for 24 hours a day, I vividly remember staying up late enough for Johnny Carson to be over, followed soon afterwards by the sign-off of television station WNDU in South Bend. In addition to the national anthem, they also played a recording of the Prayer of St. Francis. It seemed a peaceful end to the day.

Today when I read the words of this prayer, I am reminded of those aspects of the Christian life that involve communion with God, through prayer and meditation on His word. And if you want to find Jesus music that fits into a meditative style, look no further than John Michael Talbot. Although he released an album in 1980, Come To The Quiet which includes St. Francis’ prayer put to song (Peace Prayer), he and his brother Terry Talbot also used some of these themes in two of the songs on their joint album The Painter. They used the imagery of a God as an artist, painting His image on the canvas of my life, with colors of His qualities.

Here are the two songs First, Paint My Life:

So paint my life with your charity
So paint my life with your mercy
Paint my life with your humility
And I will share in your glory

Jesus, paint my life!
Jesus, paint my life!

Color your brush with your kindness
Color your brush with your meekness
Color your brush with your gentleness
Color your brush with your forgiveness

Jesus, paint my life!
Jesus, paint my life!
Jesus …

And now, The Mystery.

Could you be findin’ the Mystery
You have been looking for?
A kingdom where servants will come to be kings
Are you looking for?

And you’ll know
That the sweet paradoxes unfolds
And the mystery will clearly show
And you’ll know
And you’ll know…

Jesus, paint my life
(Could you be findin’ the mystery?)
Jesus, paint my life
(Could you be findin’ the mystery?)
Jesus, paint my life
(Could you be findin’ the mystery?)

And we know, you are the Master of painters
Comin’ the true Prince of Peace
And we know, you are the true Creator
Comin’ the King of Kings

Jesus, paint my life with charity
(Could you be finding the mystery?)
Paint my life with mercy
(Could you be finding the mystery?)
Paint my life
(Could you be finding the mystery?)

Can you be the light of the world?
Can you be the light?
Take the light that’s given to you
Can you be the light?

Can you give your love to the world?
Can you give your love?
Take the love that’s given to you
Can you give your love?

Jesus paint my life with charity
(Can you be the life?)
Paint my life with mercy
(Can you be the life?)
Paint my life
(Can you be the life?)

Paint my life

And if you want more meditative music, check out Talbot’s Come To The Quiet album.

The Painter, 1980, John Michael Talbot & Terry Talbot [iframe http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gregrejoy-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000SZF2H8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr 120 240] [iframe http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gregrejoy-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000SZBSGW&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr 120 240] [iframe http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gregrejoy-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000SZZ0E8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr 120 240]
Categories
Life Praise

Unloved

Last Sunday was Life Sunday, when we remember the sanctity of life. At my church we had a panel of five local ministry leaders with whom our pastor talked during the sermon time. We heard from:

  • AAA Center For Pregnancy Counseling, working to encourage women to seek alternatives to abortion when facing an unplanned pregnanacy
  • Embrace The Heartland In Prayer, focused on dedicated prayer for the city of Omaha
  • Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, ministry to those serving sentences, to bring hope to those who are hopeless and giving them a reason to not return to crime
  • Abide Network, working in the underserved and poor part of the city to restore and empower children and families to change their world through the transforming power of Jesus
  • Threefold Cord, which focuses on ministry to the elderly in nursing homes, many of whom are forgotten, lonely, and facing death
Photo credit -- Flickr, Romanlily
Photo credit -- Flickr, Romanlily

As each representative spoke, and told of the work they do, and the lives they have impacted, it was startling to see the great need present in the very city in which I live. I was shown how lives from pre-birth to the grave all have their own unique problems, and how some people had been called out of their comfort zones to help and minister to these underserved groups.

Amongst the songs we sang that morning, our worship leader chose one that specifically focused on getting a feeling for God’s heart for all of these hurting people. Notice the lines that I’ve emphasized below in boldface, especially this: “break my heart for what breaks yours.” Or, as one of our speakers stated, “I once asked Jesus into my heart. I now learned that I needed to ask Jesus to let me into His heart.”

Oh, Lord, help me see each person you bring across my path with Your eyes, as I do my daily work!

Here is the song Hosanna, as sung here by Hillsong, from the live 2007 album Saviour King.

I see the King of Glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We’re on our knees
We’re on our knees

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause
As I go from earth into Eternity

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Saviour King, 2007, Hillsong
Categories
Life

Pray

The stock market is down, the economy looks shakey, and many people are fearing the future. Some of them know things have turned bad for them; they have lost a job, or their retirement fund has significantly decreased in value. Some of them just stare at that Dow Jones average and get more and more worried. We have not yet reached the point where stock brokers are jumping out of buildings, but if you listen to the news media it seems to be only a matter of time.

And the national elections are almost upon us. People worry about the consequences of the election (or defeat) of a particular candidate. They are convinced that the outcome of this election means the beginning or the end for our country.

I do not intend to imply that the issues I’ve mentioned above are not important. But I do believe that the worry and the fear about them is absolutely wrong. Paul writing in Phlippians 4:6-7 makes clear his advice in this matter: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Using this technique puts the stresses and worries about the future into the hands of the One who holds that future – God. As a child of His, I can trust that He bring me through whatever is coming. He promses He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5b) – and that goes for you, too.

Rob Frasier had an album called This Town in 1987. The song (Doesn’t Anybody Pray In) This Town points out the importance of prayer. God wants a righteous man (or woman) to pray about these and other serious issues – will it be you?

This old town may not look like much to you
But it’s where I live, it’s all I got
And lately change been comin’,
Oh, what’s it comin’ to?
Where there used to be a church
Now it’s a parking lot

We got our houses and our swimming pools
Everybody’s lives are so discrete
But keeping up appearances is our only rule
And we’ve lost the fire we once found on our knees

Doesn’t anybody pray in this town anymore?
Doesn’t anybody wanna stand up for the Lord?
While we shake our heads
Wondering what we’re gonna do
God says, “I need one righteous man!”
Is it gonna be you?

Look outside your back door
Tell me what you see
People are starving in your streets
And human life just ain’t worth
What it used to be
From the nursing home to the nursery

Families are hurting in our neighborhoods
Loyalty and love are out of vogue
And God is just forgotten
Or at best misunderstood
But He remains the one who’s in control
So tell me,

Doesn’t anybody pray in this town anymore?
Doesn’t anybody wanna stand up for the Lord?
While we shake our heads
Wondering what we’re gonna do
God says, “I need one righteous man!”
Is it gonna be you?

And He will lead us to holier ways
To a foundation on which we can stand
For if we humble as people and pray
I know God will heal this land

Doesn’t anybody pray in this town anymore?
Doesn’t anybody wanna stand up for the Lord?
While we wring our hands
Wondering what we’re gonna do
God says, “I need one righteous man!”
Is it gonna be you?

Your town, my town
Will you stand up for the Lord?
God says “I need one righteous man!”
Well is is gonna be you?
Gonna be you?
Gonna be me too?


Rob Frazier’s album This Town is no longer available, but this song is available on his “best-of” album Retrospect. Click on the album cover for a link to his web site: