(The following post is by Faith, Family, and the Farm)
One of my favorite songs right now is “You Love Me Anyway” by a Christian Band called The Sidewalk Prophets. Read some of the words to this song. They are beautiful.
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway
See now I am the man who yelled out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then I turned away with a smile on my face
With this sin in my heart, tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night I still call out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my lifeBut You love me anyway
Oh God, how You love me
Yes, You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life
That I’ve ever known
Yes, You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me.”Isn’t that just amazing? Almost every day these words run over and over in my mind now that I know this song: “I am the nail in your wrist, but you love me anyway. I am Judas’ kiss, but you love me anyway.” I don’t know why it is, but I can read scripture and hear bible studies and stories over and over, but when someone puts words to music, they stick with me and touch me. Several times throughout the day, these words remind me that no matter what I could ever possibly do, Jesus will love me anyway.
Oh, how I wish I could make everyone understand and embrace that. How do you tell these struggling teens whose parents tell them how bad they are, who have other kids tell them how worthless or pathetic they are, who are told repeatedly by a teacher that they are dumb, that there is someone who will love them no matter what, without conditions, without strings, without if’s, and’s or but’s? I could play them this song 100 times and I know that unless they’re at a certain point in their lives, they will not get how huge it is. What stories from the bible can I teach them to help them trust and believe this? How can we get them to understand that it may not seem important today, but it should be the most important thing ever in their lives, over boys, over girls, sports, friends, grades, clothes, appearance, etc.?
And if you read those lyrics and wonder, what does all of this mean? It is about the Crucifixion and what all ‘we’ did to Jesus, who loves us anyway. You can read Matthew 26 and 27 to get a decent idea of what is going on. Make sure you have a translation you understand. And you may even have to read it twice, as I often have to do, to fully grasp the meaning. If you don’t have access to bible, but you’re sitting at a computer, go to www.biblegateway.com and type in the scripture above. Try the New Living Translation or New International Version, they are the ones I understand and like the best. (I use that website a lot, it is a very useful tool!)
I so wish I had the answers. But God gives us the choice. We have free will. It is part of the whole package. We must make the choice. It is there for the taking, free, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. But the choice has to be made. Going to church, going to youth group, attending bible studies, taking mission trips, going to church camps and convocations does not mean that Jesus is in your heart. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Say the words and mean it. No matter what you have done, he’ll love you anyway…
apronsandappetites 
Brenda, this was a very powerful blog today. That song is awesome. Who sings it ? I would like to purchase their CD. That is beautiful! And has meaning that can touch anyone. Thank you for sharing.
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Check her stuff out. She has something really great all the time.
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Gail, it is by the Sidewalk Prophets and they do have very good music. Their lyrics are always touching. (Thanks, B…)
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I told you it was good, didn’t I? I have decided I am good for something: getting really good ideas and then encouraging those people who think it is a good idea and try it. You are a great writer.
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AMEN, my dear friend. HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS. Oh, how we praise HIM for that assurance!
Thank you for the encouraging words. I confess my plea as Paul did in:
1 Timothy 1:15 “How true it is, and how I long that everyone should know it, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I was the greatest of them all.”
May His riches blessings be yours today and everyday.
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Those who are forgiven much… as am I.
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when you worte…putting words to music, it reminded me of what Misty Edwards said:
“Music is one of the most powerful realities of the human existence because the human spirit is musical. Music has the ability to touch the deepest part of us, simultaneously focusing the mind, spirit and emotions.
Melody and rhythm write truth, or lies, on the heart, as if programming a computer, so to speak. We have a much better chance of remembering something if we set it to music. God knows this about our human design because He created us this way. I believe He designed us for music because He Himself is musical.
If music helps people “feel” the truth and remember it, what power there is when the Word is combined with music! You can speak about God’s personality, and people will be touched; but if you sing that same truth with anointed, prophetic music, people will feel the truth. They will understand it and remember it because they will wake up the next morning singing it.”
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I love this.
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Amen Sister!! Very good post. Thanks for sharing!!! Love and miss you!!
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Aw, you too, friend.
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