Category: Suggested Song

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Devotion?

I just listened to a song called ‘Devotion’ by Gas Street Music, which can be found here.

I wonder to whom, or to what, you are most devoted? The song uses the word ‘all’, and it names the things that the singer wants to give to Jesus, out of devotion to him (“All my affection, all of my praise” etc).

The first Christians in the world ever were absolutely devoted, not just to Jesus and his message but also to one another. Check it out in the book of Acts, chapter 2 verse 42: 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

They faced a lot of opposition, but because of their devotion and their unwavering commitment to the cause, the message of Jesus and the Church spread like wildfire. Of course the Holy Spirit had a big role to play too.

What gets in the way of your devotion to Jesus? Why not use this song or the Bible verse above to help you to realign your devotion to him? Better still, why not join together with a couple of friends who want to do the same thing, and start a discipleship group together! If this is you, we’d love to hear from you so please let us know if we can encourage or even mentor you in this.

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Caged or free…

A band called ‘We The Kingdom’ sing a song called ‘Cages’. Click here to listen.

Any one of us could be stuck in a cage. It could be a fear of something, an addiction, maybe lies that we’ve believed about ourselves, or other circumstances that make us feel trapped.

Every day the devil seeks to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus said he came to earth so that we may have life, and have it to the full (found in John 10:10). He is talking about a rich, satisfying life; one of abundance – life in all its fulness. The Greek word is ‘Zoë’ and, according to Google, it means life that is real and genuine, active and vigorous, devoted to God, life that comes directly from God.

One of the lines from the song that I find poignant is “What I wouldn’t give to be known”. We were made for relationship and for community. No matter how introverted we are, or how much of a hermit we can be, I reckon every human being wants to be known, deep down. Not just known though – loved also. 

The type of discipleship groups that we encourage people to try out are life-changing. It’s really powerful to know that people are becoming known and knowing that they are loved too. As the song says, “What if I took my mask off? What if I took a risk?” Of course, this needs to happen with safe people and in appropriate ways, but the risk / step of faith can reap incredible and life-changing rewards.

God doesn’t want us to live in cages, and in Jesus he has given us the keys to live in freedom, to take our lives back so we can live them for him. Why not get in touch with us to find out more about small discipleship groups? Let’s open up the cages and see what God wants to do!

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Come with me, lets take it to Jesus

Sometimes a song can break through your logical brain and speak straight to your heart. I’m sure there is some theology or psychology behind it but I don’t need to know that…all I know is that this song is breaking through for me right now. 

I could pick the song apart and explain why each bit is hitting a nerve but instead I’ll just say this… “Come with me, let’s take it to Jesus” is plural and invitational. I don’t have to do this alone…I also don’t need to have all the answers – we can go together and take everything to Jesus.

Click here to watch and listen to the song on YouTube

Take it to Jesus by Anna Golden (Ft. Kari Jobe)

I have no idea what to say right now
How could any words ease the pain right now
Something like this will never make sense never make sense at all 
I have no idea what to say right now

If you wanna come you can stay for awhile 
I know a place we could go right now
Pack all your pieces, broken and bleeding, all of your grief and doubt 
I know a place we could go right now 

When your questions don’t have answers and you just can’t understand it 
When your mind just won’t stop running and the tears just keep on coming 
You don’t have to explain it
He hears you before you can speak
Come with me, let’s take it to Jesus

This is the place you can rest for a while 
If you need to just fall apart 
Lay down your worry, he’s not in a hurry, take all the time you need 
This is the place you can rest for a while 

When my questions had no answers and I couldn’t understand it 
When my mind wouldn’t stop running and the tears just kept on coming 
Didn’t have to explain it
He heard me before I could speak 
Even now, I still take it to Jesus

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The Way

I saw a sign recently which made me think. It was on the side of a church building and at first glance it simply said ‘The Way’. 

This reminds me of 2 things:

1) There is a worship song with the chorus ‘You are the way, you are the way. Lost and dead but your love came to find me, Jesus you’re the only way. (Click here to listen to it on YouTube.)

2) A well-known Bible verse came to mind: ’I am the way, the truth and the life’. Jesus said this in John 14:6.

The fact that the sign was on a church building made me smile – how fitting that a building that should be full of people showing ‘The Way’ to God has this sign on it! But upon closer inspection I noticed the extra writing…it said “Private Road/No Access”. 

‘The Way’ that I am talking about, the one in the song and in the Bible verse is not private, it is not restricted access, it is not blocked off to certain people. It is open to all. That doesn’t mean ‘The Way’ will be an easy or a smooth road – in fact God pretty much promises that it is going to be rough and bumpy with twists and turns along it. Despite all this, the ‘Way’ I am talking about leads to heaven, to life eternal with Jesus in all his Glory!! ‘The Way’ that the sign on the church referred to just lead to a cul-de-sac of houses; nothing life changing, no glory. They were nice enough but hardly eternity with your creator.

I see this sign every single week as I attend a toddler group with my daughters. It is a little reminder to me that my primary focus right now is to show them ‘The Way’, and to encourage them in it. How am I going about that? Do I hinder their access to ‘The Way’ at all? If so, how can I remove that barrier? Thankfully as we get close to the toddler group I am reminded that I don’t have to walk this way alone. I have friends, mentors and brothers and sisters in Christ who walk ‘The Way’ with me and encourage me and my children in ‘The Way’.

Who is your primary focus right now? Maybe it is your husband or wife who doesn’t yet know ‘The Way’, maybe it is your work colleagues or your school friends who have lost their way a bit, or maybe it is your neighbour. How could you help them find ‘The Way’? 

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Soul on fire

There are a number of songs that describe what Embers is about, and what we are aiming for when we work with people. We haven’t written any of the songs so we don’t own the copyright, but we’ll mention some of them from time to time and put a link in if you’d like to hear them.

One that I can’t stop listening to at the moment is ‘Soul On Fire’ by Third Day. Click the button below to listen to the song on YouTube.

Listen to ‘soul on fire’ on YouTube

The lyrics, some of which are below, speak of someone longing for God, not just a vague fancying but a deep desire which is pushing them to run. This isn’t a gently jog, or a slow meander but running, full throttle, for God.

God, I’m running for Your heart
I’m running for Your heart
Till I am a soul on fire
Lord, I’m longing for Your ways
I’m waiting for the day
When I am a soul on fire
Till I am a soul on fire

Lord, let me burn for You again
Let me return to You again
And Lord, let me burn for You again
And let me return to You again

What would I mean for you to be a ‘soul on fire’ for God?

We would love to hear your thoughts, and to help fan that flame in you!

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