Don't Forget the Lyrics!

I'm going to start a new "series" called "Don't Forget the Lyrics!". After I posted the "To Everything There is a Season" blog, I realized how many songs I love and want to share. There are several reasons why I want to do this. Here are a handful of them...

1) I love music.
2) I think a lot of people enjoy music, but don't really pay attention to the lyrics. (Ben is admittedly guilty of this. There have been several occasions where I've told him what a song was about and it completely surprised him--he had never paid attention to what they were saying even though he was singing along.)
3) Music is an easy way for some (including me) to remember things like scripture.
4) The people that write music are much more eloquent and talented than me!

So, my first one is from Christy Nockels (one of my faves) and the song is called "By Our Love". The main message that I take from this is how we (the church) are called to be the "hands and feet of Christ" (as Christy says, "love with His hands, see with His eyes"). And what does that mean? I think it means many things, including...

- loving on our friends instead of judging them by their sin
- stopping to chat with the homeless guy on the corner instead of just passing by
- being uplifting and supportive instead of "gossipy"
- etc., etc.

And now to the lyrics. As you read them, let them soak in. And as you sing it, think about how you can apply it in your own life. That is the challenge I'm giving myself. I want to be known by my love that comes through knowing Christ!

By Our Love

Brothers, let us come together
Walking in the Spirit, there's much to be done...
We will come reaching, out from our comforts
And they will know us by our love...

Sisters, we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...
We will come reaching, with a song of healing...
And they will know us by our love!

The time is nowCome Church arise...
Love with His hands
See with His eyes...
Bind it around you,
Let it never leave you,
And they will know us by our love...

Children, You are hope for justice,
Stand firm in the Truth now, set your hearts above
You will be reaching, long after we’re gone,
And they will know you by your love!

Written by Christy Nockels
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