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WestBow Press

26 February 2010

Because You Loved Me

The February 1996 release of the single "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion gave airplay to this anthem of encouragement written by Diane Warren as a tribute to her father. Listening to these words as I was driving home from work, it began to strike me how much they really applied to Jesus' love for us. Diane Warren won a Grammy award for this song, the song was also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and spent 19 weeks at the top of the U.S. Contemporary charts.

Why do I feel so strongly about the message in this song? Allow me to share my thoughts. If you're not familiar with the song, I suggest youtube or one of the other online video sites, and give it a listen.

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful ...
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through
Through it all

How powerful those words!! When we open our arms, hearts, minds, and souls to the beautiful love that Jesus gives, He becomes everything we need. I can't believe that I have listened to this song for so long and it just now hit me how much this speaks of his love! The chorus, to me, of all the words, seems to say it all:

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

We should give daily thanks and praise to the awesome God that is ours! What amazing things he has done and will continue to do in our lives, if we but let him. There is more to this song, and I could go on and on ... but sometimes, less is more.

Jesus, thank you for believing in me, and for making me the woman I am becoming. You have given me blessings beyond measure! Give me the words to share that joy with others.

"Jesus replied,
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"~Matthew 22:37 NIV

24 February 2010

I Am The Warrior!

Listening to 100.5 while I was driving to work, I heard the last part of a Scandal song called "The Warrior." Released in 1984, this song was a familiar sound from my early 20s. For some reason, the lyrics caused me to think about being a warrior for Jesus. I know, not your typical praise and worship music! Take a minute, however, read the lyrics, and see what you think. We'll start with the first verse:

You run, run ... run away
It's your heart ... that you betray

When you are floundering alone in what seems like a sea of uncertainty, what happens when you refuse to turn to the master lifesaver? Jesus is the eternal life ring, the only guarantee that you know 100% is going to be there. He alone can reach out and take you into His arms, sheltering you and keeping you from the storms that life can disperse. When you run from that, you ARE betraying your heart, by refusing to give it the sustenance that it needs to survive. Let's continue with the chorus:

Shootin' at the walls of heartache
Bang, bang
I am the warrior

Giving our everything to Jesus releases those walls that surround us and they fall just as if they are under constant fire. His love is better than any bullet, and when He surrounds us and shoots at the "walls of heartache", the love surrounds the heartache and dissolves it. When we open ourselves to the reality of the incredible love and forgiveness of our savior, we are indeed warriors for Jesus! Another verse reads:

Who's the hunter ... who's the game?
I feel the beat ... call your name

Who is the hunter? You can look at in two different ways. Satan can indeed be the hunter, and we are his sometimes unsuspecting prey. He calls out to us, hoping to deceive. Sometimes the call is disguised sweetly, and sometimes it shows itself for what it really is. How do we know the difference? Depend on the master warrior, Jesus. He has the power (think of it as night vision goggles on turbo) to see through anything, because he knows all. He has the strength to guide us on the right path, no matter how difficult it may seem at times. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Can you say the same about Satan? When faced with Jesus, Satan WILL turn away! Don't let his siren song fool you, depend on Jesus to be your master translator! The final chorus of the song contains the line

Victory is mine!

You know what? It is indeed. The battle is sometimes a tough one, and some days it seems never ending, but as long as I have my Jesus, victory is indeed mine! Praise the Lord!!

Jesus, I thank you for the gift of thought, and the gift of words. Please continue to guide me and allow me to express these gifts in such a way that I may help someone else to come to you. Thank you for your continued rich blessings!!

"For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."~Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV