Tauren Wells: known

I'm so glad someone has finally written a song about this. I believe it is the deepest heart cry of a person: to be fully known and still fully loved. This includes all of the deep dark secrets that we would take to the grave with us. This includes all of the hidden failures and disappoints we harbor deep within. This includes all of the buried pain that we have stuffed and suppressed, locked away in some secret soul closet. 

The good news is that God already knows all of these things about us and He still loves us.  He showed us this when we were at our worst, He loved us still and came to save us. "But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!" (Romans 5:8 TPT). 

9 And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. 10 So if while we were still enemies, God fully reconciled us to himself through the death of his Son, then something greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion! 11 And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living in harmony with God—all because of Jesus Christ! Romans 5:9-11 (TPT)

LYRICS:
It's so unusual it's frightening
You see right through the mess inside me
And you call me out to pull me in
You tell me I can start again
And I don't need to keep on hiding

I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You

It's so like You to keep pursuing
It's so like me to go astray, ooh
But You guard my heart with Your truth
The kind of love that's bullet proof
And I surrender to Your kindness, oh

I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by…

The Belonging Co: Nothing Else (feat. Cody Carnes)

We must clearly discern and embrace the various seasons of life we find ourselves. This is important because the practical outworking of the cry and longing for "nothing else but Jesus" will look differently according to your current season of life. When I was single, after I married and after I had children, the heart cry for only Jesus has always been the same, but the practical pursuit and outworking of embracing "nothing else but Jesus" has looked different from season to season. Having realistic expectations for both the pursuit and the outworking of a "nothing else but Jesus" lifestyle is absolutely crucial, if we are to live this thing out with great peace, love and joy. Misguided and unrealistic expectations will always end in disappointment, heartbreak and discouragement.

I don't have too many words for this one because the lyrics are so perfect. I hope and pray they resonate within you as deeply as they do in me. Bless you friend.

Chorus

I'm caught up in Your presence

I just want to sit here at Your feet
I'm caught up in this holy moment
I never want to leave
I'm not here for blessings
Jesus, You don't owe me anything
More than anything that You can do
I just want You

Verse
I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions
I'm sorry when I just sang another song
Take me back to where we started
I open up my heart to You
I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda
I'm sorry when I forgot that You're enough
Take me back to where we started
I open up my heart to You

Bridge
I Just want You
Nothing else, Nothing else
Nothing else will do

Nicole Nordeman: the Unmaking (acoustic)

Jesus came to to save, redeem and recreate us into His image. Not as carbon copies of Himself but as unique expression of what His life (the life of Jesus) would look like lived out through us. This means everyone's expression of Jesus will be unique. Yes, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), but the way Jesus manifests Himself will be through your personality, gifts, talents, culture and heritage. So the way a person from Taiwan manifests Jesus will be different than the way a person from Australia does. Yes, there will be commonalities between them but if the expression of Jesus is genuine than there should be very unique distinctions. 

Anyone can just copy a person's behavior, mannerisms and words. But when the life of Jesus has truly taken deep root within a person where His very nature has begun the process of infusing and consuming every aspect of a person, this will cause a radical restructuring and transforming of a person's entire being. Now, in order for this to fully transpire, a person must allow Jesus complete access, so He can 1) unmake all the sin, dysfunctions and distortions from us and then 2) recreate us into His image. 

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (Romans 8:29-30 NLT)

This can be a very hard process, trust me I know. My own journey of unmaking in order to be recreated hasn't been the smoothest and easiest to say the least. On more than one occasion, I've felt like quitting. But, on the other side of any trial or testing, I can honestly say I have always been transformed into a greater likeness to Jesus. Oftentimes, it has been so that I can in greater depth and measure embody more of His love, compassion and humility towards others. As the saying goes, there can be no testimony without a test. So, I am praying that you would say "yes" to the Jesus process and for great endurance for you in your own unmaking and recreating. 

Nichole Nordeman: Name (Lyric Video)

I have been in a long winter season, but maybe it's time to resurrect this blog once again...