Blessings by Laura Story from Blessings

How does one define blessings in life? Do we define it by material blessings? emotional blessings? social blessings? Since when in the Bible did God define it only as such?

Laura Story comes out with a good song in "Blessings" both in lyrics and in the music. Her point is what do you consider as blessings in life. What if God sends us problems and trials as a way for us to come to Him, as way to let us rely on Him and Him alone. Just like little flowers needs both sunshine and rain to grow so does God use both blessings and "blessings in disguise" in our lives.

Sadly, our natural response to these tests is doubt and to some even hatred towards God! Some people even bargain with God that they would believe Him only if God would give them a smooth sailing life. We are reminded by this song that God is in control always.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching(s) of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise


Here is the mp3 version:

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Here is the live version:

Here is the Youtube version:

Count you blessings in life! 


  

Grace by Laura Story from Great God Who Saves

As I ponder upon the sermon that our church pastor will be giving this Sunday, July 10, about 1 Cor. 1:4-6 and as I ponder upon the music that I've selected for the praise and worship, I am once again humbled and in awe of God's grace in my life. It is so easy to fall into Satan's trap when you are in the spotlight. It is easy to claim God's glory for yourself. But no matter how you view things, no matter how hard you try to hide the truth, the fact still remains that everything is from God... everything including all my talents!

Of course, I am also human so when I get praises for my good work, I am delighted. And when I get negative feedback, I get hurt. But I am learning to let go of that and rely fully on God. I know that it is because of his grace that I am  I am alive and well. I know that it is all by his grace that I am saved. It is by his grace that I am able to continue to improve and serve him with the talents He has given me.

The song reminds me that our God is not only my Creator, but He is also my Father. And like a child who may intentionally or unintentionally hurt his parents, I also hurt my God, my Father. And yet He loving says to me: "My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking my face, you'll walk in the power of my daily sufficient grace." What a great promise! What an assurance it is to have a Heavenly Father who is willing to forgive us despite the sinner that we are. What He needs from us is an earnest longing for forgiveness and love through faith in His Son, Jesus.

Here's the lyrics of the song:

Verse 1
My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.
I see the things you do through me as great things I have done.
And now you gently break me, then lovingly you take me
And hold me as my Father and mold me as my Maker.

Chorus
I ask You: "How many times will You pick me up, when I keep on letting you down? 
And each time I will fall short of your glory, how far will forgiveness abound?"
And You answer: "My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking my face,
You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

Verse 2
At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged,
Knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job.
For who am I to serve You? I know I don't deserve You.
And that's the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.

Chorus
You are so patient with me Lord

Verse 3
As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means.
The price that I could never pay was paid on Calvary.
So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You
By giving up my life to You for all that You've given to me.

Chorus

Here is the mp3 version of the song:



Here's the Youtube version of the song:

You can follow Laura's activities through her website: http://www.laurastorymusic.com/

I hope this song will always remind us about God's grace in our lives!