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Through Redeemed Eyes - Entries tagged "heart"

SunSundayFebFebruary20th2011

Breakeven - The Script

Posted Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 9 AM byMike Rainey Tagged Dating Healthy Relationships heart Love Unhealthy Relationships 2 comments Add comment

During those times when I have to spend long hours working on the computer, I will often listen to music in the background as a distraction from the sound of the keyboard tapping. However, when I first heard the song Break Even by the Script, I had to stop. The lyrics and hearing the artist having to sing them made my heart hurt. This is not a metaphor…I physically felt pain for whoever went through the experiences detailed in this song.

As I hear the song again and again, I think that this pain stems from the author’s feeling of despair:

- I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing

- What am I supposed to do?

- I’m falling to pieces…

The lyrics make it very clear that this despair is a direct result from a broken relationship. What is less clear are the reasons why behind the break. We do not know if this is a relationship that should have been repaired or if it was best to be replaced as described in the song (exactly what Lee is talking about this Sunday). What we do know is that when relationships are not healthy then there are consequences (a heart breaking) and hurt.

What is even scarier to me is not only this feeling of hurt and despair (just utter brokenness), but that the author has no hope to be able to get through it at all. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I understand that when my heart breaks (I experience a trial), I ultimately place my hope in the fact that a loving Father (God) will provide me with perseverance, character, and faith to know that I am not helpless and I can be reconciled (first and foremost to Him) - Romans 5:3-11. The author, in a desperate attempt to regain some form of hope, in his inherent desire to be complete again, even knows to pray to God (although he does not believe in Him).

I think that there is a desire in all of us to be reconciled…reconciled to each other and to God. And here is the thing…God wants to be reconciled to us! Just like Paul lays out for us in Romans 5:11, we have the opportunity to ‘exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.’ Jesus has provided us with the pattern for reconciliation and how to love and care for all those involved (just like Lee is teaching us through this entire series).

I often think of what I would say to the writer going through this situation. But this is what I have to remember, no matter how matter how truthful and ‘wise’ I know Paul’s words to be in Romans they are not going to stop the bleeding and pain that the writer feels. He is grieving…hard…immeasurably hard. As a follower of Christ, what am I supposed to do…what I am supposed to say?!?!?!

Maybe nothing at first…maybe I am supposed to ‘feel’ with him. Maybe I should be patient with him…kind with him…not pointing out the things that he should have done (keeping score). In short, maybe I should love him like God told me to. Maybe this would somehow give him a glimpse of what true, perfect, unconditional love from God could be. Maybe then he could see that the healing and completeness that he so truly desires can come from a God that he ‘don’t believe in.’ Maybe then, I can explain to him where his hope can come from…and I know just the words to use…God’s.

SunSundayFebFebruary20th2011

Fix You

Posted Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 9 AM byJosh Herrington Tagged Coldplay Healthy Relationships heart Unhealthy Relationships 0 comments Add comment

First of all, to preface: this is one of, if not, my favorite song EVER and the fact that I get the privilege to sing it at NewChurch makes me thrilled! So with that being said, I don’t want to hear any negativity about Coldplay, and yes this is directed at you, Thad. (jk)

Today Lee will finish the conversation series dealing with Healthy Relationships, focusing on the question: “Do I repair or replace a relationship?” In my opinion the song “Fix you” is basically describing a relationship that is broken and in desperate need of repair.

We all have relationships like the lyrics describe and I think they say it best. Like Lee has said many times, maybe we are the unsafe one; the one “Stuck in Reverse”.

We are created for community, for relationships, and in all healthy relationships we will endure struggles. The thing that I like most about this song is the ending, personally I like the lead guitar and drums, but the lyrics make me think that my relationships with the people I care about are worth fixing! If it is my fault, “I promise you, I will learn from my mistakes”, if it is not, I will forgive and grow. So speaking to the relationship… “I will try to Fix You”.

SunSundayFebFebruary13th2011

Love Came Down...

Posted Sunday, February 13 2011 @ 9 AM byJosh Herrington Tagged 2/13/2011 Healthy Relationships heart Josh Herrington Love 0 comments Add comment

I heard this song for the first time a couple weeks ago when my mother-in-law gave me a cd with some of her favorite worship songs. Listening to the first verse, I could instantly relate to it…

If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear your voice

I hold onto what is true, though I cannot see

If the storms of life they come, and the road ahead gets steep

I will lift these hands in faith, I will believe

I will believe… I will have faith…. I need the reminder that God is in control of all my circumstances, not just the good, every day. I need to have faith and believe that God has my back.

Listening to the chorus I can’t help but think of Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus Christ in His love for us came down and rescued me from my sin, to set me free, and for that I am eternally grateful! One day I know that I will stand in front of God and be accountable for everything I have done, good and bad; but I know I am forgiven and that I will worship him for eternity. When I listen to this song I can imagine being in the presence of God singing “I am yours, I am forever yours!!”

Purchase Love Came Down

Love Came Down by Brian Johnson

Verse 1

If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear your voice

I hold onto what is true, though I cannot see

If the storms of life they come, and the road ahead gets steep

I will lift these hands in faith, I will believe

Pre-Chorus

I remind myself of all that you’ve done

And the life I have because of your son

Chorus

Love came down and rescued me

Love came down and set me free

I am yours

I am forever yours

Mountain high or valley low

I sing out and remind my soul

I am yours

I am forever yours

Verse 2

When my heart is filled with hope, and every promise comes my way

When I feel your hands of grace, rest upon me

Staying desperate for you God, Staying humbled at your feet

I will lift these hands and praise, I will believe

Bridge

I am yours

For all my days Jesus I am yours

I am yours

All my days Jesus I am yours

I am yours

All my days Jesus I am yours

I am yours, I am yours forever

I am yours, I am yours forever Lord

I am yours, I am yours forever

I am yours, I am yours forever Lord