I would like to share one way that God reaches me- through the music that I listen to.

And boy, am I ever a stubborn one to get through to! I blame an Italian heritage

My brother and my father have had the most influence on my musical tastes. My dad would listen to rock, and play the guitar. Listening to him playing his guitar or singing in the car, those are where my fondest memories of him lie. But my brother, he would listen to Creed.

Creed was where it started. It was his favorite band, and since he was my hero, it became my favorite band. I took the songs in, with their intense guitar and thoughtful lyrics.

"Now I saw a face on the water
It looked humble but willing to fight
I saw the will of a warrior
His yoke is easy and His burden is light
He looked me right in the eyes
Direct and concise to remind me
To always do what's right"
(Faceless Man)

From there, my brother introduced my mother and I to Switchfoot.

"In the economy of mercy
I am a poor and begging man
In the currency of grace
Is where my song begins
In the colors of Your goodness
In the scars that mark Your skin
In the currency of grace
Is where my song begins "
(Economy of Mercy)

Switchfoot was openly Christian, unlike Creed, a band fronted by an openly Christian man, but not categorized as Christian. I had never heard a song used to worship God that had a different beat- I had never been able to completely relate to songs so much.

I attended one of their concerts, and was shocked by the mellow crowd. Jon and his band spoke directly to the crowd. He made us laugh and smile- at one point, he even asked us to join hands with the person next to us. It was a comical moment, as some of us turned awkwardly to strangers, trying to accept a strange hand with love xD.

And here is where it really began. As I thirsted for more spiritual fulfillment, I listened to more Switchfoot. I added on bands like Relient K, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar. They produced relate-able songs, that got me through many of life's challenges in a Christian way. Stocked with Biblical references, they made me more curious of the Good Book.

Where I currently stand, I have a large collection of Christian music. Every day, I will be sure to bring one or two cds into the car. Not only does the music sooth my driving anxiety, but it has driven me to pray and talk to God while driving, for if a song sends that familiar shiver up my spine, I often turn to God. No, I do not literally let "Jesus take the wheel". I do it in a way that's safe, that is like I am just talking to someone in the passenger seat, except mostly in my head or in quiet spoken prayer.

Often times during a song, I will get that shiver down my spine, and join my hands in prayer. I may have tears in my eyes, as I pour my heart out to God. It helps me to always express this honesty.

The music helps me to avoid temptation, and turns me back to God when I start to think of something sinful. In my music, I have advice about love, about war, hope, happiness, despair, anger. There are songs about death, about sex, about friends, about failing. When I cannot bring myself to cope and I need a Good message to wash over me- I will often pray and reach for a cd to focus me.

Yes, I listen to Christian rock. I have very intense emotions, and trouble expressing them- the deep rumbles and pointing beats bring them to the surface and help me to actually feel what I'm feeling. The lyrics are that which I can relate to, and there is no swearing, no temptation. Only love. There is only God's love.

Music is just one way that God reaches out to me, and am I ever grateful for his patience and love, and for this gift of song!

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"And there's no greater love, than the one shed his blood for his friends..." (Thrice, "For Miles")

Changing perceptions..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtGT2apOlKw

Awesome testimony. Music can indeed have a powerful influence on people.

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I see you!!

Evergreen, you wrote: "Yes, I listen to Christian rock. I have very intense emotions, and trouble expressing them- the deep rumbles and pointing beats bring them to the surface and help me to actually feel what I'm feeling. The lyrics are that which I can relate to, and there is no swearing, no temptation. Only love. There is only God's love. Music is just one way that God reaches out to me, and am I ever grateful for his patience and love, and for this gift of song!" I listen to secular music when it's redeeming and helps express emotions. God really uses music overall to reach me.

There's a Vineyard song I used to sing in church called 'Your Love Reaches Me'. At the end of the original version, the guys sings: "Your Love reaches me, like the rivers run to the sea. It's what I need, Lord. It's what I need Lord." It's so beautiful that first part: "Your Love reaches me, like the rivers run to the sea." (Here's a youtube link I found: Your Love Reaches Me by Darren Clarke, Vineyard Music - How to Play - YouTube. I didn't look at it but don't believe it's the original version.) Some days, I'll sing till my voice or throat gets tired: around the house, in elevators, in the car, in malls, everywhere. Sometimes, I want to sing in places where I prefer not to. My brothers and I used to sing all the time, and whatever I'm doing or wherever I am, there's always music bubbling up.

(While checking out the Vineyard song above, I found another one I absolutely love-- 'My Lord, My God'-- not the original version: My Lord My God by Darren Clarke, How to Play - YouTube. I haven't heard it in forever and will check it out myself.)

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"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" (Ps. 90:1-2).

It reaches so many- the power of connecting those who feel that they are alone, it's incredible!

I found another version of that song on Youtube (your link is to a "How to Play" tutorial). That's a wonderful song. Let it all out, it feels good! No matter where we are .

Here's another version of that last link:
My Lord, My God - Vineyard music - YouTube

The beginning almost sounds like a country/alternative song from the radio.

Thank you for sharing these .

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"And there's no greater love, than the one shed his blood for his friends..." (Thrice, "For Miles")

Changing perceptions..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtGT2apOlKw

For sure, Evergreen. Thanks for the link. I'm listening to it now. It's the original version from the album 'Your Love Reaches Me'. Yeah, it does sound 'countryish' at the beginning. The Vineyard, at least in the past, had several songs that had a country twang to them.

Yeah, I like singing in elevators when no one is in them and when I do dishes in the sink. Elevators make people self-conscious, and it makes it hard to sing in them. When I don't at least feel like singing, then I must be depressed!

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"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" (Ps. 90:1-2).

i personally feel music is an awesome tool to praise god with ,but never forget the music that is suppose to be playing in your heart for Jesus