B
Be_Evergreen
Guest
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!
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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