Hope Was Born This Night - Sidewalk Prophets

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:10-14

The Generous Mr. Lovewell - MercyMe

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~ James 1:27

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:2

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

~ Romans 12:10

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ~ 2 Corinthians 8:7

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

~ Galatians 5:13

Constant - Francesca Battistelli

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9

I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
   Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
   and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4

In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.

Nehemiah 9:33

Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Psalm 89:8

LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Death of Me - Royal Tailor

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:5-11

O Sifuni Mungu - First Call

 Psalm 148

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;
   praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
   praise him, all his hosts!

 Praise him, sun and moon,
   praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens,
   and you waters above the heavens!

 Let them praise the name of the LORD!
   For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
   he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

 Praise the LORD from the earth,
   you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
   stormy wind fulfilling his word!

  Mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars!
  Beasts and all livestock,
   creeping things and flying birds!

 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
   princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
   old men and children!

 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for his name alone is exalted;
   his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his saints,
   for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!

God's Own Fool - Michael Card

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1: 18-21

Shine - Newsboys

Dull as dirt
You can't assert the kind of light
That might persuade
A strict dictator to retire
Fire the army
Teach the poor origami
The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart start asking,
"What's my motivation?"

And try as you may, there isn't a way
To explain the kind of change
That would make an Eskimo renounce fur
That would make a vegetarian barbecue hamster
Unless you can trace this about-face
To a certain sign...

[Chorus]
Shine
Make 'em wonder what you've got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let 'em see good works, and then
Let 'em glorify the Lord

Out of the shaker and onto the plate
It isn't Karma
It sure ain't fate
That would make a Deadhead sell his van
That would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks
And science seeks a rationale
That shall excuse
This strange behavior

When you let it shine
You will inspire
The kind of entire turnaround
That would make a bouncer take ballet
(even bouncers who aren't happy)
But out of the glare
With nowhere to turn
You ain't gonna learn it on "What's My Line?"
[chorus]

Sorry, I couldn't find a decent version of this on Youtube. But you should go find it somewhere and listen to it. Why? 'Cause it's just as awesome as the lyrics are funny. And it's just awesome. Just sayin'.

One Heartbeat at a Time - Steven Curtis Chapman

 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:30-31

Love ya, Mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Secret Ambition - Michael W Smith

Nobody knew his secret ambition
Nobody knew his claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful position
Running to those who called his name
But nobody knew his secret ambition
Was to give his life away...

Now ~ what's your secret ambition? No pressure ;-)

Whip My Hair - Willow Smith

I hate this song. It bugs me to no end, and every time it comes on the radio at work, I have to fight the urge to run screaming. I detest it to the very core of my being.

So why post a song that you can't stand, you say?
Because it still gets stuck in my head. And why is that? Presentation. It's catchy. If anyone else told me to whip my hair,  they'd be on the floor and I'd be re-loading before you could snap your fingers. And as much as I hate to say it, if Willow Smith told me to do it, it just might happen. Rhetoric is so much more than just words. It's everything. Say anything in the right way, to the right people and at the right time, and you can say whatever you want. It's that simple.

And just so you didn't have to go count it yourself (because I know you want to know), she says it seventy times. S.E.V.E.N.T.Y. T.I.M.E.S. (yeah. that's the part that bugs me.)

Still Alive - Portal 1 Credits

To be played after playing the game...

...or, after a long and stressful week. Enjoy ~ it always cheers me up :-)

(Just listen and don't try to read it, which I guarantee will damage your sight. Sorry these videos are so tiny.)

Something to Say - Matthew West

 

Notice the rhetoric ~ not only in the song itself, but the well-placed scripture throughout the entire video. This one doesn't pop up first when you search the song on Youtube, but it's my favorite because of those verses.

The Ultimate Love Song

You know my name
You know my story
Still you have taken on the world
Just for me
And I am amazed that you hear me speaking
You listen close to every word I say
Who am I to be loved this way?

~ "You Know My Name" by Detour 180

Yes, there's only one who's this perfect. And he actually acknowledges my existence ~ me! And even better than that... he died for me. Gotta love that guy.

Born Again - Newsboys

 

Who says us stuffy Christians can't rock out? Not me :-)

You Raise Me Up - Celtic Woman

My own little world

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population: me

...I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s
Population: me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

~ some of the lyrics from "My Own Little World" by Matthew West

You are More - Tenth Avenue North