Notes on the Notes – July 25, 2021
This week’s music:
“Be a Light”
“In a time full of war, be peace.
In a time full of doubt, just believe.
Yeah, there ain’t that much difference between you and me.
In a time full of war, be peace.
In a world full of hate, be a light.
When you do somebody wrong, make it right.
Don’t hide in the dark; you were born to shine.
In a world full of hate, be a light.”
Our candle-lighting response for the summer is the opening of the song “Be a Light,” recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett and featuring guest vocals from Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban. It was released on March 30, 2020.
Rhett said that he wrote the song in 2019, but chose to release it because he thought its message would be well received in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He told Billboard that the song “was really just about being a light in a dark place; being an encouragement to people.” He co-wrote the song with Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson, and Josh Miller.
Hear the full song at: https://youtu.be/8YuWAZmD0aU
“Come, Just as You Are”
“Come just as you are,
Hear the Spirit call.
Come just as you are –
Come and see, come receive, come and live forever.
Life everlasting,
And strength for today,
Taste the Living Water and never thirst again.”
Our opening song invites us to come as we are, with all of our faults and failures, and cast the burdens we have on the Lord to find the healing only God can provide.
Those who are feeling weighed down in life are allowed to cry out in hope or just soak in the words and music, while those who are experiencing a time when life seems perfect can sing this song to encourage others and remember how God has brought healing in their life.
The words and music for this song were written by Joseph Sabolick in 1994.
“Blessed to Be a Blessing”
“Blessed to be a blessing. Blessed to live your love.
Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.
Blessed to walk in mercy. Blessed to light the way.
Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.
Oh my Jesus, You have blessed me.
You died for me to take my sin away.
Now You live Your life in me and the love received is love I give away.
Blessed to be a blessing. Blessed to live your love…
Oh my Jesus, make me a blessing.
In my work and play, in everything I do.
Oh, let Your blessing flow through me,
That in seeing me, may others see You.
Blessed to be a blessing. Blessed to live your love…
Blessed for living this new day, a gift from You to give a way.
Blessed for sharing, blessed for caring,
Blessing for growing, blessed for sowing.
Blessed to be a blessing today.
Blessed to be a blessing. Blessed to live your love.
Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.
Blessed to walk in mercy. Blessed to light the way.
Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.”
This song by Michael Schmid reminds us of the many ways that we have been richly blessed by God. Having been so blessed we are called to be a blessing to others, shining forth God’s life in our lives. This song was written for St. John’s Lutheran School in Napa, California as the school’s theme song for the 2001-2002 school year.
“Take on Me”
I don’t know what
I’m to say I’ll say it anyway
Today’s another day to find you
Shying away
I’ll be coming for your love, okay?
Take me on, (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two
I’m odds and ends
I’ll be stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is OK
Say after me
It’s no better to be safe than sorry
Take me on, (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two
Is it live or
Just to play my worries away
You’re all the things I’ve got to remember
You’re shying away
I’ll be coming for you anyway
Take me on, (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day
In a day (take me on, take on me)
(Take on me, take on me)
(Take me on, take on me)
(Take on me)”
“Go Light Your World”
“There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let’s raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times..”
This song was written by Chris Rice in 1995 and recorded by Kathy Troccoli. In 2004, Chris Rice also recorded the song.
“The message is clear, but the call us difficult. “Run to the darkness.”
Very often, as followers of Jesus, we think that God wants us to stay away from places that are filled with hopelessness.
Yet, if we are to be bearers of the hope of Christ, it does us no good to remain only among the hopeful.
A friend was working in a house where all the electricity had been turned off. He wanted to clean out the entire house, but the basement was a challenge. He could not see the dangers of the room or the items that needed to be removed. It was only when light was brought into that dark space that his work could be completed.
As bearers of God’s promise and God’s hope, we must run toward those places where hope is missing…
And as we run toward the darkness, we are seeking “the helpless, confused and torn”. These are the people who are ignored by many, the people who need a special touch of Jesus, the people who slip through the cracks…” (Source: http://hatborobaptist.org/you-are-the-light-of-the-world/)
“Go, Make a Difference” (MV #209)
“Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.
We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a difference in the world.
We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope; we are the voice of peace.
Go make a difference in the world.
So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see.
Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go.
Go make a difference in the world.”
This lively song sends us out to carry our faith into the world. The first verse is a direct references to the Gospel of Matthew. The song was written by Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek in 1997.
See Steve Angrisano sing the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQJ4TLRy1KI
“Step by Step”
“Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days.”
This contemporary praise chorus was written in 1991 by Beaker -a pseudonym for David Strasser, a Christian songwriter and musician well known for his collaborations with artist Rich Mullins. When Beaker was in the seventh grade, his youth pastor introduced him to his friend Rich Mullins, and the two soon became collaborators. Beaker co-wrote, performed, and toured with Mullins for several years. In the mid-90s, Beaker dropped out of the spotlight to focus on family life. Rich Mullins incorporated “Step by Step” into his song “Sometimes by Step.” In 2002, “Step by Step” was recorded by Michael W. Smith and retains its popularity to this day.
Hear Michael W. Smith singing the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve720TWDZdg
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