OH, is THAT what they're saying?

Yesterday at church, the youth minister preached to the young people that are going back to school. He did an awesome job. Minister Wilson, if you’re reading this, it was great. Anyway, in his message he mentions some of the new generation songs and one of the songs I believe was called “Bedrock.” He shared the lyrics and something got to me. I realize the older I get, the more I understand lyrics. I’m a 90’s kid through and through, and I make no apologies for it. I grew up in the boy-band era. We had Backstreet Boys, N’Sync, 98 Degrees, Hanson, etc. Of course there was hip-hop, but I really didn’t get into that until like 6th grade. By that time it was No Limit, Cash Money…

Ok, let me get to the point. The major point of this blog is that you never know what the lyrics of a song actually mean sometimes unless you’ve been there or you’re intelligent enough to understand. Of course you can be intelligent enough but still lack the experience. Like that old song by Brandy called, “Have You Ever.” I always thought it was a pretty song. Nicely put together. Although I never truly understood the lyrics until I literally couldn’t sleep at night because I was in love, or until I literally tried to find the words but they didn’t come out right. Or that old song by the now defunct N’Sync called, “I Drive Myself Crazy.” Again, I liked that song. Yes I liked some of stuff boy-bands put out…sue me. Anyway, I knew the lyrics, word for word, but it wasn’t until that I drove myself crazy loving a girl the way that I did, or I lay awake at night driving myself crazy thinking of a girl.

Ok, let’s take it to church. “I Give Myself Away” by William McDowell. Anybody would say that’s an awesome worship song mainly because people go into God’s presence after hearing it and/or singing it. It’s not until you literally give yourself away, you forget about everything going on in your life, you give all of that up just let God use you that those lyrics mean something. How about this song that says, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all he has done for me, my soul cries out Hallelujah, thank God for saving me.” You know somebody uses that line everyday. Some use it because it’s cliché. Other’s actually think of the goodness of Jesus, and all that He’s done in his or her life, and literally feels a joy inside of them that makes praise comes out their soul.

Sticking with church for a little bit more, this is exactly why it’s good to study the lyrics of songs your sing. No choir should ever sing a song just because it’s hot. A popular song says, “My heart is fixed, my mind’s made up. No room no vacancies, I’m all filled up.” Those words can’t have power when you’re living any kind of way. Live what you’re singing about. That’s a must. “Daniel, you got to live what you’re blogging about.” Yep, you’re right, and I’ll admit right here and now that I haven’t been doing a good job of that lately. I ask for your prayers.

As you comment, name some songs that you didn’t quite get at first until you lived it. Secular and/or church. Thanks for reading.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson