lifesong
Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Shine your light in
Let the whole world see
We're singing, for the glory
Of the risen King
Jesus, Shine your light in
Let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory
Of the risen king
Sunday, October 02, 2005
-1:51 pm
Burn the Shipsby Steven Curtis Chapman and James Isaac Elliott
[Luke 9:62, Philippians 3:12-14, John 10:10]
In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying
Chorus:
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn
In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you knew"
But the one who led us here is saying
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn
Bridge:
Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn
I find the parellels drawn with faith and fear in this song very compelling. There are allusions to the Bible extremely apt and it's a really effective illustration of abandoning our lives and pasts to follow Jesus and step into our destiny.
Indeed, "no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." The imagery of abandoning and burning the ships creates a sense of total surrender and faith in knowing what we're here for, that the one who led us here will see us through. Amazing. Wish I could write songs like Steven Curtis Chapman. They're awesome. I shall work on it!
This song means a lot more to me than I can say. I guess, especially after yesterday's service, the issue of total abandonment has been tugging at my heart. I heard God's voice, I know what He said to me during that time of worship, though admittedly I was having trouble focusing at that point. Yet, the words He spoke were loud and clear. It was that familiar voice, that tone which causes me to just leave everything behind and let myself be lost in His fragrance, that beautiful, enchanting presence.
Majesty, Majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in Your hands
Even when singing that song, I truly felt such adoration and gratefulness, like what you would feel if someone saved you from self-destruction, from blind ignorance and sin. That same voice has been telling me to let go, time and time again, but I am a traitor, betraying that very unconditional love for me by holding on to selfish desires.
I hear God telling me to be brutal about it. You can't love the world and love God at the same time. You have to hate the world if you want to love God. No, some things cannot be compromised. Yet I find myself struggling to tear away from something I have grown to value so much. But I know that it is the cost of following Jesus I am willing pay.
How nice it would be to say that I have always heeded the call of God and surrendered completely without questioning or hesitation. But I have to say that truthfully, it isn't that way. The struggle is real, something which I've always chastised myself for because I know the gracious love of the Father has saved me time and time again, even though I've let Him down. I've fallen, more times than I would like to admit but He promised that He'll catch me each time. And He did. And still will, I believe.
But I hate feeling as though God is my safety net, to fall back on when I get myself into yet another mess. I want so much to do more for God, to give Him more than what I think I can give; my life is not enough. A few lines of a song I wrote goes, "I am undeserving... O Lord, my debt I can't repay, You bought my life with Yours. Just to serve You, I am thankful."
I know what I need to do. Once and for all. I just ask that He'll give me the courage and strength to overcome. It's going to be painful, but it has to be done. Let the dead bury their own dead. When Jesus says, "Follow me," I'm going to need to drop everything immediately and leave behind the life I have once known, to seek a higher cause and be with my one true love all the rest of my life.
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