Second Tuesday of Advent: "Made New" by Lincoln Brewster

This is a song a just found.  I heard it right before heading to confession and it hit me really hard.  Going to confession is going to make me new, give me a new start, new hope.  During confession I was told that we cannot control the past or the future, even future hope, but we can control this moment.  This is our advent now.  We are to make the most of it.

The Video:




The Lyrics:  

You're calling me over
You're pulling me close
With love You surround me
You give me hope

You're taking me deeper
You're making me whole
With grace You redeem me
You restore my soul

Now I'm made new
Because of You

You hold my head up
You remind me who I am
You hold my head up
I'm alive in You again
I'm made new

You're making me stronger
You're healing my heart
With Your hands You hold me
And You set me apart

You are my salvation
I will not fear
You're the strength of my life
I won't fear

Immaculate Conception: "Let it be" by the Beatles

Okay, so this is not traditional Mary song, but it is one of my favorite Beatles songs of all time.


The Video:


The Lyrics:

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Yeah there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Ah let it be, yeah let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music,
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Yeah let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah let it be
Oh there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, yeah let it be
Oh there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Ah let it be, yeah let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Second Sunday of Advent: "Healing Begins" by Tenth Avenue North

So I had a rough day today and I need something to tell me it will be okay, that I can continue.  I found this song:

The Video:




The Lyrics:

So you thought you had to keep this up 
All the work that you do 
So we think that you're good 
And you can't believe it's not enough 
All the walls you built up 
Are just glass on the outside 

So let 'em fall down 
There's freedom waiting in the sound 
When you let your walls fall to the ground 
We're here now 

This is where the healing begins, oh 
This is where the healing starts 
When you come to where you're broken within 
The light meets the dark 
The light meets the dark 

Afraid to let your secrets out 
Everything that you hide 
Can come crashing through the door now 
But too scared to face all your fear 
So you hide but you find 
That the shame won't disappear 

So let it fall down 
There's freedom waiting in the sound 
When you let your walls fall to the ground 
We're here now 
We're here now, oh 

This is where the healing begins, oh 
This is where the healing starts 
When you come to where you're broken within 
The light meets the dark 
The light meets the dark 

Sparks will fly as grace collides 
With the dark inside of us 
So please don't fight 
This coming light 
Let this blood come cover us 
His blood can cover us 

This is where the healing begins, oh 
This is where the healing starts 
When you come to where you're broken within 
The light meets the dark 
The light meets the dark

Short Reflection:

I am so broken today.  I know I have been writing a lot of about hope, but inside I am still very broken and still hurting a lot.   I am scared to ask for help most days.  My secret that I hide is tearing me apart, it hurts me a lot and yet I continue to fall.   I know I am resisting the healing because of so many reasons.  I hope this songs give you hope as it gives me hope.

First Saturday of Advent: "Listen to the Sound" by Building 429

New song for me.  Yay!  Really like the words:

The Video:


The Lyrics:

Are you in over your head?
Are you on water so deep your drowning?
Do you think you've been left
And there is no on to feel your hurting
Well everybody has been there
And everybody's felt lost
If you're in over your head lift it up, lift it up... oh!

[Chorus]
Listen to the sound of hope
That's rising up over your old horizon
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound...
And listen to the sound of a new beginning of
This is where the old is ending
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound...

I hear you say your alone
I hear you sayin' that you'll never make it
I've got to tell you, you're wrong
Cuz' I have been down this path you're takin'
You'll never know what faith is
Till' you don't understand
Sometimes it takes the silence
To finally hear his plans...oh!

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
I once was lost but now I'm found [2x]

Listen to the sound of hope
That's rising up over your old horizon
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound...
And listen to the sound of a new beginning of
This is where the old is ending
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound...oh!

His grace is reaching for us
His grace is reaching out
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound
Wherever you are... [2x]

Reflection:

How true is this?  Everyone has at some point felt lost.  I like a few lines in this song.  The first is

"You'll never know what faith is

Till' you don't understand
Sometimes it takes the silence
To finally hear his plans...oh!"

Wow!  I can personally say that is true.  I have been there, not understanding but still believing and then I understand that is what Faith is.  it is beleving when the world says to stop.  It is believing in Him and His grace even if we don't feel anything, when we are ready to give up on God.  I have wanted to give up so many times, but my Faith knowing that He is real kept me from running away.  I may have lost hope, but never my Faith.  I need to remember these two go hand in hand.

The second lines I like:

"And listen to the sound of a new beginning of

This is where the old is ending"

When we believe in Hope and Faith then we have a new beginning, when we hit rock bottom then that is when God can begin to work.  I have felt this so many times in my life.  If you are at rock bottom (or what you think is rock bottom)  please turn back to God and not run away from Him.

First Friday of Advent: "Tunnel" by Third Day

Sorry this post it two days late.  This is a long time favorite of mine.  I heard this live and it was incredible.

The Video:




The Lyrics:

I won't pretend to know what you're thinking 
I can't begin to know what you're going through 
I won't deny the pain that you're feeling 
But I'm gonna try and give a little hope to you 

Just remember what I've told you 
There's so much you're living for 

There's a light at the end of this tunnel 
There's a light at the end of this tunnel 
For you, for you 
There's a light at the end of this tunnel 
Shinin' bright at the end of this tunnel 
For you, for you 
So keep holdin' on 

You've got your disappointments and sorrows 
You ought to share the weight of that load with me 
Then you will find that the light of tomorrow 
Brings a new life for your eyes to see 

So remember what I've told you 
There's so much you're living for

Reflection:

The words sort of speak for themselves here.  But the first verse is just being there for someone and giving them hope without trying to give advice or saying it will all be okay.  This song acknowledges life can suck but there is hope and there is light.  Advent is about hope and light so this song is perfect for this season.  The second verse tells it how is it, that we have sorrows but if we can give them over to Jesus than tomorrow will be a little better.  

First Thursday of Advent: "There is a Way" by NewworldSon

Yesterday at confession the priest said something that stuck with me.  "Advent reminds us that we need a savior"

With that in mind I heard this song on the radio today and it fit.

The Video:


The Lyrics:

You say love is just a word, just four letters in a row. 

Just a thing that people say, or they never tell you so. 

And you use every excuse, to let nobody in. 

Now this cloud you bring around, has become your only friend. 

And everybody saying that it's going to go away, but it don't go. 

And everybody's telling you one day it's going to change, but you don't know, if it's really going to end. 

But there is a way, there is a spark,

there is a hope that you can hold on to. 

There is a lifeline come to the rescue, just like a hand that's waiting for you. 

And if you believe in this I promise that you won't be alone. 

There is a way, the truth and the life, and the way. 

But if love became a man, if the word had flesh and bone. 

Would you recognize His face, if He came to bring you home. 

You think you're all alone, gotta do it on your own riding solo. 

Is there someone you can call, when you stumble and fall? 

Cause you don't know, if you'll be getting up again. 

Don't you think your life's worth saving? 

Don't you know that love's amazing? 

Don't you want to lay your troubles down? 

Lay them down. 

If I thought love was just a word, I might feel the same way too. 

But there's so much more than that, and it's waiting here for you. 

There is a way, there is a spark,

there is a hope that you can hold on to. 

There is a lifeline come to the rescue, just like a hand that's waiting for you. 

And if you believe in this I promise that you won't be alone. 

There is a way,

there is a way,

there is a way. 

(Background) Truth and the life and the way. 

Come on, there is a way. 

(Background) Truth and the life and the way. 

There is a way,

there is a way. 

(Background) Truth and the life and the way. 

There is a way. 

(Background) Truth and the life and the way. 

Ooooh, there is a way back home. 

(Background) Truth and the life and the way.

Reflection:

The line that struck me: "Don't you think your life's worth saving? "   At my lowest points I did not think this, but now I believe it is trust.  God did send us a savior and each of us is worth saving.  

First Wednesday of Advent: "What Faith Can Do" - by Kutless

This is a long time favorite of mine.

The Video (forgive the ad):



The Lyrics: 

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes
And make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger
Stronger than you know

Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

A very short reflection:
This song is about having faith to keep going.  While is not directly about hope, it helps me remember to keep going, which is having hope.  My favorite line is "Broken hearts become brand new" because I know my heart is still broken and I am healing it now.

First Tuesday of Advent: "Hold Fast" - Mercy Me

CD1 hit on this day.  I was feeling rather down about myself.  I didnt' think we even TTC this cycle, but was still down.  It was the worst pain leading up to CD1 I have had in over a year and it was not stopping.  I felt really hopeless.  This song picked me up.    I love this video, the images are perfect.

The Video:

The Lyrics:

To everyone who's hurting
To those who've had enough
To all the undeserving
That should cover all of us
Please do not let go
I promise there is hope

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He's come to save the day
What I've learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast

Will this season ever pass?
Can we stop this ride?
Will we see the sun at last?
Or could this be our lot in life?
Please do not let go
I promise you there's hope

You may think you're all alone
And there's no way that anyone could know
What you're going through
But if you only hear one thing
Just understand that we are all the same
Searching for the truth
The truth of what we're soon to face
Unless someone comes to take our place
Is there anyone?
All we want is to be free
Free from our captivity, Lord
Here He comes

General Reflection:
How many times are we all been in that place that feels like there is no hope.  That everything is working against us.  We ask if this will pass and if God stills knows us and loves us.  While in our heads we know that this will pass and God is love and loves us dearly, in our hearts we do not feel it.  This was me for so long.  I could not feel God's love, I didn't feel his presence in me at all.  I felt all alone that I couldn't talk to anyone about it.  But slowly I have been coming out of  that dark place.  When I fall back into like I did the past couple of days, this song reminds me that God will come to save me, in fact he already did by sending His only SON as a baby to rescue us.  I do not have all the answers, but I know there is hope.

If you are in a dark place right now, please keep praying, please keep hoping.  It took me almost 9 years to feel God truly back in my life, but it has changed me so much.   These lyrics are my favorite, espicially for us going through IF:

"And there's no way that anyone could know
What you're going through
But if you only hear one thing
Just understand that we are all the same
Searching for the truth"

I cannot understand what you are going through anymore than you can understand my journey.  Each journey is different, but we are looking for the truth.  Please know each and everyone of you are in my prayers this advent.

First Monday of Advent: "Only Hope" - by Switchfoot

This is two days late I know, but I have been busy getting a house put together.  Today's song is one I recently heard, it is from one of my favorite movies/books: A walk to Remember.  In the movie Mandy Moore sings it, but I like the Switchfoot version better because I don't picture the love scene as much.

Here is the video:



The Lyrics:
                                                                  

There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
and pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now you're my only hope

Sing to me the song of the stars
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing
and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again

And I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray 
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope

I give You my apathy
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back

A short reflection:

This song never spoke to me about hope before, I just liked the song, but really listen to the lyrics and I feel it speaks to me so much.  There are several lines that pop out at me:

"There's a song that's inside of my soul" - I am no singer, but I feel part of me is bound up inside and cannot get out.  I feel like this is so true for so many of us, whether it is to be a mother, to be a spiritual mother, to make an impact, etc.  For me I feel the best part of me is trapped inside. 

"I know now you're my only hope" - There is the title of the song.  In God alone is our hope, our only hope.  The only way to get the best part of me out is to allow me to do it.  There is simply no other way.

 

"Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again" -  I conitnue to pray that God keeps whispering those plans for me and each one of you.  We will eventually hear them when we are ready and not a moment before.  We can have hope in that, we can have trust in that.

This advent, I am making that my prayer, to have the hope that God will reveal his plans to me, to tear down barriers so I can know Him better.

First Sunday of Advent: Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)

First Song:  Song of Hope (Heaven come Down)

Running list of the songs can be found here

I have never heard of this song, but when I did a search for Advent songs of hope, this song kept showing up.


 

 And as promised the Lyrics: 

"Song Of Hope (Heaven Come Down)" 

written by Daniel Garth Hamilton;tedd Tjornhom;robert Earl Seay;chase Jenkins;ryan Owens;taylor Scott Johnson.

All things bright and beautiful You are
All things wise and wonderful You are
In my darkest night You brighten up the skies
A song will rise

I will sing a song of hope, sing along
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Just to know that You are near is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down, yeah

All the things new, I can start again
Creator God, calling me Your friend
Sing praise, my soul to the Maker of the skies
A song will rise

I will sing a song of hope, sing along
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Just to know that You are near is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down

Oh, sing a song of hope, sing along
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Just to know You and be loved is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down

Hallelujah, sing
Hallelujah, sing, sing
Oh, Hallelujah, sing

Sing a song of hope, sing along
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Just to know that You are near is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down

Oh, sing a song of hope, sing along
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Just to know that You are near is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down

Oh, sing a song of hope, sing along
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Just to know You and be loved is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down, yeah

Heaven come down
Heaven come down
Heaven come down
Heaven come down
Heaven come down

Reflection:

Advent is all about hope.  Hope in the second coming, hope in Christ.  This song reminds us that heaven will come down one day and we are to be ready for Him.  

My favorite lines:

In my darkest night You brighten up the skies
A song will rise

those two lines remind each and every one of us that even when we are surrounded by darkness, Christ will lighten up our lives and a song will rise out of our lives.  We might not know what that song is yet, but it will rise if we allow Christ in.  This song reminds us to keep looking up and know that God is near.