Music.
And a heart for worship.
I thank God for both.
There’s something about lyrics that send shivers up my spine, and sweet sweet melodies that ring in my head all the day long.
It’s a real thing out here on the road less traveled…
Every month on the race I had a song or two that spoke to me tremendously.
These songs were the anthems of my days, the background of my morning quiet times and the roots of team/squad worship sessions.
The Soundtrack Of My Race
the song(s) and the significance in the month
No Longer Slaves by Jonathan and Melissa Helser
[El Slavador] We sang this song on stage at Mas Que Vencedores for worship one night. All month I meditated on Galatians 4:7, “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
He breaks our chains and redeems our souls. We are not bound by shame, or guilt, or fear of our past or present but walk in closeness to our Master. The One who set us free.
We’ve been liberated from our bondage.
We’re the sons and the daughters.
Let us sing our freedom!
I’m Not In A Hurry by Will Reagan
Simple Gospel by United Pursuit
[journal entry from Guatemala] “I was anxious. I was excited. I wanted to run ahead. And You want to teach me how to slow down, and rest in Your presence.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but He surely showed me. His Spirit, His Presence, His Voice, it’s ours for the taking when we learn to listen. Listening requires a nearness, a quietness. Both of which helps me slow down my hurry and to remember the simple gospel. When He reaches out and He finds us in the dust and He says no amount of untruths can separate us.
Out Of Hiding by Stephanie Gretzinger
Take A Moment by Will Reagan
[Honduras] If I had to choose the hardest month, Honduras would be it. Ministry was incredible, but the heat, confined space and very little freedom to go anywhere left me feeling very stuck. Personally, I was wrestling with how to overcome a mind constantly full of negative thoughts and thankfully I had enough space and the fullness of His grace to figure it out. In all the mess I had to take a moment to remember who God is and who I am… and that as His very own, He was with me in the struggle. ** Matthew 11:28-30
And now I’ll be your lighthouse when you’re lost at sea, and I will illuminate
everything. No need to be frightened by intimacy; No, just throw off your fear
And come running to Me
Wonder by Hillsong
When You Walk Into A Room by Bryan & Katie Torwalt
[Nicaragua] Such a refreshing month. And, if I had to choose a favorite month it would be Nica. We worked with an incredible organization, REAP Granada, that poured into my team as much as they did their community. Their vision of discipleship and empowering locals to leadership in their village brought to my attention how important it is to tell the ones around you- that you believe in them. One night, we celebrated numerous baptisms and heard testimonies of young adults finding God and experiencing his love in such powerful ways.
Have you ever seen the wonder
In the air of second life
Having come out of the waters
With the old one left behind
If you have so say…
This Is Living Now (Acoustic) Hillsong Young & Free
[Cote d’Ivoire] Yep, call us Jesus celebrities. At first it didn’t sit well with me but y’all it was seriously the case. Our host loved when we sang these upbeat songs. They’d give us a microphone and we wouldn’t use it because they played the song so loud. We sang and danced to the original version of the song mentioned above, and I’m Free by the Planetshakers. It was crazy! Every phone was video taping or taking pictures. And the entire time I could see we weren’t actually the reason for the flash, so to God be the glory! So many selfies, so many dance moves…
…This freedom’s untainted with You
No moment is wasted!
This is living now!
Abba by Jonathan David Helser
[Ghana] This month I dug deep into intimacy with my heavenly Father. I always knew I belonged to Him, but spending time with him every morning enhances my definition of belonging. That I didn’t just belong; I belonged all along.
You came running down my prodigal road
You came running with a ring and a robe
Grace is the collision on the way back home
With the arms of a Father who won’t let go.
Head to the Heart by United Pursuit
Surrounded (Fight My Battles) by Michael W. Smith
[Nepal] Month seven, there was a shift. Not only in temperatures and elevation, but also my heart. A shift from consuming all the Lord had taught me, to now desiring to give it all away. And by give it all away, I meant share. How did I manage to pull through the struggles? Because He surrounds me in the battle (my fight song). How did the journey keep getting tougher and tougher, but better and better? Because there’s no shame in looking like a fool when I give Him what I can’t keep to take a hold of Him.
Start A Fire by Unspoken
To Live Is Christ by Sidewalk Prophets
[India] ‘A wildfire starts from the most dry places.’ Words spoken over our squad as we came into this country. Words that rang so true. Without a doubt we traveled to the driest of places- both literally and figuratively. We set fires through sharing messages and giving testimonies of God’s faithfulness to unreached people groups.
Paul shoots it straight, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Mighty Cross (Acoustic) by Elevation Worship
Miracles by Jesus Culture
[Thailand] We spent our Easter Sunday Sunrise service at one of the highest points in Chiang Mai, the Wat Doi Suthep temple. Mighty Cross was my hymn.
Because the greatest miracle there ever was, was the birth of a Son who chose to die for me!
The God who was and is to come
The power of the Risen One
The God who brings the dead to life
You’re the God of miracles
And we were praying for a miracle! Believing healing for a squad-mate who had suffered double compression fractures in her spine. I sat on the floor of our hostel believing that He’d do it- and he did.
Into the Deep by Citipointe
Lost in Wonder by Jonathan Ogden
[Malaysia] Stuck, but not really, on an island for a month fully disconnected with the rest of the world and fully engaged in the wonder of the deep. And this is what happened- He reintroduced me to His love. I was caught in the wonder (still am) as He had taken me over and won my heart in the most kind and tender way. Just in time for my year 27!
So I fall down at [His] feet
Lost in wonder, worshipping
Leave Me Astounded by Planetshakers
Let It Happen by United Pursuit
[Indonesia] That still small voice- I hear it. As it whispers to my heart to let it go and to be alive... to let go of the worries of the future, the what if’s of the what’s next and to BE ALIVE. to take it all in, soak it all up.
I go back to the beginning.
And I think of the journey
How much more it has been.
How much more it will continue to be .
And just as You have, and will continue to do…
Leave me astounded, leave me amazed
Show off Your glory, let heaven invade
XOXO
Tay
[Thanks for following me on this journey. Thank you for the love and support. If you want, I challenge you to take a listen! Check out each song and jot down the story or memories or thoughts or feelings God writes on your heart when you do.]
