Redemption comes in strange places

I was doing some work today for Blood:Water, a few things specifically for Sara Groves and facilitating B:W support on her tour. I thought I'd use her album as the soundtrack. The subjects of the lyrics were mirroring my present situation in all my thoughts, hopes and fears a little too closely. Let's continue: The week before I picked back up with two books that I had unfortunately only sporadically been reading for pleasure and study, and to which I was quite grateful to return. Subsequently, the points in the book that I had reached were not only speaking of the very things that were distressing me at the time, but one even contained a passage quoting the other despite their being very different types of books whose contents wouldn't seem likely to cross. Furthermore, at the time I was at a church-related retreat and the content of the preacher's sermons was for a large part following along simultaneously with my reading, possibly even ripped directly out of the pages of the chapter in one of the books.

Life's like this sometimes, the work of the Spirit I suppose. I've experienced this eerie wonder in times past, usually with welcomed surprise and excitement, but this time something's amiss. It's almost a resentfulness toward God's lack of subtlety. It's funny really, we all pray so demandingly for God to give us clarity as we stumble along in the dark, I basically receive nothing much short of a voice from the burning bush, and my pride runs so deep that I'm actually bitter about it! I'd shout, "Unbelievable!" if I didn't know myself too well. This is the face of insanity. In contrast it's the sanity-restoring voice of the Gospel, which declares that even as Christians we still need God's grace to allow us to accept his good gifts because truth be told we don't want them. We'd rather do it ourselves.


and here's why her album is brilliant to me:

"When It Was Over"

When it was over and they could talk about it
She said there's just one thing I have got to know
What in that moment when you were running so hard and fast
Made you stop and turn for home
He said I always knew you loved me even though I'd broken your heart
I always knew there'd be a place for me to make a brand new start

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

When it was over and they could talk about it
They were sitting on the couch
She said what on earth made you stay here
When you finally figured out what I was all about
He said I always knew you'd do the right thing
Even though it might take some time
She said, Yeah, I felt that and that's probably what saved my life

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

There is a love that never fails
There is a healing that always prevails
There is a hope that whispers a vow
A promise to stay while we're working it out
So come with your love and wash over us

"Loving a Person"

Loving a person just the way they are, it's no small thing
It takes some time to see things through
Sometimes things change, sometimes we're waiting
We need grace either way

Hold on to me
I'll hold on to you
Let's find out the beauty of seeing things through

There's a lot of pain in reaching out and trying
It's a vulnerable place to be
Love and pride can't occupy the same spaces baby
Only one makes you free

Hold on to me
I'll hold on to you
Let's find out the beauty of seeing things through

If we go looking for offense
We're going to find it
If we go looking for real love
We're going to find it

Loving a person just the way they are, that's no small thing
That's the whole thing
Loving me just the way I am, it's no small thing
Takes some time, Takes some time, Takes some time

"Add to the Beauty"

We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold, that only we can hold

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work

It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find it's worth

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace, an invitation

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out our best

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

"It's Going To Be Alright"

I can tell by your eyes that you're not getting any sleep
And you try to rise above it, but feel you're sinking in too deep
Oh, oh I believe, I believe that

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

I believe you'll outlive this pain in you heart
And you'll gain such a strength from what is tearing you apart
Oh, oh I believe I believe that

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

When some time has past us, and the story if retold
It will mirror the strength and the courage in your soul
Oh, oh, I believe I believe,

I did not come here to offer you clichÈ's
I will not pretend to know of all your pain
Just when you cannot, then I will hold out faith, for you

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright
We're going to be alright
It's going to be alright
I believe
I believe you're going to be alright
I believe I'm going to be alright
I believe we're going to be alright

I can tell by your eyes that you're not getting any sleep
And you try to rise above it, but feel you're sinking in too deep
But I believe
Cast your cares on me

"Something Changed"

Something changed inside me broke wide open all spilled out
Till I had no doubt that something changed

Never would have believed it till I felt it in my own heart
In the deepest part the healing came

Something so amazing in a heart so dark and dim
When a wall falls down and the light comes in

And I cannot make it
And I cannot fake it
And I can't afford it
But it's mine

[all songs by sara groves from the album, add to the beauty]