U2 - Gloria

While this song is not exactly 'modern', one could argue that it definitely falls into the category of a 'pop' hymn, which is timeless.

When I first heard this song in the 80's, I thought it was about a girl called Gloria, because I didn't know latin, and I didn't have access to modern day tools like google translate.

If you translate the latin, you get something like:

Glory be to thee, O Lord 
Glory be glad 


When the lyrics talk about trying to stand up, but not being able to it reminds me of stories in the Bible of the manifest glory of God  'When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because of the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying 'He is good; his love endures forever.' 


The lyrics about trying to speak up, and 'Oh Lord, loosen my lips', remind me of Isaiah's encounter with the LORD. 'Woe is me!' I cried, 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.... and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD almighty.' Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'


Then there is also the reference to the door being open, and 'You're standing there, you let me in'.
This reminds me of Jesus saying 'I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.'

Gloria by U2 is a beautiful song of worship.

Gloria...
I try to sing this song
I, I try to stand up
But I can't find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I'm complete
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Gloria...Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips

I try to sing this song
I, I try to get in
But I can't find the door
The door is open
You're standing there
You let me in

Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Oh Lord, if I had anything
Anything at all
I'd give it to you
I'd give it to you


Lyrics from http://www.sing365.com/

Rihanna - We Found Love

Everyone is looking for love. When we do find love, it is worth singing about as Rihanna does so well.
But what does true love look like ?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not 

envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It 

is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not

 easily angered, it keeps no record of 

wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but 

rejoices with the truth. It always protects,

always trusts, always hopes, always per-

severs. 

   Love never fails.  

Just as Rihanna sings, sometimes it is when we hit rock bottom in that 'hopeless' place, that we realise what is important, and who is important.


WE FOUND LOVE - RIHANNA (feat. Calvin Harris)

It's like you're screaming, and no one can hear
You almost feel ashamed
That someone could be that important
That without them, you feel like nothing
No one will ever understand how much it hurts
You feel hopeless; like nothing can save you
And when it's over, and it's gone
You almost wish that you could have all that bad stuff back
So that you could have the good

Yellow diamonds in the light
Now we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive

It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

Shine a light through an open door
Love a life I will divide
Turn away 'cause I need you more
Feel the heartbeat in my mind

It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

Yellow diamonds in the light
Now we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rihanna/wefoundlove.html

David Guetta - Without You Featuring Usher

David Guetta and Usher may not intend this song to be about someone declaring their dependance on God, and a desire to be with God, rather than without, but regardless of their intention, I redeem this song as a modern day hymn.

The famous songwriter of the ancient world, the legendary King David, often wrote of his desire to be in the presence of God.
'One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.' Psalm 27:4

He also pleads with God, not to forsake or reject him. 'Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.' Psalm 27:9

Success is no success, if we are doing it without God.

Moses also acknowledged his desire not to do anything apart from God.
'If you Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? Exodus 33:15,16

DAVID GUETTA LYRICS


"Without You"
(feat. Usher)

I can't win, I can't reign
I will never win this game
Without you, without you
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you

I won't run, I won't fly
I will never make it by
Without you, without you
I can't rest, I can't fight
All I need is you and I,
Without you, without you

Oh oh oh!
You! You! You!
Without...
You! You! You!
Without...you

Can't erase, so I'll take blame
But I can't accept that we're estranged
Without you, without you
I can't quit now, this can't be right
I can't take one more sleepless night
Without you, without you

I won't soar, I won't climb
If you're not here, I'm paralyzed
Without you, without you
I can't look, I'm so blind
I lost my heart, I lost my mind
Without you, without you

Oh oh oh!
You! You! You!
Without...
You! You! You!
Without...you

I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you
Without...you

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/davidguetta/withoutyou.html

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - Coldplay

What I love about this song, is that Coldplay begin from a position of grace, acknowledging that God is the one who gives us grace, and puts joy in our hearts. 

From this position of grace, the question is asked, 'Where do I go to fall from grace'?  Where do you draw the line?  It is not unusual for people to try and work out who is better or worse a person than each other, trying to understand moral boundaries. 

The Apostle Paul wrote 'Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law' rather, through the law we become conscious of sin....there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' Romans 3:20-24

NOW THAT WILL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE !  

Where do we go nobody knows?
I've gotta say I'm on my way down
God give me style and give me grace
God put a smile upon my face 
Where do we go to draw the line?
I've gotta say I wasted all your time, (oh honey honey)
Where do I go to fall from grace?
God put a smile upon your face, yeah

Now, when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah, when you work it out I wanted to
Now, when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine

Where do we go nobody knows?
Don't even say you're on your way down, (when)
God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face, ah yeah

Now, when you work it out I'm worse than you
Yeah, when you work it out I wanted to
Now, when you work out where to draw the line
Your guess is as good as mine
Its as good as mine [x7]

Where do we go nobody knows?
Don't even say you're on your way down, (when)
God gave you style and gave you grace
And put a smile upon your face 

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/coldplay/godputasmileuponyourface.html

Where is the Love? - The Black Eyed Peas

Wouldn't it be great if the answer to this question 'where is the love?', could be answered by 'the love is in the church' ?  

It is the simple, fundamental principle of Christianity, and yet, it is missed out so often, because love is harder to do than legalism, or judging or criticising. We miss the simplicity of the message 'love one another', but  thanks to The Black Eyed Peas, we have a wake up call to what really matters, and what we really should be living for. 

'If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also' - Jesus

'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you'  - Jesus

'Love your neighbor as yourself' - Jesus

'Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.' - Jesus

'A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.' - Jesus

' My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends' - Jesus

What's wrong with the world, mama

People livin' like they ain't got no mamas

I think the whole world addicted to the drama

Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism

But we still got terrorists here livin'

In the USA, the big CIA fightin'

The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate

And that's exactly how anger works and operates

Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight

Take control of your mind and meditate

Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love

The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged

New days are strange, is the world insane

If love and peace is so strong

Why are there pieces of love that don't belong

Nations droppin' bombs

Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones

With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young

So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone

So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong

In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'

in

Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends

Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother

A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover

The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug

If you never know truth then you never know love

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love, the love, the love?

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder

As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder

Most of us only care about money makin'

Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction

Wrong information always shown by the media

Negative images is the main criteria

Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria

Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity

Whatever happened to the fairness in equality

Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity

Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down

There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under

Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

Now ask yourself

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love?

Sing wit me y'all:

One world, one world (We only got)

One world, one world (That's all we got)

One world, one world

And something's wrong wit it (Yeah)

Something's wrong wit it (Yeah)

Something's wrong wit the wo-wo-world, yeah

We only got

(One world, one world)

That's all we got

(One world, one world) 

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blackeyedpeas/whereisthelove.html

GALAXIES - OWL CITY

When I hear this song, I am reminded of a song written by David, who became king of Israel hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. 

It goes ‘ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.’  Psalm 139:7-10

It doesn’t matter where in the whole galaxy, (or universe for that matter) that we may end up in,  we have a God who will guide us and show us the way, when we may be lost. 

Jesus called himself ‘The Morning Star’ in Revelation 22:16. He is the one we can fix our eyes on, and get our bearings in life, and follow down the narrow path that leads to life. 

‘...set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.’ 1 Peter 1:13

‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.’ Hebrews 6:19

‘...it is by grace that you have been saved’ Ephesians 2:5

GALAXIES

Call back the cap com,

Tick off the time bomb,

Let felicity fly.

Armor the air lock,

Blanket the bed rock,

And kiss the planet goodbye.

Dear God, I was terribly lost

When the galaxies crossed

And the sun went dark.

But dear God, You're the only North Star

I would follow this far.

Da da da da da dada da

Fight back the flight deck,

Bring on the break neck

Cue the solar eclipse

Summit the sunset

Dubtail the dragnet

And blow your backbone to bits.

Dear God, I was terribly lost

When the galaxies crossed

And the sun went dark.

But dear God, You're the only North Star

I would follow this far.

Oh telescope,

Keep an eye on my only hope,

Lest I blink and get swept off the narrow road,

Hercules, you've got nothing to say to me,

'Cause you're not the blinding light that I need.

For He is the saving grace of the galaxies (galaxies, galaxies, galaxies, galaxies)

He is the saving grace of the galaxies (galaxies)

Dear God, I was terribly lost

When the galaxies crossed

And the sun went dark

But dear God, You're the only North Star

I would follow this far.

I would follow this far.

(Through the galaxy)

Da da da da da dada da 

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/owlcity/galaxies.html

I Look To You - Whitney Houston

Heaven hear me now
I'm lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to?

I look to you
I look to you
After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song, I look to you

About to lose my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I've taken
Led to my regret
And I don't know if I'm gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

I look to you
I look to you
And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song, I look to you

My levee's have broken, my walls have come
Crumbling down on me
The rain is falling, defeat is calling
I need you to set me free

Take me far away from the battle
I need you, shine on me

I look to you
I look to you
After all my strength has gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song, I look to you

I look to you
I look to you

[ Lyrics From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/w/whitney-houston-lyrics/i-look-to-you-lyrics.html ]


Whitney is not the first person to sing about looking for help in the Lord. About 2400 years ago,  David, who became King of Israel, wrote a song :


I lift up my eyes to the hills - 
  where does my help come from ?
My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth. 

PRETTY AMAZING GRACE - NEIL DIAMOND

Pretty Amazing Grace
Pretty amazing grace is what you showed me
Pretty amazing grace is who You are
I was an empty vessel
You filled me up inside
and with amazing grace restored my pride

Pretty amazing grace is how You saved me
and with amazing grace reclaimed my heart
Love in the midst of chaos
Calm in the heat of war
Showed with amazing grace what love was for

You forgave my insensitivity
and my attempt to then mislead You
You stood beside a wretch like me
Your pretty amazing grace was all I needed.

Stumbled inside the doorway of Your chapel
Humbled in God by everything I found
Beauty and love surround me
Freed me from what I fear
Ask for amazing grace and You appear

You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could believe in
You led me to a higher place
Showed Your amazing grace
When grace was what I needed

Look in a mirror I see Your reflection
Open a book You live on every page
I fall and You're there to lift me
Share every road I climb
and with amazing grace You ease my mind

Came to You with empty pockets first
When I returned I was a rich man
Didn't believe love could quench my thirst
But with amazing grace You showed me that it can

In Your amazing grace I had a vision
From that amazing place I came to be
Into the night I wandered
Wandering aimlessly
Found Your amazing grace to comfort me.

Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing

You overcome my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could believe in.
You led me to that higher place
Showed me that love and truth and hope and grace
Were all I needed.

MAGNIFICENT - U2

Magnificent

Oh, oh, magnificent

I was born, I was born

To be with you in this space and time

After that and ever after

I haven't had a clue only to break rhyme

This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue, oh, oh

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born, I was born to sing for you

I didn't have a choice but to lift you up

And sing whatever song you wanted me to

I give you back my voice from the womb

My first cry, it was a joyful noise, oh, oh

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified, till we die you and I will magnify, oh, oh

Magnificent, magnificent, oh, oh

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified, till we die you and I will magnify, oh, oh

Magnificent, magnificent, magnificent

magnificent 

adjective

1 impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant; striking : a dramatic landscape of magnificent mountains | the interior layout is magnificent.

2 very good; excellent : she paid tribute to their magnificent efforts.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

We were born to love and be loved by God our Father, now and forever. This love is magnificent, a magnificent love, from a magnificent God. 

It was God’s love for us, that allowed His Son Jesus to be marked  with nail holes in his hands and feet. Jesus became a sacrifice for us, with our sins put on him, so that we can be ‘justified till we die’.

It was God’s love for his Son, Jesus, that saw him raised up from the dead, and declared to be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. 

When we reflect on the magnificence of God’s love, we want to sing for joy, and praise Him, and magnify him with our praises. 

It is God’s love that unites our hearts. 

PARADISE - COLDPLAY

PARADISE - COLDPLAY

When She was just a girl 

She expected the world 

But it flew away from her reach 

So she ran away in her sleep 

Dreamed of paradise 

Every time she closed her eyes 

When She was just a girl 

She expected the world 

But it flew away from her reach 

And the bullets catching the tees

Life goes on it gets so heavy 

The wheel breaks the butterfly 

Every tear a waterfall 

In a night, the stormy night she closed her eyes 

In a night, the stormy night away she flies 

Dream of paradise 

So lying underneath the stormy skies 

She said I know the sun's set to rise 

It's gonna be paradise

Throughout the storms of life, having hope is a powerful thing!

Around 2400 years ago, a song was written that  went ‘ Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.’ Psalm 42

King David, (who wrote the song), was speaking to his very soul, and telling it to stop the depression and start having hope. 

Hope is an antidote to depression and depair.  And true hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5)

King Solomon, the richest man who ever lived, wrote of God ‘ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.’ Ecclesiastes 3:11

If we search deep down in the longings of our hearts, we all long for paradise, just as the song says. So have hope, that God’s mercies are new every morning, and we can be heading towards paradise. 

Thanks Coldpay - great song !! 

Nicki Minaj - Fly Featuring Rihanna

This is a great song of victory. 

I love the video too, that out of the desolation hope comes, in the form of blooming flowers, a hope that things will get better. 

And when she whips the ninjas trying to attack her, and is fearless. A really good image of strength. 

It is so important for us to have a winning attitude as we approach the hardships of life. 

Just like Paul the apostle wrote nearly 2000 years ago, ‘ Do you not know that in a race all the runers run, but only one gets the prize? Run is such a way as to get the prize...Therefore I do no run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  1 Corinthians 10:24-26

And again ‘...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of god that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

God wants us to be prosperous and successful. He said to Joshua ‘Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be carful to do everything written in it. Then you wil be prosperous and successful.'  

‘but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.’ Isaiah 10:31

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly

I wish today it will rain all day
Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me
Praying but I think I’m still an angel away
Angel away, yeah strange in a way
Maybe that is why I chase strangers away
They got their guns out aiming at me
But I become near when they aiming at me
Me, me, me against them
Me against enemies, me against friends
Somehow they both seem to become one
A sea full of sharks and they all see blood
They start coming and I start rising
Must be surprising, I’m just summising
Win, thrive, soar, higher, higher, higher
More fire

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly

Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating everytime it locks me in
Paint they own pictures than they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins

Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can every be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation
I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
So we become alive in a time of fear
And I aint got no muthaf-cking time to spare
Cry my eyes out for days upon days
Such a heavy burden placed upon me
But when you go hard your nay’s become yay’s
Yankee Stadium with Jay’s and Kanye’s

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly

Get ready for it
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly