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.