Welcome to Tune-In Tuesday! If this is your first time visiting on a Tuesday, I hope you will find this as a place to worship together. Each week, I share about a song that God is using in my life. One that is speaking to me in whatever season I may be going through. The invitation is for you to jump in and do it, too! This year my goal is nothing more than “toward Him.” Basically, my prayer is that we will all begin to seek Him like we never have before… starting this year. So for Tuesdays, pick a song that leads you to Him.
Here are the steps:
- Pick a worship song, share it, and write about it… one that points your heart straight to Jesus.
- Link up here using the linky tool at the bottom of this post. Use the name of your song as the title of your link. (If you haven’t done this before, feel free to email me with questions.) If you don’t have a blog, you can leave a comment sharing your song. ***Please use the permalink to your post, not your blog’s main site. Because of the specialized nature of this weekly series, any links that are not specifically for Tune-In Tuesday will be deleted.***
- Visit other people’s blogs and let them know you stopped by.
- Spread the word. Grab the button in the left column and add it to your post. That way, others can link up, as well. Tweet about it… Try to get others in on the conversation.
- Worship! 🙂
Today’s song is in honor of my brother, who was just ordained as a pastor. This is one of his favorite worship songs. Oh… and today, we’re listening to the John Mark McMillan version. Josh’s favorite. 🙂
So… listen below to How He Loves by John Mark McMillan. Then keep reading.
This song has always meant so much to me. It’s actually my favorite running song… and my favorite worship song. My I-could-listen-to-it-over-and-over-again-and-never-get-tired-of-it song. My I-just-need-to-feel-that-You-love-me-God song. Today, I read (and watched) the story behind the song. And it now has much more meaning to me than it ever has. John Mark wrote the song the day after his best friend died in a car accident. I got chills as I listened to John Mark tell the story in the video below. I encourage you to watch… and really see the heart and life that was poured into the writing of those powerful words:
This is REAL life, friends. No trying to pretend like we don’t struggle with this stuff because we’re “good Christians.” We DO hurt. We DO get angry. We DO question WHY. Probably why this song is so powerful. Out of John Mark’s honesty came anointed words, pleasing to God. There is no other song that speaks to my heart as much as this one does. It’s the song that causes me to literally forget where I am (physically) for a moment… and feel as if I am with Jesus.
He is jealous for me. Really? The God of the universe desires my heart that much?
It’s this phrase that get me the most:
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me
And I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18…
God loves us so much that He is using our afflictions for His glory! We forget this too often… we stay wrapped up in the here and now. But it’s when we work through and let go of our present pain and allow room for His beautiful future that we really experience God.
Oh… how He loves us… And I don’t have time to maintain these regrets. Thankful for God giving John Mark this powerful song that brings us right to the throne of grace.
I’m so thrilled you shared this today! (and a big congrats to your brother!)
John Mark McMillan is a musical genius. I’m convinced of it. Love his music. And this song brings a tear to my eye no matter how many times I hear it.
I prefer his original version and not the edited/changed-some-lyrics-for-radio version. It’s more gripping if that’s even possible!
and the story behind the song….wow.
Thanks for blessing me today, Paula!
Thanks, Nikki! 🙂 Yep… You can hear his heart as he sings these lyrics. It means so much more coming from him. I love Crowder\’s version, too, but there is just something special about listening to this one… knowing he is the one who felt and wrote the words. Have a great week!!