What Could Be and What Is

Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life.   I had to say goodbye to someone who meant a lot to me.

Rewind to a few weeks ago...
I work at a small grocery store, so I get to know regular customers and vendors.  One day a coworker came up to me and said that one of our vendors had a crush on me.  I remember thinking, "Really? Me? Why would anyone have a crush on me?"  Then just went on with my day.  Soon he sent me a friend request on Facebook happened and I accepted it. Not long after that my coworker said that he was going to ask me to breakfast.  It took a couple weeks (and a found out later a lot of encouragement from two coworkers) but he asked and I accepted.  We made plans to meet at a restaurant on Wednesday (the 19th) morning.

The sun was shining and the leaves were at their peak. I did my makeup and hair nice and drove over to the restaurant.  I walked in and soon spotted him waiting for me.  We had a lovely breakfast talking about our families and interests.  There was sometime before I had to go to work, so I took him to a couple of my favorite spots along the river.

I had the best time with him.  He made me feel completely at ease, like we had known each other forever.  He was quite surprised when I told him that he was the first guy to ask me out.  He told me how nervous he was to ask me to breakfast and how nervous he was the whole drive up until I walked in the door.

I went to work and he came into the store and talked with a coworker (one who had encouraged him to ask me to breakfast).  She told me when he'd left that he was really excited about the day.  I was too.  I messaged him that night and thanked him for a great morning.  We talked for a while then I went to sleep.

I got up early the next morning and went to dog sit for a friend for the morning. When I got home in the early afternoon, my coworker pulled in behind me.  She told me that he was a no call no show at work this morning.  This was not like him and he had told me that  he was going to be at the store early because he had a meeting in the afternoon. Then she told me that he had been killed in a car accident.  He was one of three people killed in the car.  We stood in my driveway for a while crying and hugging.  Then I went in to tell my mom who held me tight.

I went to work that afternoon and it was really rough.  That was the last place where I had seen him and reminders of him were everywhere.  A lot of times I get teary eyed looking at a loaf of bread.  But I made it through.  I had to work really hard at distracting my self and still do.

Distraction was working most of the time.  Until yesterday when I had to face reality head on.  The two coworkers and I traveled together to the funeral.  I was very grateful to have them there with me. I meet his family and his best friend.  There were many hugs and tears. His friend told me that I was the topic of their last conversation.  The service was wonderful.  A celebration of a selfless compassionate life.  He had such an impact on so many lives that we should learn from.




I had let my mind dream about what could be with him.  Would we fall in love? What if he was the one?  Where could we go for our next adventure?
Now I am left with what it is.  I won't see him on this earth again.  But I rest in God's love and know that my broken heart will heal one day.

-Court

A New Year brings Changes

In a perfect world I would be in East Lansing right now preparing for the spring semester.  But the world is not perfect. This winter break has been awesome and awful at the same time.  I have been blessed with some good family times and been able to see friends that I have missed so dearly.

I've also had to make some hard decisions.  I made the decision to leave MSU for a undetermined amount of time.  I really enjoy what I'm studying, but at the same time I don't like it at all.  I do not regret going to college.  I have grown so much in my faith and as a person these past two and a half years.  I think God is telling me to pursue other things, which I am not sure what these things will be.

This decision was made at the right time.  My Grandma who lives with my family is beginning her journey home to the Lord she loves so much.  I am glad I can be here for her last few days and help out around the house.

As I said earlier, I do not have a definite plans for the future.  I will do whatever God tells me too.  It is not easy when God tells you to stop doing what you thought you should be doing.  But I know that His will and timing are perfect.  I will not understand everything that is going on and what I am feeling right away.  One day, I will be able to look back and see God's plan.

Trusting in Him who knows all things,

Court

Interpretation of Lyrics: This is Gospel

I'm a Panic! at the Disco fan.  I have listened to the album A Fever that You Can't Sweat Out for years. Now let me clarify when I say fan, I do not know all the lyrics to every song but I like what I have heard.  Recently the new Panic! album was released and so I listened to it and came across a song called This is Gospel. My interest was peaked as I knew Brendon Urie (The lead singer) was not a Christian. So lets have a little look-see shall we?

Now I immediately fell in love with this song.  I love it.  There is a couple of things that made me uncomfortable. But I can't help but love this song.  
On to the lyrics:
This is gospel for the fallen ones
Locked away in permanent slumber
Assembling their philosophies
From pieces of broken memories
(This is the beat of my heart)
Their gnashing teeth and criminal tongues
Conspire against the odds
But they haven't seen the best of us yet

If you love me, let me go
These words are knives and often leave scars
The fear of falling apart
Truth be told, I never was yours
The fear of falling apart

This is gospel for the vagabonds
Ne'er-do-wells and insufferable bastards
Confessing their apostasies
Led away by imperfect impostors
(This is the beat of my heart)
Don't try to sleep through the end of the world
And bury me alive
'Cause I won't give up without a fight


Let's dive in!
Verse one:
"Looked away in permanent slumber" I couldn't help but think of the second half of Ephesians 5:14 where it says "Wake up, O Sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."  

"Their gnashing teeth and criminal tongues conspire against the odds but they haven't seen they best of us yet"
No matter what the enemy may say or do, they haven't seen anything yet. They are already defeated.    Isaiah 45:22-25 says 

"Turn to me and be saved,

all you ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is no other. 

By myself I have sworn,

my mouth has uttered in all integrity

a word that will not be revoked:

Before me every knee will bow 

by me ever tongue will swear.

They will say of me. 'In the Lord alone

are righteousness and strength.'"

All who have raged against him 

will come to him and be put to shame. 

But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel

will be found righteous and will exult. 

Chorus:

"If you love me"  I'm taking this you to be the world.  The world supposedly loves us, but Jesus tells us differently. "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you" -John 15:19

"These words are knifes and often leave scars" Jesus tells why the world will hate us in John 15:18-16:4.  Many times the world will send us messages on how to dress and act.  If we don't fit this mold, we could be considered outcasts.  

"The fear of falling apart" Life is not the greatest sometimes. I think it is common for people to fear their lives falling apart.  

"Truth be told I never was yours"  We are not of this world.  We are chosen out of this world. (John 15:19)  

Verse two:

"Confessing their apostasies" Now apostasies isn't a commonly used word so I looked it up.  It means "the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief." 
"Led away by imperfect impostors"  This could be the lies of the enemy saying that the world's ways are better than God's.  It could also be the people who turn away from the church because of all the hypocrites.  Let's face it church people can be some of the most hypocritical people you will ever meet. They can worship and praise God on Sunday morning and then leave the church building and start condemning those around them.  
The rest of the verse talks about the not giving up without a fight.  There is a heavenly battle going on around us.  Spiritual warfare is a very real thing that, I think, often goes unnoticed.  Just because we can't see it with our eyes does not mean it's not happening.  But we have hope because we know that God's army will win, the beast does not have a chance.  Romans 8:28-39 says

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been  called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life- is at the right hand of God and also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution of famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

           "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be                                                             slaughtered."

No, 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 no 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.

Now there is one major part of the song that I have not addressed.  The main topic of this song. "This is Gospel" The definition of gospel is "the teaching or revelation of Christ" or  "a set of principles or beliefs."  I think the second definition was used but I'm using the first. The Gospel is for everyone.  When he gave the great commission, Jesus says to "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am will you always to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28-19-20

I will leave you now with a song to ponder. It's Hawk Nelson's Words.

-Courts Mcgee

Name Above All Names

Tonight I've had an awesome little worship session.  My roommate must think I'm a crazy person because I've been sitting at my desk, hands lifted, eyes closed, mouthing the lyrics to worship songs for more than 20 minutes.  If you 20 minutes and want to have an nice worshipful time I would suggest watching this video.  http://youtu.be/92QFcpy0XC4  Two of my favorite Hillsong songs. :)  Tonight the lyrics of Inside Out really hit me.

"In my heart, in my soul

I give you control

Consume me from the inside out Lord

Let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love you from the inside out" 

Do we really give God full control?  I know I struggle in doing so, but I'm working on it.
Another thing that hit me was the name of Jesus.  Philippians 2:5-11 says

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, 

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father."

Let me repeat verses 9-11 with a few words italicized for emphasis. "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

I know I don't bow down or confess that Jesus Christ is Lord every time I hear his name. And I know for a fact a lot of people use his name in vain.  I like Tom "The Illusionist" Coverly's shirts that say "Jesus Christ is my Savior, not a swear word" or something like that.  (If you don't know who Tom is-he's an awesome magician with a powerful testimony.  Check him out, it's good stuff)  

The name above all names goes to a man who went from "all powerful God" to nothing.  He came to be a human and die for us.  And his death was not a pretty one.  It wasn't just "I'll just die a quick and painless death."  It was hours of torture, suffering, agony, and separation from God the Father.  I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to witness Jesus's death, let alone what he was feeling.  In his Easter morning sermon, my Dad pointed out that Jesus was a human- he felt human emotions.  I will never know what it was like for him to separated from his father.  Matthew 27: 46 says "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Elio, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" "  I like what my Study Bible says about this verse. It says "Jesus was not questioning God: he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22-a deep expression of the anguish he felt when he took the sins of the world, which caused him to separated from his Father. This was what Jesus dreaded as he prayed to God in the garden to take the cup from him ( [Matthew] 26:39). The physical agony was horrible, but even worse was the period of spiritual separation from God. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God."  

If you have a few listen minutes really listen to this song or just read the lyrics below. 

http://youtu.be/5eg-AlKyz3E

At the startHe was there, He was thereIn the end,He’ll be there, He’ll be there

And After all our hands have wroughtHe forgives

Oh the Glory of it all is:He came hereFor the rescue of us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it allFor the glory of it all

All is lostFind him there, find him thereAfter nightDawn is there, Dawn is there

After all falls apartHe repairs he repairs

Oh the Glory of it all is:He came here
for the rescue of us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it all

Oh He is hereFor redemption from the fallThat we may liveFor the glory of it allOh the glory of it allThe glory of it allOh the glory of it all

After nightComes the lightDawn is hereDawn is hereIt’s a new dayIt’s a new dayEverything will changeThings will never be the sameWe will never be the sameWe will never be the sameWe will never be the sameWe will never be the same

Oh, The glory of it all isYou came hereFor the rescue of us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it all

Oh you are hereWith redemption for us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it allFor the glory of it allOh the glory of it all

-Courts Mcgee

Never Underestimate My Jesus

Today two explosions went off at the Boston Marathon.  This only adds to the list of tragedies that have been plaguing our world.   As I was listening to my iTunes the song "For Moments I Feel Faint" by Relient K played.  I was struck by the lyrics.  "Never underestimate my Jesus. You're tellin' me that there's no hope, I'm tellin' you, you're wrong. Never underestimate my Jesus. When the world around you crumbles he will be strong, He will be strong." It doesn't matter if the world is literally falling apart around you Jesus will be strong.  Nothing is impossible for God.  Here is a link to the song if you want to take a listen, I strongly encourage you to do so. http://youtu.be/pr_roqia0nc

This past Sunday, Pastor Craig Groeschel  delivered a powerful message about Jesus being the Light of the world.  He talked about how Jesus is our hope, and with a little hope we can get through anything.  It's amazing to me when God ties all these events going on in the world around me together.   If you have time, watch his sermon at http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch. (It is Part 3 "I am the Light of the World")

Relient K has written some of the greatest (In my opinion) worship songs.  Some of them have certain lines that just are very convicting and really make me think.  I'll have to write a separate post about them.  

Anyways the point of all this is can be summed up in one statement: Jesus is the Hope of the world.  It doesn't matter how dire our situation may be, there is hope. Not just any hope, the hope of the world.  The Almighty God is looking out for us.  Go and share this hope with all people!

Courts Mcgee

Interpretation of Lyrics "Come Away to the Water"

This is the second edition of my interpretation of lyrics.  This edition is a song off of the Hunger Games soundtrack.  It sung by Maroon 5 and Rozzi Crane. (http://youtu.be/LOGruCzgNfI) And this might be a little boring because I may have shared my thoughts on this before with you personally.  (Mom :)  )
 This post seriously has taken me a while to write because my mind has been blown.  
Why? Because in my quest to find out the author of this wonderful song, I discovered that it was written by Glen Hansard.  Here is a link to his version.  http://youtu.be/_Uq-awEc_-Y
O my Word.   If you don't know who this amazing man is.  He is part of the genius behind the song "Falling Slowly." Which has gotten increasingly popular this past year or so.  Just listen to the music of Once, now a broadway musical that I would love to see.  SO GOOD.  The music itself is fabulous as well as the vocals.   Words cannot describe how much I love that music.
Okay now that I'm done ranting about Glen Hansard, let me begin ranting about how beautiful Adam Levine's voice is.  One of my favorite male vocalists ever.  Period.  He also is a wonderfully talented musician.  I love listening to his beautiful voice. I even have a playlist on my iTunes that is called "Adam Levine's beautiful voice"  He is also half the reason why I watch the Voice.  The other half is Blake Shelton. :)
Oh but my ranting is not done.  I also love the Hunger Games. I've read all the books, watched the movie in theaters, and have a shirt.  Good books.  Read them if you have the chance.  Aparrently Glen wrote the song from the perspective of Cato.  This totally makes sense (if you a Hunger Games fan).  Mind blown again.  Okay, ranting and raving is done.
Now, I have listened to both versions and browsed some of the comments on Glen's version and happen to agree with this comment:
 "I love them both. Maroon 5's style is completely different, so in my mind, although we are talking about the same song, it is very different."  -niva2gr

Many of the comments were saying how Maroon 5's version was to mainstream and a lot of other nasty comments which do not bear repeating ever.  I just love them both.  Would my opinion have been  changed if I had listened to Glen's version first? I don't think it would have been because I still love Maroon 5.  They are both very different and both wonderful.  

Now that that is cleared up on to the lyrics. 

[Verse 1]Come away little lass come away to the water,To the ones that are waiting only for you.Come away little lass come away to the water,Away from the light you that you always knew.We are calling to you.
[Verse 2]Come away little light come away to the darkness,In the shade of the night we will come looking for you.Come away little light come away to the darkness,To the ones appointed to see it through.We are coming for you.We are coming for you.
[Verse 3]Come away little lamb come away to the water,Give yourself so we may live anew.Come away little lamb come away to the slaughter,To the ones appointed to see this through.We are coming for you.We are coming for you.
[Verse 4]Come away little lamb come away to the water,To the arms that are waiting only for you.Come away little lamb come away to the slaughter,To the one appointed to see it through.We are coming for you.We are coming for you.We are coming for you.We are coming for you. 

I think verse 1 can be talking about Mary, mother of Jesus.  She is being beckoned to come watch her son, the light, die. 

Verse 2: about our spiritual lives.  We are constantly being attacked by dark forces but we must keep out lights shining.  

Verses 3 and 4 are about Jesus journey to the cross.  Thinking about the lyrics from a Christian view, the first two lines of verse three are especially powerful.  It was because of our sin that he was nailed to the tree.  

Going back to verse 2.  These dark forces can do nothing to us if we keep our light shining. 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

-Courts Mcgee

Interpretation of Lyrics "I Run to You"

So, I had this weird mind thing where I interpret the lyrics to a secular song in a religious sense.  I think I'm going to start a series where I give my interpretations to different songs.
This post is Lady Antebellum's "I Run to You."
Before I begin, let me take a moment to rant and rave about Lady Antebellum.  Lady Antebellum is my favorite country group ever.  I love them sooooo much.  I love them more than any country artist or group.  Normally when you are a fan of an artist, there are one or two songs that you dislike.  I have never heard a Lady A song that I have not instantly feel in love with and wanted to listen to it on repeat all day.   The music is so good and the vocals are amazing.   Gah I love them.   Here is a link to the video if you care to have a listen to the original song. http://youtu.be/Rs38lKxmtI4
Now to the lyrics.
I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run too late

I run my life
Or is it running me?
Run from my past, I run too fast
Or too slow it seems

When lies become the truth
That's when I run to you

[Chorus]
This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so I run to you
I run to you, baby
And when it all starts coming undone
Baby, you're the only one I run to
I run to you

We run on fumes
Your life and mine
Like the sands of time
Slippin' right on through
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/lady_antebellum/i_run_to_you.html ]
And our love's the only truth
That's why I run to you

Now I know this is a lovely love song.  And I love it for that but I also think it can symbolize our relationship with God. 

First Verse:

We can try to avoid prejudice, pessimists or trials in our life.  But sometimes we are faced with trials of many kinds.   "I run my life or is it running me?" We say we are in control but it can seem that we have no control of what is going on.  When we can't tell right from wrong anymore we turn to Him.  

Chorus:

The world keeps on turning and it seems like there is a new disaster waiting for us.  But if we turn our eyes on God we can pull through it.  

    My alternate lyrics:

               "This world keeps on spinning faster

                  Into a new disaster so I run to You

                  I run to you Jesus

                  And when it all starts coming undone

                 Jesus  you're the only one I run to

                   I run to You."

Last Verse & Tag:

We can run on prayers and the love of God just like the children of Israel.  

"And our love's the only truth, That's why I run to you. "  God's love is the only truth and the one thing that we can be sure will never fail.  

If we feel like our world is coming undone, all we have to do is keep our eyes on the prize.  An eternity with our heavenly father.  That thought alone should be enough to keep us going no matter how dire our situation may be.  

Courts Mcgee