Songs I Swear Should Be Worship Songs

Lately most of my free time has gone to helping out the youth band at my Church, and while I love it I have to say it is hard work. We only have a few hours, in which time we have have to prep the sound, tune up, (which could last all night because everyone talks at once!) we seem to always talk a good twenty minutes for "vocal warm ups" *cough cough*, and of course we still have to make the dreaded song list. Over the last couple weeks it has seemed like every time the topic of song list get brought up everyone tenses and gets ready to either defend or attack. Okay, so maybe tension isn't that high, but it's close. It's always the same songs, and because they have all practiced them a hundred times it seems like people let out a sign as soon as the name is mentioned.

"If we have to sing Glorious One, or Marvelous Light one more time I am going to throw up!"

"Well then, what songs DO you like?"

"I don't know!"

That's pretty much it confined and trimmed down. The two youth students who are leaders I can practically see are about to have a melt down with the rest of us. I'm on the side of "Not THAT song AGAIN!" Having been singing these songs since I was 13 in the youth band myself, I must admit I barely hear myself singing it anymore I'm so spaced out and bored with them. When they ask me what Christian music I have on my iPod I have to shrug and answer "Sorry I don't have much, no Chris Tomlin, sorry. But I do have music I swear is Christian!"

So here is my list of songs that may not be under the Christian genre but they bring me before the heart of God in worship.

The List!

1. My Hero, by the Foo Fighters.

When I close my eyes and focus on this song I am immediately in the crowd on the road to Calvary. I can see My Hero Christ Jesus paving the way to salvation. Surrendering himself for me, that's My Hero.

2. A Message, by Coldplay.

This song brings two pictures to my mind, one is a scene from the book Scarlet Letter when the Reverend Dimmesdale is trying to release the guilt of his sins by standing on the platform at night holding hands with Hester and Pearl (Hester being the society outcast for her adultery being found out though her pregnancy with Pearl, and she further outraged society by refusing to confess the father, Dimmesdale.) When Pearl ask Dimmesdale to proclaim his quilt in daytime when the towns people will see he refuses. I see this picture and compare it to the lyrics

"And I'm not gonna stand and wait

Not gonna believe it until its much too late
On a platform I'm gonna stand and say
That I'm nothing on my own
And I love you, please come home"

When I hear these words I worship my Saviour and Heavenly Father who will never deny his love for me, even if I am covered in scarlet letters of my shame, He is proud of his love for me. I see Christ on a platform surrounded by legalistic society and I see Him shouting his love for me.

3. Become, by The Goo Goo Dolls.

Sitting in a coffee house with, I reached out and stole my friends iPod and went straight to this song on an off chance and fell in love with Christ all over again. From agonizing lyrics like

"There's so much more about you that you never let them see
You turn away
But not to me
And I know how they tried to take you
Held you up and meant to break you down
But you can't be

For so long I tried to reach you
I know I'm almost there
I'm close enough for you to see"

"And I can't be the stranger

That's been sleeping in your bed just
Turn around and come to me
I feel all the pain inside
And everything you been denied you feel

It's all you feel "

I felt my heart burn for all the times I had sought out beauty in the world and been torn apart, and here was the cry of my heart answered in song. You can't convince me that this is not exactly how God feels, read the prophets.

4. Then You, Greg Laswell.

This song is more mellow, but they remind me of all the ways I feel empty when separated from Christ. ANd that my love, my dreams, and my days have all let me down, but never my God.

5.Rock Your Soul, by Elisa.

I think I love this song for worship because it so fully expresses a desire to be one with someone, and for me I focus on Christ. I desire to be with him so much. The lyrics "All I want is to rock your soul!" I can hear it coming from Christ, He wants to blow my mind. He wants to rock my soul.

6. Amazing, by One eskimO.

Such of a song of excitement, of having a whole life open because of Christ. It reminds me of when I was first forgiven and new. I heart almost combustible with pure joy in my salvation, this song reminds me of that joy and of that security.

7.Somebody Loved, by the Weepies.

My beauty as a person, my loveliness, and my attractiveness is not from myself, but from Christ. I picture myself dancing in the arms of my Dear Lord, worshiping him and singing this song to him. I was ugly, I was worthless, I was wretched, and he turned me into somebody loved. How can I not worship Him.

8.Till Kingdom Come, by Coldplay.

"Let me in unlock the door, I never felt this way before." I want to be so captivated with love for God that I feel urgent and desperate for Him. "For You, I've waited all these years. For you'd, I'd wait till kingdom come, until my day, my day is done. Say you'll come and set me free, just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me." Just hearing it makes me want to dance with Christ at the wedding feast to this song. Because I know that not even a thousand years could undo the love he has for me.