Catalyst Opener & Worship Video from Anne Jackson on Vimeo.

I am a fan of music. I like to focus on listening to Christians who create music in really any genre. Recently a song called “Rebirthing” by Skillet has peaked my interest. The lyrics have a message that I think draws a really good picture of our journey to becoming Jesus Follower and starting a new relationship with God.

With that it serves as a good reminder, for those in the “wilderness,” of where we draw our life and breath from as Jesus followers and where we need to return to.

I lie here lifeless in this cocoon
Shedding my skin cuz I’m ready to
I wanna break out
I’’ve found a way out
I don’’t believe that it’’s gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this room I’’m suffocating

Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I die

Rebirthing now
I want to live for love, wanna live for you
In me for the first time now I can relax somehow
Rebirthing now
I want to live my live, wanna give you everything
In me for the first time now I can relax somehow
(I can relax somehow) (Second verse, pre-chorus, chorus)

First, they talk of being at the point of wanting something different. Having a deep desire to change the way things are currently are.

Skillet then goes on to describe that process of making a decision to follow Christ. They compare this new found presence Christhirst like the breath of life being first breathed into your lungs – starting fresh and new. Describing well what it feels like to cross that line and make a decision to truly follow Jesus completely.

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. – Romans 5:10-11

The next statement is interesting – “I take you in; I die.” The idea that we need to die to the old self in order to be “rebirthed in Christ”. We need to give control over to the one who knows us better than ourselves.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

Finally ending the chorus with a description of the unexplainable peace that only Jesus can provide. It is a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control and He knows what he is doing and you can trust Him.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.-Romans 5:1

Then you will experience God’’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Phillipians 4:7

Whether you are thinking about this whole “Jesus Thing” for the first time or you are a Jesus Follower struggling through the “wilderness” times that come along in our lives, take these lyrics as an encouragement that your life can change when you truly commit (or re-commit) to following Jesus, giving Him control, and loving God with all your heart.

I wanted to post these lyrics from Rachel Lampa’s song as an encouragement to some friends who are going through trials at this time. To these friends I want to say, God is there even in the trials of life! Whether it is something you did or something someone did to you, God will be by your side, walking with you every step of the way whether it feels like it or not.

If you are in the midst of a trial now or have been recently, know this even when it does not feel like it, God is there no matter how you feel! Trust the unseen!

When I Fall
Rachael Lampa

V.1
How can I find you- are you hiding or am I
Should I go or should I wait- for a sign
Following your voice- walking through a desert night
Looking for a silent storm in the sky
And I stand in my emotion and I let it be my own
’cause I know I’m not forsaken
And I’ll never be alone

Ch.
When I fall – when I fall
I know WHERE I’LL be landing
When I fall- when I fall
You will still be standing

Verse two starts with the encouraging thought that God still persues us even though we screw up. Don’t think because you made a mistake that God stops chasing you. God’s voice is still calling it is just harder to hear like a radio station fading out of range.

V.2
Somewhere in the silence I can hear your broken voice
Like a radio station fading out of range
Somewhere in the crowd from the corner of my eye
I thought that I could feel you- walking by
And when I get this feeling like I am not so strong
I still can feel you with me
Yea you’ve been there all along

The bridge asks questions that we all ask at some point in our lives. But it also answers them right away be encouraged by this and rest in truth that God will never leave you or forsake you!

Bridge
Somewhere I’m alone- won’t you take my empty hands
And fill them with your love
Won’t you take me as I am