The Music of My Life-"It's Good to Know"

Second installment of the lessons I am learning from a certain cd that my son still has to listen to everytime we are in the van and the same cd that my husband says I must destroy before he gets back from Africa.  (he likes the songs and the messages from the songs, but is a wee bit tired of listening to it over and over!)  The cd is Francesca Battistelli's "One Hundred More Years" cd. This particular song is titled "It's Good to Know". 

Verse 1:
Hello, old friend
I know it's been a while
I'm here again
And it won't be the last time
I fall apart
But You won't let me get too far
You're speaking to my heart

(Chorus)
It's good to know
It's good to feel the arms of grace
To know that my mistakes are covered by Your love
It's good to know
It's good to see that You won't change
When it's said and done
You'll always be enough
To know that I can always come back home
It's good to know
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
It's good to know
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh

Verse 2:
Goodbye, old me
Yeah there's so much more that I
Know I could be
So take my worries with
You when you leave
There's hope that I am counting on
'Cause I'm never too far gone

It's good to know
It's good to know
I'm covered by Your love

Isn't it sooooo good to know?  That you are covered in love by His grace?  To know that you can always come back home to Him?  I have no clue what I would do without this reassurance.  I think about the times I have failed, that I have given in to sin, and the guilt that comes from that...But God in his infinite goodness reminds me that it doesn't matter what I do, he loves me no matter what!  There is not a sin so great He doesn't forgive.  Does this mean we can go do whatever we want in life and sin because we know God will forgive us?  ABSOLUTELY not, God calls His people to be holy, set apart, to love like Him.  We should daily be striving towards this, but we are not perfect and God knows this.  He knows we will make mistakes, but loves us anyway.  Everyday I set out with the best of intentions-I am going to be patient with my children, I am going to be selfless and put everyone's needs before my own, I am going to extend grace to my husband instead of nagging at him, I am going to stay pure in my thoughts and actions, I am going to spend quiet time with God, and EVERYDAY, at some point, I do not do these things! Not because I don't want to because I do, but because I am a sinner... This would be so depressing if it weren't for the fact that I know God loves me and that is not going to change. I get to feel His "arms of grace" around me all day long.  I hope you get that experience too and if you don't, there is a way, and it is so simple!  We can always "come home" to God with no fear and no guilt. 

The Music of my Life-"This is the Stuff"

So, lately myself (and my son, much to the dismay of my hubby) have been obsessed with the Francesca Battistelli album "Hundred More Years".  Each and every song speaks to me.  I am going to do a series of blogs about each song on this album and what they are teaching me.  First up, "This is the Stuff"!  Lyrics and thoughts below:

V1: I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

Chorus:
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
V2: 45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

Hook:
So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the worldOh Oh Oh

Simple song, right?  But it packs a powerful punch for me...1st of all the first two lines are soooo me since I hit motherhood.  I used to know where everything was and where I was supposed to be!  And I really did lose my keys in IKEA of all places, never to be found again.  I have NO CLUE where I lost them or how, didn't even know it until I went to leave!  I can never find my phone or it is always on silent so it doesn't wake kids up, so I never know that people call...I have such a mommy brain!
Ok, on to more serious stuff, I love the chorus of this song, the part that is bolded.  Wow!  I am guilty of letting the little stuff get under my skin instead of focusing on how blessed I am.  For example, my kids have been ruthless this summer with waking up early.  At least one of my children gets up between 5 and 6 every morning!  I'm sorry, but that is too early to start the day!  At the same time though, I should not be upset about this.  At least I have two beautiful, healthy, growing, happy children to wake me up every day.  Getting up that early is definitley not what I would choose, but it is what God has for me right now.  I am definitely growing spiritually because of it too- I pray more (for patience mostly), I am learning to practice God's grace more, and I am committed to loving my children even when they are not being very lovable!
The other part of this song that hits the nail right on the head for me is the little hook about it not being the end of the world.  Seriously, kids getting up early is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of life. And neither are the other little "messes" I have during the day. 
So, how can you apply this?  Think about your day and the stuff that drove you crazy.  What do you think God is teaching you in those moments?  
Below: an updated picture of my little darlings that wake me up so kindly every morning!