Songs for the New Year

The other day I had my iTunes on shuffle and found that a lot of the songs were so appropriate for the new year! Maybe that's just because all my old music sounds fresh again after a month of Christmas music. But, in any case, here are some songs that are great for perspective and the new year. And maybe for you they'll be new songs! :)

Let Me Sing

by Andrew Peterson

I wanna open up my eyes 

And see a more beautiful world

Let the hand of God Almighty

Sweep His colors through my life

I wanna hold tight to the laughter

And ride it like a child 

On the winds that billow joyful 

Through the sky

I wanna open up my heart

But you know, sometimes it's hard to find

Because I've buried it beneath the selfishness

That I've hidden behind

I wanna stand my ground unshaken

But I wanna tremble when I kneel

And let my song remain unbroken 

Through the tears

So let me sing for the love

Let me love for the lost

Let me lose all I have 

For what I found on the cross

Let me trust you with my life

Let me live to give you praise

Lord, let me praise you 

For the grace by which I'm saved

Lord, let me sing

I wanna open up Your word

And let the thirsty enter in

So they can drink deep of the water 

You have given to them

I want to run the race with vigor

I want to fight the fight with strength

And let my song rise from a whisper

To a scream

I wanna open up my arms 

And embrace that old rugged cross

I wanna take pride in the reason

And be humbled by the cause

And when this lisping, stamm'ring tongue

Lies silent in the grave 

Then in a nobler, sweeter song,

I'll sing your praise

I'll sing your praise

So let me sing for the love

Let me love for the lost

Let me lose all I have 

For what I found on the cross

Let me trust you with my life

Let me live to give you praise

Lord, let me praise you 

For the grace by which I'm saved

Lord, let me sing

~~~

Good to be Alive

by Jason Gray

Hold on

Is this really the life I'm living?

Cause I don't feel like I deserve it

Every day that I wake, every breath that I take you've given

So right here, right now

While the sun is shining down

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive, yeah

Hold on

If the life that we've been given

Is made beautiful in the living

And the joy that we get brings joy to the heart of the giver

Then right here, right now

This is the song I'm singing out

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive

I won't take it for granted

I won't waste another second

All I want is to give you

A life well lived, to say "thank you"

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be, it's good to be alive

I wanna live like there's no tomorrow

Love like I'm on borrowed time

It's good to be alive

I won't take it for granted

I won't waste another second

All I want is to give you

A life well lived, to say "thank you"

~~~

Beyond the Blue

by Josh Garrels

Stand on the shores of a sight unseen 

The substance of this dwells in me 

Cause my natural eyes only go skin deep 

But the eyes of my heart anchor the sea 

Plumbing the depths to the place in between 

The tangible world and the land of a dream 

Because everything here ain’t quite what it seems 

There’s more beneath the appearance of things 

A beggar could be king within the shadows, of a wing 

And wisdom will honor everyone who will learn 

To listen, to love, and to pray and discern 

And to do the right thing even when it burns 

And to live in the light through treacherous turns 

A man is weak, but the spirit yearns 

To keep on course from the bow to the stearn 

And throw overboard every selfish concern 

That tries to work for what can’t be earned 

Sometimes the only way to return is to go, 

Where the winds will take you 

And to let go, of all, you cannot hold onto 

For the hope, beyond, the blue 

Yellow and gold as the new day dawns 

Like a virgin unveiled who waited so long 

To dance and rejoice and sing her song 

And rest in the arms of a love so strong 

No one comes unless they’re drawn 

By the voice of desire that leads 'em along 

To the redemption of what went wrong 

By the blood that coveres the innocent one 

No more separation 

Between us. 

So lift your voice just one more time 

If there’s any hope may it be a sign 

That everything was made to shine 

Despite what you can see 

So take this bread and drink this wine 

And hide your spirit in the vine 

Where all things will work by a good design 

For those who will believe 

And let go, of all, we cannot hold onto 

For the hope, beyond, the blue 

Said I let go, of all, I could not hold onto 

For the hope, I have, in you

~~~

O Great God

by Sovereign Grace

O great God of highest heaven

Occupy my lowly heart

Own it all and reign supreme

Conquer every rebel power

Let no vice or sin remain

That resists Your holy war

You have loved and purchased me

Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin

Had no ears to hear Your voice

Did not know Your love within

Had no taste for heaven’s joys

Then Your Spirit gave me life

Opened up Your Word to me

Through the gospel of Your Son

Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life

That’s dependent on Your grace

Keep my heart and guard my soul

From the evils that I face

You are worthy to be praised

With my every thought and deed

O great God of highest heaven

Glorify Your Name through me