“For the Lord God is a sun and shield… the Lord bestows favor and honor… no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly…” — Psalm 84:11 ✝️
These next two — “Fully Alive” 🎶 “All Around Me” 🎶 — (acoustic versions)
are both from their debut self-titled album Flyleaf (2005)… and man… that record was something special. Made fans out of a whole lot of people… me included.
Somewhere along the way I drifted from Lacey Sturm for a bit… but about a year ago, I found my way back — right around the time I started my YouTube channel “bryanforchrist.”
All I do over there is make Christian music shorts — so if you’re ever bored one day… come check me out. I’ve got a few Flyleaf ones up there too 🎶
And quick tip — on all my shorts, you can get to the full song: tap the little thumbnail in the bottom right… then when it redirects, go up top left and tap the larger thumbnail — that’ll play the whole track. It can look a little tricky at first… but once you see it, you got it.
Now as much as I love Flyleaf… I’ve never actually performed any of their songs myself 🎤
That’s about to change.
I think this week… I’m gonna learn “Circle” 🎶 (from their second album Memento Mori — 2009)… it’s probably my favorite from them… hard to choose though
So again… thank y’all for listening… for reading… I appreciate you — and I’m always thinking of you 🙏
Have a blessed day…
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 💥 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed… for his compassions never fail… They are new every morning… great is your faithfulness…”
In this season of my life… I was far away from the God I walked with as a boy and teenager… but He wasn’t far from me… He was still right where I had left Him…
I was asleep one night… I had a dream… in the middle of addiction… in the middle of my sin… this was it…
—
I found myself on a path… alone…
I looked around… in awe… the road was marble… gold… silver… lined with precious jewels… vibrant… alive with color…
I thought… where am I where is everyone
All at once… I felt breath upon my neck…
slowly… I turned around… before me… was the most brilliant… awesome… magnificent thing… I have ever laid eyes on…
It was a Lion…
close as could be…
I was face to face with Him…
His eyes were so green… so piercing… He saw right through me…
Suddenly… I became afraid… what was He about to do what was about to happen
Beneath the fear… reverence…
I knew… He was King of all…
Then… He began to move…
He lowered His head… nudged me… to start walking…
As I moved along the path… He followed behind me…
Up ahead…
a small white horse…
The Lion went out… met the horse… devoured it… swallowed it whole…
Then He returned behind me once again… pushing me… down the path…
At the end… a wide marble staircase…
He came around from behind me… moved up the stairs… sat on the throne…
At His side… two other Lions…
I fell on my face…
I worshipped Him…
I knew…
He was God…
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I immediately woke up…
I jumped out of bed… started writing down the dream… because I didn’t want to forget it…
But it didn’t matter…
I never have forgotten…
It is as clear to me today… as when it first happened…
I’m able still… to close my eyes… relive it… just as vivid… anytime I want…
For years… I felt the dream was God telling me… that He was with me… calling me… to straighten up… follow Him…
Then… June of 2o08…
After the second attempt on my life… God rescued me… miraculously… just in time… brought me safely out of it… to Florida… to a men’s discipleship and drug rehab ministry…
I had been there for several months… it was now fall…
One afternoon… outside… raking leaves… singing… praising… alone…
Suddenly… I was reminded of my dream…
I looked out across the property…
In the front of the building… a small pond… and in the center… a fountain… of a Lion…
Then I noticed something else…
The driveway… L shaped… like the path in my dream…
At the end of the driveway… where the throne would be… two Lion statues… one on each side…
I was blown away…
Everything made sense now…
I was without words…
And I still am today… when I think about it all…
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I later became the resident director of that ministry… spent four years there…
I watched God work strong and mighty… in the lives of hundreds of broken men… that came through our doors… transforming them… they were never the same…
And in my life… there is absolutely… no doubt… what has happened… taken place…
who is responsible… who gets the credit… the glory… the honor… the praise… 🙌
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and…`.°~ ¡-~-¡`° the small white horse… my enemies… my past…
Deliver me… O LORD… from mine enemies… I flee unto thee for refuge… to hide me… Teach me to do thy will… for thou art my God… thy spirit is good… lead me into the land of uprightness… onto level ground… because of mine enemies… Quicken me… O LORD… for Jesus Christ name’s sake… for thy righteousness’ sake… bring my soul out of trouble… And of thy loving kindness… and mercy… cut off mine enemies… and destroy all them that afflict my soul.. for I am thy servant… thy friend… thy child…
Shane & Shane🎶Everything Is Different🎶Crucify Him…
Hey yall… it’s Sunday.. and I hope you all are well.. so this will be the last Shane & Shane post.. for a while.. but I have two song gems for you today……
1. “Everything Is Different” — Shane & Shane Album: Everything Is Different Year: 2o09
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 