Fighting Temptation....

Over the last few weeks, in order to spend time as a resting place for my new kitties, I have been spending a significant time on my couch channel surfing.  Mostly I have been finding movies to watch... and yesterday was no different.  My sister was on the couch with me and we stumbled upon the movie "The Fighting Temptations".  While the story line is... well predictable... the music and singing talent in the movie more than makes up for it.  I had a great time watching it and listening to the songs.

One of the songs (not the only one I will say...) that gave me chills is called, "He still loves me".  (You can watch the video from the movie here.) And here are the lyrics...

[Eddie Levert]
Dun, Dun, Dun
Dun, Na, Na, Na, Na
Dun, Dun, Dun
Dun, Na, Dun, Na
(Come On)
Dun, Dun, Dun
Dun, Na, Na, Na, Na
(Heyyyyy)
Dun, Dun, Dun
Dun, Na, Dun, Na

[Walter Williams]
Took me a while, but i'm finally here
So just wanna testify, make it crystal clear
(Take Ya Time)
See I've been picked out, to be picked on
Talked about out my friend's mouth
I've been beat down, til' he turned my life around
(Turned my life around)

[Chorus: Walter Williams]
Seems like I always fall short of being worthy
Cuz I ain't good enough, but he still loves me (Yeah)
I ain't no superstar, spotlight ain't shinin' on me (No, No, No, No, No)
Cuz I ain't good enough,(no) but he still loves me
(Loves Me!)

[Beyonce]
I used to, wake up somedays, and wished I had stayed asleep
Cuz I went to bed on top of the world, today the world's on top of me
Now everybody's got opinions (They Share)
They ain't been in my position (They Don't Care)
And it breaks my heart when I hear 
what they have to say about me
(What they say about you)

[Chorus: All]
seems like I always fall short (Fallin short)
of bein worthy (Lord I aint worthy)
Cuz I aint good enough (no no)
but he still loves me (But you still love me Lord)
I aint no superstar ( I aint no superstar, I wanne be for you)
I wanna be for you
The spotlight aint shinin on me 
cuz I aint good enough
but he still loves me ( But he still loves me, me, me, me, me)


I'm not perfect (I'm not perfect no, no ,no)
Yes I do wrong (Yes I do wrong)
I'm trying my best (Trying my best)
But It aint good enough (Just ain't good enough)
Shunned by the world (I'm shunned by the world, world, world, world)
If I don't succeed (If I dont succeed-cee-cee-ceed)
Cuz I aint good enough (I ain't good enough)
But he still loves me (I aint good enough)
Lord i aint worthy

[Bridge: Angie Stone, Beyonce, Choir]
If you ain't worth just raise your hands
And let me know that you understand
That we are all so blessed to be loved....loved
Stand for him and fall for anything
Cuz through his eyes we all look the same
What will we do, without blame

[Chorus: All]
feels like we always fallin' short
of being worthy (We are not worthy, no)
Cuz I ain't good enough,(no) but he still loves me (I ain't good enough, I ain't good enough)
I ain't no superstar,(I ain't no superstar)
the spotlight ain't shinin' on me (But I wanna be for you Lord)
Cuz I ain't good enough, but he still loves me (no, but u still love me, me, me)

I'm not perfect (I'm not perfect, no, no, no)
Yes I do wrong (Yes I do wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong)
I'm trying my best (Trying my best)
But It aint good enough (I ain't good enough) (Oh No!)
Shunned by the world (Shunned by the world, world, world, world)
If I don't succeed (If I dont succeed,cee-cee-ceed)
Cuz I aint good enough (I ain't good enough)
But he still loves me (Just ain't good enough, would y'all sing with me)

I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong (If you understand me sing with me)
I'm trying my best
But It aint good enough (But the Lord is so good to me)
Shunned by the world (if you shunned by the world, world, world )
If I don't succeed (Shunned by the world)
Cuz I aint good enough (I ain't good enough)
But he still loves me (But the Lord still loves me)

No I ain't good enough (No, No, No, No)
But he still loves me (Raise your hands if you understand)
No I ain't good enough (How he blesses you, cuz he blessed me too)
But he still loves me (Even though I ain't worthy)
No I aint good enough (You ain't worthy, he's there for you)
But he stil loves me (No matter what I do)
No I aint good enough (I ain't good enooooooooough)
But he stil loves.....me (But the Lord still loves...me)

There is something about gospel.... I can never really explain what it is...

God has a plan for us... A path that leads us to be our best selves, the self that uses our god-given gifts to shine the light of Christ in the world, and to praise our God.  That path is not a black and white type of path where when you are lost or take a wrong turn, there is no getting back on track.  This path is paved with love and sacrifice... Jesus' death on the cross ensures that no matter where we end up on our path, we have only to turn to Jesus, and He will guide us back to where we belong.  There is something freeing about the knowledge that even though we mess up and even though we don't quite make the best choices, or act in the best way, we are still loved, and we still have that opportunity to become our best selves.  Become the selves that God has envisioned and equipped us to be.

Some lessons take a while to learn... so I suggest you put this song on repeat. *grin*  Then take a deep breath.... and sing along at the top of your lungs.  Trust me.  It'll do your soul good. (And God loves to be serenaded.)

Good night.  God bless.

xoxo

Renée.