Better than a Hallelujah

A cell phone camera and a fun app provides lots
of entertainment some days.



I'm not sure I can say it enough, the group Mercy River is AMAZING. When I heard months ago that they were getting ready to release a new album I was SO excited! Mercy River is made up of three down to earth moms who have a passion for music. (I have posted about them previously) Maybe that's one reason why I have been so drawn to them, I can relate, and dream to be in their position one day, inspiring others with music! I was so excited when I found their album on iTunes the night before it was officially released, if we still listened to cassette tapes mine would be totally worn out because of how much I have listened to it. I have had a hard time picking just one song on the album that has inspired me, that I wanted to write about- they ALL have inspired me in some way.

After listening to the album, I don't know how many times, the song Better than a Hallelujah caused me to stop what I was doing, restart the song and really LISTEN, and feel the words. I know the spirit was telling me to stop being busy and take in the message of the song. Here are the words:

Better than a Hallelujah

by Mercy River, from the album Higher

God loves a lullaby
In a mother’s tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes

God loves the drunkard’s cry
The soldier’s plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes

The tears of shame for what’s been done
The silence when the words won’t come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing
Better than a choir singing out, singing out

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

I grew up in the south, and in the south there are many "Hallelujahs"! It was fun to sing the "clap your hands, sway back and forth, shout hallelujah " songs in highschool choir and the youth city choir. Those kinds of songs can uplift and inspire just as much as the more quiet, reverent songs. So, I really felt I understood what they meant when the said "Better than a hallelujah". As I began thinking about the words of this song, it made me think about the counsel we are given to pray always. I love the first phrase of the song because I can relate to them most, "God loves a lullaby, in a mother's tears in the dead of night." SO many times in my life in the past 6 years I have cried holding my crying baby that just won't go to sleep. My tears truly were a prayer, pleading for help with my sweet child, for help keeping my patience and showing them love, when I all I wanted was for them to sleep so I could sleep. The last 6 years of my life have taught me more about having a constant prayer in my heart than the previous 22 years. God wants us to turn to him, he wants to hear the honest cries of our breaking hearts.  Not that he enjoys seeing us this way, but more because he is there waiting with open arms to comfort and direct us. He wants to hear our honest cries more than he wants to hear our loud "Hallelujahs". He wants to hear our thoughts turn to him, He wants to bless us with peace. He wants us to turn to him in prayer as a family, and in the quiet peace of our bedrooms. I hope the words of the song can inspire you as much as they have inspired me!

"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you" Matthew 7:7

"Prayer is the provider of spiritual strength. It is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven"- Thomas S. Monson



A recent family picture taken at the Denver LDS Temple



Guess what?! If you don't already have the new Mercy River album, Higher, you can go enter for a  chance to win a copy of your own! Mercy River is on a blog tour and will be stopping by TODAY  to guest post on my sisters blog, Moments! So head on over and check out her fun blog and enter to win!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Isn't it amazing how the simple word "sunlight" can evoke such wonderful, happy, joyous feelings? Say it out loud....it makes you feel good doesn't it? I just came across this video from the oh so amazing Piano Guys. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"- yes I know, the song title doesn't have the word sunlight in it, but rainbows happen because of sunlight. How can you not look at a rainbow and smile and instantly want to show someone else? I also felt it appropriate with St. Patrick's day (or as my boys call it "Leprechaun day") around the corner I post something about Rainbows.

Enjoy this video, what thoughts of peace and joy come to you when you listen to and look at the beautiful scenery in it?

Walking in Sunlight by Stephanie Mabry

I am SO excited to have recently found this song! How could you not get in a good mood just from reading the title of the song, let alone the fun beat it has!? The message of this song is so simple.  So often I teach the youth (girls ages 12-13) in my Sunday class that if they live righteously, and strive to be like Jesus Christ, they will have the Light of Christ shining with in them. Not only is it the way our Heavenly Father wants us to live, but it is the way that will help us to feel good about ourselves. It truly is a beautiful feeling. It truly is like walking in sunlight. You know that feeling you have when you've been stuck inside all day and you walk outside to the warmth of the sun? That's what it feels like to have the Light of Christ, warmth, happiness, love. If we live the right way, others will notice it in us, and want us to show them how they can have the same thing. I know there is a reason I have always LOVED sunrise and sunsets. They fill me with so much joy, and remind me of the love my Heavenly Father has for me. I want to shine with that light and be a window to others of that light. It is human nature to long to be happy, feel loved, and show love to others. WE can walk in that sunlight, and help push the rain clouds away from others and share the light.

Walking in Sunlight by Stephanie Mabry 

(EFY, 2010)

It's a beautiful day, even though its dark out there

You've got sun on your face take it with you everywhere

And it warms your heart that's beating, it comes from believing

And it's a beautiful, a beautiful feeling

It's like walking in sunlight, when the whole world is covered in rain clouds

Your walkin' in sunlight, find the whole truth and living it out loud

Yeah when you know whats right, it's light walking in, Sunlight sunlight

Its amazing to me, how someone else can find

The light that they need, radiating in your eyes

Then it warms their heart that's beating

And suddenly your leading them to that beautiful,  beautiful feeling

It's like walking in sunlight, when the whole world is covered in rain clouds

Your walking in sunlight, finding the truth and living it out loud

Yeah when you know whats right, it's like walking in sunlight, sunlight

It's easy to forget how blessed we are

but life's better, when we remember, when we remember

It's like walking in sunlight, when the whole world is covered in rain clouds

We're walking in sunlight, finding the truth and living it out loud

Yeah when you know whats right, it's like walking in sunlight, sunlight

Sunlight, sunlight

Sunlight, sunlight

(the words to this song were transcribed by me, I apologize if they are not entirely correct)