What I'm fighting for

Sometimes when I hear a song the lyrics just really hit home. This song is by a band called Matisyahu. They are a Reggae group and the lead singer is Jewish. What I love about his music is all of the songs have so much meaning and history. For the past month or so if you call me this is the song you will hear as you wait for me to answer.
Every time I hear it reminds me to keep things in perspective. It makes me grateful that I have a knowledge of the fullness of the gospel and that through the gift of the Holy Ghost I can discern good from evil. It reminds me to go to the temple and do the work that unites me to the past. It reminds me that I am an heir to the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And even though it is not written in the lyrics of the song- it reminds me that the Jewish people will someday come to a knowledge that Jesus is the Christ and that they are His chosen people.

I am so grateful for all the Lord has done for me and for the compassion he has shown me.
Christ said- "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
We are not alone.
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
(Alma 7:11-12)

Here is the music and lyrics to What I'm Fighting For by Matisyahu



What I'm fighting for
Is worth far more than silver and gold
What I'm fighting for
Is a chance to unite the past
When a brothers coming home at last
Fighting together for lives
Sons and daughters of Abraham
Lay down to a higher command
Don't be tricked by the acts of man
Gods wisdom revealed in a holy plan
A chance to unite the past
When a brothers coming home at last
Fighting together for lives
To Zion we roll and we're not all alone
Unite and you will find
What I'm fighting for
Is worth far more than silver and gold
What I'm fighting for
Is a chance to unite the past
When a brothers coming home at last
Fighting together for lives
To Zion we roll and we're not all alone
Unite and you will find
What I'm fighting for
-Matisyahu

Jumping Rope

These lyrics pretty much sum up my life right now

up down when it gets hard remember life’s like a jump rope
there’ll be a bump there will be a bruise
there’ll be alarms and there will be a snooze
there’ll be a path that u will get to choose
there’ll be a win and there will be a lose
you have to hold your head up high and
watch all the negative go by
don’t u ever be ashamed to cry
you go ahead
cuz life’s like a jump rope
I want to tell u that everything will be okay
That everything will eventually turn itself to gold
Keep pushin through it all
Don’t follow, lead the way
Don’t lose yourself or your hope
Remember life’s like a jump rope
up down up down up down up down
*Jump Rope- Blue October*

Stand out lyrics

I tend to listen to the same CD over and over again in the car for a week or two and then I move on to something else. I will do the same thing on my ipod- only I listen by artist.


This week I have been listening to Stephen Marley- Mind Control (acoustic version)
I am a HUGE fan of great lyrics and there are some GREAT lyrics on this CD. (small disclaimer- I am in no way promoting this or any other artist I may write about. My taste in music is not always what I would call mainstream.)

One song says "sandpaper kisses paper cut bliss" in reference to a relationship. I love it when a few small words can bring so much imagery and emotion. Even if you have never had a relationship that could be described this way you can totally feel what he is talking about.



Another song says "They'll make it attractive to get men distracted"
Isn't that totally the way sin works. It's like the scripture in 2 Nephi that talks about how Satan will stir some up in anger against that which is good and others he will pacify and lull away into carnal security and then carefully lead them down to hell and then others he will flatter and whisper in their ear until he grasps them with his chains.

Satan isn't stupid. He doesn't get people in his grasp by telling them the truth. He makes things attractive- makes the broad road look like the easier way- makes things that will bind us look like freedom- makes us think that the small sins aren't that big of a deal. He especially does this to our youth. I have had several of these conversations recently with my teenagers. Satan works hard to make them think certain things should be okay and that things like dating before 16, piercings, pairing up and other choices don't really have consequences. He tries to convince them that they can handle these kind of things without taking it any further. Thank goodness for a wise Heavenly Father who has inspired His prophet to set guidelines for these kids who are so bombarded with what is "attractive".
I have lived on both paths. I know what it is like to be distracted by the "attractive" things this world has to offer. Sometimes those attractive things still get to me. But I am working everyday to keep up the good fight and to stay on the path back home.