SNEAK PEEK: forgiveness
SNEAK PEEK: Matthew west is about to launch his new album next month and Forgiveness is one of the new songs.It too took me many years to learn what forgiveness entails. Like the testimony in the following video, my father died in a car accident due to the negligence of other drivers. I hated this man for many years and even when he was sick I thought he deserved proper punishment for his negligence. I am truly moved by this testimony and song.
God has shown us how to love the unloveable, forgive the impossible. He has forgive us, we who were sinners, he has loved us who continue to hurt him with our actions and thoughts.
We as selfish human beings can't do this ourselves. We needs his mercy to learn to Forgive others. I am starting to forgive that man who killed my dad, and the people who have delibrately ripped me off, those who have betrayed my trust and day by day, I am learning to love the unloveable.
FORGIVENESS
http://www.ksbj.org/music_lyrics.php?Artist=%22MATTHEW%20WEST.%22&Title=%22FORGIVENESS%22
Artist: MATTHEW WEST.
Album: Into the Light
Artist: MATTHEW WEST.
Album: Into the Light
It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always go to those who don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word
Forgiveness, forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always angers own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying set it free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how
To love the unlovable
Show me how
To reach the unreachable
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Oh, forgiveness, forgiveness
I want finally set it free
Show me how
To see what Your mercy sees
Help me now
To give what You gave to me
Forgiveness
And the last thing on your mind today
It always go to those who don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word
Forgiveness, forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always angers own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying set it free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how
To love the unlovable
Show me how
To reach the unreachable
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Oh, forgiveness, forgiveness
I want finally set it free
Show me how
To see what Your mercy sees
Help me now
To give what You gave to me
Forgiveness
http://www.klove.com/music/artists/matthew-west/
Matthew West's latest song "Forgiveness" is based on a true story of Renee, who lost her 20 year old daughter as a result of being hit by a drunk driver. The driver was sentenced to 22 years in prison, but it didn't take away the bitterness that Renee felt. It wasn't until Renee visited the driver, Eric, in prison and forgave him that she was able to experience true freedom from the anger she harnessed inside. Not only that, but Renee asked the judge to release Eric early, so that he could join her speaking around the country on the dangers of drunk driving.
"Forgiveness" is just one of the songs based on true stories as a part of Matthew's upcoming album Into The Light. The album is a follow up to The Story of Your Life, where Matthew thumbed through thousands of listeners' stories to seek inspiration for his songs.
"I was face to face with the real stories of people's lives," Matthew reflected on an interview with K-LOVE'sScott and Kelli. "It made me take a look in my own life, and I realized that a lot of times, I stay safe in the confines of My Own Little World.
One of the more powerful songs on the album, "Strong Enough," was based on the story of a 19 year old named Haleigh who was severely injured in an auto accident. After 11 surgeries and countless doctor appointments, her Mom encouraged her that the Lord will never put anything on us that we're not strong enough to handle. "He must think that I'm pretty strong if I was going through all of that," was Haleigh's response.
Matthew stepped outside of the studio this spring to bring hope and gifts to children in Panama throughOperation Christmas Child. "Operation Christmas Child is going to great lengths to reach these children and show them love through these shoeboxes," reflected Matthew. "I felt like God was saying, 'That's just a glimpse of the great lengths that I go to, to search out each and every soul and let them know that they are loved.'"
Matthew West has also used his talents on Valentine's Day every year to bless one K-LOVE listener with a personalized love song. Every February, you have the opportunity to tell Matthew your love story, and Matthew writes a song based on a story submitted. You can see the past "Next Great Love Songs" below, as well as read the stories that inspired them:
- Wouldn't Change a Thing (2011)
- When Love Comes Home (2011 - supplemental)
- Hold You Up (2010)
- When I Say I Do (2009)
- Waiting For You (2008)
Singing and songwriting was not always Matthew West's career of choice. Growing up only a stone’s throw from Wrigley Field, playing for the Cubs was the dream profession for future singer/songwriter Matthew West. As Matthew spent many nights in the dugout during high school, even serving as his team’s captain, his major-league dreams felt closer than ever. As it came time for college, however, he received a four-year music scholarship from Millikin University, instead of the baseball one he really wanted.
During his college breaks, he wrote most of his first songs in the sanctuary of his father’s church, and after graduating from college, a friend suggested that Matthew attend the annual the Gospel Music Association Music in the Rockies event for aspiring musicians.
Eventually making the final round of the songwriting competition, Matthew was offered a songwriting deal. Then after writing songs for established artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flatts and Natalie Grant, Matthew continued writing his own songs and eventually signed with Universal South Records.
His first radio single “More” held on to the #1 position on the Christian adult contemporary charts for nine weeks and his second album, History, scored him two more hit radio singles, “Next Thing You Know” and “Only Grace.”
In 2007, however, it was no longer smooth sailing when his career took a rather turbulent turn. Turns out, Matthew was on the verge of losing the very voice that endeared him to fans. Instructed to undergo vocal rest for two months by not talking at all, the future of Matthew’s singing career lay in the balance. As it turns out, the treatment worked and God wasn't quite finished using Matthew’s voice after all.
Matthew resumed his singing career and went on to write two more hits, “The Motions” and “You Are Everything” to firmly establish Matthew as one of the industry’s premiere songwriters.