River of Life

It is CRAZY how many “church” songs I know. (Guess all those years in “sunday school”, youth group, summer camp, Young Life, and K-Life paid off?)

Most days the songs simply lay dormant in my head. But sometimes I read or hear something – a verse, a quote, a conversation – that awakens them. And the lyrics start stirring around like agitated bumble bees.

So earlier this week when I these words by John Ortberg in The Me I Want to Be,

“God’s plan is not just for us to be saved by grace – it is for us to live by grace. God’s plan is for my daily life to be given, guided, guarded, and energized by the grace of God. To live in grace is to flow in the Spirit.”

“The only way to become the person God made you to be is to live with the Spirit of God flowing through you like a river of living water.”

this song started madly buzzing around in my head.

I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me,
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.
Opens prison doors sets the captives free,
I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.

Spring up oh well…gush, gush, gush, gush
Within my soul!
Spring up oh well…splish, splash
And make me whole.
Spring up oh well…whoosh
And give to me. That life abundantly.

Do you remember that song?

It’s a little silly, yes. But Ortberg’s words helped me see the true meaning behind those age-old lyrics. And as it hums around in my head I find myself wondering what is truly “flowing out of me.”

Self-righteousness? Pride? Sarcasm? Cynicism? Anger? Fear?

Or a river of life?

What is flowing out of you?

Bonus question – What crazy old-school church songs do you have laying dormant in your head?