Saturday, November 22, 2008

Lifesong In The Limelight/Josh Janoski

I truly believe that a person's testimony, salvation or otherwise, is one of the most powerful expressions of the Christian faith. I thrive on hearing God-stories. When I had my blog giveaway/contest, I asked for testimonies based on songs affecting one's faith. Well, people submitted, and I was moved. That's where "Lifesong In the Limelight" on Saturdays was born.

Josh from Just Joshing blew me away with this testimony, and it is such an encouraging one that will hopefully help someone who needs to hear it today. If you want to know someone who loves to encourage, desires to passionately pursue Christ and who has a great sense of humor, then you need to know Josh. He's a phenomenal writer and a faithful Christian friend to me and so many others in the online Christian community. For all of these reasons and more, I'm so privileged to feature him as this Saturday's
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God Speaking Through Song - Who Am I?

The first time I heard this song, I wasn’t all that inspired, because to be honest, I wasn’t really listening to the words closely and absorbing the song’s message. However, during June 2007, I found myself fighting a deep depression that caused me to not want to leave my apartment. My mother had given me a Casting Crowns CD, and I decided to play it. The song "Who Am I?" was one of the songs to come on, and I immediately recognized the tune, but this time I decided to listen to the words closely.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Lord of all the Earth. That’s a big position. And yet He takes time to know my name? To feel what I am feeling? He understands this depression I am experiencing?

Bright and morning star. Wow! He could choose to horde His light from me but instead He lights my path and steers my heart in the direction that it needs to go. Why am I depressed if God has my path laid out perfectly?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I’m so worthless. Why leave this apartment and go outside to a world that doesn’t care…but wait a minute. HE CARES! Why? After all I’ve done to hurt Him and other people, how can He love me? I guess it’s not because of who I am, but because of who He is. It’s His loving nature shining through. It’s not anything that I’ve done to deserve this, it’s what He did. He made the sacrifice. He bore the sin and shame.
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

My life here is temporary. I am getting older every day. Each breath takes me closer to my last breath. I am but a tiny grain of sand on a large stretch of beach, but He hears me when I cry out to Him! He understands this pain I am experiencing right now. He is listening to me. He wants me to seek His help and counsel.

Lord, help this flower that withers away! Lord, help me to take this time I have and not use it to be depressed or downtrodden! Let me use it to serve you! Catch me Lord as I take a dive backwards into this pit of despair! Catch me and pull me out!

What is that Lord? What did you say? I am…yours? You mean you take possession of me? Even though I feel like I have no one to turn to, you still claim me as your own? I’m yours? Really? I ask this and yet somehow in my heart I know it to be true. I am yours. I am a child of the Almighty God.

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am dirty. The weight of my sin bears down on me, leaving me weak and weathered. My hands are covered in the grime of this world that I have wallowed in for so long. I thought what I was doing would make me a better person, but instead my actions seek to haunt me and destroy me. Your eyes see my wrongdoings. You know all and see all, and yet, you don’t kick me when I’m already down. You watch me get back up using the strength of the hand that you have stretched out towards me.

I feel this storm inside me calming. I see you standing there and commanding this storm in my life to cease. I see now that no matter what I do, how I feel, or where I’m at, that I can trust in you. You care about this tiny grain of sand mixed in among millions of other grains.

I am a flower quickly fading
I am a wave tossed in the ocean
I am a vapor in the wind

But most of all…


I am Yours.
That right there is the message that carried me out of that depression and brought me back to the truth of God’s love for me. I hope that if you haven’t listened to this song that you do so, because I believe it will bless you just as it did me. it's strange, because I heard it on the radio yesterday after church, and I had just got done thinking about writing this post. I sang the song as I headed home, and I took the time to remember who I am in Jesus Christ.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours


Josh is a 26 year old Network Administrator living in the beautiful mountain state of Colorado. When he's not tinkering with technology, Josh likes to read, exercise, play games, surf the Internet, and of course - write. He sees his writing as a ministry, given to him by God to help encourage people and lead them to the hope that is Jesus Christ. Whether it be through humor, fictional Biblical re-tellings, or non-fiction confessionals, Josh's goal is to put a smile on people's face and remind them of the love that God has for them. Please take time to visit his ministry website: Uplifting Words or his personal blog at Just Joshing.


In the Key of HE,

14 friends shared a comment:

Denise said...

Such a powerful testimony, may Josh be greatly blessed.

Patty Wysong said...

Wow--straight from the heart, Josh, and oh-so encouraging!! It astounds me that the Creator of the Universe cares soooo deeply and consistantly. Thank you for this!! It's just the encouragement I needed, and a great thought to meditate on.
Huggles to both of you!!

BethL said...

What an absolutely beautiful message filled with comfort, hope, and triumph. How wonderful to read how the Lord works in the lives of others. Thanks Laura for putting this on your blog, and thankyou, Josh, for sharing this amazing story with us.

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

What a wonderful message and oh so true. I love that song. It's such a great reminder of How big God really is yet he cares so much for us who are nothing.
Okay I have to say this. Josh your picture reminds me of the guy who plays the hair dresser on Princess Diaries. There I said it! Don't take that the wrong way. In other words you look like a movie star! How's that?
Hugs.
Kim

Joanne Sher said...

Sooooooo powerful. That is a powerful song, and Josh is an incredible young man. Thank you, Josh, for sharing, and LauraLee, for posting this morning. Wonderful reminder.

Betsy Markman said...

Great testimony, Josh!

Isn't it wonderful to live in Colorado, and to get constant reminders of God's majesty in those glorious mountains? Who are we indeed? And yet...it truly is all about who He is.

Debbie said...

Great testimony and great song Josh! Enjoyed it alot. This is Debbie or djdeb from Faithwriters.

God bless,
deb

lori said...

hey....I've had the black trash bag out again today;) It must be those 13 year olds...they respond to STUFF JAIL very well...
:) It's a great book!:)

I'm going back to listen to Josh...I can't wait:)

Have a great Saturday!
love ya!
lori

Lyn said...

I knew Josh could write, but that was probably one of the best of his writing I've seen.

I've heard that song many times, and thought I knew what the words said. But Josh's testimony put them in a whole new perspective.

Josh, thank you for blessing me today. Laura, thank you for posting it and for encouraging us to read Josh's wonderful testimony.

Josh said...

I appreciate you featuring my testimony, Laura. I am very humbled and thankful to be able to share my heart with your blog readers today.

I need to go check out that hairdresser that Kim spoke of. LOL. Never knew I was a celebrity. :)

Thank you all for taking the time to read this. What a blessing!

Catrina Bradley said...

I love Casting Crowns - their music is good, but their lyrics are awesome. Their songs speak to me and have brought me out of many dire situations. I could write a testimony about most of their songs. Thanks LauraLee for posting this, and thanks Josh, for sharing your testimony.

Lori Laws said...

Hi Lauralee, I have two awards waiting for you at my blog:)

Laury said...

Wow! What a testimony, Josh!

And Laura -- wow! I love your new background. It's perfect for you. Absolutely perfect.

Thank you for sharing Josh's words. I love these testimonies LOTS!

Peter Stone said...

Wonderful testimony Josh. Encouraging to see the Lord use such a beautiful song to guide you towards Him and into His comforting presence.