Born This Way

A friend posted on Facebook stating an opinion about the lyrics of the song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga, “I am what I am” by Gloria Gaynor, and “Love me for what I am” by The Carpenters.

(To quote): “There’s a song before by The Carpenters that goes, “You’ve got to love me for what I am for simply being me.” And then Gloria Gaynor sang, “I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses.” It ain’t much different form Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”

They’re self-centered and selfish; expecting others to take you for  who you are, period. Not even a hint of wanting to change for the better.

People with this mindset expect people to bend over for them, to just accept them and how they talk, to embrace them in the midst of their tantrums, to “love me for what I am” because “I am what I am...” and “I was born this way.”

Truth:  Jesus loves you for who you are – a sinner. But He did not accept you and love you and die for you and rise for you for you to stay the same. Jesus came to bring change -  a transformation -  from the inside out, for the better.

The moment you settle for being who you are, then you negate Christ’s finished work on the Cross.

Let Him love you for who you are but allow Him to transform you and make you a better person. Because truth is, yes, you were born that way but you don’t have to stay that way.” (Unquote)

I have been caught singing “Born this Way” and “Love me for what I am” a few times. I do not know the whole lyrics of the song. I just know the chorus. After reading my friend’s post, I have come to realize that he actually has a point. Of course we have to accept and love ourselves first because I personally believe that it will be hard for us to accept and love others when don’t accept and love ourselves.

I kind of agree when Lady Gaga says:

There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are
She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far
Listen to me when I say

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, born this way

These days where so much emphasis is made on physical beauty, weight, height, skin color, hair style, clothes, shoes, and other temporary and material things, it is easy to feel unattractive. So much promotion is made on liposuction, botox, and other beautifications done by doctors. I like the highlighted lyrics where Lady Gaga says God makes no mistakes and we are perfect the way we are. If she is talking about the physical aspect, then I completely agree with her. However, if she is also talking about our attitude then I agree with my friend’s observation. Lady Gaga says there ain’t no other way because she was born this way. But people do change and can change for the better.

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way

It is not wise for us to think that we cannot change because we are born this way. Yes, we may have inherited some not so nice characteristics, but those can be changed for the better. An introvert person can be an extrovert in the future and vice versa.

I am glad to have read my friend’s post. Sometimes it’s also nice to understand the songs that we sing. It made me “google” the lyrics of the song and tried to decipher what the song meantJ

Blessings

The message during worship service yesterday was all about “Blessings”. Our speaker talked about us receiving blessings everyday and we should learn to see that blessings come in so many forms. Most of the things that bother us are actually blessings. When we wake up on a Monday morning and feel lazy getting up for work, that is a blessing because it means we have a job. Most people do not have one. When we complain that we have a lot of dishes to wash, that is a blessing because it means we have food that caused our dishes to be dirty. When we have noisy children in the house and we could not rest, that is a blessing because one day, those noises will fade because all children grow up and will eventually have their own lives to live. When our parents discipline us, that is a blessing because that means they love us. Orphans wish they have parents to love them. Everyday is a blessing. We just have to open our eyes and see that inspite of all the chaos, God is always with us.

I want to share the lyrics of a beautiful song sung by Laura Story. The song speaks about blessings in disguise. Hope you’ll have the time to listen to this beautiful song. Have a great week aheadJ

"Blessings"

Lyrics to a song by Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise