Moving into the last three songs, we kick off the stretch with the song Arms Open Wide. This is one of the purest songs on the album. This is easily one of my favorites to play when I need to just focus in quiet solitude.

Today’s special guest blogger is a friend of mine, Joshua Gustin, in which I volunteered with for two years with Youth For Christ, attended church together for two years, and have shared our love for the Cincinnati Reds since the words “hello”. Josh (also known as Goose) is also a fill-in worship leader at CommonWay Church here in Muncie, IN. He has a passion for kids, people, and in leading people in worshiping our God.

Take a moment now, listen to Arms Open Wide and read through the lyrics before you go on to read Josh’s review and heart on this song.

Listen to: Arms Open Wide

Take my life I lay it down
At the cross where I am found
All I have I give to You oh God

Take my hands and make them clean
Keep my heart in purity
That I may walk in all You have for me

Oh here I stand
Arms open wide
Oh I am Yours
And You are mine

Take my moments and my days
Let each breath that I take
Be ever only for You oh God

My whole life is Yours
I give it all
Surrendered to Your Name
And forever I will pray
Have Your way
Have Your way

In a state of perfected surrender
God would see my soul as a myriad of
beautiful works and miracles. He would see a self-emptied, available
soul, ready to reflect the will & Kingdom of Christ. Surrendered to
the kingdom; He sees a soul full of worship & melodies from heaven. He
sees the fruit of a man bursting at the seams, He sees a
confident, bold disciple secure in the timing & work of Christ. He
sees the faces of souls rejoicing in the salvation they’ve found &
walking in dynamic destiny.
A direct reflection of the operating work of Christ: erupting hope,
explosive joy, irreplaceable peace.

I had an encounter with Jesus in my car on the drive home from work a week ago. I was thinking about the recent bible study I am doing over the book of Joshua and I had to come face
to face with the fact that I haven’t trusted God in EVERYTHING. I haven’t trusted God to be
who He has told me He is. Out of not understanding, or disobedience I have been putting MY words, thoughts, and ideas in Gods mouth.

There was a moment, sitting in my car when all the noise of my
thoughts was silenced by this song softly in the background….”Arms Open Wide” by Hillsong United. It was at the part where they are singing

My whole life is Yours
I give it all
Surrendered to Your Name
And forever I will pray
Have Your way
Have Your way

I got this surreal picture of a movie of my life…Jesus walking right along side me; running with me, talking with me, and then carrying me through the tough times…but always smiling through everything, through all of it- because He knows the end, and it is GOOD.

So tonight God was saying this to me:
“I want to do so much more in you, and through you… just let me empty
you, even the good things. Trust me to be who I am! Trust me!”

This song is a prayer that we should pray daily.

I want to see the day when a whole generation is totally abandoned to trusting God with everything and holding back all ambitions to be what WE want to be and become what GOD wants us to be!

Mark 8:34 (The Message) says this:

34-37Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

So give it all to God, just trust him.

God is good…so let him guide you in your life.

Let Him show you who he wants you to be!!!

By Joshua Gustin

Blog(s): The Naked Standard & joshuaONjoshua (Coming June 15, 2009)
Twitter: JoshuaGustin

If you enjoyed Arms Open Wide, be sure to go HERE, and purchase the song or entire album.

At any time you can go to the “Featured” section on the right and click on the Hillsong United a_CROSS//the_EARTH post to find the link to a review on each song that has been reviewed so far.