Singing Praise

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

-- Psalm 7:17, ESV
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Sunday was an awesome day! Grace and I had gotten permission to sing a special during evening service (because the worship teams lead music at night, we don't normally have specials then.) As it turned out, the other female vocalist wasn't going to be there, so the worship leader asked me to fill in. I was apprehensive, knowing that (based on Grace's testimony as their keyboard player) things tend to be a bit lax in the group, and that there wouldn't be a lot of practice time - it's just the way things are. I went to practice on Thursday, but the guitar player wasn't there, so it was very difficult to rehearse, and I went away feeling ill-equipped for Sunday night's service. Fortunately, after initially experiencing severe butterflies, my stomach calmed down, and we were able to practice enough before service that I thought I could get through it.

And get through it I did. There were some rough spots, and as usual, the sound guys didn't have the balance right (my husband and I have complained about this for a while), but God blessed. I was blessed. I worshiped. I felt I was serving the Lord and the congregation, something I haven't felt since changing churches almost two years ago. (There's not a lot one can do without being a member, and even if we were, my priority is taking care of my husband and family.) And, I hope, the congregation was blessed.

Oh, and our special went wonderfully! We sang Beautiful the Blood by Steve Fee and Louie Giglio. (Click for the lyrics.)

Psalm 145

It's been quite a while since I posted here. I am still struggling spiritually, although I have times that are filled with the love and worship of God.

I recently finished reading through the Psalms. Each time I do, different things jump out at me. This time, when I reached Psalm 145, my heart was rejoicing as I read. It was as if I'd never read it before. Here is the text from the English Standard Version. (Paragraph divisions and emphases are mine.)

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A Song of Praise. Of David.

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. (The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.) The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

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What a marvelous song of praise!!

God of All

My intention is not to turn this blog into a lyrics site, but since God often speaks to me through songs, I naturally want to share them.

I recently downloaded the album This is My Cry by Kees Kraayenoord, a Dutch worship leader (available from the iTunes Music Store.) The song below, God of the Moon and Stars is almost an afterthought on the album, coming at the very end, and apparently not recorded live as the rest of the album is. (You can see a video of Kees singing the song here.) I have listened to this song many times, and the thought that keeps coming to my mind is that God is indeed the God of everyone. Not just the ones who have trusted in Christ as Savior. Colossians 1:16 says: "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him." All things. Everyone. He is God of all, even if they don't acknowledge Him. It's one of those things that I know, but the depth and breadth of that truth hadn't sunk in. Read these words, then let me know what you think.

God of the Moon and Stars

God of the moon and stars
God of the gay- and singles bars
God of the fragile hearts we are, I come to you
God of our history, god of the future that will be
What will you make of me, I come to you

God of the meek and mild,
God of the reckless and the wild
God of the unreconciled, I come to you
God of our life and death
God of our secrets unconfessed
God of our every breath, I come to you

God of the rich and poor
God of the princess and the whore
God of the ever open door, I come to you
God of the unborn child
God of the pure and undefiled
God of the pimp and pedophile, I come to you

God of the war and peace
God of the junkie and the priest
God of the greatest and the least, I come to you
God of the refugee
God of the prisoner and the free
God of our doubt and certainty, I come to you

God of our joy and grief
God of the lawyer and the thief
God of our faith and unbelief, I come to you
God of the wounds we bear
God of the deepest dreams we share
God of our unspoken prayer, I come to you

God of a world that´s lost
God af the lonely cross
God who has come to us, I come to you