PSALM 42:8
The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day,
and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.
Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
When I first got filled with The Holy Spirit I saw myself as a mountain filled with music. And when the mountain became a volcano, it wasn't lava that flowed, it was Music. New music, new songs. Songs of joy, songs of hope, songs of rejoicing; songs of sorrow, songs of wistfulness, songs of grief. Songs of pain, songs of the love of God and for God; songs of laughter, songs of weeping.
All of these flowed from God through His Holy Spirit into me where they flowed out of my pen and my mouth. Many Christian songwriters will tell you that it is not of their imagination from which they write and sing: it is a gift from God meant to be shared with whomsoever God places on our path.
Many nights He would waken me and have me write. But I remained rested, for I was with Him and He is my Rest. Sometimes these songs would build up inside me while I was doing something else, like running around the velodrome in the predawn hours with my bestie. Or the time she and I backpacked Ireland (Perfect Replica*) Sometimes, I'd be sitting in a meeting and the song would start writing itself (No Room*), even though I wanted to wait until the meeting was over, I relented, repented, and let God move through me. No Room I actually wrote before I got baptized in The Spirit, but God was moving in me even then.
There is coming a day when sad songs will not only be a thing of the past, they won't even be a memory. For in the presence of God is fullness of JOY. In His presence is LIGHT and LOVE. In His presence we sing the song of the redeemed. All together every saint will sing that song. It is the sound of many rushing waters. It is the resounding song of Love for God for this great thing He has done.
*PERFECT REPLICA
I wonder what my God shall see,
When He sees a finished me?
Perhaps I'll be a Daniel,
Content in times of stress.
Or maybe I'll be Lydia
Adorned in purpleness.
Perhaps I'll be Rebekah,
Waiting ever on;
First 'twas by the well,
Then for her two sons.
I wonder what my God shall see
When He sees a finished me?
Perhaps I'll be an Andrew
Who leads my brother to
The One and Only Savior
Who died for me and you.
Perhaps I'll be a vessel,
What let the Son shine in;
Who mirrored God's reflection
To a lost and dying friend.
I wonder what my God shall see
When He sees a finished me?
Perhaps I'll be a fruitful vine
For God to harvest home.
And I shall wear a robe of white
With stars upon my crown.
And when He views the finished me,
I know He'll smile in victory--
"Well done thou good and faithful,
You may enter in,
Here's your gown; here's your crown.
Hello, friend."
I wonder what my God shall see,
When He sees a finished me.
I've gone through the fire,
I've gone through the grind,
I've gone through the waters
Time after time.
God has not forsaken me
In any of my trials.
And when He sees the finished me,
I'll wear a great big smile.
I'll wear a great big smile.
*NO ROOM
No room, no room, no room for Jesus
No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.
Can you imagine telling God
you have no time for Him?
There isn’t any place today for Him to enter in.
To enter in with joy delight,
Communion sweet to share
No room for Jesus, No room anywhere.
No room, no room, no room for Jesus
No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.
The temples are empty, no life exists here.
No joyful days, no redeemed souls,
The faces of the people are shut, blank and cold.
I see forlorn temples, I hear lonely sounds
Heartbeats, no heartbeats, no love of God abounds.
No room, no room, no room for Jesus
No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.
No merry hearts, no shining lights
The doors to the temple are shut, slammed in tight
Listening, not hearing; Hearing, not caring.
Heartbeats, no heartbeats, no love of God lives here.
No room, no room, no room for Jesus
No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.
Now, when the feastday of the Bride
Arrives and you are there,
Will you hear Jesus say to you,
“You have no place set here.
There is no room for you today,
You’ll have to go, you cannot stay:
I do not know your name you see,
It isn’t written here.”
No room, no room, no room for you.
No way, no how, not here at this time,
Not now.
While No Room is the number one requested song that I sing when I sing, this song is one my favorites:
The Ballad of The Body of Christ
I am the eyes That see the need for compassion
I am the hands That do the work of The LORD
I am the feet That go through the doors that are open
I am the heart, The heart of The LORD.
I am the ears That hear the cries of the lonely
I am the arms That carry the grieving and sore
I am the legs That walk the crowded sidewalks
I am the heart, The heart of The LORD.
I am the Body of Christ that was broken/I’ve been asleep for a thousand years it seems/But now I’m awake and I see the needs that aren’t spoken/Gettin’ ready to run, Gettin’ ready to fly /
Gettin’ the Body back in shape.
It’s God’s desire That no one should be lost
It’s God’s desire That everyone be saved
He can’t make your choices, It’s entirely up to you.
Don’t hesitate, don’t even wait
Don’t turn and walk ................ the other way!
I am the voice When God gives the words to be spoken
I am pure silence When I need to be ............... when I need to be
I am the Body of Christ That was broken! / I been asleep for a thousand years it seems / But now I’m awake And I see the needs that aren’t spoken / Gettin’ ready to run, Getting ready to fight /
Gettin’ the Body back in shape.
I am the fingers That pull the lost from the fire
I am the knees That bend to carry the load
I am the back That bears the marks of the hunter
I am the heart, The heart of The LORD.
I am the Body of Christ that was broken/I’ve been asleep for a thousand years it seems/But now I’m awake and I see the needs that aren’t spoken/Gettin’ ready to run, Gettin’ ready to fly /
Gettin’ the Body back in shape.
I am the Body of Christ That was broken! / I been asleep for a thousand years it seems / But now I’m awake And I see the needs that aren’t spoken / Gettin’ ready to run, Getting ready to fight /
Gettin’ the Body back in shape.
You are the Body of Christ That was broken! / You’ve been asleep for a thousand years it seems/ But now you’re awake and you see the needs that aren’t spoken / You’re gettin’ ready to run / Run your endurance race / Gettin’ your body back in shape.
Now, you know my story. Now, you hear my voice.
