A Progression In Song

I’ll be following a slightly different format today, because yesterday, God used a slightly different format with me!

As I was working, I was listening to my trusty MP3 player, & a song came on (Song #1). It was a melody that had been circling my brain all morning, so I listened to the lyrics a bit more closely. As they sank in, I realized that my heart wasn’t in a place where I could write about them. I make it a policy NOT to write about or use a song’s lyrics unless my heart is in the right place before God.

Not long afterward, the second song came on (Song #2). Still another moving song by Casting Crowns, one of my favorite Christian groups, as you’ve no doubt noticed if you have followed this blog for very long. This song began to move my heart to a different place. And by the time I had typed up the lyrics, I was able to go back to the first song with a full heart and an attitude of worship.

I hope that, if your heart is struggling to be in a worshipful place, these songs will help you too.

SONG #1
Lord, You are
The King of all creation,
And You know my name.
Lord, You are
The hope of every nation,
And You never change.
And so I stand, I stand before You now,
And raise my hands...

And I sing to You,
For You alone are worthy,
And Your Word is truth!
And I sing to You,
You are the Song within me,
And I long for You!
Oh, Lord, You are!
Oh, Lord, You are!

Lord, Your way
Is written deep within me
Spelled out by grace.
Lord, You are
The Rock of all the ages,
My help and strength.
And so I stand, I stand before You now,
And raise my hands...

And I sing to You,
For You alone are worthy,
And Your Word is truth!
And I sing to You,
You are the Song within me,
And I long for You!
Oh, Lord, You are!
Oh, Lord, You are!

The Living One, the Holy Lamb,
The Son of God, the Son of Man!
Always is, always was, always will be!

And I sing to You,
For You alone are worthy,
And Your Word is truth!
And I sing to You,
You are the Song within me,
And I long for You!

And I sing to You,
For You alone are worthy,
And Your Word is truth!
And I sing to You,
You are the Song within me,
And I long for You!
Oh, Lord, You are!
Oh, Lord, You are!
Oh, Lord, You are!

~~”Lord, You Are” by Mark Schultz (Album: Broken & Beautiful, 2007)

SONG #2
Here I am, Lord, and I’m drowning
In Your sea of forgetfulness.
The chains of yesterday surround me,
I yearn for peace and rest.
I don’t wanna end up where You found me,
And it echoes in my mind,
Keeps me awake tonight...

I know You’ve cast my sin as far as
The East is from the West.
And I stand before You now
As though I’ve never sinned.
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From You leavin’ me this way...

Jesus, can You show me
Just how far the East is from the West?
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again.
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far
The East is from the West --
From one scarred hand to the other.

I start the day, the war begins,
Endless reminding of my sin.
And time and time again,
Your truth is drowned out
By the storm I’m in.
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From You leavin’ me this way

Jesus, can You show me
Just how far the East is from the West?
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again.
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
‘Cause You know just how far
The East is from the West --
From one scarred hand to the other.

I know You’ve washed me white,
Turned my darkness into light,
I need Your peace to get me through,
To get me through this night!
Can’t live by what I feel,
But by the truth Your Word reveals!
I’m not holding on to You,
But You’re holding on to me!
You’re holding on to me!

Jesus, You know
Just how far the East is from the West.
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again!
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest,
Cuz You know just how far
The East is from the West --
From one scarred hand to the other.

~~”East to West” by Mark Hall/Casting Crowns (Album: “The Altar and the Door”, 2008)