Listening to Lyrics

This morning in church we sang some of my all-time favorite songs. I didn't make it to Praise Team practice this morning. I didn't even read the email that was sent to me this week listing our songs for the morning. It's probably a good thing. I get emotional when singing because the lyrics absolutely stir me. I'm often taken away, transported, while singing songs to our Savior.

So often we take them for granted. How many times do we stop and really ponder the meaning, the true definition of Savior? How many times do we monotonously sing through these songs that are meant to be true praises to our King?

As we began to sing this one song, our pastor turned to me and said, "This is one of your favorites, isn't it?" Little did he know that almost all the ones he chose today are my favorites.

He was talking about "Come Thou Fount," which lyrics stir me, and yet I looked out at the congregation and saw people singing a song they've heard a hundred times. Don't they know what we're singing about? Can't they feel the passion? "Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God. He to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood." Have you ever wandered from the fold? I know I sure have. I was a stranger to my Lord once. And He SOUGHT me. Another song, I'm reminded of now, says He SOUGHT me and BOUGHT me. He bought me all right. At a precious price. These next lyrics get me every time. I can rarely make it through. "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, Lord take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above."

If those don't get to you, you need help. We are human. We're prone to wander. We need our hearts to be sealed. I imagine standing before our God and literally handing him my heart. Here it is, Lord. I can do nothing alone. I desperately need You.

We then sang "How Great Thou Art." It's amazing I didn't go thru a box of Kleenex just in the praise and worship part of the service. I knew where we were headed next, and I was worried that I was about to make a scene in front of the entire church. I often think how blessed Chris Tomlin is. His music sends me. It blows my mind. And "How Great is Our God" is truly one of my top three all-time faves. I hope it's yours as well. We probably can't be friends if it's not. (Humor, people.) I use my hands a lot when I sing and one of my favorite lines says, "How great is our God. SING WITH ME how great is our God." I always do a small motion. People probably have no idea what I'm thinking, but I'm always motioning for the audience to actually SING WITH ME. Let's sing HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have a hard time standing still when singing. (Or any time, for that matter.) It used to just be when on stage, singing some type of show tune about something very inconsequential. But I have a really hard time standing still when singing to my Savior. And it's hard to look out and see the congregation staring blankly at the screen, looking around, or not singing at all. But every once in awhile I'll open my eyes and look out and find a glimmer of praise. A sight that tells me I am not the only one praising Him. It's often the same man. And he's tall, so he stands above those around him. His big arms are raised above him, his eyes closed and often squinted in sincerity. Several times I've broken down. This big man gets it. He understands his need for a Savior. He understands the needs of ALL for a Savior. And not just any savior...The Savior.

And I can't be still. I want to jump for joy.

Yes, there are times my mind wanders. I confess there are times when I look out and see visitors and I want them to "enjoy" our service. There are times when I come in with the wrong attitude, or frustration from getting three kids and my husband ready for church. Or maybe I'm already making lunch plans for afterwards. I confess my heart is not always in the right place. But it doesn't take long for it to get there. Especially with lyrics like this: "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Take my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above." Or "the splendor of the king clothed in majesty. Let all the earth rejoice.... You're the Name above all names. You are worthy of all praise. My heart will sing how great is our God!"

I think David himself would enjoy those lyrics.

I know that I sure do. And I hope the next time you sing a song at church, in the car, in the shower, wherever you are, that you will listen to the lyrics. Listen to what they are saying to us. Listen. Listen. LISTEN. And then let me know if you have the urge to do a little dancing before our Lord. David did. And he was a man after God's own heart......