All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me Jesus, take me now.

I recall my mom’s lovely alto on this song after my dad had preached his heart out in Natchez, Mississippi and Tuscaloosa, Alabama; also holding summer meetings–in pre-air conditioning days–in Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia.

Also
There’s within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low,
“Fear not, I am with thee, peace be still,
in all of life’s ebb and flow.”

I hadn’t heard about Clare’s wreck. I join you this morning in singing of the mercies of the Lord!

Mike

“If ever I loved thee, My Jesus, tis now”

Everyone asked how I sang at my own wedding, how I could get through that, wasn’t I nervous? But truthfully, I think those words brought me more peace than anything could have at that moment of great joy in my life. I sing those words over my precious baby boy now and they have a whole new meaning…what a rich heritage we have in those “ancient words”…our praise team at Richland Hills just came out with a cd that is all out of the Blue hymnal. The songs were chosen by our seniors, and it is meant to be a tribute to those whose faith has helped bring us to where we are today.

This past weekend the men of the Okolona church in Louisville had a retreat. Ken Greene from Dallas joined us for the weekend, and a large part of what God led him to share with us had its foundation in Psalm 51. What a rich opportunity we have to cry “Have mercy on me O God, according to Your unfailing love.”

As far as invitation songs…Just As I Am takes the cake. I am convicted by that song more and more each time I sing it. It’s funny that you mention Jimmy Allen, b/c that’s the very first thing that comes to mind when anyone mentions that song. Growing up at the College C of C, I probably sang a combined 4000 verses of that precious hymn. I do fondly remember as a little child counting the number of people that responded during its singing after a J.A. gospel meeting sermon…it numbered somewhere over 100 people in one service. Now that’s a lot of verses!

One of my favorite uses for “Just” is to sing “On Zion’s Glorious Summit’ which paints the picture of the redeemed. Then after sining the “Sanctus” at the end “Holy, holy, holy” go straight into “Just As I Am.” The picture painted of where God has set us, the centering of the holiness of God, followed by the confession of who we are with and without him makes for a great call to worship.

Another song that I think many are using as a call to worship is “Here In This Place.” I cannot help but see it as an amazing invitation song. As far as being in the a cappella C of C, that song is the bread and butter for my heart right now. But Chris Tomlin singing “Take My Life” is something that sweeps me away too.

This summer, I led worship at a youth conference at Lipscomb. The theme for the week was “Escape.” The first night we watched a video of former POWs and how they survived. From that we went to black with a scripture montage of Jesus words declaring that he is light of the world that came to set us free from darkness. From the darkness we started singing the words to “Here I am to Worship.” “Light of the world you stepped down into darkness…” Slowly white, moving lights faded in to a fog filled room. The lights slowly moved across the darkness embracing the audience as they sang this great worship song. I wish that everyone could have seen what I was able to see.

I wish that churches would understand the impact that the physical environment has on worshippers and that we would be creative to create irresistable environments for our worshippers. (Yes, I hang out at Northpoint alot for those of you who understand my language)

Why must the C of C be behind 20 years in everything we do? Sorry to change the subject, but that will always be a frustration.

I’m thrilled that “Just As I Am” has been rescued from invitation song purgatory. I’m not sure how such a beautiful song about God’s grace and acceptance got co-opted as a guilt anthem! I recognize that’s not everyone’s experience with that song, but it sure felt that way back in South Alabama.

Ever since I heard Cynthia Clawson sing “Softly and Tenderly” at the beginning of the movie “The Trip to Bountiful” back in the 80’s, I can’t get through the song without choking up.

I cry often when we sing now. I don’t think people cry at the church where I grew up.

His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay!

A song that always stood out to me as a child was “Low in the Grave He Lay.” It was a very confusing song to me because I misunderstood the words. I thought it said: “Low in the gravy lay Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord…Up from the gravy a rose” (as in, I pictured Jesus emerging from the gravy as a red rose). Years later, when I could read the words, I realized that the song is really telling the story of Jesus…but I did NOT understand that when I was 6.

One of my favorite hymns these days is “Breathe on me Breath of God.” I don’t remember when I learned it. It’s not one that we sing much, but those words come back to me often from a place deep in my childhood and they are very meaningful to me:

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will,
to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
till all this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.