Having recently joined a different church due to various family committments I had decided to lay low for a while. The minister supported the idea. Then came the shock! Thursday I received an email from him asking if I'd like to sing a song and talk about my work at this Sunday's meeting. A flood of thoughts and emotions came all at once. Aren't I supposed to be laying low? Wow I feel honoured. Are things on the move again? Am I ready for this? What should I sing? Should I sing?
Eventually I decided after everything Ian (my minister) had said I ought to try it and trust his judgement. Then came the readings and theme of the service. Now I realised I had a new problem. I neither had any of my own songs, or knew any other songs that complimented the theme. So as usual God intervened. It took about an hour this time but the original idea came in seconds. I applied a little song-craft and wrote every note down to make sure it stuck in my head. So here's the finished result.
Written on my heart
Steve Lowndes 20th July 2007
Here I stand with arms held wide
Nothing left for me to hide
Nothing hidden in my heart
You know my name
Here I stand and bow my head
Weeping at the words you’ve said
Weeping ‘cause of all I’ve done
You know my pain.
And you called me by name
To be a shining light in the dark
Lead me on and I will follow
Show me things I’ve never seen
Melt my heart to feel compassion
For a world of broken dreams
Lead me on and I will follow
By your Spirit make me shine
Showing Jesus’ love is written on my heart.
Prophets said the time would come
God would send a chosen one
Born to heal the broken hearts
And set them free.
Here You stand with arms held wide
Nail pierced hands and bleeding side
Washing all my sin away
Renewing me
And you called me by name
To be a shining light in the dark
Lead me on and I will follow
Show me things I’ve never seen
Melt my heart to feel compassion
For a world of broken dreams
Lead me on and I will follow
By your Spirit make me shine
Showing Jesus’ love is written on my heart.
Lead me on and I will follow
To a world of broken dreams
Who need Jesus’ love is written on their hearts.
Inspired by Nehemiah 8:1-12
and Luke 4:14-21
This mornings service was a blessing in so many ways. Apart from feeling useful, I felt God was able to use everyone in the service ina very real way. The reader read so well I thought he was an actor. The pianist was annointed. The minister spoke with authority guiding the congregation to Jesus. The congregation were receptive and open to hear God speak. I'm not saying it was a perfect service but it certainly was a blessing to everyone. I thank God for his grace in providing us mere mortals with the words that draw people to Himself.