I spent nearly 25 years in pastoral ministry. Meditation on Sacred Scripture has long been a consistent part of my spiritual life. The lyrics I write flow from my relationship with the Bible.
Who gave the cat his purr?
The dog his boundless devotion?
Who gave the storm its rainbow?
The wind its whispering voice?
Chorus:
Our God is a God of Joy
He rejoices in His works
He smiles on His creation
And delights to hear us laugh
Who paints the sunset?
And crowns the trees with autumn gold?
Who gave the waterfall its cascading song?
And taught the stars to twinkle in the night?
Who gave the birds their songs?
And children joyous laughter?
Whose palette paints the flowers’ blooms?
And gives the alps in snowy crowns?
Why does the fish leap from the water?
And the squirrel fly from branch to branch?
Who calls the eagle to soar across the sky?
And gives us smiles to light up each face?
Alone in the dark
He’s running from his home
Yet as he sleeps, a vision in his dreams
A ladder, from Heaven down to earth
A promise: I will be with you!
Chorus:
I will be with you
No matter where you go
Near or far, day or night
In triumph and in tragedy
I will be with you
The wind is hot, the ground is dry
A burning - but unburning- fire
A voice that shakes the mountain
You must set my people free
And bring them to their home
Rough fishermen, gathered on a height
A command: Gather them in
Make disciples of all nations
Call, teach and baptize. Be not afraid
I am with you ‘til the end of time.
He is Emmanuel, God-with-us
A quiet hillside, the flock is resting
A silent breeze moves softly through the grass
And then a voice, softer than the breeze
I choose you, Abram. You are My own
I am the One. I call you now. Go where I will lead you.
Refrain:
I will follow, I will follow You, Lord
Leave behind all I have known
To go where you will lead
Lead me Lord, oh lead me Lord
I will follow
A stranger in a strange land
Once a prince and now a pastor
I see a fire, a voice of power calls me
I send you, Moses. Set My people free
Your time has come. Go where I will lead you
The morning sun shines brightly
But I am tired and sick at heart
A night of work has left me nothing
I call you Peter, leave your nets behind
Hear now, and go where I will lead you
Here in this place, resting in the silence
Do you hear Me calling You?
I will not speak with fearful trumpets
I touch your heart and call with peaceful whispers
I call you now. The time has come. Go where I will lead you
Who gave the cat his purr?
The dog his boundless devotion?
Who gave the storm its rainbow?
The wind its whispering voice?
Chorus:
Our God is a God of Joy
He rejoices in His works
He smiles on His creation
And delights to hear us laugh
Who paints the sunset?
And crowns the trees with autumn gold?
Who gave the waterfall its cascading song?
And taught the stars to twinkle in the night?
Who gave the birds their songs?
And children joyous laughter?
Whose palette paints the flowers’ blooms?
And gives the alps in snowy crowns?
Why does the fish leap from the water?
And the squirrel fly from branch to branch?
Who calls the eagle to soar across the sky?
And gives us smiles to light up each face?
Alone in the dark
He’s running from his home
Yet as he sleeps, a vision in his dreams
A ladder, from Heaven down to earth
A promise: I will be with you!
Chorus:
I will be with you
No matter where you go
Near or far, day or night
In triumph and in tragedy
I will be with you
The wind is hot, the ground is dry
A burning - but unburning- fire
A voice that shakes the mountain
You must set my people free
And bring them to their home
Rough fishermen, gathered on a height
A command: Gather them in
Make disciples of all nations
Call, teach and baptize. Be not afraid
I am with you ‘til the end of time.
He is Emmanuel, God-with-us
A quiet hillside, the flock is resting
A silent breeze moves softly through the grass
And then a voice, softer than the breeze
I choose you, Abram. You are My own
I am the One. I call you now. Go where I will lead you.
Refrain:
I will follow, I will follow You, Lord
Leave behind all I have known
To go where you will lead
Lead me Lord, oh lead me Lord
I will follow
A stranger in a strange land
Once a prince and now a pastor
I see a fire, a voice of power calls me
I send you, Moses. Set My people free
Your time has come. Go where I will lead you
The morning sun shines brightly
But I am tired and sick at heart
A night of work has left me nothing
I call you Peter, leave your nets behind
Hear now, and go where I will lead you
Here in this place, resting in the silence
Do you hear Me calling You?
I will not speak with fearful trumpets
I touch your heart and call with peaceful whispers
I call you now. The time has come. Go where I will lead you
In a dark and quiet room,
In the middle of the night,
Huddled in a bed and clutching Teddy tight,
A child cries out in fear:
“There’s something in the shadows
Hiding in the dark.
It’s waiting to devour
My poor and helpless life
Help, o come and help me!
Is there anybody there?”
Refrain:
Suddenly, strong arms are there.
A soothing voice assures, “I am here.”
The fearsome shadows flee.
I know that I’m secure.
“I’m close to you. Do not fear.”
In a dark and quiet room,
In the deepest hours of night,
Lying in a bed, wrapped in wires and tubes,
A dying one cries out in helpless fright:
“Death is drawing near, ready to devour
My poor and sinful soul.
Help, o come and help me!
Does anybody care?
I was only called to pour the wine.
A call to serve Your people
A call wait at table
To feed Your hungry and give drink to Your thirsty
To serve among Your servants
I was only called to pour the wine
And Your Spirit filled my heart
Flowed throughout my heart
The Spirit of truth, of goodness, of love
I couldn’t hold it in
I was only called to pour the wine
I proclaimed Your Name to Your people
To the chosen ones awaiting You
They would not hear, could not believe
Still I proclaimed Your Name
I was only called to pour the wine
The heavens opened
I saw Your throne on high
I was dragged away; the stones began to fall
I gave my soul to you
I was poured out
My life was given for you
Forgive them Lord, forgive them Lord
I am poured out! I am poured out!
Oh, I was only called to pour the wine.
Can I come home to You again.
In the brightness of the sun,
There’s a shadow on my soul.
So richly blessed in more ways than I know
I’ve turned away, spurned Your love for me.
You drew me close. I ran away.
Refrain:
Take me back, my Father.
Heal my soul, O Son of God
Fill my heart, Spirit of Love
Make me Yours, only Yours
You called me to your service
And gave me gifts of grace
So deeply loved, more deeply than I know
I’ve chosen sin and gone my selfish way
You gave me life. I chose death.
I kneel down now before You
Undeserving of Your love.
I have no hope unless it comes from You
I’ve wandered far and lost my way
Can I come home to You again.
Can I come home to You again.
I want to do Your will
And stumble on the way
I want to turn away from sin
But cannot find the way
Who will free me from
This weakness and temptation?
Who can deliver me from the evil in my life?
I’m an earthen vessel
Broken, damaged, desperate
I cry out from the depths
I quake with fear of Hell
I yearn for Heaven’s day
My God, my God
I feel forsaken, lost
But found by grace
My God, my God
Don’t abandon me
You alone are my Hope
You alone are my Life, my Light
Your grace alone can save and heal
You are my Deliverer
You are my All
I fear no more!
You reign in Heaven
You reign here on earth
You reign over all creation
Reign in my heart, my life, my soul
Rain down Your love
Rain down Your mercy
Rain down Your pardon and your peace
Reign in me
Rain over me
Who gave the cat his purr?
The dog his boundless devotion?
Who gave the storm its rainbow?
The wind its whispering voice?
Chorus:
Our God is a God of Joy
He rejoices in His works
He smiles on His creation
And delights to hear us laugh
Who paints the sunset?
And crowns the trees with autumn gold?
Who gave the waterfall its cascading song?
And taught the stars to twinkle in the night?
Who gave the birds their songs?
And children joyous laughter?
Whose palette paints the flowers’ blooms?
And gives the alps in snowy crowns?
Why does the fish leap from the water?
And the squirrel fly from branch to branch?
Who calls the eagle to soar across the sky?
And gives us smiles to light up each face?
Alone in the dark
He’s running from his home
Yet as he sleeps, a vision in his dreams
A ladder, from Heaven down to earth
A promise: I will be with you!
Chorus:
I will be with you
No matter where you go
Near or far, day or night
In triumph and in tragedy
I will be with you
The wind is hot, the ground is dry
A burning - but unburning- fire
A voice that shakes the mountain
You must set my people free
And bring them to their home
Rough fishermen, gathered on a height
A command: Gather them in
Make disciples of all nations
Call, teach and baptize. Be not afraid
I am with you ‘til the end of time.
He is Emmanuel, God-with-us
A quiet hillside, the flock is resting
A silent breeze moves softly through the grass
And then a voice, softer than the breeze
I choose you, Abram. You are My own
I am the One. I call you now. Go where I will lead you.
Refrain:
I will follow, I will follow You, Lord
Leave behind all I have known
To go where you will lead
Lead me Lord, oh lead me Lord
I will follow
A stranger in a strange land
Once a prince and now a pastor
I see a fire, a voice of power calls me
I send you, Moses. Set My people free
Your time has come. Go where I will lead you
The morning sun shines brightly
But I am tired and sick at heart
A night of work has left me nothing
I call you Peter, leave your nets behind
Hear now, and go where I will lead you
Here in this place, resting in the silence
Do you hear Me calling You?
I will not speak with fearful trumpets
I touch your heart and call with peaceful whispers
I call you now. The time has come. Go where I will lead you
In a dark and quiet room,
In the middle of the night,
Huddled in a bed and clutching Teddy tight,
A child cries out in fear:
“There’s something in the shadows
Hiding in the dark.
It’s waiting to devour
My poor and helpless life
Help, o come and help me!
Is there anybody there?”
Refrain:
Suddenly, strong arms are there.
A soothing voice assures, “I am here.”
The fearsome shadows flee.
I know that I’m secure.
“I’m close to you. Do not fear.”
In a dark and quiet room,
In the deepest hours of night,
Lying in a bed, wrapped in wires and tubes,
A dying one cries out in helpless fright:
“Death is drawing near, ready to devour
My poor and sinful soul.
Help, o come and help me!
Does anybody care?
I was only called to pour the wine.
A call to serve Your people
A call wait at table
To feed Your hungry and give drink to Your thirsty
To serve among Your servants
I was only called to pour the wine
And Your Spirit filled my heart
Flowed throughout my heart
The Spirit of truth, of goodness, of love
I couldn’t hold it in
I was only called to pour the wine
I proclaimed Your Name to Your people
To the chosen ones awaiting You
They would not hear, could not believe
Still I proclaimed Your Name
I was only called to pour the wine
The heavens opened
I saw Your throne on high
I was dragged away; the stones began to fall
I gave my soul to you
I was poured out
My life was given for you
Forgive them Lord, forgive them Lord
I am poured out! I am poured out!
Oh, I was only called to pour the wine.
Can I come home to You again.
In the brightness of the sun,
There’s a shadow on my soul.
So richly blessed in more ways than I know
I’ve turned away, spurned Your love for me.
You drew me close. I ran away.
Refrain:
Take me back, my Father.
Heal my soul, O Son of God
Fill my heart, Spirit of Love
Make me Yours, only Yours
You called me to your service
And gave me gifts of grace
So deeply loved, more deeply than I know
I’ve chosen sin and gone my selfish way
You gave me life. I chose death.
I kneel down now before You
Undeserving of Your love.
I have no hope unless it comes from You
I’ve wandered far and lost my way
Can I come home to You again.
Can I come home to You again.
I spent nearly 25 years in pastoral ministry. Meditation on Sacred Scripture has long been a consistent part of my spiritual life. The lyrics I write flow from my relationship with the Bible.
I earned a Masters Degree in Divinity in 1989.
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