Of late I have taken much solace in the lyrics of the Supertones. Their album Loud and Clear is much softer and more introspective than some of their newer albums, and the words resonate with me. Here is the song “Lift Me Up”:

Lord, my God, in the morning,
Show me how I can serve you today.
Lord, my God, in the evening,
Let my song rise up to you.

I know that you are holy,
I know that I’m unclean,
And I’m afraid to come into your presence.
I know that I’m unworthy,
To call upon your name
From all the way down here.

So I say
Lift me up
From my lowly estate
Lift me up
Where I can see you
clothed in majesty and light

If you’ve saved even one man
Surely this is undeserved
But the saints by your mercy
Stand with you uncountable
Is this not amazing
Isn’t your name grace
Aren’t you the sovereign God of justice
Haven’t we offended
Did we not crucify
Guess that we can only wonder why

So I say
Lift me up
From my lowly estate
Lift me up
Where I can see you
clothed in majesty and light

Jars of Clay produced an album called Redemption Songs which I purchased a while back. It is mostly hymns which they’ve modernized. This is one of the best buys I’ve ever made. One song they do in particular, called “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand”, brings me much comfort when the world weighs heavily. I cry every time I listen to it. (This is the Jars of Clay version, mind; the original hymn is quite a bit different)

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land
Where my possessions lie

All o’er those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day
There God, the Son forever reigns
And scatters night away.

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promise Land
I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promise Land

No chilling wind nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore
Where sickness, sorrow, pain and death
Are felt and feared no more

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promise Land
I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promise Land

When shall I see that happy place
And be forever blessed
When shall I see my Father’s face
And in His bosom rest

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promise Land
I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promise Land

Another song by the Supertones, called “Old Friend” from their album Chase the Sun, also speaks my mind better than I could phrase. Calling God “old friend” here speaks so loudly about his personality; when I think of an old friend I think of somebody who has been through many, many things with me but has never given up or walked away, which is exactly who God is.

What do I know? Somebody tell me.
I’ve been running from You so long.
Please help me Lord.
Find my direction.
I just can’t do it on my own.

You lift me up. You rescue me.
It’s good to be with You,
old friend.

Sometimes I think,
how can You love me?
My thoughts are so far from Your own.
Why choose me Lord?
I’m a poor reflection.
Why use me to make Yourself known?

You lift me up! You rescue me!
The cross you bore on Calvary.
You lift me up, you rescue me.
It’s good to be with you, old friend.

At DCC a couple of weeks ago, Foolish Things performed the song “You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman. They played it at church today and I realized again how much I like this song. The words are so true; I especially like the emphasis on how God is near during the times we feel good, but also during those despicable times when we purposefully turn our backs and walk away.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your perfect love is casting out fear.
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life,
I won’t turn back;
I know You are near.

And I will fear no evil,
For my God is with me.
And if my God is with me,
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh, no! You never let go!
Through the calm and through the storm,
Oh no, You never let go.
In every high and every low,
Oh no, You never let go.
Lord, You never let go of me.

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on;
A glorious light beyond all compare.
And there will be an end to these troubles,
But until that day comes,
We’ll live to know You here on the earth.

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on,
And there will be an end to these troubles,
But until that day comes,
Still I will praise You; still I will praise You.

As far as Acromania goes, the results are in. You may view them, if you wish. The acronym for next time is NRTA.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.