Blessings

Genesis 49:1-28

The Blessing of Jacob’s (Israel’s) sons reminds me of the importance of blessings. Israel’s blessings of his children were a mixture of prophecy, and of blessings and curses. Even though there is a major difference between blessings in the Pentateuch and today, I still think some parallels can be found.

Today both blessings and curses are passed down from parents to children, or grandparents to grandchildren. My family has passed down Christianity to several generations: the value of following God, church participation, baptism, and personal piety. I cannot even imagine my life without faith in Christ. Even though passed on to me through tradition, I have claimed it as my own. However, curses from a lack of relationship with God can also be passed down. Things like abuse, cycles of sin, alcoholism/drug abuse, and attitudes of prejudice are just a few.

My great-grandfather, a coffin maker, had a lack of a relationship with God, which led to physical abuse of my grandmother which later led to verbal abuse of my mother and uncle. It is sad that negative legacies also carry on until they are broken. My father, for instance, broke a line of alcoholism in his family. His father and grandfather before him made white lightening. My father had a negative experience with tequila in Vietnam and has not had a drink since. Thus, my father passed on to me the idea that for our family drinking is something we will abstain from.

I have in my life been able to break the chain of prejudices against foreigners and people of color. Thank God for education, a different Christian experience than some of my family have had, and for an abundance of God’s grace. So you see, we can pass on both blessings and curses today as well…by bad habits or good ones, and by a strong relationship with God and others. What legacy have you left for your children or for others to follow?

Written by Cynthia Cooper

Loaves and Fish

John 6:27-40

Did you know the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is the only miracle, besides the resurrection, that is recounted in all four gospels? Maybe that is because it is a story that serves to remind us of Jesus’ compassion, mercy, and that what seems an impossible task to us is just an opportunity for God to show us differently. Mark 6:31 tells us that Jesus was taking his disciples to a remote and quiet place where they could have time to rest after their mission work. What a surprise it must have been when they arrived and crowds of people were already there. This crowd is likened to “sheep without a shepherd.” I don’t know about you, but when I need some quiet time, being interrupted and needed by even one person irritates me, much less a crowd of people! But not Jesus. He saw this as a time to not only provide for these lost sheep, but also teach them about all that is possible with God.

Jesus showed compassion and mercy to the crowd with only two fish and 5 loaves of bread and he made sure everyone had their fill. Jesus didn't provide just enough for them to get a taste, he made sure that all of their stomachs were full. But Jesus had a bigger objective. An objective that included showing the crowd that the only sustenance that will never leave their souls hungry is that of God. Jesus didn't want the crowd to continue to believe in him and follow him just because he could feed them. He wanted them to believe in him and follow him because he was and is the “Bread of Life” and with him their souls would never be hungry again.

What a simple, yet powerful reminder of this story is during Lent. Let’s all decide to let Jesus keep us full and fill our souls daily and not just when we are hungry and running on empty.

Written by Margo Greene

Love is a Many Splendored Thing

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

I love coffee first thing every morning!  I love to exercise!  I love chocolate!  I love sunny days!  I love chilling on the beach!  I love teaching!  I love shoes and clothes!  Yes of course I love my family very much!  However, my point is, do I use this word too freely? 

After reading the above scripture I realized maybe I should rethink how I use the word LOVE.  I could say "having coffee first thing in the morning is my favorite part of the day." Or “exercise really gets me going!  Sunny days make me feel so energetic!”  You get my point.  All of these things are on this Earth for us to enjoy for sure, but they are not to take the place of our God.

For if they do, they become idols.  For sure we are and will be tempted in our days, but not beyond what we can handle promises our Lord.  We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves.  That is how we should use the word LOVE.  It is a special word with deep meaning and it covers page after page in our Bibles.  I pray this Easter season that love will have a new meaning in each of our lives.

Written by Holli Goforth

All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

Psalm 92

The hymn “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” and the familiar tune “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand…” came up when I researched this Psalm which is considered a song and written for the Sabbath day.  For many of us, Sunday or Sabbath Day has been and is the day that we express ourselves while we worship our wonderful God.  Having grown up at Central, our family has worshiped on Sundays.  My memories of going with my family helped shape my faith journey.  I have gradually grown to honor the gift of our Savior by gathering with others to sing praises and learn more of His words.

Psalm 92 describes David’s feelings of peace, thanksgiving and warmth that God gives us.  I can relate to this and perhaps most of us on Sundays as we are filled with the Holy Spirit and a sense of renewal.  This time is for focusing on being thankful for all the blessings that have been freely given, along with strength to overcome the challenges of our lives.  Singing and listening to our great music teams bring feelings and emotions that generally only happen on the Sabbath.   Also, to hear the words of our pastor, pray for others and fellowship are what make the worship experience so meaningful.

The first day of the week is an opportunity to get a boost and inspiration to carry on and share the love of Christ on the remaining six days of the week.  Over time, building discipline to study, worship, build our faith and give thanks while practicing what we learn about ourselves and others is what brings peace, love and joy.  May we grow together and strive to have gratitude, grow our faith and share with others while experiencing the blessing of giving rather than receiving.  As the hymn continues, “…All other ground is sinking sand.”

Written by Chris Mabry

Frankie Says RELAX

Mark 6:30-46

After a long day of mission work, Jesus tells his disciples to take a break and get some rest.  Serving God is important, but resting periodically is equally important. We need the downtime so that we can continue to do our work effectively and to our greatest potential.

We are often so caught up in the whirlwind of our daily lives: work, school, extracurricular activities, you name it, that we forget to allow time to recharge.  Or we feel that simply finding the time to rest is very difficult to do.

Finding time to rest was hard for Jesus and his disciples as well because people followed them to their quiet place looking for guidance and teaching from their leaders. 

Jesus later fed the large crowd on just five loaves of bread and two fish.  Even the disciples were amazed that not only was there enough food for everyone, there was plenty left over!

We often face tasks that seem insurmountable to us.  When something seems beyond our reach, it is God’s opportunity to show us what He is capable of.  Nothing is impossible with God.

One of my favorite blogs to read is called Zen Habits.  In this blog, the author advises that we should take everything in bite-sized pieces.  Start with just a few minutes a day of prayer, journaling, scripture reading, or just quiet time, and then gradually add more time as you go.  That way it won’t feel like just another task to add to your to-do list.  It will already be a part of your daily routine.

Written by Holly Mabry

Stumbling Blocks

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

At first glance, this is an irrelevant passage pertaining to sacrifices made in pagan worship of idols. Paul is writing to the Corinthians’ question of eating meat offered to idols. How easy it would be to skip over this and think that we are beyond this in our modern day religion, but today’s reading reveals a basic Christian principle.

Verse 2 gets my attention:  “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.”  Could that be me, confident in my knowledge, my righteousness?  Then another verse “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”  We do love our freedom.

Paul helps us to see beyond our knowledge and our application of that knowledge to the more important principle that in every questionable situation, I must not only consider myself and what is allowable to me as a Christian, but also whether my action will help or hinder another.  In the same way that new parents suddenly realize that they are being watched and emulated by their innocent young child, we must all know that as Christians our actions have to be motivated out of our love.  We know when we have to clean up our act if we listen to our heart.  If we listen to our desires, our knowledge can fuel a pride that can overshadow our love.

True knowledge of God and His love invariably involves a sacrifice of one’s “rights” even if that right is truly a harmless desire.  Paul teaches us that our attitude should be how to best act to glorify God and reveal Christ’s life in us.  It is our responsibility that no child, or other vulnerable person, is caused to stumble because we stand on our rights to personal pleasure, self-interest or superior knowledge and position.  So we must ask ourselves, “Could my behavior, though harmless for me, influence others into a conflict of their faith?”

Written by Martha Hamrick

The Big Reveal

Genesis 45:1-15

Genesis has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible.  It is full of rich stories and fascinating characters.  The story of Joseph and his psychedelic coat (and dreams) is no different. 

In this scripture passage, we come to the big reveal.  Joseph jumps out, removing his fake beard and glasses (that somehow everyone was fooled by), and yells...."Surprise! It's me...the brother you left for dead, all because you felt like Dad may have loved me a little more than you!"  In this moment, I imagine that Joseph is thinking to himself, "This is going to be great! There are going to be more tears & hugging than when Ty Pennington yells 'MOVE THAT BUS!' on Extreme Home Makeover!". Instead, the scripture tells us that his brothers said nothing, so dismayed at his presence. The brothers were probably seeing a more gruesome scene in their minds.  I imagine them identifying more with Little Red Riding Hood, seeing the wolf for the first time...now that he had removed the wig and glasses, awaiting their inevitable doom. Joseph's brothers knew that he would have been justified in his actions if he had exacted revenge; treating them as horribly as they had treated him.  After all, he was in the perfect position now to do that, and the element of surprise is always a nice touch in any good revenge scenario. 

However, we read that Joseph did the unexpected (as is so often the case throughout scripture).  He challenged what they believed to be the appropriate response, and in many ways the most fair response. Joseph did not retaliate, instead he welcomed his brothers into his arms and wept with joy over their reunion.

Jesus, like Joseph, was a fan of thinking outside of the box.  You never really know what to expect from him, he is always doing the opposite of what the world (law) says he should do.  It would have been easy for Joseph to punish his brothers in a fit of rage, just as it would have been easy for Jesus to respond violently to those who oppressed him.  

It is easy for us to let the words and actions of others dictate how we respond. No one ever said being a follower of Christ would be easy!  We are called to do the hard thing.  Joseph chose to respond to his brothers in love.  In doing so, he blessed them...but he received a blessing as well--a restored family.

Written by Keely DeBoever

Big Stuff, Small Stuff

Mark 5:21-43

After reading about Jesus healing the sick woman and raising a dead girl, I wondered more about those he helped.  What powerful faith they and their families had!  How could they know that he was the Son of God?  He was just a poor carpenter who recently came up from Galilee with a small gang of fisherman and the like.  I marvel that these families knew who he was:  The way and the light.

I sometimes struggle in my own faith even though I have over 2000 years of "proof" about who Jesus was, and is.  But even though I have not seen his miracles in person, I am so fortunate to see his power in my everyday work.

Recently, a close patient of mine--I'll call her Faith--passed away from cancer.  She loved her present life and the time spent with her daughter.   It's no small understatement to say that it was a bad day when I told her that she had cancer and that there was no treatment for it.  Over the following weeks, I saw her in the hospital, at Hospice, and then finally at home.  Through her course of dying, Faith and I spoke of the things that she would miss here on Earth and we spoke of the things that awaited her in Heaven.  Her faith was a powerful testament of the love of Jesus.  And after each visit, I left feeling more alive than ever.  Faith, and a few other patients like her over the years, make me keenly aware of the importance of each day.  Faith particularly helped me to separate the "big stuff" from the "small stuff," to focus on my family now, and to ultimately work toward my riches in Heaven.  What a wonderful irony:  While I may have been Faith's doctor, she gave me the true "cure."

Prayer:  Lord, please help me live every day fully and gratefully for all that you have provided; and let me be a beacon for your light and message of love. Amen.

Written by Mike Ribadeneyra

No Condemnation

Romans 8:1-10

Usually I find that when I struggle most to obey and walk with God, I am somehow feeling condemned, guilty, and unworthy. I am forgetting the hope found in these verses from Romans which frees me from sin’s grip.

These verses remind us that we do not have to live condemned if we belong to Jesus Christ. His power frees us from death and sin. But what does this really mean for day-to-day living? To me, it means that I should only listen to God’s words of peace and hope. All other negative voices that tell me differently are not from God. This truth should always be my compass.

Knowing God’s commandments does not save us because, as sinners, we cannot keep them. God’s plan to save us is different. He sent Jesus, in human form, to destroy sin’s grip over us. Following the Holy Spirit’s voice within us, that inexplicable nudge, shows that we believe that we are not condemned and are free to live through Christ.

However, to act in obedience and to receive that Spirit, we first have to believe that we are free from sin. Romans 8:1-10 emphasizes that unbelief results in old, negative ways. This Lenten season, let’s make a special effort to start believing and remembering that we are saved. This will open us up to the Holy Spirit’s lead in our lives. As a result, we will find that we will want to serve others, not ourselves, obey God’s laws with joy, not drudgery, and please and honor Him.

Written by Charles Moore

Whom shall I fear?

Psalm 27

When David wrote Psalm 27, he was hiding from King Saul. In this time of isolation, David’s worst fears – fear of circumstances (vv. 1-6), failure (vv. 7-10) and the future (vv. 11-14) played in his mind. Yet, as we read David’s thoughts, we don’t see a hint of fear; we see confidence in God’s promises instead. Why? David knew God had a special plan for him – the prophet Samuel had previously anointed him as the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13).  His job now was to wait until the Lord needed him. David’s confidence in God’s provision and timing grew from his seeking to “dwell in the house of the Lord” (v. 4). He knew that God would personally protect and provide for him within the fortress of God’s house. That trust in God preserved his life and enabled him to “wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart” (v. 14) as he waited for God’s timing to accomplish His will for David’s life.

As Christians, we identify with David. We all have a calling from God to serve in his church.  It’s the time between our calling and the fulfillment of that calling when our fears of circumstances, failure and the future play in our minds if we don’t dwell in God’s house, where we are safe and provided for within His fortress.

In October 2012, I lost my job.  I knew God was calling me to a new career and new life in another place, but without an income, was very uncertain of the outcome.  The words of Psalm 27 and Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind and reassured me that God’s plan was good and would be perfected. I’m now established in a new career as an educator in another state, doing what God intended all along.  All I had to do was trust Him.

I chose to be like David.  What’s your choice?

Written by Donna Frye

Save me, O God!

Psalm 69

In Psalm 69 I believe David is crying out to God to help him in his faith. In verse 4 he says:

“Those who hate me for no reason outnumber the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are mighty. They have no reason to be my enemies.”

I think this is a place we all reach in our faith walk. We stand up for our God, and our faith in Him as Christians, and others try to make fun of us, and smack down our beliefs. Whether it’s removing Bibles and prayer from our schools, or it’s taking the words “in God we trust” off our currency, or any of the hundred other ways taking place in our country and abroad today.

As Christians we need to be strong in our faith. We need to be the disciples in Christ that He wants us to be, regardless of those who work to destroy us and our faith. Christians are being killed today in many foreign countries, especially in the Middle East. Our prayers need to be with them. In our country I don’t think anyone, because of their faith, is losing their lives; but being a Christian and standing up for Christ  is not easy sometimes.

In my College days my faith was shaky, even though I had grown up in the Methodist Church. Unfortunately, I allowed the professors to take my faith away, and when I graduated I felt I didn’t need God’s help. Thank God my wife’s faith brought me around! I was the sheep that had gone astray!

Like all of us, David needed assurance, and a strong relationship with God, to give him the power in his faith to fend off those who hated him, and wanted to destroy him.

Prayer: Father, help us to be strong in our faith, and to share the good news with others. Amen.

Written by Jim Kunkle

Faith Small as a Mustard Seed

Mark 4:21-34

When I read this passage I immediately envisioned myself telling a parable story in Godly Play.  I have a passion for the children and the teaching methods of Godly Play at Central.   Pretend you are a youngster sitting on the floor, in a circle, in the Godly Play room.  Here’s how a parable story is introduced:  As I present the parable box, I note that it is the color gold, and gold is valuable.  This must mean it’s a parable, for parables are valuable and precious like gold.  The box also looks like a gift or a present.  Parables are presents that were given to us even before we were born, and they are very old.  The box has a lid which keeps the parable and its meaning inside.  Sometimes we don’t fully understand a parable the first time we open it, but we can go back to the parable time and time again until we do understand it. 

Jesus communicates God’s truth through parables to the people who are following him, but to his chosen disciples, he explains the secrets behind the stories.  He commands his disciples to share the secrets, but to consider carefully what they hear.  These truths are to be pondered, remembered and then acted on.  Jesus gives a promise to those who are faithful in doing this (Mark 4:24), saying, “The amount you act on these truths and share them, that amount I will share with you and even more.”  This is a promise that each of us can take to heart.

The parables of the Growing Seed and the Mustard Seed speak to us of the Kingdom of God.  Specifically, the Kingdom of God is compared to something Jesus’ listeners can readily understand…a mustard seed.  In Jesus’ day this tiny seed, about the size of a pinhead, was known to produce a plant 10-12 feet in height.  Jesus uses this analogy to illustrate that God delights in small beginnings.

Written by Ginny Hughes

Forgiveness

Genesis 42:18-28

Today's scripture is part of Joseph’s story. Joseph's half-brothers sold him into slavery, and he was taken to Egypt, where he (eventually) rose to power. He was in charge of distributing food to other nations during a period of severe famine. As events progressed, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for food. As Joseph gave supplies to his brothers, he recognized them but they did not recognize Joseph. Joseph ordered his workers to give the brothers sacks of grain along with extra food for their journey. Furthermore, he instructed the workers secretly to return the money the brothers had paid for food into each of their sacks.

The brothers didn’t realize it, but Joseph had already forgiven them. What a wonderful story of grace – Joseph had almost been killed by his brothers and then they sold him into slavery; yet, he willingly forgave them. And not only did he forgive them, he granted them gifts of love.

During this time of Lent, let’s use this story to remind us of the importance of forgiveness. Just like the brothers in the story, even though we don’t always realize it, God has already forgiven us for our sins. This is Prevenient Grace, flowing to us from the cross.  And not only does He forgive us, He continues to love us and bless us.

What should be our response to this grace? Love each other. Forgive each other. Forgive the sibling or friend or spouse who made a hurtful comment. Forgive the family member who never calls. Forgive the person who cut in front of us in traffic. Forgive the person you know who is struggling with an addiction. Forgive the co-worker who likes to gossip.

Then comes the hardest act of all: forgive yourself.

Christ already has.

And He paid the cross-price.

Written by Mitchell Self

Lead me to the Rock

Psalm 61

When I first read this Psalm by David, I thought of my kids.  As parents, we want our children to live a full, long life.  Many of us would say that we want our kids to “just be happy” - we want to spare them the downs of life.    However, life is not lived only on the top of mountains and we do most of our growing as people and Christians through the valleys and trials of life.

David wrote and sang this Psalm after he had come to the throne but was barred from entering the Tabernacle where leaders and their people worshiped and offered sacrifices.  It was the dwelling place of God and being separated from it was like a child sent away from his parents.  As a result, the Psalm was very personal to David, as parent’s prayer for their children.

David’s heartfelt Psalm tells us of the joy of God’s presence in his life, the pain of being separated from him, and his promise that once reconnected, he would never be parted again.  As a King and leader, David’s life was never easy.  He is dealing with a rebellion that has separated him from his place of worship as well as the shame and guilt of the destruction of Nob and the fall of Saul.  In the face of all of these challenges, he turns to God and asks for guidance and a “long life” or time to experience better days.

We are the children of God and he wants what we want for our children – to face the trials of life with him by our side.  As parents, we cannot guard against bad events in our children’s lives no differently than our own.  We must pray that our Holy Spirit guides us on the right – and sometimes most difficult – path to endure or overcome the hard times of life.  Through Christ, we can and will endure the difficult times and praise him during our “throne” moments.  God is always with us and all that he asks is that we do not turn away, but face him and embrace him in all that we do.

Written by Chuck Hamilton

Come and Follow Me

Mark 3:7-19a

In the Gospels, we see Jesus meeting and ministering to people – often to crowds of people at the edge of the sea. He taught, He healed and He even called some of the disciples in this location. In this passage we witness a large number of people desperate for him to meet their needs. Can’t you hear them calling his name and pleading their case? The crowds were closing in, so Jesus heads to the mountains – a place we often find him when he needs relief from so many demands. Often, he chose this place to pray, and Jesus had realized that the time would soon come when he would turn to Jerusalem and to the cross. Though he had many followers, he knew that he also needed to single out some that would become part of his inner circle and who would continue his work.

The gospels do not agree on the names of the twelve. In Luke 6:13-16 the list includes Judas, son of James and Judas Iscariot, but there is no mention of Thaddaeus. Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-19 names the twelve and Thaddaeus is included in this list. The chosen twelve were given authority to preach, heal and to cast out demons, the work that Jesus was entrusting them with after his death.

Most importantly, we read in the book of Acts that their future work was to guide the churches. The twelve disciples were chosen to become the representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were being commissioned on the mountain to carry the New Covenant to the world. Through the years to the present time, we too are being called as his chosen followers to lead others to Him, and to share his message of love to all the world. Sally, James, Mark, Jane, Peter . . . . Do you hear him calling your name to “Come and follow me?” What has been or will be your response?

Written by Jeannie Hamrick

Freedom in Christ

Romans 6:3-14

Paul's emphasis in this passage is the transitional nature of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus and how that transition changes the nature of our relationship to God.  It is a reminder that not only has the world changed with Christ’s sacrifice, but that we, as followers, must change as well.  This change, both in the external world and in our internal relationship with God, is central in the understanding of Christianity and our purpose as believers.  The change that comes from death.

v10-11:The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

As anyone who has experienced it can attest, a person’s Death separates that person from the world. Those that have died have passed on to a place that is unreachable by us in this world. Our corporeal death frees us from our corporeal debts, nullifies our worldly contracts, and eliminates any obligation we have toward another person. In the same way, Christ’s death, and our incorporation into that death, separates us from sin and the entangling power that sin has over us.  And since we are also identified with Christ’s Resurrection, we are not only part of this separation from sin, but also part of His mastery over sin.

v14: For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

It is by the grace of God, and by his grace alone, that we are free.  And we ARE free, free from the great burden of our own mistakes and our own willfulness.  We will still fail, and we will still struggle, but as long as we admit our failures, and struggle toward perfection, we honor Christ's sacrifice for us.

Written by Daniel Sprinkle

The Christian Walk

1 Corinthians 4:1-7

To take this passage seriously one can only conclude that the Christian walk is not an easy one.  The Christian who walks faithfully will endure hardship and persecution at times.  Paul’s images of his own life are explicit: “We are like men condemned to death in the arena, a spectacle to the whole universe.  We are fools for Christ’s sake…to this day we go hungry and thirsty and in rags; we are roughly handled; we wander from place to place; we wear ourselves out.  They curse us, and we bless; they persecute us, and we submit to it; they slander us, and we humbly make our appeal.  We are treated as scum, the dregs of humanity, to this very day (verses 9-13). 

Paul believed and professed that as Christ suffered before he was glorified, so too shall the followers of Christ be called to endure suffering or persecution in their walk.   As F.F. Bruce reflects: “According to Paul, Christ, having been raised from the dead, was now exercising his kingship in his state of glory; when his people in their turn were raised from the dead at his parousia, they would share his glory (Col. 3:4).  But as for Paul, suffering preceded glory, and the same order was prescribed: ‘provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him’” (Romans 8:17).

Question:  Where in your faith walk are you encountering suffering?  Do you bless (forgive) another when you are cursed?  Are you willing to go hungry, to live in rags, if being a witness for Christ sends you down that road?  If suffering must precede glory, are you willing to follow him?

Paul took his Christian walk seriously, and talks honestly in I Corinthians 4 about what it means to endure hardship in order to live faithfully.  The season of Lent does not discount or deny the hardships which faithful obedience may bring.

Written by Pastor Joe Collins

Sing a New Song

Psalm 40

When I reflected upon Psalm 40, I began to think of all of the sacrifices God and his son gave for us. I started reminiscing of my own mother and the many sacrifices she gave for me and, if she were of sound mind today, how she would help guide me. My mother always shared biblical stories with me through song.  I took it upon myself to look for a song to help share the scripture with you.  Here is the song of "Psalm 40":

I will wait for You O Lord

Cause You have filled my heart with joy

You lift me higher and higher

You're my one and only desire

You put a new song in my mouth

A hymn of praise to You

All I wanna do when I wake up

Is spend my day with You

You put a new song in my mouth

A hymn of praise to You

I put my feet on the Rock Lord

I put my trust in You

Sing a new song

Sing a new song

Chorus:

I will wait for You O Lord

I will wait for You O Lord

I will wait for You O Lord

I will wait for You O Lord

Cause You have filled my heart with joy

You lift me higher and higher

You're my one and only desire

Many will see You and fear You Lord

Put their trust in You

Many will see You and fear You Lord

Put their trust in You

Sing a new song

Sing a new song

Sing a new song

Sing a new song

I will wait

I will wait for You

Written by Charity Davis