Alas and Did My Savior Bleed

Following is a song I’ll be singing this Friday for our Good Friday service.  Amazing that this is true!

Alas, and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?
Was it for sins that I had done He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown and love beyond degree

My God, why would You shed Your blood so pure and undefiled
To make a sinful one like me Your chosen precious child?

Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut His glories in
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man, the creature’s, sin
Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness and melt my eyes to tears

– Isaac Watts

Clarity

Another song born from a jamming session:

There is more
than I know, more than I’ve seen

More to explore
in this History

I go deeper with
You, in the mystery

There is still
more that I just don’t see

Why can’t I see
all that You have for me?

My eyes so dim,
need of surgery

Take my eyes off
me and set them on Your grace

Give me Your
heart, give me Your desires

Make me more
like You

The power of
prayer, the saving of souls

Living beyond
the here and now

Captured by You
things are so new

Black becomes
white, gray becomes clear

I lift my eyes,
light comes streaming through

Then I start to
see as You do

Watching and
waiting

Trusting Your
goodness

Your power runs
through me

To be what
You’re making me

-DJ Friesen with Stephanie Gooman, Josh Pawluk & John Ans

Closer to You

In the last couple months my creative juices have been stirred a bit again.  A few friends have been getting together and working on music, creating, recording, stretching.  It’s been really good.  Here is one of the products of one of our sessions:

Father, I’ve fallen so far again
Desperate for mercy I need You.
Finding Your face, knowing You’ve bought me
King of my heart, You hear me

Send what You must to bring me closer to You
What You must to break through
Take what I do and make it holy
As only You can do

A man, as feeble as I am,
I have not the strength inside of me
You take me in, fill me with Your strength
I’ll take all that I can, make me more like You

Whatever it takes, Lord I’m willing
No turning back, You’re right here with me
And if it hurts and if it means waiting
I choose You…

– John Ans & DJ Friesen

Only Alive

My love song to Jesus tonight:

I’m a fair weather friend
I’m a colorless view but I’m willin’ to make a deal
If you think you can make some faith here inside
I’ll drive off and marry you

I’m only alive with you
I can’t get by and I won’t get through
So put me in the river and let me say I do
I’m only alive with you

You’re a sight for sore eyes and a newborn cry
In a year where there are so few
If you throw me a line, I’ll show you in time
I’m fallin’ in love with you

I’m only alive with you
I can’t get by and I won’t get through
So put me in the river and let me say I do
I’m only alive with you

Though my heart has been torn by loves I have worn
And I’m tempted by them ever still
I tremble inside when you walk in the room
You hold my affections and will

I’m only alive with you
I can’t get by and I won’t get through
So put me in the river and let me say I do
I’m only alive with you

~ Jars of Clay

Song for Sunday: I Will Cast My Cares

Jesus, I’m frail,

I’m so very weak.

My faithfulness fails,

My courage will flee.

But You are my rock,

My shelter and shade.

When I’m burdened down,

You’ll carry the weight.

 

So I will cast my cares on You.

Yes, I will cast my cares on You.

I will rest within Your ars,

Knowing I am safe from harm.

I will cast my cares on You.

 

When I’m overwhelmed

And I cannot stand,

You hear every cry

And You lift my head.

I’m desperate for grace

And mercy anew

I must have Your strength,

Oh, I must have You.

 

~ Stephen Altrogge 

Song for Sunday: Bring the Rain

I can count a million times

People asking me how I can praise You will all that I’ve gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You

 

Maybe since my life was changed long before these rainy days

It’s never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on You, oh Lord, my only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

 

So I pray

 

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there’ll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that’s what it takes to praise You

Jesus bring the rain

 

I am yours regardless of the dark clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me by suffering Your destiny

So tell me what’s a little rain

 

So I pray

 

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there’ll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that’s what it takes to praise You

Jesus bring the rain

 

Holy, Holy, Holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

 

~ MercyMe

Song for Sunday: I’ll Fly Away

I’m getting more and more excited all the time for that glad morning.  Praise God.  To see His face.  To worship Him without the tentacles of sin.  It will be sweet.

 

Some glad morning when this life is o’er

I’ll fly away

To a home on God’s celestial shore

I’ll fly away

 

I’ll fly away, O glory

I’ll fly away

When I die, hallelujah! by and by

I’ll fly away

 

When the shadows from this life have flown

I’ll fly away

Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly

I’ll fly away

 

O how glad and happy when we meet

I’ll fly away

No more cold iron shackels on my feet

I’ll fly away

 

Just a few more weary days and then

I’ll fly away

To a land where joy shall never end

I’ll fly away

 

~Unknown

Song for [Easter]: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia

Sing, ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia

 

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia

Where, O death is now thy sting? Alleluia

Once He died, our souls to save, Alleluia

Where’s thy victory, O grave Alleluia

 

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia

 

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia

 

~ Charles Wesley

Song for Sunday: For the Cross

This song, while being fun and upbeat, has some of the most profound lyrics concerning the cross.

 

I will love You for the cross and I will love You for the cost,

Man of suffering, Bringer of my peace.

You came into a world of shame and paid the price we could not pay:

Death that brought me life, blood that brought me home,

Death that brought me life, blood that brought me home.

 

And I love You for the cross!

I’m overwhelmed at the mystery.

I love You for the cross;

That Jesus You would do this for me

When You were broken, You were beaten

You were punished, I go free!

When You were wounded and rejected

In Your mercy, I am healed.

 

Jesus Christ the sinner’s friend, does this kindness know no bounds?

With Your precious blood You have purchased me.

O, the mystery of the cross!  You were punished, You were crushed,

But that punishment has become my peace.

Yes, that punishment has become my peace.

 

~ Matt & Beth Redman

 

 

Song for Sunday: Unreachable Oasis

Abstract poetry coming your way for this weeks Song for Sunday. 

 

(Note: In case you’re wondering why on earth I do this, it’s actually more for me than anything.  By posting a song on here once a week it challenges me to think more while I sing, especially in church.  Therefore, by having this feature I have ended up being more blessed by the words to songs, especially hymns.)

 

Dry as dust, thirsting to be thirsty

Unreachable oasis found

Chasm stretched, edge is reached

Backward barren, forward fallen

Toe on edge, take the step?

Oasis waiting, bottomless pit

Helpless, Hopeless

 

Lights flashing, sword clashing

Wings outstretched bring to flight

Fear of dropping, thought of falling

Hold lessened, still suspended

Oasis reached, thirst for thirst wetted

Lucious green, spring springing

Helped, Hopeful

 

Lifted, filled, healed, satisfied and perfect

View the beauty and the matchless splendor

Stand in awe, jaw dropped down

 

This is our God, this is our God, this is our God.

 

~DJ Friesen, Fall 2002