FOR ALL THOSE WHO WON’T
He poured out His life unto death for me.
His punishment brought me peace.
He was pierced and crushed for my sinfulness.
By His wounds, I have been healed.
His back was ripped to shreds for me.
He was tortured and spat upon.
Some yawn, look about, and say ho-hum.
But I will praise Him for all He’s done!
For those who won’t bow, I will bow.
For those who won’t sing, I will sing.
For those who won’t praise You, Jesus,
I now praise You with all of my being.
Some day every tongue will confess You are Lord.
Some day every knee will bow.
I’m so thankful I don’t have to wait until then.
I want to worship You now!
There are those who will not praise You —
they’re too weary; they’ve had a hard day.
There are others who mock what You’ve done for them.
For all who won’t, Lord, we will! Praise Your name!
Despised and rejected, they esteemed Him not.
Let us give You the praise You are due!
For all those who can’t; for all those who won’t,
we will bow, we will sing, we will worship You!
†††
IN HIS PRESENCE
I want to go out of this world
in the midst of a song of praise.
I want to be dancing in the spirit
when I’m called through heaven’s gates.
I want to be so caught up in Him,
I won’t know I’ve left this place!
I want to be in His presence
right before I see Him face to face.
Then I’ll fall down on my knees and I’ll cry holy!
I’ll join the four and twenty elders in their praise!
With the voice of many waters and the voice of mighty thunderings,
I’ll be shouting, “Hallelujah! My God reigns!”
†††
INSTRUMENTS OF PRAISE
Open our mouths, Lord!
Open our mouths
with praise to you . . .
with praise for you,
oh Lord!
Words flowing forth in beauty . . .
words created by you . . .
for you.
Our limited speech
can’t fully describe
who you are
or how much we love you . . .
so let your words
pour forth
from our mouths.
Creator of the Universe,
create your song in me
and let it unite
with all of the songs
being sung
in this sanctuary . . .
a mighty orchestra of voices . . .
a symphony of praise unto you . . .
a symphony you’ve written . . .
a symphony you lead . . .
we are instruments of praise
for you.
†††
MORNING SONG
Since the weather has gotten somewhat warmer and spring has officially arrived, we’ve started sleeping with our bedroom window open. Early this morning, before the alarm even rang, I was again awakened by the song of the birds . . .
A glimmer of dawn appears on the horizon
as if a wand the Maestro raises to begin
a symphony of praise,
announcing the birth of a new day,
as birds throughout the land begin to sing
songs no man has ever thought to vocalize or compose,
as thousands of birds sing thousands of melodies
that blend and flow in unity
to create a heavenly harmony,
awakening man again to His new mercies,
and as His hand spins slowly the earth around and round,
the glimmer of dawn continues o’er and o’er,
across the globe continually
the chorus of nature sings and sings
songs of praise to God, King and Creator.
†††
PSALM 103:5
“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:5
Bubbling up,
bubbling up,
words of praise are bubbling up
from the depths of my being,
Holy Spirit, He is speaking!
Bubbling up,
bubbling up,
from the Spirit unto Jesus –
words of life
and songs of praise
pour from my mouth!
He satisfies my mouth with sweet and precious words
that honor, lift and glorify my Savior, Lord!
Words of praise He’s written and He lets me sing,
and my mouth is satisfied with good, good things!
Bubbling up,
bubbling up,
words of praise are bubbling up
from the depths of my being,
Holy Spirit, He is speaking!
Bubbling up,
bubbling up,
from the Spirit unto Jesus –
words of life
and songs of praise
pour from my mouth!
†††
QUENCHABLE THIRST
My prayers seem to ricochet off unseen walls;
lost, echoing in the wind.
My throat then constricts; the words cease to come,
pleas of help lie trapped within.
I am as the dust; dry through and through.
Satan leaps at my lack of defense.
I thirst for the joy, the joy I’ve once known
to be filled overflowing again.
The words of our Lord seem only a blur
as I listlessly scan written page.
When suddenly a verse stands alone from the rest
as it exhorts the power of praise.
I challenge the verse; abruptly I stand,
raising arms that seem laden by lead.
Haltingly the words of praise come from my lips,
still they sound so lifeless and dead.
Yet I continue . . . I love you, Lord! Praise you!
I notice the words ring more sincere.
The effort is less; the desire stronger,
and I feel the Lord’s presence draw near.
Slowly the warmth of His Spirit
overwhelms what was hollow and cold.
Filled completely through praise . . . overflowing!
The Living Water has refreshed my soul!
†††
SOUND WAVES OF PRAISE
Scientists have proven that a sound wave never ends;
it echoes through infinity forever without end.
So every word we speak is floating on the winds of time;
spoken once, the sound will never die.
We were made to praise Him; He also made the sound
that flows from our lips to heaven to bounce round
and round and round.
He loves to hear our voices as we praise His holy name,
so He created sound waves to repeat His praise again
…and again
……and again
……… and again!
So we shout, “GLORY! HONOR!
ALL HAIL THE KING OF KINGS!”
Let’s saturate the universe
with praises for our King!
“YOU ARE THE LORD OF ALL!
FOREVER YOUR TRUTH SHALL REIGN!”
Throughout the heavens, let our words
forever ring and ring!
And we shout, “JESUS! JESUS!
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!”
Let that sound wave pierce the heavens
ike a fierce and mighty sword!
And we sing “PRAISE YOU! PRAISE YOU!
PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME!”
If we never speak again, the sound remains!
“RULER OF THE NATIONS,
LET YOUR KINGDOM COME!
SALVATION ALONE BELONGS TO YOU
WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE!
YOU CREATED THE HEAVENS AND
PUT THE STARS ALL IN THEIR PLACE!
SO LET THE HEAVENS BE FOREVER FILLED
WITH YOUR GREAT RESOUNDING PRAISE!”
†††
THE ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN
The singers and musicians have come together in this place
to lift one sound of praise and thanks to You!
With the trumpets and the cymbals, we will raise our voice as one;
with the instruments of music, Lord, we praise You!
As we sing of Your great goodness and Your endless mercy, Lord,
may this temple be consumed by a holy cloud;
a cloud so full of You, Lord, that the priests can’t even move!
Oh, Jesus, let Your glory fill this house!
We love to love you, Jesus! You’re so awesome to our souls!
You’re the center of our joy; our heart’s true treasure!
As the atmosphere of heaven starts to fall upon this place,
we could dance and sing before Your throne forever!
When we lift our hands to praise You, You embrace us.
When we yield ourselves to You, Your will is done.
Let our worship be in tune with your own heart, Lord;
may the voice of the Bride and Bridegroom be as one.
Our hearts are overwhelmed by You, oh King of Kings!
Be enthroned here as we lift our songs of praise!
Like the voice of many waters and the sound of mighty thunder,
let the atmosphere of heaven fill this place!
We love to love you, Jesus! You’re so awesome to our souls!
You’re the center of our joy; our heart’s true treasure!
As the atmosphere of heaven starts to fall upon this place,
we could dance and sing before your throne forever!
†††
UNFURLED FINGERS
Instead of hand wringing,
I will be found singing
praises . . .
praises to my King.
I laugh at Satan’s ploy
to take away my joy ~
I will keep praising!
I’m not filled with fear or dread
though the world may shake its head
and think I’m crazy . . .
but as long as I serve Jesus
and as long He loves me,
the events of this world have no effect;
they are so temporary . . .
I am focusing on eternity
and the One awaiting me . . .
instead of hand wringing
I will be found singing
praises . . .
praises to my King!
Hand wringing isn’t an option for me . . .
but untangled fingers,
straight up and free,
unfurled to wave
and to worship my King . . .
and maybe blow Him a kiss or two!
†††
WITH GREAT THANKSGIVING
Let us, with great thanksgiving,
go through Your open gates,
enter Your courts with worship and praise,
give thanks and bless Your name!
You’re my sweet Jehovah Jireh;
You provide all I’ll ever need.
My Jehovah Shalom, You ease my mind;
You are my Prince of Peace.
You protect me from the lies of men
for Your name is also Truth.
You are my Living Water
and I’m so refreshed by You.
My good and gentle Shepherd,
with Your guidance I’ll never stray.
The path I follow is Yours alone
because You are the Way.
You greet me softly with each new day;
You’re my Bright and Morning Star.
Because my God is the Great I Am,
He’s all these things and more.
My Father, I am so thankful
that Your name is holy and true.
You are my everything; You are my all!
I delight in praising You!
Let us, with great thanksgiving,
go through Your open gates,
enter Your courts with worship and praise,
give thanks and bless Your name!
–Cheri Henderson, hendersonct@aol.com
Lyrics for the Lord by Cheri Henderson 