Grace Memorial Parishioner 

Having recently shared Consecration Sunday, we all embrace a renewed awareness of the meaning of “offering”:  the unselfish giving of one’s talents and resources.  This cut is Mac Powell’s interpretation of “offering”.
           
Cut: “Offering”
Artist: Third Day
CD/Album: Lead Us Back:  Songs of Worship

​Magnificent, Holy Father, I stand in awe of all I see.
Of all the things You have created, still You choose to think of me.
Who am I that You should suffer, Your very life to set me free.
The only thing that I can give You is the life You gave to me.
This is my offering, dear Lord.  This is my offering, to You God.
Well I would give you my life for it’s all I have to give…
Because You gave Your life for me.
 
I stand before You at this altar, so many have given You more.
I may not have much I can offer, but what I have is truly Yours.
This is my offering, dear Lord.  This is my offering, to You God.
Well I would give you my life for it’s all I have to give…
Because You gave Your life for me.
 
This my offering…
This is my offering, dear Lord.  This is my offering, to You God.
Well I would give you my life for it’s all I have to give…
Because You gave Your life for me.
This is my offering, dear Lord.  This is my offering, to You God.
Well I would give you my life for it’s all I have to give…
Because You gave Your life for me…because You gave your life…for me.

Grace Memorial Parishioner 

Our youth (with chaperone/“bouncer” assistance of Chris Tucker) attended a Christian Music concert in November, 2019, at the Smoothie King Center featuring Elevation Worship, Hillsong Worship, and Casting Crowns.    On our way driving down to eat dinner at Camellia Grill, Mr. Chuck played a few preview cuts on the car ride from each of the 3 groups we were about to hear.  The consensus favorite of most of us was “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns. 
            Two words closely identified with the song “Only Jesus” are “legacy” and “humility”
The meaning of “legacy” in the context of this song is “a gift of money or personal property handed down to an heir”.
            The meaning of “humility” is the state or quality of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; a modest estimate of one’s own worth; a sense of one’s own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness.  It is not easy, but it IS IMPORTANT that we all have to work on personal humility, and we also think that is the message of “Only Jesus”.
            In the words of Mark Hall from Casting Crowns:  “Did I live the truth to the ones I love…was my life the proof that there is only One?” 

• The 1st video is Mark Hall’s explanation of the origin/inspiration of “Only Jesus”. 
• The 2nd video is the music.

​Cut: “Only Jesus”
Artist: Casting Crowns

​Make it count, leave a mark, build a name for yourself, Dream your dreams, chase your heart,
Above all else make a name the world remembers.
But all an empty world can sell is empty dreams
I got lost in the lie that it was up to me to make a name the world remembers.
But Jesus is the only name to remember.

And I-I-I, I don't want to leave a legacy…I don't care if they remember me…Only Jesus.
And I-I-I, I've only got one life to live…I'll let every second point to Him…Only Jesus.

All the kingdoms built, all the trophies won will crumble into dust when it’s said and done.
'Cause all that really matters “Did I live the truth to the ones I love?”
“Was my life the proof that there is only One whose name will last forever?”

And I-I-I, I don't want to leave a legacy…I don't care if they remember me…Only Jesus
And I-I-I, I've only got one life to live…I'll let every second point to Him…Only Jesus

[Interlude]

Jesus is the only name, Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name to remember, ooh
Jesus is the only name, Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name to remember

And I-I-I, I don't want to leave a legacy…I don't care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I-I-I, I've only got one life to live…I'll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus

I, I don't want to leave a legacy…I don't care if they remember me…Only Jesus.

With Valentine’s Day imminent (February 14th ), it seems “love” should be rekindled and openly expressed. The Greeks had six (6) separate words for “love”…the biblical use of “love” was most commonly “agape”, which is “a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of others”.

​The following offering, “When Love Sees You” (Mac Powell & Third Day) seems to illustrate
“agape” love in the form of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s example.

Cut: “When Love Sees You”
Artist: Third Day
CD/Album: The Story

Blessed are you as you weep on your knees, with perfume and tears washing over My feet
And blessed are you, beggar, hopeless and blind, Calling for mercy when I'm passing by

Blessed are you, shaking your head, at two tiny fish and some bread
And blessed are you as you tremble and wait For the first stone thrown at your sinful disgrace

Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds, and I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you
Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised, and I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you

Blessed are you, walking on waves, to find yourself sinking when you look away
Blessed are you, leper, standing alone, the fear on their faces is all that you've known

Blessed are you, lonely widow who gave your last shiny coin to Yahweh.
Blessed are you with your silver and lies, kissing the One who's saving your life

Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds…And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you
Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised, and I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you

I see what I made in your mother's womb and I see the day I fell in love with you
I see your tomorrows, nothing left to chance, I see My Father's fingerprints

I see your story, I see My name, written on every beautiful page
You see the struggle, you see the shame, I see the reason I came.

I came for your story, I came for your wounds, to show you what Love sees when I see you

Yeah, yeah, when I see you…when I see you, oh, whoa, whoa

​Grace Memorial Parishioner

Third Day, with lead singer Mac Powell, and is an internationally acclaimed Christian Music group, having sold 7 million albums, with 28 #1 hits; garnered four Grammys and 24 Gospel Music Awards.  Third Day was awarded the 2008 American Music Award for “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist”.

Grace Memorial’s Christian Formation group heard Third Day in concert in Baton Rouge (April, 2015).  Their music was a frequent subject of our Sunday Youth Christian Formation contemplation.

Cut:              “Sound of Your Voice”
Artist:          Third Day
CD/Album:    Move

​I ran away from Your love… You waited for me…yes You waited for me.
And then I heard Your song singing over me…singing over me.
Now that I hear you Lord I wanna know You more…I wanna know You more.
Sing Your song to me, oh there’s no greater thing than to listen to the sound of Your voice.
When I hear Your song, I wanna sing along…and listen to the sound of Your voice,
The sound of Your voice.
 
Oh I am calling Your name and I’m waiting for You…yes I’m waiting for You.
So won’t You show me Your ways and I will follow You…yes I will follow You.
Now that I hear you Lord I wanna know You more…I wanna know You more.
Sing Your song to me, oh there’s no greater thing than to listen to the sound of Your voice.
When I hear Your song, I wanna sing along…and listen to the sound of Your voice,
 
Sing over me bringing peace and mercy with a song that never ends.
Sing over me momma listen for me, Lord I want to hear Your song again!
Sing Your song to me, oh there’s no greater thing than to listen to the sound of Your voice.
When I hear Your song, I wanna sing along…and I listen to the sound of Your voice,
The sound of Your voice.
 
I want to hear Your song…I want to hear Your voice.
 
I ran away from Your love but You waited for me…yes You waited for me.