Grace Memorial Parishoner

What a relief!  “…You never said I had to climb these broken ladders…” 
But WAIT! There is a “catch”: “…all You ever wanted was my heart…”. 
God (as usual) combines life’s indescribably difficult challenges with His profound simplicity. 

Selah has been featured in previous Reflections and is one of the two (2) videos presented below.  Amy Perry’s remarkable voice solos on “Broken Ladders” in the first video. 
​
Anthem Lights highlights the “ladders” in the second video and adds some beautiful acapella gospel at the end.
 
Cut: “Broken Ladders”
Artist: Selah

 You never asked me to be king, build my tower up to the sky…so why do I try?
You never asked me to be rich, buy the things that gold can buy…so why do I try?
All You ever wanted was my heart, my heart, my simple heart…to You that’s all that really matters,
Why do I feel that I have to reach, believe I have to rise?
When You never said I had to climb…these broken ladders.
 
You never asked me to be complete, by myself find all I need…so why do I try?
You never asked me to stand alone, face the struggles on my own…so why do I try?
When all You ever wanted was my heart, my heart, my simple heart
…to You that’s all that really matters,
Why do I feel that I have to reach, believe I have to rise?
When You never said I had to climb…these broken ladders.
 
Cause all they do is take my eyes off of You, make me forget the truth.
All You ever wanted was my heart, my heart, my simple heart…to You that’s all that really matters,
Why do I feel that I have to reach, believe I have to rise?
When You never said I had to climb…oh You never said I had to climb…these broken ladders.

Grace Memorial Parishioner

Over the next few weeks, we will share Christian Praise Music that exhibits “praise” in what may be classified as “non-traditional”.  Be patient and open to the music without judging it for strict conformity to our 2025 expectations…moreover, just accept it as another believer’s “praise”.
 
The first offering is “Creed” performed in studio by Third Day (lead singer Mac Powell) and Brandon Heath.
The “Creed” we recite each worship service in more accurately named the Nicene Creed. You may recall Mother Liz’s homily last summer, which included a brief history of the Nicene Creed.  If you missed that explanation, the following is a synopsis of the origins of the Nicene Creed:
There were two events that resulted in the “First Council of Nicea” in the 4th century: 
(1) The Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the early 4th century and soon thereafter declared Christianity the official belief of the Roman Empire, and
(2) There was confusion and varying beliefs within the early church regarding the precise relationship between the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Spirit.  For example, several prominent early Christian leaders (lead by Arius) preached that Jesus was a man and not a divinity.  Other leaders had problems with the connections between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

To resolve this dispute and unify all Christian teachings, Constantine called most of the Christian leadership within the Roman Empire (essentially the entire Mediterranean basin) to a council at Nicea in 325 CE.  The resulting statement of beliefs was later modified in 381 CE and forms the basis of the Nicene Creek we now accept and recite weekly.  That statement foundationally accepts God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as the “Holy Trinity” and now is accepted by an estimated 98% of the world’s Christian community.

Today’s YouTube video is one version that clearly is not word for word what we pray and declare at Grace Memorial each Sunday; however, in its uniqueness it should be considered “praise”.

​Cut: “Creed”
Artist: Third Day (with Brandon Heath)