Still Amazing

Let me say right up front that I don't listen to music as much as some do. When I'm in my car, I'm usually listening to some talk radio station. When I was a teenager and my friends were out buying records (Wow! does that date me!), I just wasn't all that interested. By the time I graduated from high school, I think I owned 3 records.

With all that as a disclaimer, however, I will also tell you that some of my most profound spiritual experiences have involved music. There have been certain artists, certain CD's, certain songs that have brought me closer to God.

Philips, Craig, and Dean is one of those groups whose music seems to consistently break through my heart and bring me into God's presence. About 5 years ago they released a CD entitled, "Let My Words Be Few." The last track on that CD is "Your Grace Still Amazes Me." For the first several times I listened to that track, it brought me to tears. It still makes me misty-eyed even when I listen to it today. I want to share the lyrics with you, knowing that the impact will be minimized without the music. But I want you to look carefully at the message of these powerful lyrics.

VERSE 1

"My faithful Father; enduring Friend

Your tender mercy's like a river with no end

It overwhelms me, covers my sin

Each time I come into Your presence

I stand in wonder once again"

CHORUS:

"Your grace still amazes me

Your love is still a mystery

Each day I fall on my knees

Your grace still amazes me"

VERSE 2

"Oh, patient Savior, You make me whole

You are the Author and the Healer of my soul

What can I give You, Lord, what can I say

I know there's no way to repay You

Only to offer you my praise"

CHORUS

BRIDGE

"It's deeper, it's wider

It's stronger, it's higher

It's deeper, it's wider

It's stronger, it's higher

Than anything my eyes can see"

CHORUS

There are several parts of these lyrics that I really like. First are the words "Each time I come into Your presence I stand in wonder once again." That's how it is for me. Whenever I really get close to God I can't help but stand in wonder of His love and grace for me.

The second section I really like are the words "Oh, patient Savior, You make me whole, You are the Author and the Healer of my soul..." I can't tell you how often when I just feel so broken, that His love and grace has pulled me back together.

Finally I like the words of the bridge where it says, "It's deeper, it's wider, it's stonger, it's higher than anything my eyes can see." I'll never reach the limit of God's grace for me and neither will you! Isn't that amazing?

After the first time I heard this song (and by the way I'm trying to hold back the tears even as I'm typing right now), I knew this was a song I want played at my funeral. More than anything, I want every breath from now until the last one to bring honor and glory to God for His grace, because His grace has made such a wonderful difference in my life.

God's grace--still amazing!