Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Mother (as in maternal parent) (04/24/08)
-
TITLE: Splendor of the King | Previous Challenge Entry
By Royce Logan
04/29/08 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice… (rest)”.
It was our final song of the evening. The praise band was quite magnificent kicking off our annual “Deeper Life Crusade”: a four night revival in our church held every Spring.
“He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide,
And trembles at His voice, and trembles at His voice.”
God is in this place tonight! Oh yeah!
It’s always more fun playing when the whole band is into it, the singers are into it, the congregation is into it, hands are clapping to the rhythm with the fast songs and raised in worship for the slow ones.
Cool!
After eight songs the Holy Spirit was swooping all through the sanctuary. Worship was taking the place of the toils and tears of everyday life.
Remember to lift that middle finger off the e string to get that harmonic D chord.
“How great is our God! Sing with me: How great is our God!
And all will see how great, how great is our God!”
I play rhythm guitar. A beautiful mahogany bodied Gibson electric. I’ve been playing practically all my life. Not that I’m any kind of a great guitar player, but I’ve been playing so long I know a few things.
“Age to age He stands, and time is in His hands;
Beginning and the End, Beginning and the End.”
Five years ago a few of us got together and created the praise band. We’ve been playing at our home church every Sunday morning since and we’ve even been invited on a few road trips to other churches.
“The Godhead three in one, (rest) Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb.”
This was a special service, though. Kenny and John were our visiting pastors from North Carolina. They come every year and bring a new and fresh perspective to our worship.
“How great is our God! Sing with me: How great is our God!
And all will see how great, how great is our God!”
I looked out above the neck of my Gibson to find my wife’s face. Ah, there she is; my mom and two sisters surrounding her, a couple of friends on one side, a couple more in the pew behind. A sanctuary filled with church family and a few visitors I didn’t know.
“Name above all names, worthy of all praise.
My heart will sing: How great is our God!”
My mom’s a great singer; been doing it all her life. She used to stand out in a crowded sanctuary; had a powerful voice. Not so much anymore; quite a bit older now; and weaker. Still reverent though and beautiful.
Whoosh! The Holy Spirit was swooping down on me! As I felt it… spiritual awareness was coming into focus.
“Name above all names, worthy of all praise.
My heart will sing: How great is our God!”
Stop playing! Our praise band goes right into the old hymn, “How Great Thou Art” in a capella.
I sing harmony bass.
“Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!”
Heaven comes into focus. Everything is white and bright. It’s very brief; maybe only a few seconds.
I see a gathering of people: my mom, my sisters, my wife, myself. Others I don’t have time to recognize.
We’re singing:
“Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee;
How great thou art, how great thou art!”
She stands out again in the crowd. Beautiful. Reverent. Powerful.
(How Great is Our God. Words and music by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, and Ed Cash.)
(How Great Thou Art. Words and Music by Stuart K. Hine.)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.