worship

It's possible that - on Facebook, at least - I make too many references to this song and to other works by Stuart Townend and Keith and Kristyn Getty, such that anyone who might happen to read what I post may be getting weary of those references or think that I am obsessed. I will have to risk that, I guess, in this brief blog post, and the inevitable resulting link on FB. But I chose this morning to begin my prayer and study time with the following song on YouTube, and as I listened to it for the umpteenth time (I never tire of it), I found myself mentally going to every Scripture passage I could think of that it referenced, or every sound and orthodox theological point that it exposed. And it occurred to me afresh that there are no wasted words, no filler material, here. It may be that there is music written that is more theologically and biblically rich and filling than this, but I am not aware of it. I know some that come close (most, frankly, written by the same trio of musicians), but none than can match this one for wrapping mind and heart around the deep things of God.

I encourage you to listen carefully, to soak it in.

One of my great wishes is to be able to sing. It just isn't happening, though. Not yet. Someday.

In the meantime, I listen and absorb, and lately the place I turn most for music - at least, the kind that turns my attentions where they belong, where I most want them to be focused - is YouTube. Unlikely, maybe, but I find myself there pretty much every day at least for some period of time, usually in the evening before crashing for the night.

I am finding some really amazing music videos there, music performed live and taped professionally, music that turns my thoughts to the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right of the Father. Most of what I find I most enjoy comes from one of two places: Ireland or Australia. In Ireland, it is primarily the music of Stuart Townend and a cadre of other worship leaders writing and leading worship there. In Australia, it's the ministry of Hillsong.

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
 
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!