Recent Meditations: What I Have Been Listening To (March 2012)

"This is the end of my show.  This is the end, I know.
I know these chains had me trapped for a while.
Don't know when I last relaxed with a smile.
I need a Savior to crack through the clouds.
Shows over - gotta turn my back to the crowd.
I know these chains had me trapped for a while.
Don't know when I last relaxed with a smile.
I need a Savior to crack through the clouds.
Shows over - gotta turn my back to the crowd."

"I can't perform no more. (eh eh)
Can't do these chores no more. (eh eh)
I'm feeling like I'm sick.  It's silly, so I quit.
That's it, I just can't try to please the Lord no more.
Cause really I'm sick of trying to make Him like me more. (you feel me)
Cause every day I've got a fight in store.
I'm guilty, so when I play I never like to score.
No good in me, and I'm sick of my plight - I'm poor.
They told me homie (whaa) the Christian life is better (word)
But they said to be holy and perform for His pleasure.
But now I'm feeling torn, cause the Lord is my treasure,
But I fall and feel scorned when I can't get it together.
But then something clicked.  It's crazy I ignored this:
But even when I slip, this ain't based on my performance.
Christ was equipped, ran a race with endurance.
When His flesh was hit, His righteousness was my assurance. (yea!)

"I know them chains had me trapped for a while.
That's in my past.  I'm relaxed in Him now.
Christ my Saviour - He cracked through the clouds.
Did it perfect, listen to the claps from the crowd.
I know them chains had me trapped for a while.
That's in my past.  I'm relaxed in Him now.
Christ my Saviour - He cracked through the clouds.
Did it perfect.  Listen to the claps from the crowd."
- Trip Lee, "Show's Over".

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"One God, one hope, one Winner
That shouldn't have taken claim to us sinners.
Jesus, forgive us.  We won't give up
'Cause you give life to us.  Now we're lit up
And we testify that we're rectified
By the sin that crept inside to let us die
Our fleshly pride and messy lives
We didn't deliver us.  We were rescued by You,
Who has all power and all presence to save us.  You're gracious.
And when the eyes of our hearts see You, You truly amaze us.
You were clothed in our shortcomings, so we would
Overcome in fullness, in a way a King could
We could have never climbed that hill.
We never would have got that far.
We would have gave up for real as soon as things started getting hard.
But You overcame. We know You reign.
You hold our shame and throw it in the ocean,
And You sealed us with Your holy flame."
- Dillon Chase, "You Overcame".

-----

"Man, I know that I'm insecure.
Do really You think I want to walk around like this? 
I'm tired and I'm sick and tired man I'm sick and tired of trying to please everybody.  I'm tired of this.

"From the morning when I'm picking out my clothes
To the moment when I walk up out that door,
My pride is shooting up to the roof top,
While the self esteem finds its way to floor.

"Man, I know I've got problems,
And I ain't [fixing to] sit and try to hide them.
So I am [going to] take this beat and just ride it,
And tell the world what I've been finding.

"You've done seen my issues:
Insecure, but I'm not gonna sit through
Another day where I can't break
The habit where I try to please anybody.
Now I've gotta break loose:

"Growing is so hostile.  It's seeming freaking impossible.
You're trying to TAKE the time to mature, but satan will rob you ...

"... One day, Canon will get up,
Say goodbye to dat picture.
Personally separate the simpleton, split up.
Personality changing: the old Canon, I trashed that. ...

"But I'm like a pistol: getting ready to kill the problem.
My adrenaline rush got a little bit of buzz from looking into the closet of problems.
And I've got options. Well, really, one option is to be honest
And see how God has been glorified with myself as the target.
My struggle is pride.  It's so deep down inside.
And I'm tired of the entire way I'm inclined.
I just wanna see such perfection.  
I know I'm just a bride.  I'm the opposite of my husband.  He's perfect. He's a lion -
King lion.  And I ain't lying.
Really I'm sick of trying. I know I ain't perfect at being perfect - 'cause I'm blind,
I notice my instincts, knowing that, yes y'all, my end stinks.
My entire facade is my account.  It's empty.
So, Lord, build me higher than what Bob was building.
Raise me, to the bar higher than all ceilings.
The sky is never my limit, since my Father's the real thing.
So I'm burning this mask, so can you witness the real me."
- from Canon, "Man in the Mirror".

Andy Mineo (f.k.a. C-Lite) - "Who's Watching"

Theoretical situation:

I take all of your thoughts, just in the past hour, and put them up on a projector screen for everybody to see.

Yo, God sees those.

We're really that wicked. He's really that holy.

Now, He sees those

Lies from the guys that try to divide.

But God's on my side, so the bride will survive.

Keep my eyes on the prize when the conflict arise.

To live is Christ, and it's gain if I die.

Might seem strange, insane in the eyes

Mainstream cats, they chasin' the lies

Thinkin' that everything they attain is the idealistic,

But really, it all stays when you die.

Think I'm crazed 'cause I don't put my faith in the phrase of a page of a book that was made by man?

That's the statement that stands, my neighbors in France (?)

I think you need the basics, man.

If they never look to see what it says, they can't test

To see if it's true or even take the exam.

Basically, fam, they don't want to think about the grave when it's really time to lay in the sand.

And really, it's only because they're afraid to examine

The ways of their heart. It don't make them say, "Yeah!"

If they find truth in the faith in the jam 'cause all of a sudden it would put a change in their plans.

Can't get crunk, can't get high,

No sex yet, gotta wait for your bride.

If that's the concern of your whole life's purpose,

You missed the whole point. That life's worthless.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

He's omnipotent, omniscient, infinite. God of the universe, time ain't no limit it.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

His name is Jesus. He sees us. We're all going to meet Him soon.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

He's omnipotent, omniscient, infinite. God of the universe, time ain't no limit it.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

His name is Jesus. He sees us. We're all going to meet Him soon.

What are they trying to say?

Christians, trapped like a prisoner?

Really got it backwards, mister.

[You've] got the roles twisted, just don't see the big picture.

Gotta zoom out, see the truth now.

It's the things that we're staying away from,

Make you think that we're lame and evade fun.

'Cause we call it sin and refrain, my friend.

Yo, it's 'cause we know it'll bring pain in the end.

Let me give examples that's ample:

A mouth (?) can't keep your pants on, romance on the couch

With your girlfriend and a couple more - ow

Sooner or later, you're going to say, "Ouch!"

Or what about when it's time to settle down,

Want to get married, maybe have a small child.

With the girl of your dreams, you could share all your secrets.

What if she asks, "How many girls did you sleep with?"

Or vice versa! A double standard? If you knew how many mans [sic] was in it, it would hurt you.

When you come face to face to touch lips, and wonder what else just kissed you.

I ain't trying to dis. None of us [are] perfect.

But why live in sin if you know it brings a hearse trip?

It ain't worth it! We [were] made for a purpose:

His praise and His worship.

I'm hoping you learn this.

Sin is so wack!

It eventually exploits itself. By the time you figure it out, you can't go back!

That's the reason why I serve Him. He's so real, and I'm so certain.

How do I know?

Well, I met Him when I let Him come up in my frame

I opened my heart and believed, and I ain't never been the same

Outside the blood that was spilled for my sin.

Then I called on His name: Jesus!

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

He's omnipotent, omniscient, infinite. God of the universe, time ain't no limit it.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

His name is Jesus. He sees us. We're all going to meet Him soon.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

He's omnipotent, omniscient, infinite. God of the universe, time ain't no limit it.

(I always feel like somebody's watching me!)

His name is Jesus. He sees us. We're all going to meet Him soon.

(This song is from Andy's mixtape Sin Is Wack, available on his website. If you are reading this because you were looking for the words to this song, please check out my other posts from the menu at the right! Also, please let me know if I got any of this wrong.)

Recent Meditations: What I Have Been Reading and Listening To

A few things have happened in my life recently. Two weekends ago, I finally finished reading Future Grace by John Piper and started reading The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott. Future Grace was an amazing read, and I have now lent it to another young man in my small group. The main point in it that has applied to me this year was that, although thoughts of depression are common in the Christian life, allowing them to stay there and sink into a state of despondency is a sin that I must make war against. Christ made war against despondency as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane while His disciples slept. Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, likewise made war against despondency as depression came up very frequently in his Christian life.

Obeying this exhortation to make war against despondency brought me to conviction about the music that I was listening to. On this blog I have occasionally made much of my collection of gospel rap and worship music, but I also listened to a lot of secular metal, industrial music, and depressing rock music that all contained lyrics that, while not objectionable on the surface, fostered depressed and discontent attitudes in me that allowed me to remain in despair and unbelief in the goodness and faithfulness of God. The day that I finished Future Grace, I deleted over 900 songs from my iPod. (Please note: I did not do this as a legalistic statement against listening to secular music. I am not going to legislate that my fellow Christians must do the same thing or else they are not holy. In fact, I did not delete all of my secular music, only that which caused me to sin. I still have a great deal of mostly instrumental trance music, worldbeat music, and other secular music that does not cause me to sin.)

Some would question my decision to read books like The Exemplary Husband. I am not married and not courting anyone. However, the obligations of Biblical manhood that can apply to single men still apply to me. And it is actually refreshing to me to read a book about marriage that does not rely on worldly wisdom. I first heard of this book because Brother Paul Washer has mentioned it in numerous sermons about the family. And I realize that husbands will find this book convicting in different ways than I will, but it is convicting even to me as I consider whether and how I live too casually with respect to the gravity of God's glory.

Last Sunday, my church also voted on its first deacons. I was chosen along with six others, and several more people were nominated for deacon and elder roles. For now, I am one of the two youngest deacons and the only one who is not married or engaged. The roles of deacons in my church are to serve the church, serve as a point of contact for ministries (as a go-between for our pastor/elders and those in charge of ministries, for accountability), and provide Biblical counseling for families in the church. Please pray that all of us as well as our pastor and elders will serve God and the body of Christ for His glory and not our own, in a way that God will find us faithful to Him and His Word.

My church was also quite blessed to collaborate with several other churches around our region yesterday for a quarterly Olympic Games "in-reach". It was encouraging to see several brothers from other churches for the first time in several months and discuss ministry, studies, and our walk with Christ. One of my friends told me that his brother has gone back overseas to study in Bible college, to prepare for a life of missions in a closed country, with the understanding that he will probably lose his life for the gospel there. I have never met this young man but sense a strong desire to fast and pray for him - not to avoid danger for the gospel but to suffer well for Christ when it comes.

Sometimes, it just helps to reflect on words that others have written, sung, and spoken. These are some lyrics in songs that have done a great deal to edify me recently.

"Man all I ever wanted was to be labeled the greatest,

Cassius Clay on spittin' rhymes while rockin' the lastest.

But that crept into my life in Christ. It was evident

As I debated how I was better than the rest of them. [So guilty here!!]

Works-based righteousness: based my worth on some type of list and

If I keep it or not, perfected every night since this.

Now, I'm looking for approval, and I'm selfish,

So all I want to do is try to outdo you!

Silent when you ask me. Later, I'm bragging like a fool.

Far from His image and couldn't see it. Where is the Zoom?

This is grace in my moment of reproof. That helps me see the truth.

Just how I sound, no AutoTune.

And in this life, the last will be first and the first is last.

And He's a servant to the end. We're certain of that.

That's what I heard: freedom from the curse.

Livin' to a hearse, but the latter doesn't matter when you're in reverse."

- Tedashii, "Reverse".

"I found myself in You,

Believing in Your promises. Nothing else is true.

It's all fleeting, gone any minute.

I stand on Christ, the Solid Rock, until Your work is finished.

You could have came as a conquering King,

who knocked dead His opponents, one, two, three.

But You came as a Babe, so meek,

Lived a perfect life and died for me.

Any response would bring glory to Your name.

Holy is the Most High. We live to spread Your fame.

Yes, You're the King that the prophets spoke about,

that the Father was pleased to crush. You took our sins out!

I'll never know how much it really cost when You stretched out Your arms and took up my cross.

I was blind, but now I see right.

You give sight.

You're the Way, the Truth, the Life.

"Man, I wasn't even looking.

I didn't even know how lost I was.

But now the mystery's revealed.
My chance [?] is what it took Him,

but by the Lord's grace, now I'm bought by blood,

because the mystery's revealed."

- Dillon Chase feat. Tre Marquis, "Mystery Revealed".

"All for me, why? No, we don't deserve Your grace.

We deserve the place after death burning under graves.

That's why we praise, 'cause we've been saved from the flames.

Enslaved by Your ways, it's You I try to imitate.

'Daddy, Daddy' - that's what I call You now.

Entrusted like loving vows, stuffing Your word in my mouth,

Chew it up and breathe it out. We love You and scream it loud.

Lord, crush all of our doubts. I stand in awe of You - wow! ...

"I'm in awe of You. And what's amazing is I haven't seen all of You. ...
There is no English word that can describe Your glory.

Though I'm a mess with filthy rags, You didn't ignore me.

You sought covenant with me despite my story,

In fact, You pursued me like Hawks hunt Corey. [?]

I made so many mistakes,

But You sent Jesus so my sins would be replaced.

There are times where I felt that You should've [taken] my life

Or embarrassed me. But instead, Your love took flight.

In fact, in every hard time You've always came to the rescue.

Right on time, and I was never left to

Do it on my own. That's why I stand in awe,

Because You're the greatest one that I ever saw."

- Colt feat. K-Drama, "In Awe of You".

Recent Meditations on Worship and Missions

“From the ends of the earth,
From the depths of the sea,
From the heights of the heavens,
Your name be praised!
From the hearts of the weak,
From the shouts of the strong,
From the lips of all people,
This song we raise, Lord:

“Throughout the endless ages,
You will be crowned with praises, Lord Most High!
Exalted in every nation,
Sovereign of all creation,
Lord Most High, be magnified!”

- Hillsong United, “Lord Most High”

-----

"Because, O God, from Thee comes all, because from Thine own mouth has entered us the power to breathe, from the sea of air in which we swim and the unknown nothingness that stays it over us with unseen bonds, because Thou gavest us from the heart of love so tender, mind so wise, and hand so strong, because Thou art Beginning, God, I worship Thee.

"Because Thou art the end of every way, the goal of man; because to Thee shall come of [from] every people respect and praise; their emissaries find Thy throne their destiny; because Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands to Thee, babes [babies] sing Thy praise; because Thine altar gives to sparrows shelter, to sinners peace, and devils fury; because 'to Thee shall all flesh come'; because Thou art Omega. Praise.

"Because Thou sure art to justify that Son of Thine and wilt in time make known just who He is and how soon will send Him back to show Himself; because the name of Jesus has been laughingly nailed upon a cross and is just now on earth held very lightly and Thou wilt bring that name to light; because, O God of Righteousness, Thou wilt do right by my Lord Jesus Christ, I worship Thee."

- Jim Elliot, The Journals of Jim Elliot, "Ecuador, 1952-1955"

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A worship song called "The Stand” has a line, "All I am is Yours." It is one thing to sing that line and then go back to our relatively comfortable American lives. It is quite another to say it in a circumstance where you really are risking your life every day. It has far greater meaning. While on the mission field about 55 years ago, and roughly 2 years before he and several co-laborers in Ecuador lost their lives for the sake of the Gospel, Jim Elliot wrote this in his Journals:

"I recognized that all I am and have is the Almighty's. He could, in one instant, change the whole course of my life, with accident, tragedy, or event unforeseen. Job is a lesson in acceptance - not of blind resignation, but of believing acceptance - that what God does is well done. So, Father, with happy committal I give you my life again this morning - not for anything special, simply to let You know that I regard it as Yours. Do with it as it pleases You. Only give me great grace to do for the glory of Christ whatever comes to me - 'in sickness and in health!'"

No one who is used of God is a great man in and of themselves. It is God’s work in them and through them that allows them to see Him do wonderful things. They are just willing to be used and broken and sent.

Selfish Ambition and the Lord's Work

"I used to want to do it big.
When you're only focused on yourself, that's small.
And they - they used to tell me as a kid,
that I could do anything that I want except fall.

"And now that I recall, I was chasing my goals.
And every time I caught them, they multiplied into more.
I never even thought about whether the Lord approved.
Call it selfish ambition; I call[ed] it, 'I'm making moves.'

"But history repeats itself. Evil's what it is.
'Cause Lucifer was cast away for doing what I did.
Created by the God who spoke the earth into existence,
instead of chasing the Father's glory, he was chasing his.

"He lies to us all - told Adam he could ball,
'Why [are] you following God when you can go get it all?'
I'll tell you what's better, or better yet worse:
Chasing your own glory by doing the Lord's work.

"So holler if it hurts. But we were made for greater.
Our greatest satisfaction is making His name famous.
So if we're never named among the greatest [or] they don't critically acclaim us,
[That's] nothing to be ashamed of. We gave it up for the Savior.

"And you can have the money. And you can have the fame.
For me, I want the glory. I'm living for the Name.
See, life is just a picture. I see outside the frame.
I'm living for a kingdom that I [have] never seen.
And I'm [going to] chase that. ..."

- Lecrae, "Chase That (Ambition)"

-----

"We must resist the pride that may spring forth from fruitfulness.

"You know, some progress in the Christian life can also be dangerous. That is why God does not allow us sometimes to experience all the progress that we had hoped for because it would turn and work against us in pride, because we are too immature to really be used to bear such fruit.

"Listen to this in 1 Corinthians 4:7. 'For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?'

"He is talking to a very, very gifted Church, manifestations of the Holy Spirit works in all sorts of things and he is saying, 'Now, hold on here. You have got this all backwards. You have fallen the way of Ephraim. You have not realized that all your fruit, all your gifts, all your abilities, all your knowledge, all your everything comes from Christ.'

"And if it comes from Christ then why do you, how can you boast in anyone, but Christ? Christ alone, he is the true vine."

- Paul Washer, "The Vine and the Branches".

Flame - "Tonight (All of Me)"

I just want to be,
I just want to be closer to Your heart.
You will find me there.
Everything I am, it's because of You.
It's because of You, and now we sing tonight:

I'm giving You all of me tonight.
I'll let go of everything tonight.
I'm giving You all of me tonight, tonight,
Tonight, I'll give You all of me.

Let's pray:
Dear Father, in the name of Your holy Son,
I desire like Jesus, pray for us to be one (I do)
I desire to give. I desire to serve. I desire to love others with more than my words.
Bless me to be humble. Bless me to be meek.
I want to be a joy when people come around me.
Give me a gentle spirit. Bless me to be content.
Please keep me from my sin. Let me quickly repent.
Please give me discipline. Give me self-control,
to know when to stop and when to say no.
Make me a bold witness. Please remove fear.
Replace it with faith. Pour out Your Spirit here.
Fill me up, Lord. Let me overflow.
Let me overdose. Make me holy. Keep me close.
I want to give it all until there's none left.
But I can't be too giving. Look at Your Son's death.

I just want to be,
I just want to be closer to Your heart.
You will find me there.
Everything I am, it's because of You.
It's because of You, and now we sing tonight:

I'm giving You all of me tonight.
I'll let go of everything tonight.
I'm giving You all of me tonight, tonight,
Tonight, I'll give You all of me.

I can see You talking to the high priest.
Peter just denied You.
for the second time. One more time, he will deny You. (Why?)
One of the officers smacked You in the face,
but he didn't understand that You were actually grace.
But the people would rather see the release of a thief
than to know forgiveness and be with the Prince of Peace. (That's true.)
And as they scream for Pilate to crucify You,
I hear my own voice 'cause every day I deny You. (Somehow.)
But You still bore the cross on Your vertebrae
Walking to Golgotha, what a display of grace!
I see Your weakened body beaten - can't keep me from crying
Your cross was very heavy. They gave it to Simon.
Then You were crucified. They divided Your clothes.
Like the Scriptures prophesied, You died and You rose. (Yes!)
Two thousand years ago, slaughtered on a tree,
You gave all of You. I'm giving all of me.

I just want to be,
I just want to be closer to Your heart.
You will find me there.
Everything I am, it's because of You.
It's because of You, and now we sing tonight:

I'm giving You all of me tonight.
I'll let go of everything tonight.
I'm giving You all of me tonight, tonight,
Tonight, I'll give You all of me.

This I pray, Lord,
To be like Abraham:
Ready to give it all. My only son is the lamb.
Ready to sacrifice everything if You ask,
Because nothing is mine - not even this life that I have.
Everything I own, O Lord, is a gift,
So who am I to hold it with a firm grip?
I give You my talents. I give You my time.
I give You my eyes. I give You my mind.

I just want to be,
I just want to be closer to Your heart.
You will find me there.
Everything I am, it's because of You.
It's because of You, and now we sing tonight:

I'm giving You all of me tonight.
I'll let go of everything tonight.
I'm giving You all of me tonight, tonight,
Tonight, I'll give You all of me.

I'll give You all of me. ...

- Flame, "Tonight (All of Me)", from Captured.

(If you are reading this because you were looking for the words to this song, please check out my other posts from the menu at the right!)

On Wisdom

^{(I am still working on the next two series of posts. They will be pretty involved. Here is some Scripture on which I have recently meditated. Let us listen to these words of our all-knowing and -wise God. A link to a helpful article on godly wisdom from Desiring God follows the Scripture.)}

^"12 But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding dwell?
¹³ No mortal comprehends its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living.
¹⁴ The deep says, “It is not in me”;
the sea says, “It is not with me.”
¹⁵ It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
¹⁶ It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
¹⁷ Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
¹⁸ Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
¹⁹ The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.

²⁰ Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds in the sky.
²² Destruction and Death say,
“Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
²³ God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
²⁴ for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
²⁵ When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
²⁷ then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
²⁸ And he said to the human race,
“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.”
- Job 28:12-28.

-----

Pastor Paul Tripp writes,

"Here is what all of us must face, sin really does reduce us all to fools, but happily the story doesn't end there. The One who is the ultimate source of everything that's good, true, trustworthy, right, and wise is also a God of amazing grace.

"You don't get freed from your foolishness by education or experience. You don't get wisdom by research and analysis. You get wisdom by means of a relationship with the One who is Wisdom."

- "You're Fooling Yourself".

Dillon Chase - "How He Loves Remix"

I saw some people have been looking for the words to Dillon Chase's remix of "How He Loves". I transcribed them around the same time that I did the words to his remix of "Here In Your Presence", so here they are. Again, please correct me if anything is not accurate.

"From the chosen of Israel to the present-day times,

God, we are inferior!

This blessing is mine.

I question to find myself truly acquainted with You.

I'm frustrated by what moves me to forget You.

Consumed with Your greatness; You prove to be gracious.

I view this throughout Your Scripture, read it, hear it, feel it.

Consuming my heart, produce from the thought

The depths of the sovereign grace.

God, You are great; I am not.

But You view me as bought.

You Who sought me when I kept on running,

Fingertips stripped away chains I was hugging.

I willfully spit in Your face with my lips.

You wiped it off and let Your blood drip.

"Oh, how He loves us! [Grace alone]

Oh, how He loves us, [Through faith alone]

How He loves us so! [In Christ alone, for Your glory alone]"

"In the heat of the storm, I'm seeking You, Lord.

Your lovingkindness is better than life!

I need You more than anything, You're

More than enough, my Treasure, my Prize!

Yes, You are God. Yes, I am fallen.

But You gave a calling that had to be heard.

You opened up the ears of my heart,

Came near my heart and actually turned.

I wouldn't have wanted to trust in the Gospel

And now I am brought to my knees; I surrender.

Your love overflows; it spills in my mouth.

I yell and I shout,

That Jesus is risen! Jesus is Lord! He's mighty to save!

Humbled by Your grace, I died to my ways!

I try to explain, but I run out of words!

I cry and proclaim Your wondrous works!

Oh, how You loved me first.

Oh, how I am nothing but dirt,

But You make me Your own. You cover my hurt

With Your love, not my works. Only by grace, You're taking me home.

Oh, how He loved us first.

Oh, how we're nothing but dirt,

But He makes us His own. He covers our hurt

With His love, not our works. Only by grace, He is taking us home.

"Oh, how He loves us! [By grace alone, through faith alone]

Oh, how He loves us, [In Christ alone, for Your glory alone!]

How He loves us so!"

"I pray that this world, in their sin and rebellion,

Would turn from their sin and begin to go tell them

That we who belong to the God Who has saved us.

Have hope and not hurt. He is the safe haven.

This here was the greatest. He's holy and just,

Gracious and merciful - that's not enough.

On top of that, He is sovereign 'cause

He receives all who He bought with His blood.

Nothing can keep Him from loving His people,

Not death, man, or satan can seek to

Snatch us from His hand. We're clutched by His grace

Kept by the Spirit, we're one in this race.

Safe in His hands, clutched by His grace:

what got us here was nothing but faith.

Safe in His hands, clutched by His grace:

what got us here was nothing but faith.

"Oh, how He loves us!

Oh, how He loves us!

Oh, how He loves us!

Oh, he loves!

"And we are His portion

And He is our prize

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If His grace is an ocean, we are sinking.

And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

when I think about the way that He loves us.

Oh, how He loves us!

Oh, how He loves us!

Oh, how He loves!"

- Dillon Chase, "How He Loves Remix", available on the Pause mixtape.

Dillon Chase - Here in Your Presence Remix

"Let's bring everything into perspective. Let's see, regardless of what happens now, let's live in light of eternity whenever we're at the presence of Jesus Christ. It's good news for His people.

"We look at ourselves and see that we're passing away.

The fact is, we actually fade.

Every day that passes, we face

The fate of this world - collapsing one day, because

This world is fallen; don't think that it's perfect,

Got hurricanes, floods, fires that are burning.

But there was a time when all of it worshiped

The God who created it for His own purpose.

But now it awaits: the day when He comes

To settle things straight - the Savior, the Son

of God the Father, will make all things one

Heaven and earth will fade away, but

The City He'll build will endure forever

Now you feel burdened, but there you will never,

light as a feather. The God who you treasure,

He sits on the throne as He reigns with all splendor.

Your body is groaning from pain and sin,

But please, wait, remain content.

I promise it will be amazing when the Lamb who was slain has us raised with Him.

And this is the day that we'll gaze at Him and we'll glance at our bodies that are saved from sin.

Then we'll see the wounds that remain on Him

And we fall on our face and start praising Him! Yes,

"Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonder.

Kings and their kingdoms are standing amazed, because

Here in Your presence, we are undone!

Here in Your presence, heaven and earth become one!

Here in Your presence, all things are new! [Maranatha, Lord; come quick!]

Here in Your presence, everything bows before You!"

"So when trials are pressing and your faith is tested,

Remember the Holy Spirit that's indwelling

No matter the weapon the enemy's flexing,

You don't need to fear; you're always in His presence.

From days, hours, minutes, to seconds,

We eagerly wait to be freed from this wreckage

Struggles and strife, we're still not neglected

We have His love because we've been predestined,

Designed to reside in the body of Christ,

Adopted from what tried to rob us of life.

This world is evil; you're probably right,

Full of sinful humans who are lost without light.

So what is the motive to shine as a lamp?

Fix your mind on the time when the Bride would dance

With Christ, the Groom, the Head of the Church

An eternal legacy destined to work!

This is our hope. This is our promise.

If you're doubting the truth, know that He's sovereign.

Shout from the roof that your God is awesome

And know He's your daddy; you can call Him "Abba"

No sword will sever; no death would it cease.

Christ is the Victor; His work is complete.

We have the victory. We have the peace.

So fight the good fight till the final defeat!

"Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonder. [Yeah!]

Kings and their kingdoms are standing amazed [This is what we say, Lord! This is what we sing to You!], because

Here in Your presence, we are undone! [You're holy, Lord; You're holy!]

Here in Your presence, heaven and earth become one! [They become one, Lord. You're the King of it all!]

Here in Your presence, all things are new! [All things are new to You, Jesus; You make all things new!]

Here in Your presence, everything bows before You! [And now that I know this, Lord, I live for You!]"

"Take away cash! Take my career! Take all that I have!

It got us to where You can take away money and take away food

But that doesn't mean much to me, dude, it's true:

Who do I have but Jesus? That's right.

He is all I'll need in tragedies; they have disease [?]

I'll cast them at the precious feet of Jesus.

Let's sit at the face and scream, "I am free!"

And put sin in its place; it was nailed to the tree.

Turn to your Savior; don't be moved for nothing.

In Him find your joy 'cause one day He'll be coming.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand!

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand!

Let's bring it back to where we are now,

With babies aborted and tossed to the ground

Enslavement to sin, addicted to drugs,

Anything for a fix while the kids need a hug

One day the Savior will come as the Judge.

The wicked will be cast away like the flood.

While they are here, don't hold a grudge.

Go preach the gospel and save whom He loves.

Children will die. Ones will be lost.

Persecution will come. We will all pay the cost.

At the end of the day, we are the conquerors,

reign with the King who redeemed every part of us.

Every tear dry, every failure destroyed:

Nothing to describe what we'll feel with that joy,

As we'll sing with the church that He bought with His blood

The chorus forever will sing up above:

"Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

"Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, [You are] matchless in every way

"Wonderful [Sing to You!], beautiful [O Lord!], glorious [undone, right here, right now!], matchless in every way

"We are amazed... You are glorious!

"Wonderful [wonderful!], beautiful [beautiful!], glorious [glorious!]...

"Jesus, we thank You, Lord, for freeing us from this body of sin,

and on top of that, promising the reality of our resurrection with You, Lord:

wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way!"

- Dillon Chase, "Here In Your Presence Remix", available on the Pause mixtape.

(I transcribed the lyrics. Please leave a comment and let me know if there are any mistakes.)