Worshipping God at home has two disadvantages: the songs on the recordings are usually pitched in a way that my harmonicas seem out of tune, and, more importantly to me, there are no words projected on the screen. Ours is a church without hymnals. We use PowerPoint projected on the wall/screen at the back of the platform for the congregation. There is a duplicate projection on the back wall (for the singers on the music team, and so the preacher can see where he/she is at during the sermon by which slide is being projected). Since I am normally adding harmonica (can't sing while playing) or percussion (can't sing while playing - I come from a predominantly Caucasian family, and we all know white guys have no rhythm. How many people you know COUNT while playing a tambourine?!?), I really don't know the words to the songs. So, singing them at home I find myself mumbling my way through them.
One of the things I've been noticing during my sabbatical is that a lot of the music we use for praise and worship is "I" focused. "My God, is an awesome God. He reigns, from heaven above." "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, and now am found. Was blind, but now I see."
During my visit we sang one where I found myself changing the lyrics part of the way through. Here is the original:
"Awesome" by Charles Jenkins
"My God is awesome, He can move mountains
Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain
My God is awesome, heals me when I'm broken
Strength where I've been weakened, forever He will reign
(repeat)
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
My God is awesome, Savior of the whole world
Giver of salvation, by His stripes I am healed
My God is awesome, today I am forgiven
His grace is why I'm living, praise His holy name
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
He's mighty, He's mighty, He's mighty, He's mighty
Awesome, Awesome
He's Holy, He's Holy, He's Holy, He's Holy
Awesome, Awesome
He's Great, He's Great, He's Great, He's Great
Awesome, Awesome
Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer
Awesome, Awesome
Provider, Provider, Provider, Provider
Awesome, Awesome
Protector, Protector, Protector, Protector
Awesome, Awesome
My God is awesome, He can move mountains
Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain
My God is awesome, heal me when I'm broken
Strength where I've been weakened,
Praise His holy name"
First off, I want to say that is a wonderful song. I add a bass harmony at church, some simple cabasa percussion, and find I can't keep my feet still. I'm not dissing it. But I want you to go back and look at the pronouns. God is referenced as the third party "He", whereas the focus of the song is in actuality in the possessive "My". "I want to tell you that it is MY God that is awesome. MY God moves mountains. MY God heals ME when I'M broken. You should praise His holy name."
Is that the focus of worship? It's one thing to sing a song like this in front of an audience, but when you are leading the congregation in worship, the focus should be on God, not on my telling you about Him. The desire is to have the congregation sing WITH you in worship, not listen to you.
Next time you are worshipping, try changing the pronouns and give Him the honor He deserves.
Oh God You're awesome, You can move mountains
You keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain
Oh God You're awesome, You heal me when I'm broken
Strength where I've been weakened, forever You will reign
(repeat)
Oh God You're awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
Oh God You're awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
Oh God You're awesome, Savior of the whole world
Giver of salvation, by Your stripes I am healed
Oh God You're awesome, today I am forgiven
Your grace is why I'm living, praise Your holy name
Oh God You're awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
Oh God You're awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome
You're mighty, You're mighty, You're mighty, You're mighty
Awesome, Awesome
You're Holy, You're Holy, You're Holy, You're Holy
Awesome, Awesome
You're Great, You're Great, You're Great, You're Great
Awesome, Awesome
Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer, Deliverer
Awesome, Awesome
Provider, Provider, Provider, Provider
Awesome, Awesome
Protector, Protector, Protector, Protector
Awesome, Awesome
Oh God You're awesome, You can move mountains
You keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain
Oh God You're awesome, You heal me when I'm broken
Strength where I've been weakened,
Praise You're holy name
Change the focus and make the worship conversational. After all, you are worshipping Him. And He IS awesome.
© Emittravel 2014
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