Gifts for a King

What Offering Shall I Bring?

based on Micah 6:6-8

       
What offering shall i bring when i worship You, my King,
When i worship You, oh God, Most High?
All my money, all my fame, all my glory, all my shame,
Tell me, how can You be pleased with me?

Should i sacrifice my first born child, the way You gave Your Son for me?
You have told me how to please You, Lord. 
May Your way be all i see.

May justice rule my mind, and may mercy guide my heart,
May i humbly walk with You, my King.

When Sean and i were asked to fill in for our Pastor of Worship and Arts after Christmas, i looked at the calendar and realized that our assigned Sunday was Epiphany Sunday. That's the day the church celebrates the event of the wise men finding Jesus by following the star in the East. I pictured the Magi in Matthew's gospel...so wise, so beautifully garbed, arms laden with treasures. And i thought about me on this cold day in 2003 - so ordinary, slacker-attired, and broke from Christmas stuff for our kids...what should i bring to the one who knew me before i knew Him? what could i bring?

And then i remembered the passage in Micah...and sitting at my piano, i began to play with a strain in Solvejg's Song from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg. And this song poured out.

After the service, several people asked for a recorded copy. We've got sheet music just for the asking, but have yet to find the time to record it...maybe we'll have it by next Epiphany! 

KEN MEDEMA

Ever wish that the "story behind the song" was yours? Well, that could be do-able.

KEN MEDEMA, who is famous for his "on the spot" songs, opens the "floor" to anyone...even Jane-regulars like me, to share their faith stories. Then Medema sits in silence for ...oh....about 60 seconds...and then out comes this amazing song...about your life! It's wild! Not only has he done this at the concerts i've attended, but rumor has it he is opening it up so that you can order a custom song off the website. Might be a perfect graduation or anniversary present, eh?

Here's a short bio blurb off his website:

Though blind from birth, Ken has demonstrated his extraordinary musical vision to a growing number of loyal fans across the nation and around the world. Invariably, his audiences reward Ken's final encore with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations.

If you haven't heard him in concert, i think he's really amazing...and funny...and brilliant. If you don't mind traveling, you can catch him on the East Coast live in concert soon.

QUAIL MINISTRIES

My son, Michael, still remembers the sign language that Michael Kelly Blanchard used to "say" i love you to his child as he rode away on the school bus. We hosted that concert at Free Church several years ago, but Michael Kelly Blanchard has a way...a way of telling a story that sticks with you long after the stage is cleared.

What i love most about MKB's songs is that they are great stories set to contagious tunes.... and not just "happy tunes" ...but songs that struggle along with the listener in some of the darkest hours of grief.

Listen for the story in the song...then listen again for the healing...

current albums

A Common Thread

Trust was written by Phil Lazo and sung at the memorial service of his 8-year-old daughter, Lindsay-Grace Lazo. Free copies can be obtained through the band's website for a donation toward the "Lindsay-Grace Lazo Community Playground."

 the story behind the song

the WMA (audio file) of the song

Northbound (Phil's band) website

Recover Me was written in response to my own personal journey of faith and is dedicated to the sweet sojourners in the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Cedar Ridge Community Church.                                  

the story behind the song

the MP3 of the song