When God Ran

(written last week; final edit this morning fyi)

I call it M.A.D.H.D. I've enjoyed it for most of my life. M.A.D.H.D. means "musical attention deficit hyperactivity deficit" by the way. What it means is, I really enjoy a WIDE variety of musical grooves and groups and styles.

Which is why I really love (a) my ipod, and (b) the shuffle feature on it that randomly selects songs to play from my music list. Just this morning on the treadmill, the shuffle feature treated me to some screaming heavy metal, followed by Merle Haggard, Rodney Crowell, and then Phillips, Craig & Dean.

Some PCD songs came up that grabbed my heart. (and my tear ducts too, it seems...*blushes*) Seems I needed reminding of God's grace. Oh, sure, we believers talk about grace often. But I fear that sometimes we talk of it so much that we don't really stop and ponder it. In total amazement and awe. That's what these songs did for me this morning. It's rather easy to talk about God's grace in the corporate, academic, definitional sense. (and it's VERY important to do so, by the way!)

But that's not what I'm speaking of here. I'm talking about the CRITICAL need for all of us to ponder God's grace toward us individually. Doing so removes our egos from consideration, and shuts our prideful tongues up totally except for prayers of amazement and thanksgiving. "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner" as the guy prayed in Jesus' story.

Anyway, to me these songs get toward what I'm talking about. As I say, they grabbed my soul this morning. And my tear ducts. (What, now? That's allergies...allergies, I tell ya...*blushes again*) Read and enjoy...and receive and revel in God's grace!

When God Ran
Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror
and the only time; the only time I ever saw Him run

CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran
(click here to see a video of Phillips, Craig, & Dean singing "When God Ran"; 6:24 in length)

A Place Called Grace
So many years I heard it told
The story of compassion
A prodigal son who left the fold
And found no satisfaction

On my knees, Lord, I cried out to you,
"I'm so alone
But if there's room in Your house for one more,
I'm ready to come back home"

I know there is a place
Where arms of compassion welcome me home
Sweet mercy falls like rain
I know there's a place called grace

So many days I've trusted grace
Yet I have to wonder
How many times my human strength
Has kept me from surrender

The more I learn just to lean on the cross
The more I see
When I fall, I will fall to the place
Where mercy reaches me...reaches me

I know there is a place
Where arms of compassion welcome me home
Sweet mercy falls like rain
I know there's a place called grace

If it seems that my courage is strong
There's just one reason
He's my rock when my faith is all gone
He holds me in His arms
Gives me strength to carry on

I know there is a place
Where arms of compassion welcome me home
Sweet mercy falls like rain
I know there's a place
I know there's a place called grace

(Click here for a video montage done to "A Place Called Grace"; couldn't find a vid of PCD singing this one live in concertwhich would be my preference; 5:21 in length)

Table of Grace
Hear the good news, you've been invited
No matter what others may say,
Your darkest sins will be forgiven
You will always have a place.

At the table of grace the cup's never empty.
The plate's always full and it's never too late.
To come and be filled with love never ending
You're always welcome at the table of grace.

So come weak, and heavy hearted
Don't try to hide your earthly scars.
In His eyes, we all are equal
Don't be afraid, come as you are.

At the table of grace the cup's never empty.
The plate's always full, and it's never too late.
To come and be filled with love never ending
You're always welcome at the table of grace.

So let the first become the last
Let the poor put kings to shame.
Their willing hearts will be their treasure
By the power of Jesus' name!

At the table of grace the cup's never empty
The plate's always full, and it's never too late!
To come and be filled with love never ending
You're always welcome at the table of grace
At the table of grace the cup's never empty.

The plate's always full, and it's never too late
To come and be filled with love never ending:
You're always welcome at the table.
Everyone's welcome at the table of grace.

(back to bb) And there, ladies & gents, is how Easter applies to us in this day & time. Join me in celebrating the grace of a holy, righteous, awesome God who chooses to love & connect with hammerheads like us--like me--won't you?

Continually amazed by His grace,

bb