a bit of history

The Suzuki Principle…

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I remember my first Suzuki group violin lesson. I was four and a half and I had my tiny 16th size violin with me. We sat on the white carpet facing Mrs. Douglas, our instructor, with violins resting horizontally in front of us. On that particular first day we learned the parts of the violin and how to hold it. I remember learning how to rosin the bow. Her house always had a wonderful aroma, like maybe she was going to surprise us with a delicious treat. This was the beginning of my Suzuki experience.

Now, you may not know that Suzuki is the art of training a young musician to play by ear. This is accomplished by listening over and over again to pieces of music, which you then learn to play by imitation. As a youngster I listened to the Suzuki book one and book two tapes daily. Even now, at thirty four I can pick up my violin, as rusty as I am with my instrument, and play any of those pieces. Its an amazing way of learning referred to as the ‘mother tongue method.’

The basic principle is this: As infants and toddlers, one learns to talk first by listening to their mother and repeating what she says. It is later on in life that one is able to read. This is also the musical approach – learn by listening and repetition while learning to read the music later. Just as it works with speech, it applies to music as well. And I am the poster child.

Today I became acutely aware that this can be true in other areas of life. My daughter Emily and I memorize Scripture verses together. Each week we learn a new one. Right now we are working through the Scripture packet for children from John Piper called, “Foundation Verses.” We read them, we write them for copy work, I say them and she repeats them. I am attempting to help her not just learn them, but understand them. Its my hope that they are sinking in because of our listening and repetition.

It may be working…

It just so happens that Emily has a few anxieties. They seem to overcome her late in the evening and they grow stronger as bed time rolls around. Some nights she gets wound up and cannot relax. Because she is a thinker, her questions are often deep and difficult to answer. Eventually she manages to go to sleep, but some nights it is just too much for her little mind. Tonight as she was asking me about tornadoes, the newest in her line up of self torturing fears, I asked her if she remembered a few of our recent Scripture verses. And she did!

“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” And then she began quoting all of our verses that we have rehearsed over and over. “He who keeps you will not slumber.” As she spoke these verses, I felt her fears leaving. My sweet Emily went to her room knowing her Heavenly Father was keeping watch over her. His peace seemed to be like a warm blanket wrapping around her as she went to bed tonight.

Scripture sort of gives its own approach to the Suzuki method :

From Deuteronomy 11

“Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.”

Even though this was a word given to the Israelites, in their particular situation, I believe its still true for our family today. Just like I can play any of those Suzuki violin songs that I learned more than twenty five years ago – it is my prayer that this repertoire of Scripture verses will be a part of Emily’s being in that same way.

Some day when she is thirty four they will remain a part of her, brining peace and comfort from the Heavenly Father at a moments notice. Hearing her say those verses tonight was beautiful music to my ears. Thank you, God, for being the original Suzuki instructor.

md

(written March 7, 2010)

who knows?

It’s that moment when…

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a rainbow is hung directly in view.

And there is this realization:  The beauty of it isn’t just a pretty reminder of God’s promises.  It is the physical outworking of them. The sun shining brightly at the point of the storm: that is when He planned to paint the sky with His colors.

His reminder is tangible : His promises are good, even when the darkest clouds are hanging over head.  And often I see Him best, just then.  Hues of His faithfulness, His mercy and grace, His love ; all ablaze in the sky, when I need to seem them the very most.

It’s that moment when His covenant with me is fresh and renewed in my heart- completely sufficient for the days ahead.  

He’s reminding me:

All things work together for good. Romans 8:28

He will never leave me or forsake me. Deuteronomy 31:6

He will finish the work He’s begun.Philippians 1:6

There is hope alone in Him.  Psalm 31:24

I am cherished. 1John 4:19

I am forgiven. Ephesians 1:7

I am His daughter. Galatians 3:26

It’s that moment when it all breaks through from my mind to my heart, and I become thankful.   Thankful for a Heavenly Father who is a promise keeping God, who is still on His throne and takes pleasure in surprising me with these moments… moments of love and grace.

amen.

friends and loved ones · home schooling

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

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Hump day is over.  Well, at least the school portion of our day is over.  I just finished up day three of our first week back to school for 2012.  In my mind, starting school up post all of the Christmas festivities is much harder than gearing up for the first week of school in the fall.  In the fall there is hype and new books and freshly sharpened pencils and unopened boxes of crayons.  But now, in January there is just rain and blah and half-used erasers.

Monday.  Monday was our first day back after Christmas and for the first time ever in my home schooling career it was lovely.  I had spent time with Jesus on Sunday evening making plans, confident that since He is able to save the world with just one word, He also has the power to save my school week ; He helped me pull my act together and get us back on track.

At the end of our first day back, I was exhausted but very content with our successes. Emily remembered how to do her math, Isaac wanted to hold his crayon properly and Mackenzie, well she was just happy  to sit in her booster seat and listen to stories and get in on the action.  My friends, that is bona fide success.

So, it might come as a shock to you that on the morning of our second day back to school, I was not so sure of myself.  I woke up with a fuzzy head – you  know where you can’t quite make heads or tales of what you’re supposed to be doing – and my children were running around excited and I, I needed coffee.  I could hear the words of a familiar book that we read around here a lot circling and circling around and around in my mind:

“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…”

Except, I didn’t.  I didn’t think I could.  In fact – for a moment I almost thought I couldn’t.  All bets were off when I broke my french press coffee pot in the sink.  The only thing I was prepared to do was cry.  That I knew I could do.

Standing in the doorway to my dining room, looking over my school train in the process of de-railing, I heard Him say,

“Of course you can’t.”

Well, that’s encouraging.

“My dear daughter, you never could.  Only I can.  I’m the one who gives you the strength, day in and out.  Yesterday was absolute proof that I alone can help you through each day.”

He promises that He is more than enough.  He promises to walk the full 24 hours of each day by my side.  And He promises that everything He is, He will give to me – portions of strength and power and wisdom to accomplish whatever it is He is asking of me.  Of course, I know these things in my head. Long ago I learned all of the Scripture to site these promises.  And yet, it is only mid-experience that it clicks and I KNOW it in my heart.

Yes, yes, I know – I am a slow learner.

Well, by His grace Tuesday was back on track before all was lost.  And Wednesday has been quite a smooth ride.  I’m working on remembering this every day : It is a moment by moment surrender, relying on His strength.  I don’t have to be the little blue engine pulling this train uphill alone.  Nope, I’m just along for the journey.  But, I feel confident: I know He can.

and that is all I need to know.

amen and amen.

Some of His words that are my very favorite:

Ephesians 3: 14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[c] 15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen

friends and loved ones

And then there were… Three

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(I just found this in my archives, one of the first pieces I ever attempted to write…  thought I’d share it.)

I’ve been thinking lately, about numbers. I have a lot of numbers in my head these days – significant, bewildering, unimportant – all kinds of numbers. They give entrance to important details about me, they tell me how much money I owe, they tell me my grocery budget, – Numbers. Anyone who knows me, would tell you I’m not a numbers kind of gal – I do not give them much thought. ever. But, a number that has taken on new meaning to me is this number, three…

You know there are numbers in Scripture that mean things. There’s seven – it’s a big one. Its recognized during the seven days of creation in Genesis. So, I suppose it has a fairly high rank of importance. And forty – its pretty big, too – the flood was for forty days – and then Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days. But three – it takes a place all unto its self – the trinity – three – speaks of The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit – the three-in-one. It definitely deserves recognition.

Aside from that (as important as that is) three has come to mean something completely different to me over the past couple of months. Three now means – three clean outfits to find on Sunday morning. Three juice cups or bottles to make up when mouths are thirsty. This is a big ordeal if my dishwasher is full, but not run yet. It means three people to potty train – one is successful and accomplished in this category, but two to go. It means three to keep track of at the park and three to buckle in their seats when no one wants to leave yet… (this in particular should be considered a form of aerobic work out). I could go on.

There are many wonderful things about three. Its three times that I will watch for someone’s first steps with anticipation. Three times the amount of hugs during the day, with three requests for snuggling and stories at bedtime. And three will be how many will call out “mama” for the first time. Three will surprise me with beautiful artwork for the refrigerator. And three will bring small and large victories to our home, like learning to ride a bicycle, or reading a few first words, or playing on a first piano recital – three to make me burst with pride.

Three is personal now – with very particular, lovable faces. Emily, Isaac and Mackenzie. First was Emily, my sincere and diligent child. She captured my heart with her black hair, sparkling eyes and her quiet spunk. Second, by surprise, was my little sweet heart, Isaac, with a sensitive heart and smiling eyes, a heart breaker for sure. And there’s Mackenzie, my third blessing. We’ve really only just met, she and I, but even now her personality is peeking out with its own unique features, with a giggle that bubbles from her little belly and a grin that warms me all the way to the tips of my toes.

These are the three, entrusted to Michael and me by our Heavenly Father. Three to love unconditionally as Christ has loved us. Three to raise, with Him on their minds and in their hearts.

There are so many numbers out there with special interests demanding time and space in my brain. But this number three claims real estate in my heart. All by itself as a stand alone it does not represent anything significant. However – to me it is a reflection of God’s handiwork and creativity; Its the number of incredible children that God has given to our family. And I wonder – Could there be anything more special or wonderful…?

Thank you God for this beautiful number, three.

md

(written November 18, 2009)

in my kitchen

because this is our first day back to school…

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I am sharing this with you.  A muffin recipe.  This is a wonderful pumpkin cake donut that happens to be in the shape of a muffin.  and they are DIVINE.   They are helping us start the week out right.  I knew I couldn’t make it thru this blogging week honestly without sharing them with you, my friends.

Now, you need to know:  They are NOT, I repeat NOT, weight watchers friendly.  But with that said,  in spite of all those New Year’s Resolutions you made last week, you still need to eat one of these beauties.  My mom always told me, don’t waste your calories; well, I promise you – not one calorie is wasted here.  It is worth every tiny crumb.   And I know it is the truth because my husband couldn’t stop smiling while taste-testing the first one of the batch.

I apologize if it messes up all of your diet plans.  Its okay. You can get on the treadmill twice tomorrow. Here it is:

Pumpkin Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Muffins.

Ingredients

  • For The Batter

    • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
    • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
    • 1/3 cup buttermilk
    • 1 1/4 cups pure pumpkin puree (from a 15-ounce can)
    • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs

  • For The Sugar Coating

    • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 12 standard muffin cups. Make batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture, and beat to combine.
  2. Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon. Let muffins cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan, brush all over with butter, then toss to coat in sugar mixture. Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack.

(this recipe was taken from the Martha Stewart website.)

Uncategorized

squeeze…

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Its that time again.  There’s a time to be born, to die, to laugh to weep etc etc etc.  But right now – it is the time for squeezing… a few weeks ago I was right in the middle of the holidays- squeezing in things. Everyone does it, you know. Calendars booked to the max with parties and get togethers, houses overflowing with company, tummies full of goodies – one more cookie won’t hurt.  Life was bursting at the seams.  To experience the fullness of the season I would squeeze in “just one more thing!” hoping there wasn’t an explosion.

Now I find myself making New Year’s Resolutions to undo all of that holiday squeezing…  There’s plenty to accomplish in my free time : cleaning the house, sorting and putting away, exercising, cooking and eating healthily.  I’ve made so many resolutions to assist in all of my un-squeezing.

On the first few days of the New Year, earlier this week, I was dreading far more than just fitting into my skinny pants.  But, in the middle of all of my resolutions, I heard something…

“Where am I supposed to fit in with all of this other stuff?”

It was his voice, I was sure of it.  And I had to stop to think over His question.

The thing is, I have a lot of good and noble things on my agenda.  Positive plans for change.  But in my heart I know they mean nothing if they aren’t first and foremost about Him.  If I’m totally truthful, I have other items that aren’t so good and noble – stuff I really need to get rid of. I realized I was going to have to let Him do some squeezing.  And as painful as it is, I agreed to let Him do it.

The work has begun – I can already feel the power of His gospel gently massaging my heart, extracting all of the things that take up space.  He is making room in my heart so all that is left is Him.  His love swells, and everything else gets smaller and smaller… My love for Him grows in return and the rest seems so insignificant. A fresh walk with the Holy Spirit is a great way to kick off the new year…

Galtians 5: 19-26 sounds a lot like the kind of squeezing I need:

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And thosewho are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Its the best kind of New Year’s purge I’ve ever experienced.  Its going to take time and persistence – like anything else I have to let Him continue the work year-round, or else I’ll start to collect all of those things all over again.  But I begin 2012, freshly squeezed – ready to live again.

Thank You Heavenly Father for continuing this work in my heart!

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ!  Philippians 1:6

who knows?

the slow dawning of 2012

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I spent the first day of 2012 in the car.  From 4:45 AM until 6:00 PM, I was in our Honda mini van; sometimes sleepy, sometimes pensive, sometimes antsy…  Not my favorite way to ring in the New Year.

So, there I was, riding across the state of Michigan, headed south on I-69, in the pitch black dark of night.  As time passed and it seemed as though morning would never arrive, I began to picture the sunrise.  In southern Michigan it is very flat – and when you look from east to west there is a full panoramic view of the horizon.  I had it all planned out.  This morning would be the perfect morning for a fully a-blaze sunrise – across the sky, in honor of the New Year.

I whispered my idea to the heavenly Father.

As we passed into Indiana, my hopes did not come to pass.  Well, only mildly.  There, in the east, a small patch of heaven was revealed where the clouds briefly parted horizontally.  A modest pink shone through.   The smallest swatch of color.  What a let down.

I prepared myself for a year of disappointment.

We drove and we drove.  Michigan to Tennessee.  I had a lot of time to consider why or why not the sunrise was so unworthy of my attention… why it was such a let down…

We drove on.  more and more miles through gusts of wind at 40 mph and sweeping rain, with deep dark clouds surrounding us, we pressed on.  I thought about my life, and the many dark clouds that hover around the future. Personal concerns that probably wouldn’t matter much to you, but they are a big deal to me.  Family changes.  Life altering decisions.  Hopes and Dreams.  Sometimes I believe I only need the hope of a sunrise.

As the day passed, slowly the the clouds were plucked away like big puffs of cotton across a bright blue sky. I began to sense His presence…  By the time we reached our home, the sky was completely clear and we saw a beautiful sunset of pastel watercolors – strokes of pinks and lavenders, yellows and oranges…  so much of His glory to behold at the end of the day.

It is so easy for me to question a God who assembles the dawning of a day and even a year with claps of thunder and crashing lightening.  How am I supposed to see His glory in the darkness?   Where is my hope for 2012?  I would love to begin this year with a heart that is filled with expectation, rather than dread.

And this is what I learned on New Year’s Day.  Glorious hope is not only displayed in a sunrise, but it is also in the raging storms.   He alone conducts the symphony of thunderstorm, just as much as He paints the sunrise and sunset with the stroke of His hand.  His majesty reigns supreme.  What good would a God be who could only do one or the other?  There is an amazing amount of hope that swells in my soul, knowing I have a heavenly Father who is the creator of all.

Here are two separate Scriptures that I have been thinking over, reveling in, yesterday and today…  I need these words for 2012:

from Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

and

from Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It has been a slow dawning of my heart’s New Year, but, I am very hopeful! He IS my only hope for 2012.

amen

friends and loved ones

snapshots of blessings…

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Tomorrow is December 31, 2011.  I can’t help but look over my shoulder with a full heart and a smile on my face.  2011 has been full of ups and downs, there is no doubt.  But, in spite of it all my Heavenly Father has been merciful, walking each step with me.

And our family has weathered some serious, heavy-duty storms, both figurative and literal; snow storms, tornados, flooding: we’ve survived them all.  But, I have snapshots; postcards from my Heavenly Father that remind me of the blessings.  I can gaze at them and reminisce about how He has single handedly brought us through another year.  And, they remind me that the coming days are full of hope, knowing He has designed every moment of the future.

And so, my dear friends, my prayer for you in the coming year is this:  May you find His strength when your stamina is failing.  When turmoil is overwhelming, may His peace completely surround you.  For the darkest moments, the light of His presence, for the lowest valleys His grace to lift your heart.  And most of all – I pray for you that His unfailing love will be your portion each day of 2012.

With joy and thanksgiving,

Melody.

in my kitchen

dutch oven cleansing

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(originally written December 15, 2010)

I made chili on Saturday.  There’s a recipe I’ve been using for several years now and we love it. It makes so much that I have to use my really large dutch oven.

The problem is that I’m not supposed to use my particular pot on my stove top.  I have a glass top appliance and it doesn’t work well with my Le Creuset.  In fact the manufacturer’s instructions indicate  that I should not cook with it on my stove.

Well, I don’t like those instructions.  Why should I not be able to use my favorite pot?  Its ridiculous.  So on Saturday, I did it anyway.  again.  I made my chili in the Le Creuset dutch oven.  And do you know what happened?  The same thing that always happens.  I’m experienced, you see, because my pot is probably 7 years old.

I scalded the bottom of my favorite pot.  After 7 years and knowing better – I chose to do the very thing that I know not to do.  During the early part of the chili making I found that the bottom was already dark black and burnt – which forced me to finish the chili in the crockpot.

The Le Creuset dutch oven was a lovely Christmas gift several years ago from my sweet husband who knows how much I love to cook.  He gave it to me on a year when we didn’t have a lot to spend – it is precious because it was such a sacrificial gift.   As I stood at my kitchen sink, looking at the mess I had created I got a bit choked up because I was afraid that I had ruined my precious pan.

The worst part about this situation is that I can never get it clean – I have to call my husband in to scrub.  Its a bit embarrassing to let him see that I have disrespected His gift.  But when I asked him to clean it, he wasn’t even surprised. I mean, seriously, how could he be after 7 years of this pattern?   He just rolled up his sleeves, pulled out the Cerama-brite and my pot was clean in a few minutes.

As I stood and watched him scrub, I was reminded of Paul’s words.  (this is my paraphrase) – “The things I know to do, I don’t do.  The things I know I shouldn’t do – I do them.” My own life choices are just like my decision to cook in the wrong pot.  I sin.  a lot.  I do stuff that I know not to do all the time.  But there is good news.

Matthew 1:20-21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Many years ago, God sent a very precious gift.  He gave us His son, knowing full well we would continue to sin, needing a Savior.  He knew we would insult Him by sinning again and again in spite of His Son’s gift of life.  How often I go to Him, asking Him to forgive me again, needing Him to cleanse my heart.  With patience and love in just moments my heart is made new.

He is faithful to His promise.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for graciously caring for me, for forgiving my sin time and again.  If it weren’t for your love, my heart would be like the bottom of my grimy, greasy, burnt up dutch oven.  May I never forget the compassion you have shown to me.

amen.

a bit of history · friends and loved ones · who knows?

Light for the journey…

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Once again, Michael and I have made an epic journey.  Well, its epic for us anyway.  A few days back we loaded our children into our little mini van and made the commitment, no turning back, to drive for 15 hours to Grand Rapids Michigan. Its big.  Its exhausting. Its surreal.

Typically we leave at 3 AM.  Personally, its an unbelievable departure time for this night owl.  Along about 6:30, it is still really dark and I’m ready to head back to bed.  But we make the promise each time we head out on the road trip to help keep each other awake.  A few more gulps of Starbuck’s espresso double shots, some good music and we manage to keep on trucking.

Michael drives the first six hours, that’s how we always roll – and I drive the second leg of the trip after we eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.  This year was no different.

One rule that hasn’t changed since we began doing these trips is this :  whoever drives gets to pick the tunes. So, I picked out Chris Tomlin’s Glory in the Highest to help keep things festive.  As I listened, I was moved by the song, “Light of the World,” sung by Matt Redman.  “Jesus, full of grace and truth, shine on us…”

How I needed to hear those words!

Recently someone asked me a difficult question.  A gut wrenching question.  “How far does God’s grace cover us when we make foolish decisions?”  A friend was making choices that seemed so far from the truth I’ve come to know.  And I wrestled.  I tossed and turned at night.   I was sick to my stomach…

Jesus, by His grace and truth, is the LIGHT of the world.  He illuminates the darkest, furthest, corners, eliminating doubts and fears, undoing the devil’s plans for destruction and evil.

As I drove my part of the trip, I came to understand something so true for my friend’s life and my own as well.  Jesus, the son of God did not come to earth, shining brightly, offering himself as a gift, so that I would have to earn that same gift with my actions.

How far does God’s grace extend?  It extends as far as His Son’s bright light shines.   We cannot undo it.  We cannot deserve it.  He has revealed Himself to us with the brightest glory and no one can diminish it.   His grace and truth will never be extinguished.

As I traveled along I-69 outside of Indianapolis, I knew once again, Jesus  will bring glory to himself, shining His light of truth onto the dimmest places on my path. And the tears came-  tears of joy for this holy, indescribable, unspeakable gift- for the Word who became flesh, full of grace and truth.

He is the Light for my Journey.

amen.

********************************

These are the words, by Chris Tomlin, that I heard while driving.   Praise God, for this light that shines!

Oh Jesus, son of God, so full of grace and truth
The Father’s saving word, so wonderful are You
The angels longed to see and prophets searched to find
The glory we have seen revealed

You shone upon the Earth but who will understand?
You came unto Your own but who will recognize?
Your birth was prophesied, for You were the Messiah
Who came and walked upon the Earth

Your glory we have seen, the one and only King
And now You’re living in our hearts

Light of the world, light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Light of the world, light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us

In You all things were made and nothing without You
In Heaven and on Earth all things are held in You
And yet You became flesh, living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross

Where, through the blood You shed
You have made peace again
Peace for the world that God so loves

Light of the world, light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Light of the world, light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us

And yet You became flesh, living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross

Where, through the blood you shed
You have made peace again
Peace for the world that God so loves