Please add this worship song to your online church sermon, morning devotion, or evening quiet time.
Today’s song is “Thank You for Giving to the Lord” by Ray Boltz
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’”
Matthew 9: 35-38 (NIV)
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28: 16-20 (NIV)
I am very excited to share this week’s song with you. It is entitled “Thank you for giving to the Lord” by Ray Boltz. It has been many years since I have heard or thought of this song, but when I came across it a few weeks back, I knew I would share it very soon.
“Thank you for giving to the Lord” was written in the late 80; the words were powerful, inspirational and thought-provoking. Today, over forty years later, I find the message just as, if not more powerful and thought-provoking, than when I first heard it performed.
For a moment, let’s think about how we were guided toward a life in Christ and how we are yet being sanctified in Christ. God draws us to Himself in many ways: His Word, His Spirit, life circumstances, and often people in our lives. Our family members, friends, acquaintance, and other believers often provide love, encouragement, and mentoring. Possibly a youth group leader, Sunday school teacher, auntie/uncle, grandparent, minister, neighbour, mother/father/sister/ brother; amazingly, God has and continues to use ordinary everyday people in ordinary everyday circumstances to draw us into His Kingdom. Today, let’s be thankful for those that had a hand in our faith journey.
We often believe it is the minister, evangelist, or missionary most responsible for evangelizing to the dying world around us. The truth is Jesus, in His great commission, called ALL, each of us, to make His name known throughout all of the earth until His return. We have all been called to be Jesus’ hands, feet, voice, and heart to the world’s lost and lonely sinners until His return.
How often have we been afraid of coming off as “too religious” or the “Jesus freak” of the family or group? We fear being viewed as the strange street evangelist, jumping up and down, waving pamphlets, and preaching loudly from the street corners.
Although most have not been called into a ministerial position or to travel across the world to spread the gospel of Christ, we do have many opportunities to be Christ’s hands, feet, voice, and heart of love, to those around us, within our families, neighbourhoods, communities, and beyond. The lost child that you helped find his/her mom at the grocery store, your son/daughter/family member that you refused to give up on, continuing to pray them into Christ’s Kingdom, the extra money that you gave to a friend in need, the soup that you brought when your neighbour was sick, the prayer you prayed with a close friend in an hour of trial, the witness you demonstrate to those around you from a life of dedication and devotion to Christ; speaking positively in conversations and always giving praise honour and glory to God in your words and deeds for His works in your life.
It is a humbling thought, and we will not know until we reach the shores of Heaven the impact that we had (only because of Christ dwelling within us and the Spirit working through us) on those around us. It is also terrifying to think of times when we were silent or turned away from ignorance, complacency, fear, or cowardice. The shame, littleness, and terror we will experience when we have to answer for our lack of voice or action must cause us to tremble and embolden us to find and use every opportunity to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let’s Pray,
Father God, we understand that we do not work our way to heaven; our salvation is by Your grace alone, through faith alone, and in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. We do, however, want to live a life of devotion to You out of love and gratitude for your mercy and gift of Christ. We want to fulfill Your “Great Commission,” serving as Christ’s ambassadors, sharing the Good news of His salvation, loving as Christ, ultimately being vessels, conduits, image bearers of God’s Love, instrumental in the harvest of souls into Christ’s Kingdom. Father God, please forgive us for the missed opportunities to be Your feet, hands, voice, and heart; when we had the opportunity, yet were silent or turned our eyes away out of ignorance, complacency, fear, or cowardice. We would now pray for opportunities, discernment, and wisdom; we pray for eyes to see lost souls in need of You; we pray for hands to help those in need, we pray for feet that will lead us to those in need of Your gospel truth, and we pray for hearts full of love to love as You loved.
I pray that we will one day hear, “Well done, My good and faithful Servant.”
In Christ,
Lou-Anne
If this Song of Praise was a blessing and encouragement to you, if you know someone who needs comfort, encouragement or hope, or someone who loves to sing and dance with Contemporary Christian Music, please contact me.
Thank You
Lyrics
… I dreamed I went to heaven
… And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man
And he was smiling as he came
And he said friend you may not know me now
And then he said but wait
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart
Thank you for giving to the Lord
… I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
Then another man stood before you
And said remember the time
… A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry
You didn’t have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that’s why I’m here today
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
… Thank you for giving to the Lord
… I am so glad you gave
One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
… In heaven now proclaimed
And I know that up in heaven
You’re not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
… For great is your reward
… Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
I am so glad you gave…
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Keith Edward Crouch / Willie Ray Norwood / Kevin Todd Jones
Thank You lyrics © Universal Music – Z Tunes Llc,
Stop Trying To Copy My Music, Andy Panda Music,
Submarine Music Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music Ltd
May we grow together in the love of Christ to reflect upon the mercies and blessings upon our lives, to feel the presence of God’s living Holy Spirit through worship to sing, pray, laugh, dance, cry, but mostly to praise our Lord and Father as we were indeed created2praise.