My God, He's amazing...

I've been coming around an old hymn in the past 24 hours called "I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)". The lyrics of this song have gotten the 'ol red head's hamster spinning again.

Our culture is one that likes to figure things out. I wonder if we have spent so much time trying to "figure God out" that we have forgotten what it's like to stand in his presence? I think a lot of peeps are scared to stand in His presence because, in the words of a good friend of mine, they see God as a "big meanie". Or, they are so afraid (and I mean afraid, not holy fear) of God they can't get past seeing Him as only some big judge in the sky.

So, what is it to stand in the presence? I would say it's to be amazed, to wonder, to be in awe, but more than anything, feel love more than you ever thought possible! Oh how tragic it would be that, in our quest to know Him more, we would boil Him down to fancy words and never know what it is to stand in His presence and be/feel loved!! Matt Chandler articulated it great in one of his sermons, "To be in the presence of God brings tears first and then laughter."

Do we focus so much on our sin, and the grieving that it brings God, that we don't "stick around" long enough to feel His love? Have we focus so much on the academics of God that we don't just sit and enjoy Him and his love? Have we gotten to analytical about God that we no longer allow ourselves to get emotional over His love for us, because somehow in our being analytical, we have convinced ourselves that emotion has nothing to do with who God is?

Yes we are called to study, and yes, we should have a desire to know Him more, but not at the expense of forgetting and feeling His love for us. May we never try to "get Him" so much that we forget what it is to be in the presence of the Almighty; our God, our Savior, and our Friend.

Luke 22:41-44 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Words: Charles H. Gabriel, in Praises, by Edwin O. Excell (Chicago, Illinois: 1905).

Music: “My Savior’s Love,” Charles H. Gabriel, 1905.

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!