We did a song at Mt. Pleasant this past weekend that I just cannot get out of my mind & heart. The song is called “Empty & Beautiful” by Matt Maher.
If you have been around me these last couple of years you know that I have really been touched by Matt’s songwriting. He has given us some awesome songs like “Your Grace Is Enough,” “For Your Glory,” “On The Third Day,” “Resurrection Day” and “As It Is In Heaven.” He is a very gifted writer & musician. His lyrics are thoughtful and penetrating and are blended with great musicianship. I really enjoy his songs.
“Empty & Beautiful” is the title track from his latest recording. I would highly encourage you to pick up a copy and settle in for a great listen that will encourage you musically and touch you spiritually. You can download the album from iTunes.
Take a slow deliberate read through these lyrics.
My past won’t stop haunting me
In this prison there’s a fight between
Who I am and who I used to be
This thorn in my side is a grace
For because of it the flesh and blood of God
Was offered in my place, my place
You fought the fight in me
You chased me down and finished the race
I was blind but now I see
Jesus You kept the faith in me
Awaiting, set apart like incense to Your heart
A libation I’m pouring out
Empty and beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
I love the heart of this song….
Here is a YouTube video of Matt performing “Empty & Beautiful.”
We have just started a 7-week series on the cross at church. In preparation for that series I have been spending lots of time looking and listening to songs about the cross. One that I have known for a while is the song “I Cling To The Cross.” The song was written by Paul Baloche & Matt Redman and getting those two guys together will always produce awesome results.
I have absolutely had my heart captured by the lyrics to this song. It’s one of those songs that you have to sing with total abandon…nothing half way will do in worship, especially when talking about the cross. It has caused me to think a lot about the cross and to try and imagine what it must have been like for Jesus as he approached the events of the cross. He knew what was coming. He knew what He had to do and willingly, He laid his life down for you and for me. Think about that for a second. I would imagine that if you were to sit down and make a list of people that you would lay your life down for, it would not be a very long list. Yet, He did it for each and every one of us. That is so overwhelming to me.
I cling to the cross and everything it means
I know it’s the only hope there is for saving me
For without Your great mercy
I would be forever lost
With a thankful heart I come
And cling to the cross
What a great reminder that the cross is our only hope.
Here is the audio of Paul singing, “I Cling To The Cross” from the album “Our God Saves.”
Here is Paul Baloche telling the story behind “I Cling To The Cross”
As a worship leader many songs come across my desk. Most fall into that bottomless category of “Man, I just don’t get that!” Occasionally I listen to a song that absolutely captures my heart and that happened about a year ago with the song, “On The Third Day” by Matt Maher.
This song takes an amazing lyric and tells uses word pictures of nature to tell the story of our need to die to ourselves in the act of ultimate worship unto the Lord. There is a line in the song that says, “For everything must die to rise again.”
The song really speaks to the condition of our hearts and our need to respond to God as HE offers us new life. I need to warn you that there is a good chance that you won’t get it after just 1 listen. I encourage you to spend some time listening and working to visualize the scenes that are described by the lyrics of the song.
Creation brings an offering as autumn leaves turn to gold. The trees bow down in highest praise now made bare before Your throne. The western sky an amber blaze, at the end of the day for everything must die to rise again.
The winters chill a bitter cold as sin and shame leave us to fall. The clouds now full of newborn snow, for grace to come and save us all. Within the darkest night of man was found Your saving hand, for everything must die to rise again.
On the third day behold the King, on the third day death has no sting, on the third day, we’re forgiven and reconciled.
The earth it groans in labor pains as flowers stretch to heaven above. Your creatures sing the prophet’s song to be a gift of selfless love. The sun is rising in the east and Your Spirit is unleashed for everything must die to rise again.
On the third day behold the King, on the third day death has no sting, on the third day, we’re forgiven and reconciled.
And so we wait in joyous hope for You to come and take us home. And so we join beneath the cross in suffering from whence we go. The greatest act of sovereign grace in the universe displayed, for everything must die to rise again.
On the third day behold the King, on the third day death has no sting, on the third day, we’re forgiven and reconciled. On the third day the saints rejoice on the third day we lift our voice on the third day we’re united and glorified.
This song is really a poem set to music. It’s an amazing expression of our desperate need for God and the love and grace that only HE can offer as we experience true life in Him!
Here’s a video of Matt explaining the meaning behind the song and him actually playing the song. It has some instructional stuff at the end but you can get a feel for the song with his explanation before that. Enjoy.
