To God be the Glory

"Give to the Lord the glory due His name." - Psalm 96:8

There are many hymns and Bible verses that I wanted to play and talk about, but I always found multiple excuses for not doing it. And valid ones, such as, "I'm too busy, it takes me a long time to record, I'm not a deep thinker, what takes me a week to write my pastor can do in 20 minutes. Besides, nobody listens to the old hymns anymore." So, I put it to rest and forgot about it, until a dear friend asked me to record some hymns for her. I politely accepted the request, but months went by and I almost forgot. Not that I didn't want to do it, but I always found excuses to procrastinate. Some weeks ago, she gave me a long list of songs and literally bribed me into it. Still my excuses lingered in my mind like a dense fog, impeding me to act. As the days passed, my remorse grew more and more, until I finally gave up and started recording, assuring myself that this was just a special gift for my friend and nobody else.

As I was recording the songs, I was enjoying the beauty of the melodies, the creative arrangements, and the profound words. A thought crossed my mind, "share your blessings." Although I liked the idea of sharing this music, my excuses flooded my mind. Wasn't I already working on my mission? Why a new assignment? So, I archived it in a place hard to reach, and closed the case.

Still a small voice was arguing in my mind and I couldn't get rid of it. Nonetheless as an introvert the thought of exposing not only my music but also my mind was intimidating; I felt vulnerable.

When I was recording the hymn "To God be the Glory", I thought about Fanny Crosby, the author of the words. As a blind person, she didn't have it easy. Yet she acknowledged "Darkness may throw a shadow over my outer vision, but there is no cloud that can keep the sunlight of hope from a trustful soul." No excuse in my mind could win over the words of this extraordinary woman of faith. Then I came across these encouraging verses in the Psalms, "Give to the Lord the glory due His name" and "the Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad."

It was obvious that I was focusing more on myself that on the Lord. Not anymore! Enough self-consciousness! I decided to act based on the conviction found in this hymn: "To God be the glory, great things he hath done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the lifegate that all may go in." Now it turns out that all my excuses are still true, except for one. I'm still busy, it takes me a long time to record, and I'm not a good writer. But many people still listen and enjoy the old hymns. Therefore I conclude, to God be the glory!

1
To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

2
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3
Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;
but purer, and higher, and greater will be
our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Psalm 96:8 and Psalm 126:3