How Great is Your Goodness

  Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
  in the sight of the children of mankind!
  In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
  from the strife of tongues.
Psalm 31:19, 20 (ESV)

One time when reading through this Psalm, I was reminded what Jesus taught us about heaven in John 14:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;1 believe also in me. ²In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
John 14:1, 2 (ESV)

I combined the two thoughts in the following song.

How Great Is Your Goodness

© Edd Russell

Bakersfield 12/2000

CHORUS

           Em                D                    Em

How great is Your goodness, O Lord. 

           Em                D                    Em

How great is Your goodness, O Lord.

              C                 D              Em

Which You    have laid up for me.

      C             D              Em

Because    I fear Your Name.

VERSE 1

C                         D

    You have prepared for me

G      Em

    A secret place;

C                    D

    And I shall rest secure

G                Em

    In Your presence,

     C             D              Em

Because    I   trust in You, 

     C             D              Em

Because    I   trust in You.

VERSE 2

You are preparing

A heav’nly mansion;

I long to be with You

In that dwelling

Because    I love you,

Oh, how I love You

Forever With You

This song is adapted from Psalm 84

Forever With You (Psalm 84)

© Edd Russell

Abbotsford 10-11-98

 

INTRO:

D-Bm-G-A-D-Bm-G-Asus-A

 

CHORUS

D                Bm

Lord, I desire

      G                A

To be forever with You;

                  D                     Bm

In Your courts, in Your house

        G                    A                  (End  G-A-D)

Is where I long to be.  (2x)

 

V1

G                D               G                 A

My heart cries out to be in Your Presence;

G             D                          G                           Asus-A

Blessing is found in the place where You dwell.

G                D                 Asus-A

So shall I praise You, Lord.

G              D          Asus-A

In You, I put my trust.

 

V2

G                D                   G                       A

O Lord, Almighty, how lovely is Your dwelling:

G                  D                          G                                   Asus-A

Better one day there than a thousand somewhere else.

G                D                 Asus-A

So shall I praise You, Lord.

G              D          Asus-A

In You, I put my trust.

No Reason to Complain

²⁶And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ²⁷“How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. (Numbers 14:26-27 ESV)

The People Complain to Moses
(https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/moses-food-water/)

Grumbling. Whining. Complaining. I found myself doing it again. God called the nation of Israel wicked because of their grumbling—grumbling in spite of His miraculous provision and leading in their lives. Why is it so wicked? Because grumbling is a sign of lack of trust in God and, ultimately, a lack of love for God. And I found myself behaving like these Israelites. As I reflected on this, I was reminded of other behaviors that imply a lack of love for or trust in God. So even though my lips might say that I love God, my actions might be saying something else. God convicted me of this sin and this song was born.

I Want to Love You Jesus

© Edd Russell, Fresno 8/30/2006

 

VERSE 1 

E                 B/D#            C#m

   How can I say      that I love You

                 A                       B

   When I avoid You all the time?

E                      B/D#          C#m

   How can You know that I love You

         A                      B

   If all—all I do is whine?

CHORUS 

A    B                          E       B/D#  C#m

   I want to love You, Jesus,

A                    B                        E

   Spend each moment by Your side.

A            B                   E         B/D#  C#m

   To be closer to You, Jesus

A  B                       E

   Resting in Your arms.

 

VERSE 2 

E                 B/D#            C#m

   How can I say      that I love You

                   A                                 B

   When I’m chasing this life’s offerings?

E                      B/D#          C#m

   How can You know that I love You

                    A                                          B

   When my heart—my heart seeks other things?

 

You

This song is based on a reflection on some of Jesus' words about Himself and some of his instructions to his followers.

In the first saying, Jesus calls himself the bread of life. We read in John 6:35 and 48 (ESV):
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
I am the bread of life.

Jesus' followers are not the bread of life, but they can share bread that Jesus provides. When there was a group of 5000 men plus women and children, needing something to eat, Jesus said to His disciples, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16 - ESV)

Jesus also called Himself The Light of the World:

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (ESV)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:5 (ESV)

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
John 12:46 (ESV)

But elsewhere, Jesus says to his disciples, “¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16 - ESV)

As Jesus' followers, we are to shine with the light He gives us and share the bread that He gives us with a needy world.

You

Edd Russell,  Fresno 7/2004

VERSE 1

C2       C/Bb

Jesus, Light of the world

Dm7/A                         C2-C

    We turn our eyes to You.

C2       C/Bb

Jesus, Light of the world

Dm7/A                        C2-C

    We fix our gaze on You.

 

 

CHORUS

C/D  C/E   F-C/E-Gs/D-G/D

You  are  Je   -   sus

              F-C/E      Gs/D-G/D

And You shine on us                                   (After V2: And You fill us)

               F    C/E      Gs/D-G/D

And You burn in our hearts

             F       G        C2-C

    A desire to know You

VERSE 2

C2      C/Bb

Jesus, Bread for the world

Dm7/A                          C2-C

    We fill our lives with You.

C2      C/Bb

Jesus, Bread for the world,

Dm7/A                         C2-C

    Our life comes from You.

TAG

                  F  G     C

We want to know You,

                  F  G  C

To become like You;

F                 G             C  C/B   Am

   Make our hearts to be like Yours,

F                    G        C     C/Bb  Dm7/A  C2  C

   We want to know You.