Our son Michael shared his first public solo in church this morning, and Cheryl & I were extremely proud of how well he did. He taught himself to play the guitar this past year and has been developing both vocally and in his playing. But I am actually as proud or more so of the lyrics he composed for the song he presented.  Michael wrote gospel lyrics to the tune of Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. I believe they are worthy of your reading and meditation — and perhaps as alternative lyrics to the song in your church or gospel meeting: 

It pleased the Lord to speak the word
That filled the void and made the world,
And from this lifeless dirt, His Spirit drew you,
So it began, He made the light,
The brightest star in the darkest night,
The very first, the perfect Hallelujah,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

Well, your heart was pure, but it still fell short,
The devil’s lies make pretty words,
In spite of faith, your nature overthrew you,
And you found temptation was good to eat,
You drank from sin and it tasted sweet
To the tongue that once was wet with “Hallelujah”

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

Now you did wrong, but He did not,
When you washed your hands of the Son of God
He loved you even though He really knew you,
Crying “Forgive them, Lord, for what they do,”
His body destroyed, your soul renewed,
His dying breath, the sinner’s Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

So He died, the Son of Man,
And His blood dripped from your sinful hands,
His lowly fate, the horror ran right through you,
But as you mourned His death, life broke through
The shadows of His open tomb
And resurrection cried out Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

So trust your life to God above,
Who taught your wretched heart to love
With the endless grace and mercy given to you,
And no matter why you cry at night,
You’re blameless standing in the light,
Each tear He wipes away, a Hallelujah,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Michael Thomas 2017

Michael will be attending North Greenville (Baptist) University this fall, majoring in both Music, and Digital Media.  I hope you will whisper a prayer for God’s direction in his life.