Not Guilty

**UPDATE:  Tonight at choir practice, KW was giving away CD's, which he does occasionally.  Guess which one I got?  Uh-huh.  Mandisa!!  YAY!  

I've written before about how much I love and enjoy singing in our church's choir.

I love the people.

I love our music director, KW.

I love the talent of our accompanists.  

I love worshiping God in song and singing with all my heart and soul to Him.

I love harmony.

I also love finding a new song I've never heard before.  Choir practice and our Sunday morning performances are a complete time of worship for me.  When I connect with a song, I feel like I'm standing in the sanctuary alone with God and it's all I can do to not fall to my knees as I sing.

And, I'm sure it will come as no surprise when I say that many, many times I'm brought to tears as the choir sings.

This was the case last Wednesday at practice.  We had a few new songs to start practicing, one being Mandisa's, "Not Guilty."

This song spoke STRAIGHT into my heart.  How many times in our lives do we walk around with shame and guilt because of something we've said or done even AFTER we've asked wholeheartedly for forgiveness from God?  I know I do it all the time.  Thoughts flash into my mind, sent straight from Satan himself, and I'm instantly back in the moment when I said or did something I shouldn't have.  Cue the guilt and shame.  

OH MY...there are no words to describe these lyrics accurately, so I will leave you to read them for yourself and let them bless you like they did me.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded that ONLY because of His sacrificial blood, we are...

NOT GUILTY

(turn up your computer volume so you can hear the song play as you read the lyrics)

I stand accused

There's a list a mile long

Of all my sins

Of everything that I've done wrong

I'm so ashamed

There's nowhere left for me to hide

This is the day

I must answer for my life

My fate is in the Judge's hands

But then He turns to me and says

I know you, I love you

I gave My life to save you

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty

How can it be?

I can't begin to comprehend

What kind of grace

Would take the place for all my sin?

I stand in awe

Now that I have been set free

And the tears well up

As I look at that cross

'Cause it should have been me

My fate was in the nail scarred hands

He stretched them out for me

And said

I know you, I love you

I gave My life to save you

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty

I'm falling on my knees to thank You

With everything I am I'll praise you

So grateful for the words I heard

You say

I know you, I love you

I gave My life

I know you, I love you

I gave My life just to save you

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty, not guilty