And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)
We are so excited to have musician and composer Mary McDonald as our guest artist in worship this Sunday. The choirs will be singing several of her anthems including the anthem the men’s chorus will sing, “His Grace Will Lead Us Through.” Here are Mary’s own words about how it came to be written:
The summer of 2010 proved to be one of the busiest I had ever experienced. With more than 2 trips scheduled each week from mid-June to mid-August that included 16 workshops, 6 composer weekends, 5 commissioned anthems, 7 compositions due to various publishers, inclusion in all or part of 5 keyboard books, a cantata and a vocal solo collection, I was definitely feeling pressure from all sides. One afternoon in late-July, my son called concerned about my schedule. In the course of the conversation, Chris said something that provided just the boost I needed to press on. He said, “Mom, if God brought you TO it, He will bring you THROUGH it!” Yes, I had heard it before but never had it resonated quite like it did that day. Trying to squeeze in a writing assignment between a couple of short trips, I noticed my next commissioned anthem was for Grace Baptist in Nashville, TN. Almost immediately, I was reminded of Chris’s comment – “It is His grace that will bring me through…” and that thought became the concept for this anthem. “Though the trials come, though the road seems long, it is in the valley HIS arms are strong!” Since that time, this anthem has continued to bring me renewed strength for the task-at-hand. God has called us to do many great and small things and, to that which HE has called us, we can rely upon his grace to bring us through. 1
1. McDonald, Mary. Email communication, January 20, 2012.
His Grace Will Lead Us Through
Though the trials come, though the road seems long, it is in the valley His arms are
When we lean on Jesus in all that we do, His grace will lead us through!
His grace is sufficient; He’s merciful and true.
Til all have heard, we will stand on His Word!
His grace will lead us through, God’s grace will lead us through.
Come with grateful hearts to the throne of grace and see our Savior face to face!
Our help through the ages, our hope to come; His grace will lead us through.
His grace is sufficient; He’s merciful and true.
Til all have heard, we will stand on His Word!
His grace will lead us through, O grace, grace, God’s grace.
Grace that will pardon and cleanse with in; O grace, grace, God’s infinite grace.
Grace that is greater than all our sin. Till all have heard, we will stand on His Word!
His grace will lead us through. God’s grace will lead us through. God’s grace!
© 2011 Lorenz Publishing Company. Author: Mary McDonald. Used by permission. CCLI #646016.
Comments