Chris Rice Album

Last thing I remember, sayin' bye to yesterday
Glad to see it over, pullin' covers over my head
But what were You doin' while I dreamt the night away
'Cause I can tell that somethin's different
and my eyes ain't even open yet

I'm smellin' coffee
Bird's are singin' just outside
Here comes Your mercy streamin' in with the morning light
My heart is racing waking up to Your smile
It's a good morning, yeah
It's a good morning

Well I remember readin' You're the God who never sleeps
And while I've been dreamin' You've been singing over me, yeah
Singin' about my freedom, wakin' me up to hear Your song,
And now I can't dance hard enough
'Cause yesterday is gone, gone, gone!

chorus

Every little breath, every heartbeat
Is a gift of love that You give to me
You keep givin' even when I'm asleep
'Cause I know You never stop watching over me
I wake up, my past is gone
'Cause Your mercy's new with the mornin' sun
I'm forgiven, I'm free, it's a brand new day
'Cause Your faithfulness is the greatest (hey!)

chorus

How long until You defend Your name and set the record right
And how far will You allow the human race to run and hide
And how much can You tolerate our weaknesses
Before You step into our sky blue and say "That's quite enough!"

Am I naive to want a remedy for every bitter heart
Can I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark
And can I leave the timing of this universe in bigger hands
And may I be so bold to ask You to please hurry?

I hear that a God who's good would never let the evil run so long
But I say it's because You're good You're giving us more time, yeah
'Cause I believe that You love to show us mercy
But when will You step into our sky blue
And say "That's quite enough, and your time is up!"

Am I naive to want a remedy for every bitter heart
Can I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark
And can I leave the timing of this universe in bigger hands
And may I be so bold to ask You to please hurry?

Am I naive...
Can I believe...
And can I leave...in bigger hands
And may I be so bold to ask You, to ask You, to ask You

How long?

What am I gonna be when I grow up?
How am I gonna make my mark in history?
And what are they gonna write about me when I'm gone?
These are the questions that shape the way I think about what matters
But I have no guarantee of my next heartbeat
And my world's too big to make a name for myself
And what if no one wants to read about me when I'm gone?
Seems to me that right now's the only moment that matters

You know the number of my days
So come paint Your pictures on the canvas in my head
And come write Your wisdom on my heart
And teach me the power of a moment
The power of a moment, the power of a moment

In Your kingdom where the least is greatest
The weak are given strength and fools confound the wise
And forever brushes up against a moment's time
Leaving impressions and drawing me into what really matters

You know the number of my days
So come paint Your pictures on the canvas in my head
And come write Your wisdom on my heart
And teach me the power of a moment
The power of a moment, the power of a moment

I get so distracted by my bigger schemes
Show me the importance of the simple things
Like a word, a seed, a thorn, a nail
And a cup of cold water

You know the number of my days
So come paint Your pictures on the canvas in my head
And come write Your wisdom on my heart
And teach me the power of a moment
The power of a moment, the power of
The power of, the power of a moment

None of us knows and that makes it a mystery
If life is a comedy, then why all the tragedy
Three-and-a-half pounds of brain try to figure out
What this world is all about
And is there an eternity, is there an eternity?

God if You're there I wish You'd show me
And God if You care then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me askin' the questions
But I figure You're big enough
I figure You're big enough

Lying on pillows we're haunted and half-awake
Does anyone hear us pray, "If I die before I wake"
Then the morning comes and the mirror's the other place
Where we wrestle face to face with the image of Deity
The image of Deity

God if You're there I wish You'd show me
And God if You care then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me askin' the questions
But I figure You're big enough
I figure You're big enough

When I imagine the size of the universe
And I wonder what's out past the edges
Then I discover inside me a space as big
And believe that I'm meant to be
Filled up with more than just questions

So, God if You're there I wish You'd show me
And God if You care then I need You to know me
I hope You don't mind me askin' the questions
But I figure You're big enough
I figure You're big enough
'Cause I am not big enough

The moon is high and the sunset fades
The lullabies have all been sung
We're tuckin' in another day
And stars appear now one by one
But the stillness moves and the silence yields
And not a single beat is lost
You can hear the chorus in the fields
Taking up where we left off
And Your praise goes on, rising to Your throne
Where You guard us while we dream
Past the stars they fly, Your praises fill the sky
'Til You wake us with the dawn
And Your praise goes on
Now bring your warmth, O morning sun
Chase the stars and the moon away
And wake us with your brightest song
And add our voice to your refrain
Now rise up everything that lives!
Flap your wings and leap for joy!
Oh forest lift your arms and sway!

Clap your hands you ocean waves!

And Your praise goes on, rising to Your throne
Where You bless our toil and play
Through the clouds they rise, Your praises fill the skies
'Til the setting of the sun
And Your praise goes on
And when my final breath You lend
I'll thank You for the life You gave
But that won't mean the praises end
'Cause I won't be silenced by the grave!
And Your praise goes on
I'll be runnin' to Your throne
With every nation, tribe and tongue
To Your arms I'll fly
I'll gaze into Your eyes
Then I'll know as I am known
And Your praise goes on
And Your praise goes on
And Your praise goes on

I can't feel You move inside
I don't hear Your voice
Whisperin' in the night
And I've never seen You
With these eyes
Am I a fool?
Am I just a fool?
They ask how I follow
What I can't see
Why I trust in a love
That my arms won't reach
I don't need You
Don't need You
To prove to me
I'll be a fool
Yes I'll be a fool

'Cause blessed are those
Who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands
That keep givin' but never receive

Blest is the heart that
Gets broken but keeps holdin' on
Holdin' on for another day
'cause that's what it
Means to live by faith

So I cry for Your help
While the world looks on
And they laugh at my hope
When all hope is gone
But I'll just keep prayin'
When answers won't come
Am I a fool?
Am I just a fool
For standing alone
While they mock Your name
"Well if your God is so good
Tell us why all the pain?"
I?m not sure, not so sure
That God is to blame
So don't be a fool
Please don't be a fool

'Cause blessed are those
Who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands
That keep givin' but never receive
Blessed is the heart that
Gets broken but keeps holdin' on
Holdin' on for another day
'cause that's what it
Means to live

In a world where
Our questions are haunted
'cause life's not as fair
As we all wanted
Where the innocent die
We ask why
And still we await the reply

Blessed are those
Who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands
That keep givin' though they never receive

Blessed is the heart that
Gets broken but keeps holdin' on
Keeps holdin' on for another day
'Cause that's what it
Means to live by faith
Yes that's what it means
To live by faith
That's what it means
To live by faith
To live by faith

Oh, it's been one of those days
When You walk with me
So close I think

I caught the scent of angels' wings
And my, oh my unsuspecting heart
Leaps from its place
Begins to race
I finally found the place I never want to leave, oh...
Why can't every day, why can't every day
Why can't every day, can't every day
Be like today
Oh, why do the good days end
Makes me wonder now
With the way I feel
If yesterday was even real
And why, oh why do You seem so far away
Could it be that I've gone too far this time
And can I make You change Your mind, oh...
Why should any day, why should any day
Why should any day, should any day
Be like today
Do I wallow in my insecurities?
Do I trust what my feelings are tellin' me?
Or do I rest in the promise You made me
That You'll never leave?
Oh, today my heart believes
That the truth remains
You never change
Your love for me is still the same, oh...
Why can't every day, why can't every day
Why can't every day, can't every day
Be like today?

I hear a sound and turn to see
A new direction on that rusty weathervane
Suddenly the dead brown leaves are stirred
To scratch their circle dances down the lane
And now the sturdy oaks start clappin'
With the last few stubborn leaves that won't let go
I can hear Old Glory snappin'
And her tattered rope now clangin' against the pole
And my breath is snatched away
And a tear comes to my eye
Feels like somethin's on the way
So I look up to the sky
I look up to the sky and

From the corners of creation
Comes the Father's holy breath
Ridin' on a storm with tender fierceness
Stirring my soul to holiness
Stirring my soul to holiness

I see the lifeless dust now resurrected
Swirling up against my window pane
And carried 'cross the distance
Come the long awaited fragrances of earth and rain
And out across the amber field
The slender grasses bend and bow
And kiss the ground
And in them I see the beauty of the souls
Who let the Spirit lay them down
And it takes my breath away
And a tear comes to my eye
Feels like somethin's on the way
So I look up to the sky
I look up to the sky and

From the corners of creation
Comes the Father's holy breath
Ridin' on a storm with tender fierceness
Stirring my soul to holiness
Stirring my soul to holiness

And like a mighty wind blows with a force I cannot see
I will open wide my wings, I will open wide my wings
I will open wide my wings and let the Spirit carry me

From the corners of creation
Comes the Father's holy breath
Ridin' on a storm with tender fierceness
Stirring my soul to holiness
Stirring my soul to holiness

I'm so thirsty, I can feel it
Burning through the furthest corners of my soul
Deep desire, can't describe this
Nameless urge that drives me somewhere
Though I don't know where to go

Seems I've heard about a River from someone who's been
And they tell me once you reach it, oh, you'll never thirst again
So I have to find the River, somehow my life depends on the River
Holy River, I'm so thirsty

Other waters I've been drinkin'
But they always leave me empty like before
Satisfaction, all I'm askin'
Could I really feel this thirsty if there weren't something more?

And I've heard about a River from someone who's been
And they tell me once you reach it, oh, you'll never thirst again
So I have to find the River, somehow my life depends on the River
Holy River, I'm so thirsty

I'm on the shore now of the wildest River
And I kneel and beg for mercy from the sky
But no one answers, I've gotta take my chances
'Cause something deep inside me's cryin'
"This is why you are alive!"

So I plunge into the River with all that I am
Praying this will be the River where I'll never thirst again
I'm abandoned to the River
And now my life depends on the River
Holy River, I'm so thirsty

I heard about the day You went away
You said You had to go prepare a place
And even though I've never seen Your face
I'm missin' You
I lie awake tonight and I watch the sky
And I wish it didn't have to be so high
'Cause I'm belonging on the other side
And I'm missin' You

'Cause somewhere behind those stars
Is Someone who belongs to me
And I know in my deepest heart
There's a place for You until I find the place You made for me
But still I'm missin' You

I dream about Your promise to return
And I wake up hangin' on Your every word
But for now my feet are planted here on earth
So I'm missin' You
And even while they say that I'm a fool
I know you see me waiting here for You
Oh, and prayin' that somehow You'll get here soon
'Cause I'm missin' You

'Cause somewhere behind those stars
Is Someone who belongs to me
And I know in my deepest heart
There's a place for You until I find the place You made for me
But still I'm missin' You

How much longer will it be
Till I get to see you
Though I know you're right here with me
Tell me when can I be there with you

'Cause somewhere behind those stars
Is Someone who belongs to me
And I know in my deepest heart
There's a place for You until I find the place You made for me
But still I'm missin' You

Oh, I'm missin' You
Lord, I'm missin' You

Chorus:
I was thinkin' the other day,
"What if cartoons got saved?
They'd start singing praise
In a whole new way..."
Yeah, I was thinkin' the other day,
"What if cartoons got saved?
They'd start singing praise
In a whole new way..."

Fred and Wilma Flintstone
Sing "Yabba-dabba-do-lu-yah"
Scooby-doo and Shaggy:
"Scooby-dooby-doo-yah"
And the Jetsons' dog named Astro:
"Rough-ray-roo-yah"

(repeat chorus)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
"Cowabunga-loo-yah, Dude!"
Then there's, "Kermit the Frog here, singing,
High-ho-le-loo-yah"
And that little bald guy, Elmer Fudd:
"How-ay-woo-yah"

(repeat chorus)

Oh that big old moose and his friend Rocky,
"Bullwinkle-loo-yah"
And our favourite bear named Yogi,
"Hey, Boo-Boo-loo-ya"
Then there's all those little blue guys
And they'd sing, "Hah-la-la-la-la-la-la-lay-la-lay-loo-yah"
How about Beavis and that other guy?
"Nah!!"

Now, there's a point to this looney-tune
I'm not an Animaniac
But there's a lot of praisin' to do
And cartoons weren't made for that
It's our job
So, let's sing hallelujah