Steven Curtis Chapman Album

Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came

Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered

CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call

Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die

BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey

CHORUS

Anybody in their right mind
Would've given up their preaching and headed for home
They've been warned a hundred times
But something inside them keeps giving them hope
And just when you think they'd be crying
Instead of the tears, there's joy in their eyes

CHORUS 1
What kind of joy is this
That counts it a blessing to suffer
What kind of joy is this
That gives the prisoner his song
What kind of joy could stare death in the face
And see it as sweet victory
This is the joy of a soul that's forgiven and free

Anybody else with his pain
Would want to shake their fist at heaven
And give up the fight
'Cause trouble had been Paul's middle name
Ever since he'd been captured by God's blinding light
But just when his hope should be dying
If you listen you'll hear him singing a song

CHORUS 1

CHORUS 2
What kind of joy is this
The Father has promised his children
What kind of joy is this
That Jesus has come to reveal
What kind of joy could give hope in this world
To someone just like you and me
This is the joy of a soul that's forgiven and free
I've found this joy for my soul is forgiven and free

I know a man named Billy
He's got almost everything
Three stories, two cars, one swimming pool
And some broken parts of an empty heart
And I'm thinkin'...

CHORUS 1
Billy, Billy, Billy, you're a very busy man
But you're running with your eyes closed
You could be missing life all along the way
And you'd never even know it
You're a busy man Billy, Billy, you're a busy man
Just too busy man

You've got a lot of nice things there Billy
But they've cost you more than you know
'Cause what is it really worth can you tell me
If you're gaining the world but you're losing your soul
And I'm thinkin'...

CHORUS 2
Billy, Billy, Billy, you're a very busy man
But you're running with your eyes closed
Looks like you traded life for the things you have
Not the thing you really wanted
You're a busy man Billy, Billy, you're a busy man

BRIDGE
So when the day is over
And the lights go out
Do you ever stop and wonder
Wonder what it's all about
Wonder what it's all about
Wonder what it's all about
Hey Billy do you ever wonder
What it's all about?

CHORUS 1

FADE
Slow down busy man take a look around you
When it's all said and done tell me what's it gonna come to

I wake to the sound of different voices calling my name
Two little ones who want to start another day
And one voice that's calling
Take up your cross and come follow me

CHORUS
I want to get lost
In the shadow of the cross
To answer the call surrender it all
In the shadow
I want to live each (this) day
With a humble heart
That's ready to pay
Whatever it cost, to find myself lost
In the shadow of the cross

Living beneath the burden of this cross I carry
I'm finding more of Christ and losing more of me
So I'll hide in His shadow
Until I am nothing and He is everything

CHORUS

The voices that call to me like my little ones are sleeping
But here in the shadow there's one whisper
I still hear

CHORUS

If I could only fly
I'd go up and look down from the sky
So I could see the bigger picture
And Lord if I could sit with You
At Your feet for an hour or two
I'm sure I'd ask too many questions
'Cause there's so much going on down here
That I must confess I just don't understand

BRIDGE
But I have prayed
And at your feet my whole life has been laid
So I wont worry I wont be afraid
'Cause my soul is resting on Your higher ways
Let the road ahead become unclear
I am Yours so what have I to fear
If my soul is resting on Your higher ways

CHORUS
Your higher ways teach me to trust You
Your higher ways are not like mine
Your higher ways are the ways of the Father
Hiding His children in His love

BRIDGE
So let it rain
And if my eyes grow dim with tears of pain
This hope I have will not be washed away
'Cause my soul is resting on Your higher ways

Maybe then You will take me aside
And show me the bigger picture
But until I'm with You
I'll be here with a heart that is true
And a soul that's resting on
Your higher ways

There's a teacher in a school room
Somewhere on the edge of town
Telling innocent little children what we used to be
They look and listen without a question
They see the pictures passed around
Making facts out of a theory and they all believe
As the lost lead the way
Another heart is led astray

CHORUS
These are the days when the blind lead the blind
And there's one narrow way out of here
So pray that the light of the world will keep your eyes clear
'Cause it's a dangerous place here where the blind lead the blind

There's a preacher in a nice church
Anchored in the heart of town
People flock to hear his eloquent delivery
He talks of Jesus how he can please us
But the cross cannot be found
Makin' theory out of facts until they're all deceived
And the lost lead the way
And more hearts are led astray

CHORUS

This is a dangerous time
And the truth is hard to find
So let His word light your way
And guard every step you take

CHORUS

I saw you staring out your window
Watchin' the people passing by
Taking some notes on what you saw out there
So you would know how hard you need to try

I heard you asking lots of questions
How in comparison you stand
Please let me warn you to be very careful
God wants our best and not our better than

CHORUS
But you know better, better than that
You know better than, better than that
You should know better, truth is the only measure
You know better than, better than that

Now just in case I've got you thinkin'
And if your're feeling like I do
Maybe it's time we open up the Holy Bible
And see exactly what He's called us to
He said the least would be the greatest
The greatest is the one who serves
We must be living by a different standard
A life that isn't graded on a curve

CHORUS

When you are a soldier I will be your shield
I will go with you into the battlefield
And when the arrows start to fly
Take my hand and hold on tight
I will be your shield, 'cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier

When you're tired from running
I will cheer you on
Look beside you and you'll see you're not alone
And when your strength is all but gone
I'll carry you until you're strong
And I will be your shield 'cause I know how it feels
When you're a soldier

BRIDGE
I will be the one you can cry your songs to
My eyes will share your tears
And I'll be your friend if you win
Or if you're defeated
Whenever you need me I will be here

When you're lost in darkness I will hold the light
I will help you find your way through the night
I'll remind you of the truth
And keep the flame alive in you
And I will be your shield
'Cause I know how it feels
When you are a soldier

I was eight years old when I decided to follow Jesus
I started down that road
Somebody told me that this path that leads to heaven
Will not be the easy way
Well I found that to be true
But I also found, I found out there's

CHORUS
No better place on earth than the road that leads to heaven
No other place I'd rather be
No better place on earth than the road that leads to heaven
No better place to be

Well I know this road has a final destination
But I also know that if we're only looking for the prize that's waiting
We'll miss so much along the way
'Cause Jesus came to give us life in the here and now
And to show us that there's

CHORUS

BRIDGE
I know this path we travel on
Is very straight and narrow
But I've looked down other roads along the way
And from all I've seen I can say without a doubt there's

CHORUS

Sweet are the branches growing the fruit that comes from the vine
But these are just branches blown by the wind holding on to life
I want to be like them holding on to the One whose life is mine
And I know as I follow him His life will sure show in me

CHORUS
He said you will
Show yourselves to be the ones who follow Me
By the evidence you leave along the way
They'll know that you are mine like the branches on the vine
If you show yourselves to be following me

Faith joins our heats to Him, it's not a result of anything we do
But if we are part of Him, there will be reasons to believe it's true
The fruit cannot help but grow if the branch is joined into the tree
And love cannot help but show in the one who goes where Jesus leads

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Planted in the fertile soil of quiet times
Watered by the rains of trouble, growing toward the sun that shines
They'll know that you are Mine like the branches on the vine
If you show yourselves to be following Me

Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came

Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered

CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call

Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die

BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey

CHORUS