1. God Is 1. God Is (Exodus 3:14) A meditation on the infinite nature of God, who cannot be summarized with mortal words, yet whose presence is revealed through truth and beauty in the the Body of Christ. You want to know me? You want to see my face? I do not age with time I do not fit into a space I transcend the capacity of your eye, so who am I? It is the question of the moment It is the question for all time I am you, and you are mine I am the beginning in the end I am the faith in your believing I am the color of truth I am the dreamer of your dreams I am the falling in your love I am the words of a prayer I am the silence in the music I am the music in the silence I am your father I am your mother I am the man who cannot cry I am the story in your eyes I am the orphan of war I am the leper begging on the corner I am the black slave in chains I am the Muslim bride who cannot show her face I'm the cross you carry again I'm all you have forgotten I am all that you have not been I am in you--all of this is within you Let the journey begin, Amen I am in you, Amen Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, March 2000. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 2. Defining Beauty 2. Defining Beauty (Wisdom of Solomon 8:2) This song is about falling in love with God, for in that love we begin to understand the truth that defines what is beautiful. Kiss me with truth I'll follow you 'till the sun stops shining I've fallen in love We'll dance on the clouds And you'll clothe me in rainbows Kiss me with truth With you in my life, Lord, There is a different light—it shines upon everything. I see the world through different eyes, And it is all because I believe. I have undressed my soul for you, Revealing my weakness. I dress myself in silence. This is all I am—will you still love me? Though I cannot see your face, You define what is beautiful. I want to stay forever in your arms. Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, June 1998. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 3. Shine Through Me 3. Shine Through Me (Matthew 5:14-16) We are called to be messengers of Christ’s light, to open ourselves fully to God so that His light shines through us. Lord, let my soul become so radiant with your love that others see no longer me, O Lord, but you! You stand before the mirror in my soul Let the whole world look up and see The reflection of your love shining through me. Let your presence within me Bring a brightness to the day, Like the light that’s reflected When sunlight hits the rain. For those who need to see to believe, I will shine your light. I will blind the world with brightness. The Spirit’s eyes grant perfect sight. Your radiant, glowing starlight Now is seeping from my skin, Shining from the deepest part of me. Your brilliant light comes from within. Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, spring 1998 . Copyright 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 4. Black Hole of Truth 4. Black Hole of Truth (I humbly ask your forgiveness regarding the theological errors contained in the lyrics of this song, ‘Black Hole of Truth,’ which I wrote in 1997 at age 17 after a painful debate with a friend who sought to convert me to Islam. Since that time, Jesus has brought a deeper conversion in my soul to allow for a fuller understanding of the Church’s teaching regarding inter-religious dialogue. I deeply regret that the lyrics of this song do not fully reflect the truth of our Catholic Christian faith. But I pray that even my imperfection may glorify God by giving witness to the possibility of conversion in the ongoing journey of faith. Come, Holy Spirit!) Well, you think you've got it all straight, That you're heading in the right direction? By the time you figure out that you're holding the map upside down, You're more lost than you've ever been. What if truth to you isn't truth to me? Is God on your side? Am I just naïve? Can you squish religion into your black hole of truth, Sucking spirituality, rationality, humanity Into a single point of view? My faith is getting tossed around Like a paper bag blowing across the road. You cruise along your unquestionable highway of truth, But let me tell you—There are no roads without bumps. I can see a mountain up ahead—It's either crash or climb: Neither's easy, but you've got to make up your mind. Well, there's not an answer to every question Unless, of course, you're on line with God's mind. Just take a bite of this apple, dear, And you'll have blue prints to the universe. Is that what you're trying to find? Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, December 1997. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 5. Shelter Your Name 5. Shelter Your Name (2 Corinthians 5:16-20) Although Jesus has taught us that we must forgive our neighbors, it is often much more difficult to accept the loving mercy of God, and to forgive ourselves. I wrote this song for the Jubilee Year of reconciliation and renewal in order to address the need for self-forgiveness. For how can we fully love God when we do not love ourselves? You are all I am not You are all that I am Break down these walls Take all my brokenness Rebuild me to shelter your name Help me forgive myself Help me to lift the cross I've laid upon my soul Help me to look at myself Through your eyes To see all I am And still be satisfied Help me forgive myself Within my secrets, Jesus, There you reside And I need you to reconcile To renew all that's inside For if I want to love you Then with your love, Jesus, I must love myself humbly too Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, March 2000. Copyright 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 6. Sonrise 6. Sonrise (John 14:7) Through the image of the sunrise, God revealed the importance of Jesus in my faith journey. All along, it was Christ who allowed me to see God’s presence in my life. Without the Son’s light, I would not know the Father; I would have no faith in God without Christ. If I am the ocean, and you are the sky Must I reach like waves to see you touch my life? The waves I make upon myself are crashing down In my struggle to reach you, I need not drown The sun slips over the horizon, making you and I one Dark becomes light with the coming of your Son I look up to the sky and now I finally can see What I'm reaching for already touches me The sun rises above—my salty tears become dry And all around me I see reflections of your light The glittering of truth of your presence I can see The Son takes upon himself all the pain that's in me I need not see the air nor take the sun from the sky Heaven melts into earth in the sunrise Close my eyes, feel the sky within me as I breathe Though the Son seems so far away, he shines on me Touching this unsettled ocean of me You are always there, oh endless sky Your hand lifts the sun in silent beauty The dawning of my faith within me Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, November 1999. Copyright 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 7. Lullaby For My Savior 7. Lullaby For My Savior (Psalm 104:33-34) My relationship with Jesus was transformed as I began to contemplate the mystery of Christ as a newborn baby. As I am learning to entrust myself to God, Baby Jesus entrusts Himself to me, that I might hold Him. He depends on me to care for Him! I want to sing a lullaby to Baby Jesus at all times, so that He might always hear of my love for Him. I don't know what to say to you, Baby, As I hold you in my arms. I have not the voice of heaven Worthy to sing for my Savior. But the words don't matter to you, Baby, So here's the story of my life. These are the secrets of my heart. This is your lullaby. How beautiful it is to be trusted by you So weak you are, but so much weaker am I I will never leave you alone I will not let you fall down Now I know, Baby, that you need me by your side. And when I tell you that I love you Baby, just close your eyes and sleep I am rocking you in my soul's embrace Sweet dreams, Baby Jesus I will hold you forever by my side I will sing to you a lullaby Your eyes look at me each time for the first time Gazing at me with an innocence that takes away my pain If I could only love you more If I could only give back to you If I could only love you more And give back all that you gave to me Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, March 2000. Copyright 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 8. One Day Love Came To Me 8. One Day Love Came To Me (Luke 1:26-38) Like Mary, we are called to be faithful disciples in order to give birth to Christ in the world. Here I am, Lord. ‘Let it be done to me according to your word.’ One day love came to ask me if I would carry a song. She said, "Do not be afraid--I will be your voice. The time has come: the Lord has chosen you To carry a song of truth within your womb." So I closed my eyes And gave myself away To the Spirit who carried me on her wings To receive your grace Your will, not my own I embrace the changes I unravel your joy Your will is my dream a thousand-fold Your will, not my own "The melody will grow within you--nurture it with your love. But though it comes from within you, it is a gift from above. Sing a song of love so the world may believe. It has been planted within you because you were willing to receive." I am humbled by the gift I cannot do this alone Why did you choose me? This grace is not my own The song is our child--hold her in your arms The song is our child--let us do her no harm Accept the gift of life and share it with others To let the child inside be discovered Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, October 2000. Copyright 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 9. No Greater Love 9. No Greater Love (John 15:12-13) We say to ourselves, “I need peace, I need strength,” but has it not already been given to us? When Jesus gave His life for us, He gave us God, and in God there is everything! In this song, Jesus speaks to us, calling us to receive His love with open arms just as He surrendered Himself in love on the cross. Jesus says, There is nothing I can give you To show more love For with arms outstretched I embrace you In giving my life to you I have given God My gift of life is a buried treasure in your soul Open yourself and discover what is hidden deep within Endless gifts, boundless blessings You will find all that you need I have given you all there is to give You shall never die if you believe in me You will live There is no greater gift than my life There is no greater love All I ask of you is that you believe in me Oh, the glorious wonders you will see I will remove the shroud that covers your eyes And reveal the greatness of my glory! Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, February 1999. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 10. Let Me Be Your Bethlehem 10. Let Me Be Your Bethlehem (Luke 2:6-7) When Jesus is born into the manger of our heart, we are to become like His Mother. This song is a prayer that Christ might always find in us a loving place to dwell. Is there no room in this world for you? Oh, let me be your Bethlehem It's cold outside—see, I've opened up my door Let my life be your Bethlehem Unto my life may you be born Is there no place for you to lay your head? Oh, let me be your manger. Rest in me and I will rest in you Rest in me, oh child my Savior Rest in me, Lord my Savior Born in a stable with the angels close at hand Strength became weakness that we might understand A God who is hungry, a king without a throne Emmanuel, a child is born Is there no one who will hold you, Lord? Oh, let me be your mother Heaven cannot hold your glory, Lord Yet I hold you in my arms! Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, December 2000. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 11. Bleed To Heal 11. Bleed To Heal (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26) There is so much suffering that seems to separate us from Christ and from one another. But Christ heals us through His wounds. Through His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, we are made whole again. We, in turn, become vessels of healing through our love for the suffering members of the Body of Christ. In this song, Christ speaks to us about how He knows our suffering, for it became His suffering when He entered into our humanity. A thousand steps A thousand stones A thousand secrets between us A thousand tears Two thousand years A thousand fears to separate us One body, one offering, one cross to prove So that thousands upon thousands Can find endless love This blood from my hands And this wound from my side I am bleeding to heal the wounds in your life All the broken hope and broken homes and dreams torn apart The blood that I shed Is straight from the beat of your broken heart Love with each step Love with each breath Love with each moment Love the despairing Love the pain that comes Love the persecution Love and be loved One body, one offering, one cross to prove So that thousands upon thousands Will find… Love and be loved. Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, October 2000. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. 12. Give and Take 12. Give and Take (Romans 8:38-39) This song follows the journey of discovering the incomprehensible generosity of Christ’s love. In surrendering our entire lives to Jesus, we discover that nothing can separate us from the love of God. If you had to take away my voice, and I could no longer sing If I no longer had the words to say anything And if you had to take away all music from my ears And I could no longer hear the sounds of the earth If this is what you had to do So that I could be close to you I would praise you for the silence I'd give everything up For I want nothing to stand between our love And if you had to take away my sight And I no longer could see the beauty of the sunrise, Nor the eyes of a child, nor the brightness of the night, Nor the color of the sky in the morning light If this is what you had to do So that I could be close to you I would praise you for the darkness I'd give everything up For I want nothing to stand between our love And if you had to take away my name And I no longer knew who I was Or how I had changed If you took away my breath, or the beating of my heart If you took away my destiny If you took my world apart If this is what you had to do So that I could be close to you I would praise you for the brokenness I'd give everything up For I want nothing to stand between our love But you, Jesus, you take me as I am I have nothing to give Yet you kiss my empty hands You took it all upon yourself Taking nothing from me You gave up your life That's what it took to set me free And this is what you chose to do So that I could be close to you And I praise you for your love You gave everything up So that nothing could stand Oh, nothing Not even death can stand between our love Music and lyrics written by Danielle Rose, May 2000. Copyright © 2001 Danielle Rose Skorich, published by GIA Music www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. FOR ALL COPYRIGHT PERMISSION pertaining to use of music or lyrics from songs on Pursue Me, it is necessary to contact the copyright holder GIA Music directly. Please contact Michele VonEbers at GIA Music by email michelev@giamusic.com or phone 708-552-9836. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW to duplicate, share electronically, upload music to any website (such as YouTube), or broadcast this sound recording or any portion thereof without the prior permission of the publisher.
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