AMAZING GRACE

words & music by John Newton
arrangement by Gudula Urban and Walter Till

In the 1700s, a certain slave trader and captain of a ship who couldn't care less about God, found himself in the midst of a violent storm in the ocean. As all seemed lost and he was facing death, he finally turned to his Creator and discovered the reality of God's overwhelming grace. His life was saved and something had happened in his heart. Later he wrote this now well-known song:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

't was grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved
how precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come
this grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine

COMING HOME

words & music by Gudula Urban

In Luke 15 Jesus told the story of a son who took his inheritance, went into a far country looking for pleasure, freedom and his own way, “lived like hell”...and lost it all. When he hit bottom he repented and decided to return home - expecting to be judged and punished. But to his surprise, as his father saw him coming, he ran towards him, hugged and kissed him and ordered a great feast...“my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and now is found!.” In a similar way, our heavenly Father's heart towards us is often quite different from what we think...

After all this time of looking around, are you finally at the end,
you‘ve seen it all, but much went out of hand
after years of trying everything are you ready to give in,
I've been waiting for you day out and day in.

After many months of playing around, will you finally give up,
you know you've done it all, but your soul's an empty cup.
You've tried to run away from me, but now you don't know where to go
so just come home, there's a place that's your own!

My child you have to understand that from my love you cannot run
it always shines on you just like the mighty sun!
But as your human eyes can't always see the rays and light of this big star
so just trust my heart that I am never far.

So in your darkest hours, please trust my word
and believe in your heart the truth that you have heard,
cause even after the longest nights there's one thing for sure:
the sun will shine again brightly and pure!

Even if you've fallen far, I'll pick you up
cause you're my very own, that I will never drop
I'll always care for you, I know your every need
and I will carry you and put you back on your feet.

So after all this time will you finally believe
the love I have for you is more than you can receive!
If you just humble yourself and come to my throne,
you'll find mercy there, you'll find forgiveness there
you'll find grace there and peace, you'll find truth there and love,
you'll find hope there, and a future, and a home, a home
your own home, a place where you belong,
so just come home!

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD (John 3:16)

words & music by Gudula Urban

This world offers many ways
to better your life, prolong your days
but I have found that you can try and try,
it just doesn't work, and I can tell you why:
well, the Bible says that no one's good
our head is sick, and we don't do what we should
that doesn't sound so nice, I know what you mean
but if you don't believe me, look around and you'll see

that there's a thing in human heart
that only seeks its own
and trying to cover up with human goodness
doesn't change a thing
‘cause every battle, every war that ever has been fought
has started in the selfishness of someone's heart

So what to do about this mess
about this hopelessness?
you can ignore the facts and just close your eyes,
but it doesn't go away, no matter what the disguise
but there's someone who cares for you
who wants to help and do it for you
he paid the price long time ago,
his name is Jesus, and he wants you to know,

that God so loved the world
that He gave His only Son,
that whosoever would believe in Him
wouldn't perish, but would have everlasting life.
God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son,
so if you just believe in Him,
yes, you and I, if we just believe in Him
we wouldn't perish, but would have everlasting life.

You may say, "that sounds too easy,
in this world nothing's for free ... "
you may be right as far as humans are concerned,
but I'm talking ‘bout the God who made this world!
He is really there, waiting with His love and care,
He's knocking at your heart, day by day
if you just open up, you'll hear Him say:

"I so much loved you, that I gave my only Son,
that if you just believe in Him,
you wouldn't perish, but would have everlasting life.
I so much loved you, that I gave my only, my only Son!
So please, just believe in Him,
just like a child trust in Him,
just come, and I'll give you everlasting life,
I give you peace, I give you joy,
I give you everything that you have ever longed for!"

GOING UP YONDER

words & music by Walter Hawkins

If you want to ask me where I'm going,
where I'm going, maybe soon
If you want to know where I'm going
where I'm going so soon,
I'm gonna tell you

I'm going up yonder, going up yonder
I'm going up yonder to be with my Lord, Jesus Christ

I can take the pains, the heartache that they bring
there's comfort in knowing, I'll soon be gone
If God gives me grace, then I will run this race
until I see my Saviour face to face

I'm going up yonder ...

I'm going up yonder
I'm going up
to see my brothers, and my sisters
to see Jesus face to face
I'm going up yonder to be with my Lord!

I WANT TO BE WITH YOU

words & music by Gudula Urban

I want to be with you forever
I want to be with you the rest of my days
I want to be with you and get to know
the lover of my soul

I want to be with you forever
I want to be with you for all eternity
I want to thank you, Lord that I can know
that I'll be there with you

so show me how to seek your face in this world every day
and teach me what it means that you are all that I need

I want to be with you ...

so teach me that my days are numbered on this earth
so that I will not waste what you have given me

I want to be with you ...

so teach me how to live by faith in every word you've said
and take away all selfishness and pride

I want to be with you ...

so give me your all love and heart for all your people here
so they can somehow see how much you care

I want to be with you ...

JOYFUL NOISE

words from Psalm 100, music by Gudula Urban

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
make a joyful noise, all ye lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness
come before his presence with singing,
make a joyful noise!

Know that the Lord is God
it is he who made us
not we ourselves, we are his people
Know that the Lord is God
we are the sheep of his pasture
he has made us, we are his!

Make a joyful noise ...

For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting
his truth endures to all generations
Enter his gates and his courts with praise
be thankful to him and bless his name!

Make a joyful noise ...

Hallelujah to the Lord, hallelujah to the Lord ...

LET MY HEART

words & music by Gudula Urban

Jesus, I love you
I wanna live a life that's pleasing to you
Jesus, I give my heart to you
Jesus, I thank you
I wanna be someone who never forgets
all the wonderful things you have done!

so let my heart worship you
let my mouth sing praises to your name
let my life glorify you
until the very day I see you face to face!

LORD, PLEASE TAKE ME

words & music by Gudula Urban

Lord, please take me, and make me the way you want me to be
Lord, please take me and make me the way I should be.

your word promised that all I need to be
your grace would create in me through cleansing, healing, changing me
and you promised that all the works I'm supposed to do
already are prepared for me, and all I need to do is just walk in them

Lord, please take me ...

I wanna love the people but I don't know how
I wanna serve you God with all my heart,
I wanna follow you the rest of my life,
so Lord, do it in me!

Lord, please take me ...

I wanna worship you the rest of my days
I wanna praise you, Lord for your mercy and grace
I wanna thank you, God for your patience with me,
for although I've messed up many times you've never given up!

Lord, please take me, and make me the way you want me to be,
Oh Lord, please take me and make me the way I should be
teach me, and change me, and use me,
and make me the way I should be

MY SONG

words & music by Gudula Urban

Lord, I want to thank you with all my heart and all my mind
for all the things that you have done for me
and Lord, I know that all I could ever do
cannot be compared with all the things
you have done for me, you have given

but Lord, sometimes it seems so hard
it seems like I've given up so much
but then I look into your eyes,
as you're hanging on the cross for me -
paying for all my wickedness,
for all the sins I've ever done, the sins I'll ever do!

and then all I can say is, please forgive me
and help me to trust your way and not to seek my own
let me see what you see, let me feel what you feel,
show me your heart!

Solo

Lord, I want to be as close to you as I can be
I want to be right there when you speak, when you whisper
when you think your thoughts of love and grace
when you decide to give mercy
when anybody else would just throw the stones,
turn his face, despising grace

so Lord, let me be like the sinner in the temple
who knew beyond a doubt
that all he deserved was your judgement
but you gave him forgiveness and grace,
love and mercy, joy and peace,
and a place at your royal banqueting table
with a brand-new garment, and brand-new heart
white and clean, pure as snow, and a glorious life forevermore
in your presence Lord - that's where I want to be, forever
with you Lord, forever, with you

SEARCH ME, O GOD

words from Psalm 139 vs. 23, 24, 17, 18; music by Gudula Urban

Search me, o God, and know my heart
try me, and know my thoughts

and see if there be any wickedness in me
and lead me in the way everlasting

search me, o God ...

how precious also are thy thoughts unto me, o God
how great is the sum of them
if I should count them they're more in number than the sand,
and when I awake I am still with thee

search me, o God, and know my heart
try me, and know my thoughts

SMILE ON MY FACE

words & music by Gudula Urban

Jesus, you put a song in my heart
when everything around me seems to fall apart
you just take my hand and you lead me to a place
where the flowers bloom and the sun shines gently on my face
and then, you tell me that you love me
and everything will be all right
'cause wherever you lead me in my life you will be with me!

and then somehow - you put a smile on my face,
where just a moment before there was a frown in its place!
And all the things that looked so ugly and grey, suddenly brightly shine
and all I'd ever want, you say, is already mine!

THE WORDS TO PETER

words & music by Gudula Urban
(inspired by John Chapters 21, 6 & 14)

I hear the words you said to Peter, “do you love me?”
and I say, “Lord you know, of course I love you!”
But do I like the apostle did just mean that I care for you,
that I like you as a friend and maybe I'd like to love you ...?

Do I like him just think I've already given my life
I gave you all I have, how much more?
But then you showed him your sheep
and asked him to feed them for you
to love them with your love
to be there for them in your place.

Is that what you're asking me,
to give my life and not trying to get my share on this earth?
You told Peter that another would gird him
and take him to a place he wouldn't want to go...

Is that what you are asking me?
is that why sometimes it hurts?
is that why my calculation doesn't work?
is that why?!

As I'm asking all these questions
suddenly there is a peace
and I hear the still small voice:
“do you also want to go away like the others did?”
and I say, “Lord, where can I go
you are the only One who has the words of eternal life!”

And then I hear I you say,
“so then follow me
follow me and trust me,
‘cause I'm the way, and I'm the truth,
and I'm the life, the life you're looking for
just trust my love for you
just trust me and follow me!”

And then somehow I can say again,
“yes Lord, I want to follow you”

WHEN I FIND MY WAY

words & music by Gudula Urban

Lord, when I find my way to you after hours of emptiness
after looking for joy everywhere
there you are, looking deep into my heart
with your eyes of love, a love that only you can give

Then I finally see your open arms
that have been there the whole time
waiting patiently to embrace that struggling child,
and the smile that's on your face
is more beautiful than anything, anything I've ever seen

and then I wonder why I still fall for the lie
as if you couldn't keep your promise
as if you didn't want to, as if it weren't true
that you would never leave me nor forsake me.

Then I look into your Word that's been waiting the whole time,
ready to fill the needs of my soul, one by one
and the words you speak to me are so powerful

that I cannot imagine, how I could just try to do it on my own
and I could try to feed my hunger some place else
and I could just try to go without you, without you

And I pray that next time I'll run to you right away
and next time I'll remember your eyes of love
and next time I will not be afraid...