I Stand Amazed in the Presence

I saw this song in my hymnal and my heart just smiled.  I stand amazed in the presence is a great song that answers my hearts question.  

and wonder how he could love me
a sinner condemned unclean

Lyrics

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: Not My will, but Thine.
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

Refrain

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

Refrain

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

Refrain

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Refrain

Author and History

Charles H. Gabriel of this fantastic song.  He also wrote Send the Light.  In the ways of music, Mr. Gabriel was a self-taught man, teaching himself to play the reed organ in his formative years. 

Charles Hutchison Gabriel spent the firsts 17 years of his life on his Iowa farm. In his early years he was interested in military bands and wrote several marches.  He devoted his life to music putting together music books, composing melodies, writing a variety of songs, and writing how-to books for playing instruments. 

Pondering

What happens when you stop for a moment to recognize how wonderful something is?  Do you feel taken aback, surprised, delighted, afraid, or something else?   

We should feel all these things when we are faced by the Lord, after all we just saw last week how he is majesty and meekness at the same time.  But I Stand Amazed in his Presense asks us to hold dear to us the Love he holds for us.  Not just at the moment of salvation but throughout our lives.

I don’t know about you, but two things happen to me. Either I’m amazed that Jesus came, loved me, and then died for me.  I don’t truly understand such love.  Or the flip side happens.  I know of his love but I don’t pay it the heed it should have. I don’t marvel at it, seem impressed, afraid or even awestruck.  Hymns such as this one draws me back to that wonderful and it’s FANTASTIC to sing about it with others who love the same Lord.