Season 6 - Week 4
“You are God and we are not”
If you’re anything like me, you may have a tendency towards conflict avoidance. It’s never a good thing for any relationship. And it’s certainly not a good thing for our relationship with God. With our friends and family, we often continue in relationship but we skilfully avoid discussing the ‘awkward’ issues, or referring back to painful arguments.
This is not the sort of relationship that David had with God. The Psalms detail the extent of David’s complaint and accusatory tone in the direction of the One who said “He is a man after my own heart”. In contrast, I wonder how often I am “a man avoiding the pain of God’s heart”. I push genuine feelings of confusion, anger and disappointment down inside in an attempt to “play nice”.
So my hope is to provide the space for people to worship all of God and not just the domesticated parts of his personality. Can we connect in the pain, instead of leaving it at the door?
Andy recorded a simple acoustic version of the song at his church recently - scroll down to listen. And here are the lyrics if you'd like to chew over them some more.
YOU ARE GOD, WE ARE NOT
E Em7
1 Praise to the God who often seems silent
A E
Praise to the God whose plan isn’t clear
E G
Praise to the God whose story sounds violent
A E
Praise to the God both distant and near
2 Praise to the God who dwells in cathedrals
Praise to the God who lives in the slum
Praise to the God who's given us free will
Praise to the God whose will will be done
E E/D A E
You are God, and we are not
You are God, and we are not
3 Praise to the God whose world is in chaos
Praise to the God whose peace is secure
Praise to the God who often delays us
Praise to the God whose motives are pure
4 Praise to the God who can’t be conscripted
Praise to the God who doesn't make sense
Praise to the God who won't be constricted
Praise to the God who will cause offence
You are God, and we are not
You are God, and we are not
Bm A E Bm A E Bm A E
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
A/C# D E
To the God who can’t be tamed
5 Praise to the God who rations his healing
Praise to the God setting some of us free
Praise to the God who is stopping and kneeling
Praise to the God who is weeping with me
6 Praise to the God who gives cancer permission
Praise to the God who gives all of himself
Praise to the God who surrendered position
Praise to the God who puts love before health
You are God, and we are not
You are God, and we are not
7 Praise to the God whose nature is justice
Praise to the God who will have his say
Praise to the God who’s sitting in judgment
Praise to the God who lets some slip away
8 Praise to the God who loves Trump and Theresa
Praise to the God who hates lying and greed
Praise to the God who is taking a knee now
Praise to the God who is taking the lead
You are God, and we are not
You are God, and we are not
Hallelujah,Hallelujah,Hallelujah
To the God who can’t be tamed
9 Praise to the God who suffers in mourning
Praise to the God who reigns without end
Praise to the God who moves without warning
Praise to the God I can’t comprehend
10 Praise to the God who often is hiding
Praise to the God who is seeking the lost
Praise to the God who swallowed his pride and
Praise to the God who would hang on a cross
11 Praise to the God whose kingdom is coming
Praise to the God who is biding his time
Praise to the God whose welcome comes running
Praise to the God with patience sublime.
12 Praise to the God who is holding the tension
Praise to the God of both autumn and spring
Praise to the God of this glorious invention
Praise to the God who renews the whole thing.
© 2017 Downwardly Mobile Music – www.andyflan.com
Lyrics and Music – Andy Flannagan – info@andyflan.com
You are God and We Are Not by Andy Flannagan
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”And her daughter was healed at that moment.
What struggles with his character or story do you talk to other people about but not bring to him? (Or do they only exist inside your head?)
“That’s one of the things I really want to ask God when I get to heaven” is a thing you often hear people say. Is it possible he might reply, “Why have you waited this long to ask?” Create a word file consisting of 5 challenging questions you would like to ask him. They could be about your life, your family, or the wider world. Spend 25 minutes with God, taking 5 minutes talking and listening around each of the questions. If you feel it’s appropriate, email your questions to openme@youthscape.org.uk
Thank you that your life was hard too. Thank you that you cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Thank you that you weren’t always polite.
Lord, forgive me
when I keep you within the box of my human understanding
when I wait for successes before I praise you
when I wait for defeats before I ask for help
when I want to discuss you more than I want to communicate with you
when disappointments drive me to social media before you
when I only speak to the certainty and ignore the mystery.
I don't always understand you. But I love you. And I fear you.
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