Called: My Testimony in Song
By Gordon Bonham
Two songs have become my favorites over the years. I want to share with you my testimony on the way the Lord has shaped my life as I sing them for you.
A 10-year old boy with his life adrift,
Recently recovered from a heart infection,
Feeling abandoned by his earthly father,
Attended a mission church with his married sister.
God reached down and touched his heart,
“I will love, and will never abandon you!”
I yielded my life to him that day
And become active in all church things.
So active that people began to ask,
“Are you going to be a preacher?”
“No,” I said, “for God has not called me.
But what life was God calling me to?
by Bill Gaither
The longer I serve him
The sweeter he grows
The more that I love him
More love he bestows
Each day is like heaven
My heart overflows
The longer I serve him
The sweeter he grows
Since I started for the kingdom
Since my life he controls
Since I gave my heart to Jesus
The longer I serve him
The sweeter he grows
At church career day, an architect spoke.
Could designing churches be God’s call?
Then I met a girl while measuring an old hacienda.
Months later she later called, “Will you be my date?”
Just two more dates and I was sure,
Sandy was the one God chose for me.
Loving her was easy--we wed in three years.
But soon her mumps tested marital love.
The longer I serve him
The sweeter he grows
The more that I love him
More love he bestows
Each day is like heaven
My heart overflows
The longer I serve him
The sweeter he grows
Every need he is supplying
Plenteous grace he bestows
Everyday my way grows brighter
The longer I serve him
The sweeter he grows
Disillusioned by architecture, no child in sight,
What now? Grad school? I applied for two.
One paid me to come! It had to be God’s leading.
Across the country we drove, including Scott.
A knock on the door after Cathy’s birth,
And there sat Michael—he could not stand.
God said, “Provide him a family and I’ll provide
The required space and diaper service for three.”
But state regs said this new love couldn’t last,
With sadness we moved to start my career.
Two years later a letter came, “He’s adoptable now.”
Should we risk the cost his disability might bring?”
God audibly spoke through six-year-old Scott,
“Adopting Michael? A Christian thing to do.”
God arranged a surprise, changed the judge’s mind,
“He is now your son with disability expenses paid.”
Johnson Oatman Jr.
Chorus
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s table land
A higher pane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day,
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Almost audibly God soon spoke again,
“I want you as a missionary for me.”
“But how can I go, Lord, with Michael’s needs?”
“I’ll send Vietnam refugees to plant gospel seeds.”
A Vietnamese church soon grew, joined
By Spanish- and Korean- speaking ones.
Two more career moves evaluating programs:
Summer learning, disability rights, homeless housed.
“But what when we retire to watch our grandkids grow?”
Two missionaries spoke on missions research,
“Internet and video connect our global team.”
For 17 years I’ve followed that mission theme.
Chorus
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s table land
A higher pane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Tho Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground”