Encouraging people around the world since 1991 !!
Encouraging people around the world since
1991 !!
CLOSEST FRIENDS
Songs of Spiritual Intimacy
All songs written by Ralph P.
Merrifield
Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993
MP3 files for all these
songs can be found on our
MP3 Central Page
This recording is gratefully dedicated to
three faithful teachers of the Word,
Wayne Anderson, Jack Gerry and Wayne Jacobsen,
who have taught me how to "sit at the feet of Jesus".
The songs, along with "Receive
His Grace",
were inspired by these brothers in Christ.
photo by David Wells
Ralph Merrifield and Dena Rich sing a duet,
with a few old friends cheering us on...
THERE
WILL BE SILENCE
(from Psalm 65)
There will be silence before
You (silence before You)
And praise in Zion, oh God
And to Thee (and to Thee)
the vow will be performed
You hear our prayers, to You all men come
As for our transgressions, they're forgiven!!
How blessed is the one who
You do choose
And bring near to Thee, to dwell in Your courts
We will be satisfied, oh Lord, with the goodness of Your house
IN THE SPLENDOR OF YOUR COURTS
I come, I long to behold
Your beauty, O God
To seek Your face in the splendor of Your courts
Day and night at Your feet
All my life content to be
Just singing praise to the glory of my King
In silence, quiet before You
Lord
In solitude, far from everyone
In prayer, just open to things I need to hear
Silence, solitude and prayer (repeat)
Calm in Your presence
Receiving Your grace
Enjoying acceptance
Beholding Your face
In silence, quiet before You
Lord
In solitude, far from everyone
In prayer, just open to things I need to hear
Silence, solitude and prayer (repeat to bridge)
Lord I'm open to things I
need to hear
In silence, solitude and prayer
Sweet silence, solitude and prayer
In Jesus we come to You.
In our hearts Your Spirit moves.
We Your little children
Come in adoration.
Abba Father
Draw me nearer
Hold me closer
Abba Father (repeat)
Just sitting here at
your feet,
Quite contented just to be
Resting in your presence,
Safe, secure, protected. (repeat chorus)
photo by David Wells
Ron Groleau and Bob Nute
ROBE OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS
(inspired by the writings of Wayne
Jacobsen)
Feel the Robe of Righteousness slip around your shoulders
Sweet forgiveness flowing through your soul
The oil of gladness lifting heavy spirits
Complete acceptance like you've never known
Focusing your eyes upon His
glory
Casting down all burdens that you bear
Fixing your mind upon Him solely
Come now before His throne...
I feel the Robe of
Righteousness slip around my shoulders
Sweet forgiveness flowing through my soul
The oil of gladness lifting heavy spirits
Complete acceptance like I've never known
Focusing my eyes upon Your
glory
Casting down all burdens that I bear
Fixing my mind upon You solely
I come before Your throne... (repeat chorus)
COME TO ME (Come, Take, Learn)
Come, come to Me all who are
weary and heavy laden.
Come, come to Me and I will give you rest.
Come to Me, take My yoke, learn from Me
Take, take My yoke on you
for My yoke is easy.
Take, take My yoke for My load is light.
Come to Me, take My yoke, learn from Me
Learn, learn from Me for I
am gentle and humble in heart.
Learn, learn from Me, You will find rest for your souls.
Come to Me, take My yoke, learn from Me
Come to Me, take My yoke, learn from Me
SONG
TO MY SHEPHERD
(from Psalm 23)
You make me lie down in
pastures green
Beside quiet waters you lead me
My weary soul, You restore
Forever I'll dwell in Your house, O Lord
You guide me in paths of
righteousness
And though I walk through the valley of death
I fear no evil when You're close by
Your rod and Your staff, my shield and guide
My weary soul, You restore
Forever I'll dwell in Your house, O Lord
You have prepared a table
for me
In the presence of my enemies
My head has been anointed with oil
Now my cup overflows with joy
My weary soul, You restore
Forever I'll dwell in Your house, O Lord
Surely goodness and mercy
All of my life will follow me
Lord You're my Shepherd I'm satisfied
Forever I'll dwell in Your house, O Lord
MY SOUL
WITH YOU
the comfort found close to God's heart
(from Psalm 131)
Oh Lord, my heart is not proud nor my eyes lifted up
I don't involve myself in things too great or difficult
Like a weaned child at it's mother's breast
My soul with You finds comfort and rest
My soul with You finds comfort and restOh Lord, I hunger and thirst, feel so weary and worn
Tired from traveling many miles battered by the storms
As a baby lamb longs for pastures green
Close to my Shepherd I want to be
Close to my Shepherd I want to be
(repeat first verse)
Open the eyes of my heart,
Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will (repeat)
The right word to say, the
best move to make
Who's in need of a helping hand
For Your perfect ways are worthy of praise
I delight just to do Your plan
Open the eyes of my heart,
Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will
photo by David Wells
Things get a little crowded
when you record in the back room
of Dave Well's mobile home!
IN
THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM
(Ephesians 1:17-19)
I pray that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ
The Father of Glory may give to you
A spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him
A spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him
I pray that the eyes of your
heart may be enlightened
So that you may know what is the hope of His calling
And what are the riches of the glories of His inheritance in the saints
And what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe (repeat first verse)
WAIT ON
THE LORD
(Psalm 46:10)
Wait on the Lord, yes, wait
on the Lord
Be still and know that He is God
Wait on the Lord, yes, wait on the Lord
Be still and know that He is God
Trust in His Word, yes,
trust in His Word
His truth is unchanging, His promise, secure
Trust in His Word, yes, trust in His Word
His truth is unchanging, His promise, secure (repeat first verse)
Be still and know that He is God
CENTER
OF MY SOUL
a spiritual
intimacy song,
effective for entering into corporate or private
worship
Lord
You’re the center of my soul
Both my beginning and my
goal
All that I am and all that I’ll
be
Draws from the life You give
me
You are my wisdom and my
strength
On You in all I can depend
Once I was broken, now I’m
whole
Lord You’re the center of
my soul
(repeat to beginning)
You bring the meaning to my
days
You are the purpose in my
ways
Once I was empty, now I’m
full
Lord You’re the center of
my soul
Lord You’re the center of
my soul
HOW
PRECIOUS IS YOUR LOVE
(from Psalm 36:5-9)
Your love, oh Lord, extends
to the heavens
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your judgments are so deep and wide (repeat)
How precious is Your love, O
God
We take refuge in the shadow of Your wings
And drink our fill from Your river of delight
You are the fountain of life
In Your light we see light
The lyrics of this song were
modified and used in
"How Precious Is Your Love"
written with Gerrit Gustafson in 2000
Open the doors You want
opened and
close the doors You want closed
Give me sensitivity to know which way to go
I want to live in the center of Your will
Open the doors You want opened and
close the doors You want closed
Please open the doors You want opened and
close the doors You want closed
Your ways are higher than
mine
Your thoughts are wiser than mine
Your strength so powerful that
all barriers will come down and so I'm prayin'...
Open the doors You want
opened and
close the doors You want closed
Give me sensitivity to know which way to go
I want to live in the center of Your will
Open the doors You want opened and
close the doors You want closed
Please open the doors You want opened and
close the doors You want closed
I will go where You want me
to go
I will do what You want me to do
Help me to see where You lead
I will follow You
(chorus)
Without holding back now I want to be
Fully obedient to Your plan for me
I will go where You want me to go, dear Lord
I will do what You want me to do
I will go where You want me to go, dear Lord
I will do what You want me to do
I will speak when You ask me
to speak
I will serve who You want me to serve
Bringing Your healing, life and peace
To our needy world (repeat chorus twice)
GREAT
AND MARVELOUS
(from Revelation 15:3-4)
Great and marvelous are Your
works
Oh Lord God th' Almighty
Righteous and true are Your ways
Thou King of the nations
Who will not fear and
glorify Thy name
For You alone are holy
All the nations will come
All the nations will come
All the nations will come and worship before Thee
(repeat to beginning)
All songs written by Ralph P.
Merrifield
Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993
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