For awhile now, each week, we sing "Just as I am" as our invitation song at church. I love that hymn. But what's made it come even more alive to me is the new additional phrases/bridge we sing - I know now that these lyrics (and the occupying music)were written by Travis Cottrell:
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
By the blood of the Christ the Lamb
And I'm welcomed with open arms -Praise God!
Just as I am.
I grew up in church and have sung "Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me..." more times that I can count...but these new lyrics from Travis mixed in with the timeless ones I grew up with just have brought the powerful truth of this hymn to life for me.
Through Christ's blood, God welcomes me just as I am.
I can come wounded, desperate, broken, empty, guilty and in every other way that I am deficient, and the God of the universe welcomes me.
In a world that screams to us you have to be skinny and pretty and powerful and rich and successful to be worthwhile, it's nice to know that when I'm none of those things, God not only LETS me come, He WELCOMES me with open arms.
That, my friends, is definitely praiseworthy.
He is praiseworthy.
He loves me (and you) just as I am.
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Thank you for posting this. As I was driving yesterday I heard this newer version and was so struck and humbled by the words. I grew up with hymns and they priceless to me - prayers set to music. Normally I don't like anyone "messing with my hymns!" but the added lyrics to this treasured hymn brought me to the Throne. I've been searching for the whole version but can't find it - your post is the first I've come across. I was afraid I wouldn't find anything at all. So thank you - you've blessed me today and now I can write these down to memorize!
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