Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Did I Tell You My Brother is a Songwriter? by Gail Purath

Church in an old theater in Budapest, Hungary
Fifteen years ago, my husband and I slept on the floor of an old-grocery-store-turned-into-a-church in inner city Denver, CO.  

We were there with a group of other Christians doing a week of street ministry.  During that time, we met the church worship leader, a humble man named Jude Del Hierro.  Jude wrote the popular praise song “More Love, More Power.” 

Last fall while attending a service at an old-theater-turned-into-a-church in inner city Budapest, Hungary, the praise band began playing “Több erőt, több szeretetet” which is Hungarian for “More Love, More Power” (literally, it’s “More Power, More Love” but it’s the same song).

Sometimes I am amazed at how similar and diverse my family is…the family of God, that is.  

There I was, an American woman visiting from North Carolina listening to my Hungarian brothers and sisters in Budapest sing a song written by our Hispanic brother from inner city Denver, Colorado.  

“And they sang a new song to [Christ, the Lamb of God] with these words:‘You are worthy...your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’”   Revelation 5:9 

My God has ransomed men, women and children from every tribe, language, people and nation, and I’m one of them!  We are brothers and sisters adopted by the same Father. In Christ, we speak the same “language” whether it comes out “More love, More Power” or “Több erőt, több szeretetet.” WOW!

The lyrics of my brother’s song are a prayer.  Will you pray it with me?
More love, more power, more of you, Lord, in my life.
And I will worship you with all of my heart. And I will worship you with all of my mind.
And I will worship you with all of my strength.  For you are my Lord.
And I will seek your face with all of my heart. And I will seek your face with all of my mind.
And I will seek your face with all of my strength. For you are my Lord.

Lyrics © 1987 by Jude Del Hierro 

To read Gail's bio, go to the "Lead Writers" page. 
to read other devotions by Gail or devotions by other writers, go to the Archives page.  Or click here for the most recent devotion: WOW.

4 comments:

  1. Gail... I am thinking how we followers of CHRIST are family all over the world and remembering how much I love that song in Hungarian. Thank you for reminding me that no matter how far away we are, we are family.

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  2. I look forward to each WOW--Writing On the Word that I receive. It is such an uplifting start of my day. Thank you, Gail.

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  3. Thank you, Gail, for this wonderful reminder. I actually remember the first time I heard this song! Your story about it is just like the song: beautiful and powerful. Thank you!

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  4. How true Gail. If we could just get this how much more effective the body of Christ would be.

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