Complete Lyrics to the 2001 Album Declaration by Steven Curtis Chapman

Live Out Loud
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore
From the recording: Declaration, Track #1.

Matt. 5: 13-16; 2 Cor. 5: 14 –15; Gal. 2: 20

Imagine this…I get a phone call from Regis
He says, "Do you want to be a millionaire?"
They put me on the show and I win with two lifelines to spare
Now picture this…I act like nothing ever happened
And bury all the money in a coffee can
Well, I’ve been given more than Regis ever gave away
I was a dead man who was called to come out of my grave
And I think it’s time for makin’ some noise

Wake the neighbors, get the word out
Come on…crank up the music…climb a mountain and shout
This is life we’ve been given made to be lived out
So la la la la live out loud
Live out loud, yeah

Think about this…try to keep a bird from singing
After it’s soared up in the sky
Give the sun a cloudless day and tell it not to shine
Now think about this…if we really have been given 
The gift of a life that will never end
And if we have been filled with living hope we’re gonna overflow
And if God’s love is burning in our hearts we’re gonna glow
There’s just no way to keep it in

Everybody, come on
La la la…la la la la
La la la live out loud
I want to hear everybody sing
La la la…la la la la
La la la live out loud, loud, loud

Every corner of creation is a living declaration
Come join the song we were made to sing


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song/Peach Hill Song (BMI)/Songs On The ForeFront/Geoff Moore Songs/ (SESAC) (admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)


This Day
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #2.

Heb. 13: 8; Mal. 3: 6; Lame. 3: 22- 23

Yesterday the sky was bright and clear
I could see the sun and I could hear the song
Faith flowed like a river free and deep
And grace was not so hard to be believed
But that was yesterday
And what was close enough to touch
Now seems a world away
So what about this day

This day all His mercies are new
This day every promise is true
Father, help me to believe
Give me faith I need to know You
And trust You this day
This day

Who knows what tomorrow’s light will bring
Tears to cry or maybe songs to sing out loud
But only God can see that far away
And He made us for living day by day
‘Cause He wants us to see
That the God that He’s been every day of history
Is who He is this day

‘Cause You are the same yesterday and today and forever
Through every season Your truth and Your grace never change
Oh, Lord, I do believe that the God that You’ve been every day of history
Is who You are this day

This day…this day

This day Your mercies are new
This day Your promise is true
This day my hope is in You, Lord
This day


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


Jesus Is Life
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman and James Isaac Elliott
From the recording: Declaration, Track #3.

Jn. 14: 6; Jn .11: 25; Gal. 2:20

Ladies and Gentleman, children of all ages
Anyone listening, I’ve got an announcement to make
There’s been some confusion about a certain someone
A lot of discussion and a lot of debate
So if I may take just a moment to say who Jesus is to me

Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh
Jesus is life, yeah, oh, oh, oh
The air I’m breathing
Why my heart is beating
Everything I’m needing
Jesus is life
Jesus is life

Imagine the deepest sea without a drop of water
An infinite galaxy without even one single star
That’s how I would be…so absolutely empty
Without Jesus’ life in me there’d be no life at all
More than just a part, He’s the very heart of everything I am

This is my position concerning my condition
This is my position concerning my condition
This is my position my life by definition

Jesus is life
Jesus is life
Jesus is life
Jesus is life


Copyright Information
© 2001 Sparrow Song (admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Peach Hill Songs (admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / BMI / Cabinetmaker Music / ASCAP


No Greater Love
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #4.

Jn. 15:13-17; Jn. 10:11

Man of courage with your message of peace
What is that look in your eyes?
Why have you come to this faraway place?
What is this story you would lay down your life to tell?
What kind of love can this be?

There is no greater love than this
There is no greater gift that can ever be given
To be willing to die so another might live
There is no greater love than this

Broken hearted from all you have lost
How can you sing through your tears?
What is this music that can bear such a cost?
What is this fire that grows stronger against the wind?
What kind of flame can this be?

This is the love that God showed the world
When He gave us His Son
So we could know His love forever
Beyond the gates of splendor 


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


God Is God
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #5.

Rom. 11: 33-36; Psalm 8: 3-4; 95: 3-6; 103: 13–22

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains 
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


See The Glory
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman and Caleb Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #6.

Eph. 1: 18; 2 Cor. 4: 6, 6: 1

I never did like the word mediocre
I never wanted it to be said of me, oh, no
Just point me to the job and I’d go over, over
Looking for the very best that could be
So what is this thing I see
Going on inside of me?
When it comes to the grace of God
Sometimes it’s like …

I’m playing Gameboy standing in the middle of the Grand Canyon
I’m eating candy sittin’ at a gourmet feast
I’m wading in a puddle when I could be swimming in the ocean
Tell me what’s the deal with me
(I know the time has come for me to)
Wake up and see the glory

Ever star in the sky tells His story, oh
And every breeze is singing His song
All of creation is imploring
Hey, come see this grand phenomenon
The wonder of His grace
Should take my breath away
I miss so many things when I’m consumed with …

How could I trivialize it
This awesome gift of God’s grace?
Once I have come to realize it
I should be speechless and amazed

Wake up and see the glory
Open your eyes and take it in
Wake up and be amazed
Over and over again

God’s love is coming to you and to me
Wake up, wake up
Open your eyes, 


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


Bring It On
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #7.

James 1:2-4; Heb. 10:38-39; Rom. 8:37; 2 Cor. 12: 9-10; Gen. 50:20; Rom. 5: 3-5

I didn’t come lookin’ for trouble
And I don’t want to fight needlessly
But I’m not gonna hide in a bubble
If trouble comes for me
I can feel my heart beating faster
I can tell something’s coming down
But if it’s gonna make me grow stronger then…

Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on
Let the trouble come, let the hard rain fall, let it make me strong
Bring it on

Now, maybe you’re thinkin’ I’m crazy
And maybe I need to explain some things
‘Cause I know I’ve got an enemy waiting
Who wants to bring me pain
But what he never seems to remember
What he means for evil God works for good
So I will not retreat or surrender

Now, I don’t want to sound like some hero
‘Cause it’s God alone that my hope is in
But I’m not gonna run from the very things
That would drive me closer to Him
So bring it on

Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on
Let the trouble come, let it make me fall on the One who’s strong
Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on
Let me be made weak so I’ll know the strength of the One who’s strong
Bring it on
Bring it on


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


When Love Takes You In
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #8.

1 Jn 3: 1; Jn 14: 18; Psalm 68: 5-6


I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

And somewhere while you’re sleeping 
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart

And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever cause this love to lose its hold

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in


Copyright Information
©2001Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


Magnificent Obsession
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #9.

Matt 13: 44-46; Heb 12: 2; Phili 3: 8- 10

Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains

You are everything I want
And You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires
You are everything to me

You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


Declaration Of Dependence
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #10.

Luke 12: 22-31

Now just the other day I overheard a flower talking to the sky
He said you know that I would be nothing without You, oh, oh
He said you give me rain, you give the sun a place to shine
You’re everything that my whole existence comes down to, oh, oh
And then the flower started singing a song
Before I knew it I was singing along
And we sang…

This is my declaration of dependence
This is my declaration of my need
This is my declaration of dependence
On the one who gave His life to me

Now, let me say that I’m the kind of guy who wants to do it all myself
Don’t want to ask for help, don’t like to stop for directions, oh, oh
But in reality I’m nothing on my own
It’s by God’s grace alone that I can make this confession
All that I am and all I’m hoping to be
Is all and only what He’s given to me
So I say…

And I know this is how my life was meant to be
I was made for this dependency
On the one who has created me
So I’ll sing my declaration song
For the one I am depending on
And I hope you’ll sing along


Copyright Information
©Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


God Follower
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #11.

Jn 8: 12; Jn 10: 4

My heart is restless as I wander through this jungle
The trees above refuse to let the sunlight through
And somewhere deep inside I hear the whispered longings
That tell me I was made for more than this

A blinding flash of light falls down into the darkness
Slowly I notice strange new markings on the trail
The crimson drops are calling out to me come and follow
"I am the God who made you, let Me show you how to live"
And I cry…

I want to be a God follower
I want to go wherever He leads
I want to be a God follower
I want to walk the trail He’s marked for me
And be a God follower
(More than anything)

And now I journey on with purpose and with passion
Just like a dead man who’s been given breath again
And though this path can still grow dark with tears and sorrow
I know He will never leave me
So with everything I am I will say…

And when I reach God’s place
I will look into His face
And then I’ll look for you
Will I find you there?
Can you say with me…
I want to be a God follower
I want to be a God follower
I want to be a God follower
I want to be a God follower


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


Carry You To Jesus
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #12.

Gal. 6:2; Luke 5:18-20

I will not pretend to feel the pain you’re going through
I know I cannot comprehend the hurt you’ve known
And I used to think it mattered if I understood
But now I just don’t know

Well, I’ll admit sometimes I still wish I knew what to say
And I keep looking for a way to fix it all
But we know we’re at the mercy of God’s higher ways
And our ways are so small

But I will carry you to Jesus
He is everything you need
I will carry you to Jesus on my knees

It’s such a privilege for me to give this gift to you
All I’d ever hope you’d give me in return
Is to know that you’ll be there to do the same for me
When the tables turn

And if you need to cry go on and I, I will cry along with you, yeah
I’ve given you what I have but still I know the best thing I can do
Is just pray for you

I’ll carry you
I’ll take you to Jesus on my knees


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


Savior
Written by Steven Curtis Chapman
From the recording: Declaration, Track #13.

Rom 7: 24-25; Luke 2: 11


Well, who is this angry man I see
In the mirror looking back at me?
It’s a man who’s tired, a man who’s weak
And it’s a man who needs a Savior

And who is this fearful little child
Crying out for home, lost in the wild?
With a lonely heart that’s fading fast
It’s a child who needs a Savior
A child who needs a Savior

And what is this longing in my soul
That I get so scared and angry?
I need more than just a little help
I need someone who will save me
Come and save me
I need someone to save me
Who will save me?
Come and save me

And who is this one nailed to a cross
Who would rather die than leave us lost?
He’s come to rescue us, come to set us free
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It is Christ the Lord…our Savior


Copyright Information
©2001 Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs / BMI / Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing


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