The inspiration for this simple worship song was rooted in two images of Jesus: Christ in the Divine Mercy devotion and the crucified Jesus, “arms wide open on a tree.” I love the image and idea of God inviting us to participate in grace and to enjoy an intimate and divine friendship. Do we really believe that the Creator of the earth, the moons, the planets, the sun, our own galaxy and the space between our galaxy (which is only a speck in what we call the “Milky Way”) and the unknown number of other galaxies, wants to be in friendship with us?

Christ says, “I no longer call you servants, but friends”. And so the song You Stand Knocking is a about that friendship: God coming to us and saying: “I know you have sinned, and I know you fall and trip, but I do not condemn you – I call you into friendship”.

You spoke my name
and took my hand
and called me friend.
Such faithful love,
so undeserved;
a heart transformed.
Though I wandered and have strayed,
still your mercy reigns.

You were broken for me,
arms wide open on a tree.
You stand knocking at the door,
offering all I’m hoping for.

To those in the dark,
the Lord cries out,
“Come and be saved.”
Along the way,
we shall find rest;
the Lord is good.
For God comforts well his own,
and we are his alone.

You are mine, and I am yours.
I am yours, you are mine and I am yours.
Though I wandered and have strayed,
still your mercy reigns.

When I composed the song it seemed very familiar to me. It seemed like I had heard it before. I called a couple of my friends, sang it, and asked them if they had heard it before. Both artists said it was an original song. So I had a new composition – a new prayer and yearning of the heart: God calling us faithfully into friendship. God’s mercy reigns to those in dark(ness), and a divine invitation to “Come, take my hand and let us go to a higher place!” Divine mercy offers us life, peace and joy – all we are hoping for. Abba say’s, “You are mine and I am yours”.