A song of utter, unashamed, unabashed gratitude and thanksgiving

Words & Music: Dennis Jernigan

Received on October 16, 2010

©2010 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc./Dennis Jernigan

Administered by www.PraiseCharts.com

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:20 NASB

I was set free during a time of worship on November 7, 1981 and have not been able to stop thanking the Lord ever since! Each year I have this thing between the Lord and me where I know – I just know – that He is going to surprise me with a song to commemorate that initial moment of freedom. Usually it occurs near the time of the anniversary of that monumental event in my life…but this year I got surprised a couple of week early! As I began to simply thank the Lord for all He has done to redeem my life and set me free I could not help but think about all the opposition I receive from the enemy. Quite often my very testimony is questioned. I’ve heard all of the following quite often:

“If you are free why would you ever admit that you ever have doubts or fears or temptations?”

“You are doing more damage than good by telling people they can change.”

“You just made up your story to sell music.”

“You don’t exist because freedom is not possible.”

“You’re in denial. You’ve been brainwashed.”

“I wish you and your kind would all die.”

It is with my honest confession that my healing, deliverance, freedom, redemption, and ongoing pure relationship with Christ have come. It is because I have personally found freedom that I desire others to know that same freedom…that change IS possible. And why would I make up a story like mine? If I were going to make up something it would be far greater and more adventurous than mine! I’ve checked my pulse and I really do exist…which means my very existence flies in the face of the lies of the enemy so he has to try and squelch my story. Yes, I guess I am in denial. I decided to deny my flesh, take up my cross and follow Christ. And yes, I guess I have been brainwashed. My mind has been cleansed and I now find it an amazingly healthy thing to do to put off the old ways of thinking and put on the new! And as for those who wish I would die: I died to myself and am alive to God in Christ…and the bottom line? Whether I live or whether I die, I AM THE LORD’S!

That all went into the birth of this song. It is my personal celebration of Christ in me, the Hope of glory!

Dennis Jernigan