O God Beyond All Praising

            A couple weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon I had the opportunity to pray in the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, TX. It is a beautiful Co-Cathedral, and here is a website with more information about it.
        As I was walking around and praying I noticed that the Cathedral had a balcony, so I decided to see if I could get up there, so that I could see a better view. Well, I am assuming that usually the door would be locked to get to the balcony, but seeing as how it was before Mass, there were a couple musicians up there, practicing before Mass. I asked them if I could get a picture from the balcony, and then noticed the amazing organ that the Cathedral has. Next thing I know, Crista  (director of worship) and Cody (cantor) are showing off the organ. Of course, I had to ask Christa to play my favorite song which is O God Beyond All Praising, to which Cody and I eventually sang along to. It was amazing, and I want to thank Christa and Cody for being so hospitable to a priest in shorts and a t-shirt who wondered up the stairs.
       The reason I enjoy the song O God Beyond All Praising so much is too hard to write in one session, but let me share the words with you, and also a recording of the first and last verse that you can hear here.  Take a look at the words, and in particular verse 1 and 3 make sure to pray with, and then realize that no matter what, we are always called to praise God, in good and in ill, because God is a God beyond all possible praising.

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder
at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you
and wait upon your word,
we honour and adore you,
our great and mighty Lord.

The flower of earthly splendor
in time must surely die,
Its fragile bloom surrender
to you, the Lord most high;
But hidden from all nature
the eternal seed is sown
Though small in mortal stature,
to heaven’s garden grown:
For Christ the man from heaven
from death has set us free,
And we through him are given
the final victory.

Then hear, O gracious Saviour,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favour
may serve you as our king;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we’II triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty
our sacrifice of praise.