Anchor for the Soul

We had an amazing time in Miami last week, as leaders from our churches around the world joined together for our annual ILC (International Leadership Conference – view video footage at dtoday.tv) It was really inspiring and encouraging to hear all the great news and to meet attendees from many different countries on the other side of the world.  We held our annual worship leaders’ conference at the same time, and that was a phenomenal time as well.  We had a time of teaching / learning new songs, and this was a song I shared.  (We also did this song at the SW conference a month or so ago.)  Since that time I’ve had a of requests for the lyrics/chords/sheet music for this, so I thought I’d post it.

To share a little background about the song, I was asked to lead worship for a singles retreat a few years ago called “Beachstock.”  The theme for the retreat was called “Anchor for the Soul.”  When my friend Tony Martin picked me up from the airport he said there wasn’t a theme song for the retreat and asked if I had any ideas.  At this point it was late at night and the retreat started the next day!  I told him I could pray about it and sleep on it and see if God gave me anything.  (I don’t claim direct inspiration in the sense that the gospel writers did or something, but I do feel like God inspires songs, gives them as gifts to me – I’ll write more about that some time.)  Anyway, as we drove to the retreat location, it was pouring down rain and there was lightning all around us.  Most of the singles retreat events were all supposed to be held in an outdoor amphitheater so we prayed that God would give us relief from the storms!  The next morning I woke up with this lyric and melody on my mind, and the weather was gorgeous.

Here is a recording from us singing the song at the SW Christian Conference:
Anchor for the Soul – live at SWCC

Sheet music:
Anchor For The Soul – sheet music

ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL

Anchor for the soul,
Shelter from the storm;
Thunder and the lightning
Can be very fright’ning,
But God is in control.
Anchor for the soul,
Shelter from the storm;
Manna in the morning, 
Blessings overflowing,
Leading us to home.

This world’s not my home,
Just a-passing through.
Through this life I wander,
Treasure stored up yonder
Somewhere beyond the blue.
On my way I learn 
Through each path I take.
Every day I’m growing,
On my way I’m knowing
Heaven’s worth the wait.

When the day is gone,
When my journey ends,
Won’t be nothing better
Then to be together 
With all my faithful friends.
We’ll all join in song
Gathered ’round the throne.
There’ll be no more sorrow
Someday when tomorrow
Heaven is our home.

G / G / amin7 / amin7
C / Dsus / G / G
G / G / amin7 / amin7
C / Dsus / G

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