1985 - Since Blessed Be the Name of God was a hit with my fellow worshipers, I became really excited about writing worship and praise songs. So this one came on the heels of the previous song. Somewhere in this time frame the bible study location moved a couple times. First we relocated to Bernice Barnes home, where Mark and Linda Hoffman were living in the finished basement. The living room where we met had such an awesome view and a large window. After a few months, we moved again to Cindy Pierson’s (now Cindy Tresser) house in La Mesa. It was considerably larger and she was a wonderful hostess. In fact, I think the bible study met there for the next 5 years or so. I remember teaching this song to the group at Cindy’s house and I remember that Linda Hoffman said she really liked it a lot. I played it for a while, but it never really caught on like the other one did, so I eventually stopped playing it altogether.
Now the bible study was growing quite rapidly and the Holy Spirit was showing up on a pretty regular basis. We had some wonderful times of worship and prayer there and my heart and memories are full to overflowing with them. In the meantime, Dave’s church was growing too although at this point in time I was quite unaware of it; but not for long.1984 may have been the year for my for salvation and growth but 1985 was a year of rapid changes. It was the year I met my now ex-wife and we were married at the end of August and I had to quickly learn to be a father to her 1-year old daughter. Before all that, Dave Hoffman approached me and told me his worship leaders were moving back East and offered me a job as worship leader of his church. I happily accepted and began teaching the newer songs we had been singing to that group at the old Cal Lutheran High School. At the same time, I was leading worship for Mark’s church at the San Carlos Recreation center. So for several months (up until the two church groups merged), I would lead worship for an 8:30 am service for Mark’s group and a 10:30 am service for Dave’s.Once affiliated with Dave’s group I met and came to know a lot of really awesome people, like Larry & Debbie McNamer, Tim & Tammy Cook, Kim & Rene Garner and Hank & Vicki Dmochowski among others. Growth was slow in those early years, which gave us plenty of time to become a very close-knit group of worshipers. God was really moving in the worship- it was a season of revival of true worship, praise, celebration, and thanksgiving. What a privilege it was for all of us to be in the middle of all that! Now, here are the lyrics to the song:
WORSHIP AND PRAISE
Words & music by Reggie Michaud © 1985
Lord send your angels down and help us prepare our hearts
To meet face to face with the king; our God
For through You began all things and we are but miry clay
But You chose to breathe you life into our souls
So please open our eyes and please soften our hearts
And allow us to humbly present you with worship and praise
You fill our hearts with joy as we come before Your throne
To give you a portion of the worship You deserve
For You are a holy God and we are but sinful men
But you chose to sacrifice yourself to make us clean
So please open our eyes and please focus our minds
And allow us to humbly present You with worship and praise
This is precious time spending here with You
Drawing near to You In worship and praise
May our lives be filled and our hearts be thrilled
With melodies Of worship and praise