Rise Up
I received this song for our new Governor, Mary Fallin, first female Governor in our state's history...and a mighty woman of faith. It was my honor and privilege to lead worship for her pre-inauguration prayer service...where I sang this song over her.
To get an mp3 for yourself or to send to a leader in your life, go to http://dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2556jernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2556
Ministry in Tyler, TX
Join me for worship and ministry in Tyler this Monday evening,
January 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM. This is a Celebrate Recovery Ministry Time at
Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, TX…and it is open to the public!
Pre-Inaugural Prayer Service for Oklahoma’s First Female Governor, Mary Fallin
Yesterday I was privileged to lead worship and minister to a gathering of believers to encourage and pray for our new governor, Mary Fallin. I will just give highlights to keep it brief.
Melinda and I, along with children Anne, Asa, and our dear friends Danny and Joanna Dunlap, drove to OKC for the event where we were met by daughter Raina, her friend Chip and his parents, Grieg and Jeanna Songer.
I have known Mary since she was Lt Governor under Governor Frank Keating. Mary used to come to my monthly night of praise occasionally. Her humility and desire for Jesus impressed me greatly…making me even more proud to be an Oklahoman. A few weeks ago, her assistant called and asked that I lead worship for this gathering per request of the new governor-elect. How does one turn down a command performance? What an honor!
Mary’s home church (Crossings Community Church, OKC) and pastor, Marty Grubbs, hosted the event. I have loved this church for a long time because of their encouragement to me personally. An added bonus was the fact that the artistic director for Crossings, Dr. Jeri Edmonds, was my college vocal instructor. I credit her with honing my voice and giving me a vision for leading worship from the piano. She was one of the first I had ever met who could sit at the piano and worship…and still use amazing technique without even thinking about it! She is one of my greatest encouragers to this day. She tells me my technique is still solid and that I’ll be singing and worshiping when I’m 90!
After sound check, I went and changed for the event. At many events of this nature I am assigned body guards/security. Today I met three who personally attended to me and my family (I guess our rowdy reputation required extra personnel! LOL!). I looked at them and told them I thought they were sufficiently menacing-looking so they would be fine. They were so gracious and encouraging, one even telling me how my ministry had changed his life and the life of his entire church body. So humbling and encouraging.
Pastor Sharon Daugherty, Victory Chirtsian Center, Tulsa came and greeted Melinda and I and asked if I would play a song for the end of her blessing to the governor so she could sing. Handing me a chord chart to a song I had never heard before, I said ‘no problem’. Inside I was saying to myself, “Why did you say ‘no problem’, doofus?”
As we were escorted from our green room to the event, we were ushered to a specific seating area right up front. I was then led to a seat near the piano…and then Sandi Patty sat right down next to me. Our seats happened to be right in front of my mom and her sisters so they were in heaven. My mom opened the official program for the day, a very elaborate collector’s item, turning to the page with my profile. Leaning forward toward Sandi, she asked her, “Sandi, are you in this book?” I laughed so hard…because Sandy’s picture and profile are on the page opposite from mine! I said, “Sorry, Sandi. I think her attention was on the handsome dude on the other page.” Sandy was so hilarious, playing right along with me when my mom asked for a picture with her – scooting out of the shot and asking, “Are you sure you want me in this?” Made my day!
As the governor-elect entered, the everyone stood spontaneously and applauded for several minutes. So cool. Sandi began the program. Glorious way to begin. This church is full of talent – and Sandi is a member there!
My good friends, Mark and Virginia Taylor and Karen Everly sang an a Capela version of The Lord’s Prayer. More glory. Incidentally, this trio used to sing BGVs with me on my early albums and even traveled with me as part of my praise team. I felt like I was at home among friends.
Sandi then sang “Blessed Assurance” and “How Great Thou Art” with the choir and orchestra of Crossings Church. Standing ovation. Cool.
Sharon Daugherty then shared. As she concluded I went to the piano and played a song I had never heard from a simple chord progression she had handed me. This was a ‘Holy Spirit, HELP ME’ moment! She sang through the chorus three times – and we made it! So cool.
I stayed at the piano and asked everyone to stand in honor of the King. Asking ‘Are you ready to worship?’ the place stirred with excitement. I asked them how they would respond to an OU or OSU touchdown. The shouts went up. At that I simply reminded them of the One Who scored THE big eternal touchdown for our lives. They were ready.
My day had been spent worrying and fretting about what to sing. I had felt impressed of the Lord to lead in certain songs and to sing over the governor a prophetic song. As I did my sound check I saw they had a list of requested songs they would like me to perform as a medley. My fear was that I would be seen as rebellious or headstrong. As I began to sing in obedience ‘You are my strength when I and weak. You are the Treasure that I seek…’ the fear was absolutely gone. The people filled the room with glorious worship to the Lord out of grateful hearts.
We then went right into “Here in Your Presence”. I knew this would be a stretch since it is a relatively unknown song…but they proved me wrong. By the end of the second chorus they were singing like they had sung the song their whole lives! By then there was a corporate sense of God’s presence in a profound way.
From this point it only got better! As I began the first line of “Who Can Satisfy My Soul” the people were charging ahead without me! I love those moments when it feels like the horse you are guiding is ready to run free…so I let them go where they would! This was a most glorious moment…to know my state leader was worshiping the King of Kings unashamedly with all these people who were committing to pray for her…priceless.
After this song, I asked everyone to be seated. I looked at Mary and told her how proud I had always been to be an Oklahoman…never leaving the state…raising my family here…and now to see a godly woman taking the reins of leadership. I told her how proud I had been of her and of our state whenever she would come and worship with me during a Night of Praise. I told her how the Lord had given me a specific song – a word – just for her. As I began to sing the following words, many of her advisors began to weep (I heard from many of them afterwards).
Rise Up
Words & Music: Dennis Jernigan
For Mary Fallin, Governor of Oklahoma
January 4, 2011
Verse
You have dared to dream a dream
Leading to reality!
Open up your eyes
Embrace all you can see!
Walk in deep humility
This is your identity
Laying down your very life for those you lead.
This is your destiny! This is your destiny!
Chorus
Rise up! Rise up and be!
Rise up, embrace your destiny!
Rise up! Rise and believe!
Rise up and dare to live your dream!
Rise up! Rise up! Rise up!
Embrace your destiny!
Verse
At times you'll walk a lonely road
But you will never be alone!
Every step along the way is where I'll be!
Live your life for all to see.
Walk in great integrity,
Laying down your life and serving those you lead!
This is your destiny! This is your destiny!
Chorus
Rise up! Rise up and be!
Rise up, embrace your destiny!
Rise up! Rise and believe!
Rise up and dare to live your dream!
Rise up! Rise up! Rise up!
Embrace your destiny!
Bridge
Rise up and spread your wings
And soar to heights you've yet to see!
For such a time as this
I call you to your destiny!
Your destiny!
Chorus
Rise up! Rise up and be!
Rise up, embrace your destiny!
Rise up! Rise and believe!
Rise up and dare to live your dream!
Rise up! Rise up! Rise up!
Embrace your destiny!
As the song ended, there was a reverent hush…and I asked everyone to stand and remember all God had done to get them to this place in their own destiny…and began to sing ‘For all that You’ve done I will thank You..’ and the place was electric with God’s presence.
After my portion, the Governor-elect stands to greet the crowd. After a few moments of sharing, she turned to me and, in front of God and everyone, told me that she wanted me to be the worship leader for her prayer event…that she had been ministered to by my music through many hard times in her life…that before any debate or speech she encourages herself – pumps herself up – by listening to Jernigan music. Then she told me why the song “Rise Up” had affected her so much. Before deciding to run for governor, she had a dinner with her husband and children, telling them she knew her first calling was as a wife and mother…and needed to know their thoughts on whether she should run or not. Her daughter’s response? “Mom, this is your destiny.” The words of the song were right in line with what she had felt the Lord had called her to – and why her staff was so moved! What a blessing…and what an answer from the Lord to me concerning some personal spiritual battles I have been fighting (Can I hear God? Am I still relevant? Etc.). I am so thankful the Lord put me in Oklahoma…and so thankful for so many of our leaders who follow Jesus…so grateful.
I enjoyed sitting with pastor Marty Grubbs (they should NEVER let us sit together…we had too much fun) and talking with him.
Near the end of the service I was asked to come back and sing “I Bless You” over the Governor-elect. POWERFUL…so powerful.
After the service, the Governor-elect stayed until every last person that wanted to meet her or have a picture with her had gone. Amazing woman. Amazing woman of God…the REAL deal.
I met so many wonderful Oklahomans after the service and stayed as long as the Governor did greeting people. I loved this time. I also got to meet a hero. Anita Bryant came to meet me telling me she felt many had been set free and ministered to during my leading. I asked her if she knew my story. She had not heard…but was so thankful to know me once she knew of my deliverance. She was ridiculed and booted out of an amazing career as a former Miss America and pop star simply because of her willingness to stand against homosexual sin. This was an added blessing for me…and yet another wonderful blessing for my mom and her sisters since Anita was such a big deal during their younger days.
After the service I felt such a huge relief as the burdens I had felt before the service were now gone. Melinda and my family, along with the Songers and Dunlaps, stopped for a late dinner then drove home through the snow, thanking God for a most wonderful day.
Please pray for Governor Mary Fallin as the Lord brings her to your mind. She needs our prayer and support…whether you are from Oklahoma or not!
Blessings,
DJ
