‘When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”’
Genesis 28:16
Genesis 28:16
The Lord is in this Place
By Shannon Pederson
Each and every Sunday, we sing “Floyd’s Song” before our service begins. We know the song as “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place” but the songwriter has dedicated the song to Pastor Floyd Odom from Columbia, Mississippi, and always calls it ‘Floyd’s Song.”
Lanny Wolfe, American Christian music songwriter, musician, publisher, and teacher is a Grammy and Dove Award winner who has written and recorded many songs. Some of his songs are included in hymnals and many have been made popular by well known Christian musicians.
The song was inspired by Genesis 28:16, the verse at the top of this page. The next verse, 17, goes on to say, “And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” Imagine the excitement Jacob felt knowing God was with him and would always be there for him.
The song consists of a chorus, the portion we sing each Sunday, and two beautiful verses that accompany the chorus. As you read through the two verses the beauty of God’s presence is very obvious.
Each and every Sunday, we sing “Floyd’s Song” before our service begins. We know the song as “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place” but the songwriter has dedicated the song to Pastor Floyd Odom from Columbia, Mississippi, and always calls it ‘Floyd’s Song.”
Lanny Wolfe, American Christian music songwriter, musician, publisher, and teacher is a Grammy and Dove Award winner who has written and recorded many songs. Some of his songs are included in hymnals and many have been made popular by well known Christian musicians.
The song was inspired by Genesis 28:16, the verse at the top of this page. The next verse, 17, goes on to say, “And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” Imagine the excitement Jacob felt knowing God was with him and would always be there for him.
The song consists of a chorus, the portion we sing each Sunday, and two beautiful verses that accompany the chorus. As you read through the two verses the beauty of God’s presence is very obvious.
Refrain:
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angels wings.
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
In the midst of His children the Lord said He would be.
It doesn't take very many, it can be just two or three.
And I feel that same sweet spirit that I felt often times before.
Surely I can say I've been with the Lord.
Refrain
There's a holy hush around us as God's glory feels this place.
I've touched the hem of His garment, I can almost see His face.
And my heart is overflowing with the fullness of His joy.
I know without a doubt that I've been with the Lord.
Refrain
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angels wings.
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
In the midst of His children the Lord said He would be.
It doesn't take very many, it can be just two or three.
And I feel that same sweet spirit that I felt often times before.
Surely I can say I've been with the Lord.
Refrain
There's a holy hush around us as God's glory feels this place.
I've touched the hem of His garment, I can almost see His face.
And my heart is overflowing with the fullness of His joy.
I know without a doubt that I've been with the Lord.
Refrain
There is a story behind the writing of “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place” that will explain why Wolfe wrote it and how it is connected to Pastor Floyd.
In 1977, Wolfe, and his trio, were visiting the church of Pastor Floyd Odom in Mississippi. They were invited guests and they were relaxing and waiting for a church dedication to begin. “Surely the Presence” was born on the spot. The words and melody suddenly filled his heart and he quickly wrote it down. He taught the song to his trio, and later the audience because he performed the song that very day just a short time after writing it.
It’s the way the song has been used since then that makes you think God must have had more than one episode, not just the church dedication, in mind when he whispered the words to the composer that day. The song has been frequently used at mega-churches, by families who have lost a loved one, and congregations like ours who begin their service by recognizing the presence of God. We can feel the presence of the Lord—and hear the brush of the angel’s wings—and see glory on each face.
Wolfe was struck by how the song worked its way into his being because the song seemed to play such a memorable role in his life. It made him realize that a church is not a building; it is the people who worship there that make the church. “Surely the presence” captures that nicely. The only reference to the building is the phrase “this place.” The song shifts the focus to people, as in “each face” and “His children” and “two or three.” It’s a good reminder for all of us of the real meaning of “church.”
That’s why the recurring theme is about people and their senses – feeling, hearing, touching, and seeing. And, you can see how Matthew 18:20 was part of the basis for the song. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”
The next time we sing this song, remember why Wolfe wrote it and call it “Floyd’s Song” if you wish. He wrote it for you, for all of us who worship together and welcome the Lord’s presence.
In 1977, Wolfe, and his trio, were visiting the church of Pastor Floyd Odom in Mississippi. They were invited guests and they were relaxing and waiting for a church dedication to begin. “Surely the Presence” was born on the spot. The words and melody suddenly filled his heart and he quickly wrote it down. He taught the song to his trio, and later the audience because he performed the song that very day just a short time after writing it.
It’s the way the song has been used since then that makes you think God must have had more than one episode, not just the church dedication, in mind when he whispered the words to the composer that day. The song has been frequently used at mega-churches, by families who have lost a loved one, and congregations like ours who begin their service by recognizing the presence of God. We can feel the presence of the Lord—and hear the brush of the angel’s wings—and see glory on each face.
Wolfe was struck by how the song worked its way into his being because the song seemed to play such a memorable role in his life. It made him realize that a church is not a building; it is the people who worship there that make the church. “Surely the presence” captures that nicely. The only reference to the building is the phrase “this place.” The song shifts the focus to people, as in “each face” and “His children” and “two or three.” It’s a good reminder for all of us of the real meaning of “church.”
That’s why the recurring theme is about people and their senses – feeling, hearing, touching, and seeing. And, you can see how Matthew 18:20 was part of the basis for the song. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”
The next time we sing this song, remember why Wolfe wrote it and call it “Floyd’s Song” if you wish. He wrote it for you, for all of us who worship together and welcome the Lord’s presence.
“For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20