Growing up in a poor family living and hand-to-mouth in central Wisconsin, Glenn eventually gravitated to Milwaukee’s local music scene where he fronted over a dozen bands, and wrote and performed solo acoustic music-—all before turning nineteen years of age.
With his adolescence plagued by drug and alcohol abuse, Glenn got clean through following Jesus after a life-changing spiritual confrontation around his eighteenth birthday. During this time his music got heavier and in many ways, deeper. His former song writing motif celebrating drugs, sex and other vices gave way to lyrics about spiritual struggle, personal temptation, institutional sin, poverty, exploitation, racism, materialism and other issues that few musicians seemed willing to tackle.
Now, after more than three decades of making original music, Kaiser is known for his raw, bluesy vocals, fiery guitar playing, bottleneck slide and harmonica work on thirty recordings and innumerable live shows. Glenn and his family have lived in Chicago’s inner city for over thirty years doing mission work with people not unlike he once was. Kaiser has released several acoustic-based CDs between his electric blues and blues/rock albums. His seminal delta blues projects Trimmed and Burnin’ and follow-up Slow Burn (both with harp player/singer Darrell Mansfield) established him as a singular and authentic Christian bluesman.
Three contemporary worship albums, along with the folk-pop Time Will Tell, fill out the acoustic discography. Acoustic cuts also comprise half of Kaiser’s critically acclaimed Ripley County Blues project which was recorded in a log cabin lodge in rural Missouri.
Glenn’s most recent recording, the acoustic-based Bound For Glory features his unique arrangements of old hymns and spiritual choruses done mostly in the blues tradition he so loves.
Sanctuary
Glenn Kaiser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my heart and touch with mercy, Morning Star
Every perfect gift comes from You
Glorify Yourself in all I do
Spirit fill me to Your pleasure
Take me Lord
Hold me Lord
Every perfect gift comes from You
Glorify Yourself in all I do
Jesus, precious Prince of Peace
Take me Lord
Through Your blood I am released
Holy Lord
Coming soon complete the story
Where You are
To the Father's grace and glory
Morning Star
Every perfect love comes from You
Jesus, glorify yourself in all I do
Glenn Kaiser's “Sanctuary” is a soulful and uplifting hymn that centers around the theme of surrendering oneself to God's will and transforming oneself into a holy place where God can dwell. In the opening lines, the singer asks God to make his soul a sanctuary, a place where God can reside. There is a sense of humility in the request as the singer acknowledges that without God's grace and mercy, he cannot transform himself. The singer then asks Jesus to touch his heart with mercy and to fill him with the Holy Spirit to do God's will to the fullest.
The song emphasizes the idea that every perfect gift and love comes from God and that we should glorify God in all that we do. It encourages the listener to surrender their will to God and let Him take control of their lives. The song builds towards its climax, where the singer acknowledges that the story is not yet fully complete, but that it will be completed soon, and that God will lead him to the Father's grace and glory.
Overall, “Sanctuary” is a powerful and moving hymn that can inspire and uplift the listener. It reminds us that true peace and joy can only be found when we surrender ourselves to God's will and make ourselves a holy place where He can dwell.
Line by Line Meaning
Make my soul a sanctuary, where You are
Please help me create a holy space in my being, where only You and Your divine presence can reside
Take my heart and touch with mercy, Morning Star
Grant me compassion and kindness in my thoughts and actions, divine light and guidance
Every perfect gift comes from You
You are the source of all things good and valuable in my life
Glorify Yourself in all I do
May my every action and thought reflect Your infinite grace and greatness
Spirit fill me to Your pleasure
May the divine spirit fill me with joy and happiness as per Your will
Take me Lord
I surrender myself to Your will and guidance
Do Your will in fullest measure
I humbly request You to manifest Your divine will through me in all I do
Hold me Lord
Please embrace me with Your love and protection, for I am in need of Your comfort and strength
Jesus, precious Prince of Peace
You are the embodiment of peace, and I rely on Your grace to help me find serenity amidst the chaos of the world
Through Your blood I am released
Your sacrifice and mercy has liberated me from the burden of my sin and healed my soul
Holy Lord
You are divine, perfect and holy; I bow down to You with reverence and gratitude
Coming soon complete the story
I await the day when You shall come back to establish Your kingdom, bring justice and make everything whole again
To the Father's grace and glory
May I join You in the magnificence and blessings of heaven, and glorify our Father with You
Every perfect love comes from You
You are the source of all true love, and I pray that I may receive and spread it as per Your will
Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.