Velasquez grew up attending church and her parents were singers. Her mother has Mexican ancestry; From both sides of her family, Velasquez also has Spanish, French, Jewish, Scottish, and Arabic ancestry.[1] When she was ten years old, her parents sold their Houston home and dedicated themselves to touring the United States with their Christian music. It was while on the road that she was discovered by a representative of Myrrh Records.
In 1995, Velasquez sang at an Alvin, Texas church (ESMIRNA) where she met Mauricio Ruiz, a local immigration consultant, as well as his wife, Flora Ruiz. They made a large contribution in support of Velasquez and her parents. This helped her and her family to travel the United States and launch her singing career.
Velasquez released her first CD album in 1996, and five of the songs on that CD became #1 hits, the album was later certified Platinum. She has since released six English-language albums, two of which were certified Gold. She has produced 16 #1 Christian radio hits and six other top 10 singles. She has won 7 Dove awards including New Artist of the Year and 2 Female Vocalist of the Year nods. In 1998, she signed to Sony Latin and was introduced to Rudy Perez, who produced her 1st Spanish language crossover album Llegar a Ti. After that, Velasquez was able to achieve the crossover appeal she desired, building a fan base among Hispanics as well as other Americans. Her Latin music success includes 4 Spanish language releases, 3 #1 Latin Billboard Singles, 2 Platinum albums, a Premio Lo Nuestro Award for New Artist of the Year and 2 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Velasquez was given a chance in 2002 to act in her first Hollywood movie, Chasing Papi. As well as Velasquez, this movie featured Sofia Vergara, Puerto Rico's Roselyn Sanchez and Mexico's Eduardo Verastegui, as well as Nicole Scherzinger in a cameo role; it was released nationwide in the United States in April 2003. The movie reached as high as #11 at the box office and grossed $6 million in total. Velasquez has appeared in over 50 magazines and sang for President George W. Bush multiple times.
On August 16, 2003, Velasquez married Darren Potuck, band member of AutoVaughn, who is from Goshen, Indiana. They were married under two years when divorce papers were filed. Attempts to get the public records of the divorce have been unsuccessful.
Velasquez communicated with Christian radio, asking for prayers for emotional and spiritual healing rather than speaking about the divorce in vivid detail as some listeners had hoped.
Velasquez appeared in the December 2003 issue of Right On! magazine, where editor Cynthia Horner called her, among other things, a true role model to teens.
---DISCOGRAPHY, SINGLES AND VIDEOS---
CG= Christian Gospel Billboard Chart
HLT= Hot Latin Tracks Billboard Chart
TB2: The Billboard 200
TLA: Top Latin Albums Billboard Chart
HDCP: Hot Dance Music/Club Play
-Heavenly Place (1996) TB2=142 Platinum
*Un lugar celestial (a heavenly place).video.#1 CG
*On My kness .video. #1 CG
*If this world #1 CG
*We can make a difference #1 CG
*Flower in the rain. #1 CG
-Jaci Velasquez (1998) TB2=56 Gold
*God So Loved .video. #1 CG
*Look What Love Has Done #1 CG
*Show You Love #1 CG
*Speak For Me #1 CG
*You #1 CG
-Llegar A Ti (1999) TLA=4 Platinum
*Llegar a ti .video. #1 HLT
*De creer en ti .video. #18 HLT
*Sólo tú #4 HLT
*Un lugar celestial #10 HLT
*Love Will Find You (Llegar A Ti)#24 HDCP
-Crystal Clear (2000) TB2=29 Gold
*Adore .video. #1 GC
*Imagine me without you #1 CG
*Center Of Your Love #1 CG
*Everytime I fall #1 CG
*Just a prayer away #1 CG
-Mi Corazón (2001) TLA=7 Gold
*Como se cura una herida .video. #1 HLT
*Dejame quererte para siempre
-Christmas (2001) TB2=102
-Navidad (2001) TLA= 23
-Unspoken (2003) TB2=55
*You're My God
*Jesus Is
*Lost Without You
*Where I Belong
*Unspoken
-Milagro (2003) TLA=24
*No hace falta un hombre .video. #5 HLT
*Es amor
-Protagonistas de la música (special appearance)
*No Me Rendiré with Pablo Portillo #19 HTL
-Mi Historia Musical (2004)
-Beauty Has Grace (2005) TB2=195
*With all my soul
*I'm not looking down
*Lay it down
-On My Knees: The Best of Jaci Velasquez (2006)
Sanctuary
Jaci Velasquez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
Of every man
It is you Lord
Who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength
With thine own hand
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you
Lead Me on Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
You holy spirit
Take away all my sin
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You
Jaci Velasquez’s song “Sanctuary” is a prayer asking God to prepare and make the singer a sanctuary for Him, by purifying her and making her holy, so that she can be a living sacrifice for Him. The lyrics are not only a prayer but also an invitation for God to make His home in the singer's heart and soul, to fill her with the Holy Spirit, and to take away her sins. The song speaks to how being a sanctuary for God is not an easy feat to accomplish, as it requires tests and trials to be refined, but the outcome of being a living and pure sanctuary for God is worth it.
The lyrics use images of holiness, purity, and thanksgiving, which are all significant themes in the Christian faith. The chorus repeats the phrase, “Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary/Pure and holy, tried and true/With thanksgiving, I'll be a living/Sanctuary for You”, emphasizing that the singer wants to be made into a place where God would dwell. The song acknowledges that it is only through God's strength and grace that anyone can be holy and pure enough to be a sanctuary for Him.
Overall, the song is a beautiful melody that speaks about one's desire to be wholly devoted to God and to have a personal relationship with Him. It highlights the importance of purity, perseverance through trials, and the ultimate sacrifice of oneself to be used as an instrument by God.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Asking God to help the person become a holy place where God can reside.
Pure and holy, tried and true
Asking God to help the person become pure, holy, and tested to be true in their faith.
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Expressing gratitude to God for all He has done and pledging to live as a reflection of that gratitude.
Sanctuary for You
Promising to live a life that invites God to make a home in the person's heart.
It is you, Lord
Acknowledging God as the ultimate savior of humanity.
Who came to save
Acknowledging that God came to earth to save humanity from sin and death.
The heart and soul
Referring to the entire person, acknowledging that God came to save every aspect of who we are.
Of every man
Acknowledging that all people are in need of God's saving grace.
Who knows my weakness
Acknowledging that God knows each person's individual weaknesses and struggles.
Who gives me strength
Acknowledging that God is the source of the strength and power that is needed to overcome personal weaknesses.
With thine own hand
Acknowledging that it is only by God's help that we can become better, stronger, and more holy people.
Lead Me on Lord
Pleading with God to guide the person away from sinful temptations.
From temptation
Acknowledging the presence of sin and temptation in our world.
Purify me
Asking God to purify the person's heart from sin and impurities.
From within
Asking God to purify the person's heart from the inside out.
Fill my heart with
Asking God to fill the person's heart with His Holy Spirit.
Your holy spirit
Asking God to fill the person's heart with His own divine presence and power.
Take away all my sin
Pleading with God to forgive and remove all personal sins and wrongdoing.
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Repeating the opening plea to be made into a pure and holy living sanctuary for God.
Pure and holy, tried and true
Repeating the need to be pure, holy, and tested in faith.
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Repeating the promise to live a life of gratitude to God.
Sanctuary for You
Repeating the promise to be a living sanctuary for God.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ilan Flaishler, Shmuel Flaishler, Ruven Flaishler, Rachel Emily Moulden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mugisha Stanley
I just love this song, It calms me down when the world wants to blow my mind away.
David Pottinger
Her version is really good I like her version!!! Love her version
Español Fam❤
I Love this !! God Bless the writer & singer of this Song.
Irenee Shubert
Legendary guitarist Randy Scruggs, son of banjo virtuoso Earl Scruggs wrote this. He passed away in 2018.
Mobster Saved by Grace
I love this song, it is truly a blessing to hear it being sung by someone with such a beautiful voice. I was just released from federal prison and that is where I first heard this song, by the prison choir.
alexis leah
I remember when my grandma would sing this song to me before i go to bed. love this song.
Maria Garcia-Borman
This is a powerful hymns and Jaci does a beautiful job !! God Bless Girl !!!
Rich Minds
What a beautiful song !!
jc gonzaga
And because Jesus is on our side forever and ever, use us lord as your instrument of your words to the people you want us to share your love... Be with us always oh Lord..
MIMI OB
Thank you, Jaci. I am a HUGE fan!