Many artists possess multiple influences and skills, but not every singer/songwriter/musician harnesses them at the depth and intensity Ricardo demonstrates on Moving Forward, newly released through Integrity Music. Roots like these are planted early and tended lovingly-and that's exactly how it was with Ricardo.
www.ricardomusic.com.
The Beginning Years
The youngest of Vicente and Fransica Sanchez's six children, Ricardo grew up speaking Spanish at home and English at school. He also grew up loving traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as American rock, pop, and R&B. Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Richard Marx, the Beatles-you name it. Ricardo's life was deeply multicultural long before he even knew the meaning of the word.
While music clearly seemed Ricardo's destiny from the time he began singing in his family band as a child at the age of five, something else even more significant was beginning to call and captivate him-and not something that typically attracts children.
Although his parents belonged to the local Catholic Church, Christianity and church attendance were not a part of the family's life-except for Ricardo. From his grade school through high school years, he'd regularly walk for miles from his house to church to attend Mass alone.
"I just felt the presence of God in my life, but I didn't know what it was," Ricardo remembers. "I didn't know how to explain it. I knew God was real, and something in me yearned for Him. All I knew was that Jesus was hanging up there on that cross, and I was supposed to fear God and go to confession."
A turning point in his spiritual life came in his freshman year of high school when a friend invited him to a Young Life meeting. Active in Young Life throughout his high school years, Ricardo grew in his passion for music as well as his knowledge of the Bible, and he wanted to draw nearer to the Lord. But despite his faithful lifelong church attendance, he still carried beliefs about Christ that stood in the way of a closer relationship with Him
"I thought I knew everything about Christianity already, until I went to a Young Life weekend retreat in my junior year," Ricardo says. "They walked us through all the Gospels the first night. Then the next night they talked about sin and Christ dying to pay for our sins. I had never made the correlation, and when suddenly I did, it literally rocked my world. I went outside and found somewhere I could be alone, and just broke down weeping."
"It became clear to me that I hadn't turned everything over to Christ, and that I had to have Him in my heart," Ricardo says.
Now, with his faith in overdrive, Ricardo began to clearly see the connection between his love of music and his love for God. Over the years that powerful combination eventually led him to work alongside Israel Houghton-a sought-after worship leader and Grammy-Award winning recording artist-and the two forged a strong friendship early on, and a musical partnership that exposed Ricardo to the realities of the recording industry. The two remain friends and co-writers to this day, with the most recent project being the new live-worship record, Moving Forward.
With the release of Moving Forward, Ricardo's spiritual and creative existence has taken on a high-octane flair.
"Often people get wrapped up in the idea of 'religion,' but lack a real saving knowledge of who Jesus truly is-just like I had been", says Ricardo. "I hope to carry the message of truth that Christ is more than mere religion and encourage people towards a deep and personal relationship with Him."
Albums:
"Unmerited" (2005)
"Oh What A God" (2006)
"Moving Forward" (2007) - Free Chapel with Ricardo Sanchez
"Power of the Cross" (2009) - Free Chapel with Ricardo Sachez
"It's Not Over" (2011)
Relentless
Ricardo Sanchez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will always be greater than my sin
it carries no limitation
the promise of your grace
Your love, your love
it take me just as I am I am
it melts all of my defenses
Your grace, your grace
Will always be greater than my sin
it carries no limitation
the promise of your grace
Your love, your love
it take me just as I am I am
it melts all of my defenses
the wonders of your love
You God are relentless with forgiveness how it covers me, cover
your grace is sufficient and its mission is to cover me cover
Your grace, your grace
Will always be greater than my sin
it carries no limitation
the promise of your grace
Your love, your love
it take me just as I am I am
it melts all of my defenses
the wonders of your love
And I love you Lord, and
you love me Lord, relentlessly
your love has captured me
The song "Relentless" by Ricardo Sanchez is a powerful worship song about the unending grace and love of God. In the first verse, Sanchez sings about how God's grace is greater than any sin we could commit, and there are no limitations to how much grace He can provide. This promise of grace is something that we can rely on to cover us in times when we struggle with sin and temptation.
Moving into the chorus, the lyrics shift to focus on God's love. The love that He has for us is unconditional and all-encompassing. It is able to break down any defenses that we might put up and truly capture our hearts. The repeated use of the phrase "just as I am" emphasizes the fact that we don't have to change who we are in order to receive God's love. He loves us exactly as we are.
The bridge of the song declares that God is "relentless" with forgiveness. His grace is not just something that covers us, but it actively pursues us and frees us from the guilt and shame of our sins. This grace is sufficient for all of us and is the mission of God's love.
Overall, the song "Relentless" is a powerful reminder of the depth of God's love and grace. It speaks to the heart of every believer who has been touched by the unconditional love of God.
Line by Line Meaning
Your grace, your grace
The unlimited compassion and understanding you have for me
Will always be greater than my sin
No matter how wrong I am, your love will always be more powerful
it carries no limitation
Your benevolence has no bounds
the promise of your grace
Your commitment to me never wavers
Your love, your love
The immeasurable fondness you have for me
it take me just as I am I am
You accept me for who I am with no need for change
it melts all of my defenses
Your passion for me breaks down all of my guards
the wonders of your love
The remarkable miracles you perform through your love for me
You God are relentless with forgiveness how it covers me, cover
You consistently demonstrate your mercy and cloak me in it
your grace is sufficient and its mission is to cover me cover
Your benevolence is more than enough and serves to protect me
And I love you Lord, and
I deeply adore you, and
you love me Lord, relentlessly
You cherish me with a fervent and unwavering adoration
your love has captured me
Your fondness holds me hostage in the best way possible
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Renesha Curry
on Celebrate
I can't find the Spanish part of the song on any of the lyric sites.