Graham Kendrick - Love Is In The Things You Make Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
Morning paints a rainbow across the sky
Soft rain in the pavement, all still shining
Taking time to watch the weather break
Love is in the things you make,
Oh, love is in the things you make.
I have seen the snow on mountains high
I have seen the seasons rolling by me
So I believe that love is in your hands
Oh, love is in the things you make,
Oh, love is in the things you make
Chorus
Love is in the way you're always near me
Love is in the way you always hear me
When I see the flash of lightning
Then I see your love is frightening
Love is in the things you make
Oh, love is in the things you make
So make me yours, now make me good,
love like all God's children should.
Help me now to give and not take
Oh, love is in the things you make
Verse 2
I have seen the seagulls sail us high
Danced the dappled days across the sky
I believe that love is in your hands
Love is in the things you make,
Oh, love is in the things you make
(Repeat chorus)
Video
09. Love Is The Things You Make - Graham Kendrick (HD 60fps)
Meaning & Inspiration
Graham Kendrick's "Love Is In The Things You Make," released in 1974 on the album *Paid on the Nail* (featuring Peter Roe), offers a profound reflection on the pervasive nature of divine love, not as an abstract concept, but as something tangibly woven into the fabric of creation and human action. The song begins by drawing our attention to the quiet beauty of the natural world – the morning's rainbow, the glistening pavement after rain, the majestic snow-capped mountains, and the ever-changing seasons. Kendrick suggests that in observing these wonders, we are not merely witnessing aesthetic beauty, but rather encountering the very essence of God's creative power and, by extension, His love. This perspective echoes the Psalmist’s declaration that "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1). The recurring refrain, "Love is in the things you make," becomes a powerful reminder that every aspect of existence, from the grandest mountain to the smallest detail, is imbued with divine affection.
The song then transitions from the observable natural world to the personal and relational, urging a deeper engagement with God's presence. The chorus powerfully articulates this, stating, "Love is in the way you're always near me, Love is in the way you always hear me." This speaks directly to the immanence of God, His constant proximity and attentiveness to His creation, a truth powerfully conveyed in Jeremiah 23:24: "Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord." The "frightening" aspect of lightning mentioned in the chorus, while seemingly a stark contrast to love, can be interpreted as the awesome, overwhelming power and holiness of God that inspires reverence and awe, a love that is not always gentle but is always sovereign and real. This awe-inspiring aspect of God's love is also hinted at in Romans 11:33, where Paul exclaims, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"
The latter half of the song shifts the focus inward, moving from passive observation to active participation. The plea, "So make me yours, now make me good, love like all God's children should. Help me now to give and not take," is a prayer for transformation. Kendrick is not content with simply acknowledging God's love in creation; he desires to embody it. This reflects the New Testament call to be imitators of God, as Ephesians 5:1 encourages: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." The desire to "give and not take" points to the selfless nature of God's love, a love that is sacrificial and outward-focused, as Jesus Himself taught: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). The song’s ultimate message is that true love, originating from God, is not only present in the world He has made but also calls us to reflect that love through our own actions and character, thereby making ourselves instruments through which His love can continue to manifest. The repeated affirmation, "Oh, love is in the things you make," serves as a beautiful and enduring testament to the divine imprint on all that is, and the potential for human lives to become conduits of that sacred love.