Guide Our Hearts, Lord

Evangelism. Mission. Prayer. Giving. Sometimes it all feels a bit like hard work, and i wonder when God is going to let me have a nice easy life after I've done my 'Christian duty'.

I wrote this song as part of an ongoing reflection of how I can find true satisfaction and joy in God by pouring myself out in love for others, like Jesus did. How to be a ‘Christian Hedonist’ as John Piper would say. I was prompted to upload this after hearing Matt’s rally call for passion to tell people about Jesus and world mission on Sunday.    

Lyrics:

Guide our hearts, Lord

Guide our prayers

In our worship

We bring ourselves

In view of your mercy on the cross

All of my strength

I place it here

Every offence

I Lay it here

In view of your mercy on the cross

Ch:

We awaken, Lord, To shine

The knowledge of Love Divine

In Jesus Hope revealed

in him our longings filled

v2:

Guide our hearts, Lord

Guide our hands

In the good works

you have planned

In view of your mercy on the cross

All my hopes

I place them here

The best of my years

I lay them here

In view of your mercy on the cross

(Chorus)

Bridge:

We place our treasures into your heart

‘Cause we want to go to be where you are

Growing compassion for this world you love

We look to your kingdom come!

(chorus)

rpt bridge

2nd chorus/ Anthem:

And forever I will dwell in the house

of my Father in whom all good things are found

(chorus)

I Am In You

Rather simple song, lighthearted and happy fare. Contains rare guitar solo!!

In one of the prayer meetings before the service I was inspired by the subject of the week which I think was God’s hospitality to us. On the way home these verses started forming in my mind…
The chorus came as a celebration that all these privileges come as a result of being in Christ. I found it interesting also that we are in Christ, we have been given a heavenly home, but also that God lives within us, we are the new temple(s) where he dwells. Jesus says in John 14 v20 ‘...you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.’
Also, I really enjoyed recording the clapping parts!

Lyrics:
How good it is to be loved by the King
How good to be given a home
How good to have all my sins forgiven
How good to be given brand new clothes

I am in you
I am in you
I am in you
thankyou Jesus
That I am in you

How good it is to be loved by the King
How good to be near Father’s throne
To be filled with joy in his presence
And from him, I won’t be told to go

(chorus)

Middle: Yes, he will keep us
Till the day of Christ Jesus x2
He has not left us as though we were orphans
He lives within us
He has made us his home.

(V1)
(Chorus)

I am Like an Olive Tree

Demo of a simple gospel song I wrote incorporating some of the (plant based!) contrasting images of the psalms.

Lyrics:
I am like an olive tree
My roots are in God
Grafted, planted
And rooted in love

I am like an olive tree
My roots are in God
Always to flourish
In the house of the Lord

verse:

Not so the wicked,
For they are like chaff
And when the wind blows
They will be gone
But Christ came to us
For sinners to save
And I am so glad
‘Cause that was my name

(rpt chorus)

Middle: Lord remember your great faithfulness
to our Fathers when they were in distress x2

Scripture refs: Psalm 52, Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17, Romans 11v17, 1 Timothy 1v15

How Great Thou Art- Becoming the Archetype

Metal Version of a classic hymn by 'Becoming the Archetype'- from the album Dichotemy.

I was reading the about Carl Jung and how the bible influenced his thinking. Don’t really understand it much but the ‘Archetype’ is a key concept.

‘The archetypal image is expressed…in the heroes of myth and legend but above all in the image of Christ “who exemplifies the archetype of the self”’

-From The Oxford companion to the Bible. 

Anyway thought I’d do a spot of googling on this, and happened across an interesting sounding band called ‘Becoming the Archetype’. I gave it a listen and discovered the band were Christians. I really like it so thought I’d share their version of ‘How Great Thou Art’.

I’m interested in this idea of ‘Becoming the Archetype’. It immediately reminds me of this scripture:

2 Cor 3 v18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I hear phrases such ‘being Christlike’ and ‘becoming like Jesus’, but after being repackaged into my small and limited ideas of God, a truth as big and grand as the universe (if not bigger), can become stale in the mental tupperware I keep it in.

Anyway I’m not going to try and do a bible study or anything, but I like what this band are doing.

Also, I read that this album is also inspired by C.S. Lewis ‘Out of the Silent Planet’ trilogy of books, which I’ve recently read and enjoyed.

So the song.. love it… or hate it?!

And any thoughts on the above?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smHoALlJqG4

Pour it out

A congregational song about the Holy Spirit!

I’m posting this by request of my friend (and fellow artistic type) Louise Wood:)

It’s the first track on an EP I recorded in ‘08 called “Let it be said”.  I should probably mention that you can find said EP on ITunes. 

This song is about how passion for God flows out from us and changes the world around us, because he’s the source of everything good.

Christmas Song

I wanted to write a song that touched on two of the big concepts of Christmas; the incarnation and Jesus' name of Immanuel. Both encapsulate so much in just a word much like Jesus himself as a baby having the fullness of God in him.

Christmas song

Verse 1
Incarnation, the mystery of God made man
You came to rescue me.
All your glory, you poured into a human frame
You came to set me free.

Chorus
And light -  that caused the stars to flame,
Created worlds, sustains all things -
Was captured in a baby boy,
Tiny fists and bright new eyes,
Looking out on a broken world

Verse 2
Immanuel, the wonder now of God with us
You came to be with us.
Calling us closer, the obstacles have been removed,                               
So we can be with you.

Verse 3
Life creator, standing on the solid earth                                                         
You came to make us whole
Love in nature Living in the dust and pain                          
You came to save my soul

Last Chorus
And light - that caused the stars to flame,
Created worlds, sustains all things -
Was captured in a baby boy,
Tiny fists and bright new eyes    (Pause)
Bringing hope to a broken world

There is a Place

Demo of new song

This song came out of a traumatic personal situation, where I found that at the time I ought to have been most anxious and afraid I was instead filled head to toe with the utterly supernatural peace of God. It’s found in Jesus!!
My lovely wife Emily on bvs

ps excuse the image!

Nothing But The Blood

Traditional Hymn

This is an old hymn which I have just been singing a lot in my own times of praise recently, and i think it is an awesome song which deserves a fresh version. The melody is beautiful, and the truth in the lyrics is unchanging and just awesome.

I know this recording is a bit raggedy round the edges, but I think maybe I prefer things that way anyway.

Hope you enjoy and are led to worship Him!

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my pardon this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my cleansing this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Nothing can for sin atone
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Not of good that I have done
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Now by this I’ll overcome
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Now by this I’ll reach my home
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Glory, glory this I sing
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
All my praise for this I bring
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

Together

My first song upload!

This is a song I wrote for the North 2010 camping weekend.  It’s written from the perspective of God speaking to his people (in Christianese, we’d call it a “prophetic song”).  I really felt to communicate the aspect of God as a jealous lover.  I’m captivated by this facet of his character, and I think it’s something that we can so easily miss, or just skim the top of. 

Here are the lyrics…

“TOGETHER”
Oh, you thought that you knew me
Through and through
But you’ve barely seen what I am to you
I’m the glory of kings, I’m the glory of kings
And the lover of the weak

You can’t earn my love by what you do
Cause you didn’t find me, it was me who found you
And you’ve stolen my heart, Oh you’ve stolen my heart
With one glance of your eyes

Don’t give me a lukewarm life
It’s never gonna be enough, It’s never gonna satisfy
I don’t want your duty, I want your love
I want you with a jealous fire, I’ve written you on my arms
Cause you’re the one my heart has desired

So come ride, come away, let me hear you sing
Oh my love, there is no shame in your longing
Oh I am yours, Yes I am yours
And you are mine

So come ride high with the clouds of heaven
Lift your eyes, and let them fall on me
Oh you and I will come together
You’re the song of my heart
And I’m yours and you are mine
I’m yours and you are mine

So come with unveiled eyes
Come, come, come
Cause this is the time of our love