I'm part of a worship songwriting group, the Resound 12 Song Challenge, which encourages songwriters to write a song each month. This came out of a challenge from March of 2023, whose theme was to write a song based on one of the more unusual Psalms. Psalm 65 jumped out to me, and this was the result. It's a simple song of declaration and an invitation to worship, so it works well as an opening song in a worship set.
This is a song written with my wonderful friend Keiko Ying. It was an attempt to write one of those simple songs of worship in the vein of those Cutting Edge and early Matt Redman songs that so impacted many of us back then!
I'm really pleased with how it turned out and the amazing job Keiko did getting the lyrics 'just right'.
Thanks also to Reuben and Eve who drummed and sang on the recording and made it much nicer to listen to!
Written at the Resound Worship Songwriting Retreat 2024. My aim with this song was to attempt to describe the might, power and majesty of God without making it about our experience or perception of Him. So often our songs define His value through what we see of Him, or how we have experienced Him. He's worthy of praise simply because He's worthy of praise.
A song to ignite memories of child-like excitement about Christmas and transform them into awe-filled wonder, focusing on the transforming work of Christ that begun with his earthly birth.
A complete remake of my song based on Psalm 46. It is written in a Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock/80's synth style. Like many Psalms, it contains elements of questioning, challenge and finally, faith. The calm choruses contrast with the wordy, stream-of-thought verses, providing a faithful assurance in our times of doubt and confusion. Note that this recording is in the key of F# while the printed music is in the key of F.
Reading the story of the Prodigal Son, I was struck by how the father hugged his son and gave him a coat, a robe. He restored his status, clothed him. Suddenly I was reminded of the soldiers who took away the robe of Jesus, God’s Son, when He was crucified. They cast lots to decide whose it would be. Jesus laid down His robe, His authority, His dignity, His status, for me to be clothed with garments of salvation and wrapped in a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). I was so amazed that I wrote this song.