A song for someone. "How long, O Lord, will you hide your face?"
I wrote this lament with a particular person in mind, but we all have times where it could be for us.
Written as part of the 2024 12 Song Challenge.
This song explores what a 'living sacrifice' can look like in our lives.
Inspired by the ‘Straight to the Heart’ Bible Study book on Paul’s Letter to the Romans where Chapter 12 breaks down what it means to be a ‘living sacrifice’ into three areas: living towards God, towards the Church, and towards others.
The items it highlights are each relatively small – faithful prayer, offering our gifts which may include hospitality, looking out for and humbly serving others in difficulty, both in and outside the church – but with our hearts and outlook focussed on God rather than ourselves.
Challenged with writing a song on one of the Fruits of The Spirit, I chose love. The focus is on the very well know scripture of 1 Corinthians 13, which is so rich.
This is a song about pressing in to God and following even when things get tough. Its a song of determination and faith based around 2 Cor 4:7-9 "7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." and Phil 3: 12-14 "12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Inspired by Psalms 23, He leads us to green pastures and streams of water, resting with Him, laying down our burdens before Him, and being picked up by Jesus once again. This is a soft and gentle song, a personal and encouraging song.
From the May 2024 Resound Worship 12 Song Challenge - a song that uses the words of scripture directly, This is taken from Psalm 34 (New International Version)