The sessions are back!  New tunes, covers, etc., etc., from a brand new “studio.” It happens to be my office . This is a new tune I wrote about missing a certain someone…

Download here.  Play here:Download audio file (Yours.mp3)

Yours

I am yours, you are mine
We belong to one another
When we hurt our hearts break
We run for cover in one another

BRIDGE
Though you’re far away know you’re never alone
And the night can seem so late
So much left unknown
But we’re at home in our heart’s warm embrace

BRIDGE

I am yours, you are mine
We belong to one another

Jesus told us that where two or three are gathered in His name He would be there. The problem is, most of the time we make Him sit in the back while we do our thing. This is a prayer that He would “stand up among us.”

That we would sit before Him while He reveals His power, His grace, His love, Himself.

Much thanks to my father-in-law, Keith Curlee, for teaching me this!

Download here.  Play here:Download audio file (Stand-Up-Among-Us.mp3)

Stand Up Among Us

We’re dry inside these walls of pride
Without You we’re empty
We’re thirsty from our vain pursuits
We long to drink of You
The weight of our sin presses down upon us
Driving us to our knees
We call out to You our God, Redeemer
Blessed is He who brings us peace

Stand up among us
Make Your presence known
Rise up within us
Set Your people free
In Your presence is where we need to be

To the fatherless be a Father, Lord
Show Your compassion
To the prisoner and the captive
Bring Your release
To those who cry out for Your mercy
That always seems out of reach
Holy Spirit come in power
Ignite our passion to believe

Stand up among us
Make Your presence known
Rise up within us
Set Your people free
In Your presence is where we want to be

The Lord is clothed in beauty and power
No one is like Him, He is great

Stand up among us
Make Your presence known
Rise up within us
Set Your people free
In Your presence is where we’re going to be
In Your presence is where I will be

Happy Autumn!!  It’s my favorite season of the year and it’s in full swing in New York City.  I’ve got a new song for you this week.  I’m always amazed at myself how I wonder if God will come through for me.  He has never let me down.  Ever. Be it finances, where to live, how to get there, what to do, how to do it, who to be with, how to meet them, it has made no difference!  He has always met every need in a way that I couldn’t have imagined before.

But still, I come across a situation from time to time and my flesh says, “No way this is happening.”  That’s such a lie. Lord, help me to trust You…to just believe — all that You require.

Download here.  Play here:Download audio file (Hard-to-Believe.mp3)

Hard to Believe

Why don’t I believe You
Why, You never fail
You always answer
So many stories I could tell
But the train runs Your schedule
Keeping perfect time
That’s what always kills me
I get restless, flying blind

CHORUS
You heal
You provide
You speak
And the fear inside me dies
You rescue
You protect
You orchestrate
And lives intersect
You’re everything I need
So why, every once-in-a-while
Is it so hard to believe?

You tell me, “Keep on asking”
Ask, seek, knock
I know You want to bless me
But my heart is solid rock
Could You plan some excavating
Digging out my doubt
Replacing it with faith
So I can trust my way out

CHORUS

Instead of trusting I keep trying
Run in place, forget the timing
Circumstance and speculation
Keep me in the dark
But Your lamp keeps shining
Illuminating shadows in my heart

CHORUS

Sometimes life can get pretty lonely.  It can feel like you’re the only person in the world — the only one who’s going through what you’re going through.  But  then there’s the truth that God knows me.  He knows everything that’s going on in my life and He knows what I feel.  I am known…

Download here.  Play here:Download audio file (I-Am-Known.mp3)

I Am Known

I’m a stranger in the world
Does anyone really know me?
I’m on the outside looking in
I just need You to show me
That what I believe is true
That You really care
Then quietly I hear Your voice
And I know You’re there

CHORUS:
I am known, I am celebrated
I am recognized, so familiar
You call me by my name
I am known, I am loved and accepted
And as I seek Your face
You wash me with Your grace
And promise me I’ll never be alone
I am known

That the God of all the universe
Even thinks of me at all
I’m like a tiny little leaf
But He sees when I fall
And He picks me up and sings a song
A song of mercy and kindness
No one else around, I know His heart
He knows mine and I am blessed

CHORUS

Better than I know myself
More than I could dream
But I don’t have to run and hide
His forgiveness covers me
Sets me free

CHORUS

I wrote this lyric after an amazing time of worship.  I had just read Psalm 17:8 where David says, “Keep me as the apple of your eye…”  It’s an incredible thing to know that, no matter what, God loves us beyond anything we have ever known.  As it declares in Ephesians, “…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

Download or play: Download audio file (You-Love-Me.mp3)

You Love Me

CHORUS:
I’m the apple of Your eye
You love me
I’m the object of Your desire
I’m lovely
So when I feel ashamed
Full of doubt and blame
I’ll remember You don’t change
You love me

I tend to feel unwanted
I tend to hurt sometimes
Overwhelmed by darkened clouds
With tarnish on the silver lining

CHORUS

I like to play the victim
Hide behind the pain
Slight manipulation
Smiling on my face

CHORUS

Kicking, screaming
Or frozen, unbending
You look beyond my tantrums
Meet my questions
With one answer

CHORUS

This week, I’ve got a wonderful worship song that I hope you’ll enjoy.  I love doing it in this slow, contemplative way.  I could sing it for hours! (thanks Harold Greene).  It was written by Kathryn Scott from the Vineyard in Ireland (we’re getting intenational here).

Download here.  Play here:Download audio file (Hungry.mp3)

New song this week written with one of my favorite people in the world, Anje Dowler, and Katie Dean.  It’s got a “James Taylor Moment” in the middle where the key goes up and I have to move the capo in a split second.  Watch for it .

Download here.  Play here: Download audio file (Fight-in-Me.mp3)

Fight In Me
Ben Ward, Anje Dowler, Katie Dean

You’re the cigarette I’m not smoking
You’re the whiskey I’m not pouring
Anymore….Why can’t I close the door

You’re the hit I’m not taking
You’re the judgment I’m not making
It’s not over yet…Too hard to forget

CHORUS:
I’ve got more needs
Than the comfort you bring
You hold my hand
But you’re not holding on to me
I’ve got some doubts
But I’m feeling my way out
In the end I believe
There’s still a fight in me

Maybe I fall too quickly
Maybe I’m my own worst enemy
It’s so easy…You never leave me

CHORUS

I’ll overcome where I’ve come from
Undo the damage I’ve done

CHORUS

Thanks to my friend Lani Brandon for letting me use her keyboard this week.  I wrote this tune after getting a few speeding tickets…seems I can’t speed without getting caught!

Download MP3 here.  Play here: Download audio file (Speed-Limit.mp3)

This past Saturday was our 11th anniversary so I did what any good songwriter does  [:) ] and wrote her a song. 

If you’re interested, the last anniversary song I wrote Olivia was “Like This” from my album State I’m In.

Let me know what you think!

Download the MP3 here.  Play here: Download audio file (11-Years.mp3)

A little change of pace this week.  I’ve played you eight new original songs in-a-row so I thought it would be fun to do a cover.  This is the first Garth Brooks song I learned to play.  It’s very James Taylorish so it fit me just right.  It was written by Garth and Victoria Shaw from the album Fresh Horses.

She’s Every Woman

Download | Play:Download audio file (Shes-Every-Woman.mp3)