We got a new Canon 60D for filming video so this was a test run. I thought I’d record a little worship chorus that I wrote with Stephanie White around Easter. Enjoy!

Thanks to Gregg Farah for filming!

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

So today is the day for one of my favorite lyrics…

Now the first of December was covered with snow, and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston (James Taylor, Sweet Baby James)

Something about that picture, I know exactly how he feels for some reason.  Plus living in Boston for a few years helps .

———-

A couple more…

———-

…He said a good song never comes to those who chase, it comes to those who listen (Darrell Scott, My Father’s House)

iTunes Link

This is my theme for songwriting.  I think it applies to much of life as well.  Even as a believer, I need to quit talking and LISTEN!

———-

When you walk into the room you know we can’t resist. Every bottle of perfume always ends up on the floor in a mess (John Mark Mcmillan, Dress Us Up)

This is one of favorite worship lyrics of all time.  It references the story of Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus’ feet (John 12:3).  This is one of the purest expressions of worship in Scripture.  This lyric frames it in an entirely new way for me.

The iPhone pic below certainly doesn’t do it justice, but the moon was beautiful tonight.  It looked just like its description in one of my favorite old lyrics by Rich Mullins:

Well, the moon was a sliver of silver

Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a carpenter’s shop

I know it’s a little over the top, but I loved it and it taught me a lot about simile…I’m a songwriting nerd, I can’t help it!!

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

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

So, I like football movies…

I only played for a couple years, but I think back on that time with a lot of fondness.  Maybe because the practices was so incredibly grueling.  I know that seems weird…you are sure that you are going to die right there on the field from pure exhaustion…I remember being so thirsty that I would suck on my sweat soaked jersey.  But you don’t die, you get a water break and nasty garden-hose-pvc-pipe water tastes like Evian.  The feeling afterward of having accomplished something is nothing short of exhilarating.

So, back to  football movies…

I watched The Express recently and was reminded of something that I want to be a part of my life now: The head coach in the movie (Dennis Quaid) talks about how they can beat the other teams by being more prepared — by the quality they produce.

In my songwriting I want to keep pushing through until I have a song that is the absolute best it can be.  There is a part of music that is intangible and you can’t control, but the part I have responsibility for, I want to be exceptional.

In my singing and guitar/keys playing I want to play the best parts possible for me.  I don’t want to just play chords…I want to write parts that I have to practice!  (I can’t believe I’m writing this down…)  It doesn’t have to be complicated, just right.  Sometimes the simplest things can be the most beautiful.  But I don’t want to just settle for something because it’s just good enough.

In my  relationship with God I want to press on and experience all that He has for me.  I don’t want to just get by and know that I’m a Christian.  I want to know more of Him.  I want to see and hear things I can’t even imagine.  I want Him to use me to do great things.  What He designates as great — not necessarily what the world thinks is significant.  I want to see Him move and touch people and shower them with grace and mercy like He has throughout history…I want to be a part of great stories that people tell years from now.

So, yeah, I like football movies…how about you?