“Prayer is appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give:
Long as they live should Christians pray;
They learn to pray when first they live.

“If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress;
If cares distract, or fears dismay;
If guilt deject, if sin distress;
In every case, still watch and pray.

“’Tis prayer supports the soul that’s weak;
Though thought be broken, language lame,
Pray, if thou canst or canst not speak;
But pray with faith in Jesus’ name.

“Depend on Him; thou canst not fail;
Make all thy wants and wishes known;
Fear not; His merits must prevail:
Ask but in faith, it shall be done.”

Joseph Hart

It’s a walk through the woods on a clear Autumn night
When you step into a clearing and you stop at the sight
Of a bright full moon in the shimmering sky
As it bathes all the world in its soft blue light

It’s the tense expectation ‘fore a midWinter’s dawn
When the sky is still dim but you know the morning’s come
And you stare at your breath as you listen to the song
Of the birds and the crickets as they welcome back the sun

It’s the earth’s vivid colors after showers in the Spring
When the grass and the trees seem to shine a brilliant green
And the flowers all just glisten from the water on their leaves
The Lion’s on the move, bringing life to everything

It’s the threatening approach of a violent Summer storm
When the thunder rolls then CRACKS and you would swear the earth was torn
By a awful bolt of lightning flashing beautiful and strong
Then the heavens’ floodgates open and you know the storm is on

It’s eagerness, but unease
Happiness, but apprehension
When your heart just can’t agree
On what it’s feeling
It’s the paradox of the seasons

–III

I seem to be especially pitchy on this recording. But it’s probably because the key I like playing it in is slightly too high for me to sing. Anyways, take a listen, if you like. And if you can judge it on the songwriting, not the performance, that would be cool. Lyrics below.

This evening I’ve been hit with a feeling
I’m not sure I like
And it’s leaving, leaving me weak
From the bleeding inside
But this feeling ain’t all bad ’cause it’s bringing
A change in my life
And the stinging is almost relief
‘Cause it’s healing up right

It’s the bittersweet pain of humility learned
When my self-esteem’s bane brings me down to the dirt
But the sharp pruning shears spare the harvester’s axe
And the crucible’s flames save from burning at last
(So thank you for the pain)

I’m losing all my rights to assuming
I’m doing just fine
I was fooling, fooling myself
And excusing my pride
Now You are removing all the thoughts I had of choosing
What I did and didn’t do with my life
Now Your love’s abusing all the sin that had been ruining
Every good thing that I’d tried

God, You are destroying all my arrogance and foiling
The confidence I put in myself
Like a snake You’re coiling I know there’s no avoiding
That you’ll choke out the flesh before it chokes out my joy

So for some reason or another Bebo Norman’s most recent album (which, oddly enough, is self-titled even though it’s his third) has really rung true in my heart/mind/soul, and I can really seem to connect with what the songs are saying, more so than with most whole albums from artists I like. Anyways, I wanted to share one of the songs that I’ve found especially true for me. It’s called “The Only Hope”.

I want to run, it’s my nature to run
And I want to fight, it’s my nature to fight
And I want to live, but you tell me to die
I have resolved that I’m much better off in your hands than mine

I’m begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to take my life from me

I want a crumb, but you are a feast
I want a song, but you are a symphony
I want a star, but you are a galaxy
And I have resolved that I’m much better off in what you have for me

I’m begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to take my life from me
So tell me you won’t let go
Tell me you won’t let go
Cause you are the only hope for me

Take my life from me, It’s the only hope for me
Take my life from me, It’s the only hope for me
And I’ll never want for more
I’ll never want for more

I’m begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to hold on tight
Begging you to take my life from me
So tell me you won’t let go
Tell me you won’t let go
Cause you are the only hope for me

You’re the only hope for me
Yeah, you’re the only hope for me

Well, I got a camera recently that takes HD video, and the sound is pretty decent quality too, so I decided to maybe start posting an occasional video to break the monotony of plain text from musings and quotes an such. Whether I do this with any consistency or not is yet to be seen. Mostly I’ll probably post songs through this medium, since it’s much less work than trying to record and edit demos in ProTools. However, this means that all the songs you hear will be complete with voice cracks and pitchy-ness and wrong chords/notes. So give me some slack when you listen to it. Anyways, here it is.

So Zach’s small suggestion to post your favorite hymn(s) which apparently got noticed started me thinking: why do people like hymns? I mean, I know more or less why I like hymns, but I wonder if everyone else agrees. So let us know what you think (or I guess, more like how you think). What makes you like hymns? And do you like original arrangements, or creative new ways of playing them? Or if you don’t like hymns at all, why not?

We want your thoughts.

Just as a little add-on to Trey’s Assurance of Salvation series he has recently posted, I encourage you to give the old hymn Blessed Assurance as listen. I’ve found it’s a great song to sing when I’m having doubts about my faith. (Though I would prescribe worship to any number of spiritual conditions…actually, all of them.) Anyway, here are the words:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

written in 1873 by Fanny J. Crosby

My favorite arrangement of this song is by Jadon Lavik, off of his CD “Roots Run Deep.” Here’s the recording, complete with lyrics and random background pictures. (I recommend the CD!)

What is/are your favorite hymn(s)?

This is the song I wrote based on Nehemiah 9 (obviously). Lyrics below.

God of our fathers and all of creation
Perfect in all of Your ways
Blessing and honor and glory and power
Belong to Your glorious Name

Through all our history You have been faithful to
Guide us and save us from harm
You have proved stronger than all our oppressors
(by) The pow’r of Your mighty right arm

As it once was, now let it be (we cry…)

Oh, let it be known: that you are the Lord of all of creation
Oh, let it be seen: that you have the strength to make everything whole
Oh, let it be plain: that you are the author of every salvation
Oh, let it be known: that you have the power to melt away, to melt this cold heart of stone

Lord, You continued in covenant love for us
Though we despised your commands
O’er and again we rebelled in our arrogance
Spurning the gifts from Your hands

Free from chains but bound by sin
So You broke us to heal us again (so we cried)

Oh, let it be known: that you are the Lord of all of creation
Oh, let it be seen: that you have the strength to make everything whole
Oh, let it be plain: that you are the author of every salvation
Oh, let it be known: that you have the power to melt away, to melt this cold heart of stone

Here we are now once again crying out to You:
“God, don’t You see our distress?”
Enslaved by a foreign king, taunted by enemies
Here where You promised us rest

(But) Lord, we believe that there is no disease
That the touch of Your hand cannot heal
Lord we declare that no demon can dare
Show his face before the Throne’s rightful Heir
Lord we proclaim that no shackles or chains
Are too strong for Your power to break
Jesus we trust in the power of Your blood
To bring healing to all of our pain

Oh, let it be known: that you are the Lord of all of creation
Oh, let it be seen: that you have the strength to make everything whole
Oh, let it be plain: that you are the author of every salvation
Oh, let it be known: that you have the power to melt away, to melt our cold hearts of stone

So I may have inadvertently recorded an acoustic EP in the studio today (yes, Trey, I did use that word here). It’s just vocals, guitar, and the occasional djembe.

Please don’t try to download the songs, wait until I release them. That helps me and you out by you getting the best version. Anyways, enjoy! Here’s the track listing for all you organized types.

1. Indecision

2. Tinted Glasses

3. Enough

4. Open Us Up

-Riley

A song I wrote today for how I’m feeling. Hate to put it before my larger post (which is in fact coming, all you hatespeakers!), but honestly felt really inspired for this one.

These are the trying times
The times that test the lines between obedience and faith
And these are the dying times
The times that show the growth and simultaneous decay

Sometimes you never know where you’ll end up
All you know is where to cling
And when your time’s all spent up
You’ve counted costs and laid down everything

So open our eyes so that we may see
Your power displayed in everything
Your love constantly intercedes
Open them up, open them
Open our mouths so that we may speak
Your words, they are merciful and meek
With power and courage when we are weak
Open them up, open them

These are testing times
Times that put our discipline and trust in Him to test
But these are destined times
Times that prove that God is God; Christ alone can conquer sinful flesh

Sometimes you never know where you’ll end up
All you know is where to cling
And when you’re times all spent up
You’ve counted costs and laid down everything

So open our eyes so that we may see
Your power displayed in everything
Your love constantly intercedes
Open them up, open them
Open our mouths so that we may speak
Your words, they are merciful and meek
With power and courage when we are weak
Open them up, open them

These are occurring times
Times that prove the battlefield is still a place of war
Oh LORD, may these be stirring times
Stir in us a passion for You and the world that shakes us to the core

-Riley