Have you ever written a song? It is truly a wonderful experience that I believe most everyone is capable of. Maybe you should try it? What would you write about? This song was written by Geri and sung by Catherine Lovett and our daughter Elisabeth:
You Have Come Into My Life Lord
By Geri Vandenbusch
You have come into my life Lord
You have shared your love divine
You have filled a great big emptiness
In this wondrous heart of mine
Now let me do your holy will Lord
Just as you would want me to
So that every day will be a joy,
Sharing every hour
Let me be your faithful child,
Help me walk that daily path
Knowing what you want of me each day
Guiding me along the way
There is only one thing that I want
It’s to show my love for you
By being kind and loving others
Just as you have taught me to
You have blessed me with your peace Lord
We are now in one accord
You have touched me with your Spirit
What a comforting reward
I know that I can never thank you
so I’ll live every day
Hoping I may touch another life
In a very special way
I know that you will never leave me
For you promised in your word
You would always be there at my side
If in you I would abide
So for the rest of my life here on earth
I will live for you alone
Until you take me up to be with you
On that great eternal throne
Aadd9
I sing for joy, in the shadow of your wings
Dmaj7
I cling to you, your love is unfailing
Aadd9
For you hold me in your arms secure
Dmaj7 E
Faithful your friendship will endure
You are the source of love we’re desperate for
You are the force, that awakens us to more
You gave your blood, our sin you overcame
In your love we remain
CHORUS:
F#m You are all that we,
D Could ever hope and we,
A Give our all that we,
E Could know you more ….. To know you more
And when I think of what a friend I’ve been to you
It is astounding that you’ve remained so true
But I am thankful, You’ve never given up
E
On me, O let me be, faithful to you
This song is for everyone who is going through a season of depression. I just coming out of one myself… hence the song:
Lyrics:
Holding out for Hope (You Carry Me)
A gridlock of confusion,
In the labyrinth of my mind
How did I end up here?
I lost all sense of balance
As I walked the wire of this life
As I tumble through the dark I feel you near
CHORUS:
You’re the reason, I’m holding out for hope
I’m trusting that your arms are catching me
You’ve given me, a reason to believe
May I never forget who carries me
You carry me, You carry me
What a comfort,
To know you never leave me
Though I’ve tested your love
I could never ask for,
A better friend than you’ve been
You’re more than I could ever (imagine) (dream of)
(CH)
BRIDGE:
And when I lose my way,
You’re there to save the day
You lift me up… when I am down
And as I feel you close
How you love me so
Jesus, You save me when I’m drowning
I recorded this song today after a nursing home concert on their piano. I have written a couple of songs on that piano so far. I like to hang out and just play on it for whoever wants to stick around and keep listening.
After the concert I felt led to go to Voyager park in DePere. I drove around until I could find a place to park in the shade for the sake of my guitar. As I parked and stepped out I saw a few guys fishing so I decided to go talk with them. They had guitars with them which we were soon playing and singing Johnny Cash. Dave told me he really liked Johnny Cashes version of Hurt.
“NO WAY!” I replied, “I just recorded a version of that yesterday and put it on Youtube!” (see previous post)
Dave then played a worship song for me that he wrote about surrender. It was awesome! Especially when Tony added a musical hook to the intro and was jamming some sweet lead lines throughout.
We exchanged info and it seems I found some new friends who I will probably work with musically in the future. Definitely more keen on changing band name to “Reflect Worship Collective” but I better discuss that with the rest of the band before announcing it just yet. I am excited!
Dave mentioned being involved with “Full Gospel Evangelistic Association“. I remember when I first came back to Jesus, one of the first things I did was to attend one of their meetings to share my testimony. One man there prophesied that Stephen (my brother) and I would be in ministry together. I didn’t see that happening. But then a year later I was driving my little brother to worship practice (he played keys) and sitting out in the audience during their practice.
Finally the worship leader said, “Hey, why don’t you come up here and play bass for us?”
“Ok” I said. After putting the bass on, I asked dumbfounded, “Ummm… what do you do?”
Within a month I was playing Sunday mornings with the worship team and that was my introduction into music ministry… with my brother.
I also realized that I have been keeping WAY too many God stories to myself. I will try to share more of them in future blogs!
Another God moment today: I had been needing to get a channel locks for my tool box and hadn’t gotten around to it. Well, wouldn’t you know it but I found one lying in the middle of the road today. It reminded me of the time I was driving around thinking about a lure for fishing. I imagined a silver minnow lure.
Later that day I got a coffee and “felt led” to go down a bank to a river side. When I got down there I looked up to see the exact lure I imagined hanging from a tree branch.
Do you have any God stories you want to share? Leave a comment!
“For when you gave your life, you gave my soul, it’s worth”
These lyrics are from my new Christian worship version (parody) of a Johnny Cash cover of “Hurt” which I called “Worth”. Enjoy and sing along to the lyrics below and continue reading for more about this song:
LYRICS:
“Worth”
I worship you my God,
For you have saved my soul
You offer me your blood,
You come and make me whole
And when I come undone,
When life has lost it’s sense
You’re there to show the way
A return to innocence
CHORUS:
What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
You have made us one,
And You’re with me to the end
So You could have it all,
My empire of dirt
For when you gave your life,
You gave my soul its worth
You spared no expense
To reconcile me
You gave your very best
So I could know your peace
I now stand redeemed
Bought back for sin and death
And now you’ve come so near
You’re closer than my breath
(CH)
…Yes now you call me friend,
You’ve become my hope,
My heart swells with joy,
A love I’ve never known
Here is another take I did on another guitar:
I have long enjoyed Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” (which happens to be his fourth most popular song of all time). But seriously, is it really edifying? Perhaps for the human element and drama and reality of a drug addict it presents, but I’d rather spend my time listening to music that brings redemption into focus. Wouldn’t you? So even though the music is beautiful I found it difficult to ever share it at the Nursing homes I play at given its original drug addict theme.
Given the fact that Johnny Cashes first love was Gospel music (he tried to start his career singing only Gospel and left Sun records so he could start recording Gospel) I trust this version has put a big smile on his face in glory and a nod of approval.
I absolutely love these new lyrics that came to me. I thought about starting with something that more people in the world could readily sink their teeth into to reflect how tragic most people’s existence is. I am mindful of all the criticisms Christian music gets for “not being honest”. I just read one the other day from U2’s Bono who is a Christian.
I asked myself, should I really start with, “I worship you my God”? Is that too trite? Not “honest’ enough for all the people who don’t connect with this?
The more I thought about it the more I reasoned that, instead of going backwards and writing that our meager and paltry experience of God has rendered us thus far, it is time to elevate our experience into glory and the heavens and join with all of creation and all the saints and angels in true worship to our LORD and God Jesus Christ… Who by his sacrifice has now made us friends.
Hey there friends! So, I am challenging myself and resolving to start recording and sharing some of my favorite worship songs everyday and write and release a new song a week as well. I am kind of using May 1st as a quasi New Year (the Biblical Jewish New Year just started the other day). Ever feel like you just need a fresh start at life? Start over with a clean slate? Yea me too. These days I’m looking for any reason I can to “turn over a new leaf” and start fully living the life I was meant to.
Here is this amazing worship song I learned today:
Sing along with the lyrics below (musician instructions below):
JESUS WE LOVE YOU
VERSE 1
Old things have passed away
Your love has stayed the same
Your constant grace remains the cornerstone
Things that we thought were dead
Are breathing in life again
You cause your Son to shine on darkest nights
PRE CHORUS
For all that you’ve done we will pour out our love
This will be our anthem song
CHORUS
Jesus we love you
Oh how we love you
You are the one our hearts adore
INTERLUDE
Our hearts adore (Last time end on )
VERSE 2
The hopeless have found their hope
The orphans now have a home
All that was lost has found its place in you
You lift our weary head
You make us strong instead
You took these rags and made us beautiful
BRIDGE
Our affection, our devotion poured out on the feet of Jesus
Our affection, our devotion poured out on the feet of Jesus
Our affection, our devotion poured out on the feet of Jesus
Our affection, our devotion poured out on the feet of Jesus
This version is in a more singable key for me (and perhaps you) than the original – I had to experiment a little and landed on the key of D. I put the capo on 7 instead of 4 as they do in the original.
Musicians! Here is the chord chart for this song relative to capo – useful wherever you may capo this song (at 4 for original or 7 for this version): JESUS WE LOVE YOU Bethel (key C)
Daniel Lovett 