My beloved Paul has always loved the chorus called “I Love You, Lord” which was written in 1978 and we both grew up singing. Paul asked me if I could write verses to go before that song’s chorus. After much thought, I came up with words and a melody for another short song that can be woven together with the chorus aforementioned.
Therefore, I now present what we call the In His Courts Medley. Here is the video that has both music and words, for your enjoyment and edification, and most of all for the glory of God.
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry with you and you be destroyed in your way; for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 2:12
This hymn for July is actually being posted at the beginning of August because July was such a full month. But as I was thinking over the past month about freedom, I was struck by the fact that true spiritual freedom is only found when we escape from our bondage of sin and accept Jesus as our best and dearest Master. In that theme, I decided to write new lyrics to the old him tune commonly known as Fairest Lord Jesus. Here are the words and below I will post a video as soon as it is finished.
“Jesus, My Master”
We were made to follow, we were made to worship but every soul has been led astray; Jesus is calling, Jesus is seeking our souls to take His Heaven-bound way.
Dark was the long night, darker still my heart’s cry when I would crave all that caused demise. Now I gaze higher, see my Redeemer who is my light, my soul’s true prize.
Vice, it has owned me. Sin, so enticed me. I lay them down to be put to death. His yoke is lighter, His heart is purer who fills me now with living breath.
Let us now serve Him, our fairest Master, Jesus the lamb who has slain His foe. His is the glory, who loved us fully, and freed us from the bonds of woe.
Today, I present another new hymn for others to meditate on and join in singing. It is especially based on words found in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. The tune may be familiar to some listeners as accompaniment for an old hymn called “Brethren We have Met to Worship” — and the lovely musical background in this recording was provided by my husband Paul to go along with my singing. The words of this new hymn called “Exaltation” are found in the video.
In a month of the year that is increasingly celebrated as Pride Month, may we have our minds fixed on Who should be exalted and the only real reason we have to boast. May we do what pleases Him and may seeking His heart and bringing Him glory be what shapes our pursuits and our source of enjoyment. Amen.
Another new hymn for this year had two-fold inspiration. One day at church, I learned that I would be teaching our youngest children about the Trinity in Sunday School this coming summer. About the same time, I heard one of our lay pianists, Joshua Ku, playing a lovely tune of an iteration with which I had previously been unfamiliar. When I asked him the name, he called it “Kingsfold.”
I learned from a bit of research that there are two different Kingsfold tunes. One known as the British tune, in 4/4 time, is beloved as the melody of “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” But the other known as the Irish tune, in 3/4 time, serves as melody to a lesser known but equally beautiful Fanny Crosby hymn called “O Love Divine.”
I am no Fanny Crosby, to be sure. But I felt moved to take that melody she had used and write new words to proclaim still-true basic points of how the Three in One is present in creation, in justification, and in sanctification. Below are those words and then a recording with accompanying piano by Brother Joshua and my dear Paul on bass. Be blessed.
Trinity
By three and one all things were formed
From the Father’s breath all worlds were born
At the Son’s command all things made new
In the Spirit’s move, our souls restored…
By three in one we’ve been redeemed
Our Father’s plan to set us free
His Son the willing sacrifice
Imbued with their own Spirit’s strength…
By three and one we grow in grace
The Father’s truth will light our way
The Son’s great heart increase our love
The Spirit teach wisdom every day
The Father calls, the Son sustains
The Spirit all our need translates
That we who have believed may find Him faithful all our days
As we begin observance of another “passion week” with this Palm Sunday, I would like to share my latest song with you all, in hope that it will bless you. I was inspired to write new words for the famous tune called “Jerusalem” by Parry. I know I am no William Blake (who composed the words originally set to that tune), but I wanted to write something that would summarize that terrible-wonderful week in a form at least remotely matched to the beauty of the melody.
So, I call my poem-lyrics “Week of Change” — you can find those words below along with two videos following. The first video is a recording of me singing these lyrics. The second is a recording of the original tune with words.
I recently heard an Icelandic hymn for the first time. The title is Heyr Himna Smidur (Hear, Smith of the Heavens). The text was composed in the 13th century, while the current tune was written several hundred years later.
The melody filled my ears and crept into my heart until I couldn’t stop humming it. I knew I had to write new English words for it…and I sat down to do so in less than an hour one afternoon.
Here let me share my own lyrics-song. Below that, you will find a recording of me singing it, followed by a recording of the original. Be blessed.
Here is the next song I have been inspired to write this year, this one with my own melody. We will work out more formal music later. But for now, I leave you with the words to “My Place” and a rough melody recording set to the nice video produced by my Paul (see video link below lyrics). This was inspired by my pastor’s recent teaching and life events that have reminded me of the sweetness of humility.
My Place
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul
But my soul has sought life separately in vain
I need His hand to lead me, His strong arm to guide
And by His side, I’ll see the light, I’ll praise His name
Only God knows every time I’ve fought against His higher ways
Only God gives strength I need to make each choice that I must make
My days are numbered
Every one I need God’s grace
He knows best and has prepared a path for me
I’ve been forgiven, yet I’m learning how to run
Not too fast or slow but at my Father’s pace
Lord, keep me in my place
He sets me at a table laden with fair
And He places me within a family true
In this beloved body, I’ve nothing to fear
Speaking, we teach; giving, we love — all for our good
We have been bought by our Lord who paid the price that we could not
We have been led to this place where we can trust the hand of God
In the year ahead, each month I want to share the lyrics to a new hymn I have composed, so that you might enjoy singing them in personal worship or with other believers in Christ. I may end up composing some of the music, but I will generally choose public domain hymn tunes so they are easier to learn. If you would like to share these hymns as a part of a church service or study group, I only ask that you give me credit for composing the lyrics. Otherwise, I am happy if they can be of edification to you and, more chiefly, glory to God.
Below are the lyrics to the first one, a piece called “Humbled by Greatness” which can be sung to the tune of “I Must Tell Jesus.” I was inspired to write these words today while listening to my pastor preach about Mark 9:30-50.
1. Teach us Your greatness through how You served us
Teach us to live in humility
Show us the way of love in our motions:
Quietly giving, joy in each deed.
(Chorus) You are the greatest, You are the highest
One clear, warm early fall day in 2019, I drove out to the far western end of my local metro area to visit some old friends. It was my first time to see them again in a couple of years, to visit their lovely new home, and to meet their first child. Once their precious daughter warmed up to me enough to sit on my lap, I paused to absorb the tenderness of the moment. The sun was streaming in at an angle that warmed us comfortably, and a soft breeze drifted through the rooms carrying the scent of late flowers and a cool evening ahead.
I thought to myself, “How sweet life is. Only God knows what lies ahead, whether easy or difficult things. But for today, I will cherish this goodness.”
The next three years held many restrictions, lockdowns, and limitations. They bore sorrows and struggles. But they also carried growth, opportunities, and blossoming love.
Today, after rain clouds cleared and a moderate warmth returned to the air, I returned to that beautiful house to meet those old friends once more. This time, I met their second child for the first time and reveled in the happiness of earning her trust through smiles. And this time, they met my husband.
And we savored the taste of sweet cake and warm drinks, and the flavor of fellowship under the sun’s kind gaze.
Winter will come, and the spring afterward. Every single time. But before it all comes the fall: when we pause to step inside and draw near, surrounded by the bounty of goodness given by our mighty God.
It has been a long time since I have posted something new. Life has taken stressful twists and turns. And in a time of readjusting and refocusing, I gained new clarity of what matters most and the meaning of my life journey.
A few days ago, as I drove home from my new job, I saw a woman in the neighboring car hang her arm out the window to swing up on waves of drafts and then back down again in that carefree way I recall doing during childhood summer car rides.
Over the hours that followed, I thought long and deeply about the posture of open hands and arms that should follow us through life. That inspired the following poem. I hope reading it now blesses you.
