Psalm 42:11/Come What May

Come What May is a song I wrote in the midst of us having our twin girls.  I’ll post later in the week more of the story behind the song.  This is a video we shot where Bee Guillory – a stud guy in our church – does a reading of the lyrics to the song and sums up the piece with Psalm 42:11.

This is a Psalm filled with hope in the midst of great pain.  We are in the midst of a series on surviving life’s disasters, and used this video on Sunday to set in Scripture the context of the song to help people tie the two (scripture/new song) together.  Hopefully as an element of worship this draws up back to the scripture, and gives us a vocabulary to authentically communicate pain and suffering, while maintaining the faithfulness of God – come what may.

 

Come What May

 

Verse 1:

this blessed assurance is rest for the weary
and strength for the weakness of man
prone to chase folly yet hungry for mercy
by grace you restore us again

Chorus:
come what may my heart will follow
come what may my song will be
i will sing of the cross where my dear saviour died
and trust in his wonderful name
come what may

Verse 2:
safely you lead me through shadows of danger
into cathedrals of love
Spirit imparting such peace everlasting
peace that is more than enough

Verse 3:
though i have questions that go without answers
my hope in you is secure
sorrow and pain fill my soul like an ocean
but Christ be my strength to endure

Top Ten Ways to Write Bad Worship Songs

Bob Kauflin has probably had the greatest impact on my life as a pastor and worship leader than anyone.  He has an invaluable web site for any worship leader called worshipmatters.com.  He posted an article today that is very beneficial to songwriters in the church today.  I often will get questions on writing worship songs – topics like accessibility, theology, melody.  There are many contributing factors to writing a worship song that communicates and responds to the truths of God.  Click here to get a glimpse of Bob’s seasoned approach.

Combative Songwriting :: I Will Sing

Often times in songwriting for congregational worship, there are elements of combative writing present.  Basically, in a culture that has so many confusing ideas regarding Jesus, it is important for churches to be singing songs that teach solid doctrine, while at the same time allowing for responsiveness.  We’re attempting to focus on the attributes of who God is, and shed light through songs on the truths of God.

 I wrote the song I will Sing with Michael Farren, the lead singer for Pocket Full of Rocks. This song is a simple declaration of who Jesus is by singing various truths from scripture.  Verse 1 speaks of him being the only name by which men are saved, John 14:6 says,  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (ESV) Verse 2 speaks of his presence in creation, and is fueled by the Gospel of John.  John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (ESV)   Verse 3 picks up with worship outlined in Revelation, with the saints and angels bowing down and lavishing worship on Jesus, the only one worthy to untie the scrolls. Revelation 5:9-10 says, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (ESV)

For a .mp3 and chart of this song, you can listen and download it free at worshipsource.com/mattb

I WIll Sing 

Verse 1: 

I will sing of the mercy of Jesus 

The name by which all men are saved 

Who laid down his life for our ransom 

The debt of redemption to pay 

 

Chorus 1: 

I will sing of the wonder of Jesus 

And the cross that he bore for our sin 

I will sing of the love that has conquered the grave 

And the day he he’s returning again 

 

Verse 2: 

I will sing of the power of Jesus 

Through whom all of creation was made 

Whose glorious light shines eternal 

And chases the darkness away 

 

Verse 3: 

I will sing of the beauty of Jesus 

I will join in the angels refrain 

Lavishing our adoration 

Of him with the loveliest name 

 

Bridge:

I will sing, I will sing

I will sing, Sing of the day he’s returning again