This is a song about pressing in to God and following even when things get tough. Its a song of determination and faith based around 2 Cor 4:7-9 "7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." and Phil 3: 12-14 "12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Written just before I started the 12 Song Challenge in 2024, this song has been used at Emmanuel Church Durham when we've had times of response to God, seeking to give ourselves to Him, be transformed for His glory and receive back abundant life.
Inspired by the words of John 10:10, this song explores aspects of the full life available to us through Jesus. Started at New Wine in 2008, it took several revisions at Resound events to arrive at the final version, performed at the first ‘Worship Songwriting Retreat WSR15’ at Wyedale Hall in June 2015.
This song was written in a time wherein I was so overwhelmed by grief that I couldn’t write songs anymore. Someone mentioned I could ask my pastor for a theme to write about. My pastor immediately knew: Romans 15:13. I studied Romans, read it in all translations I could find and then wrote this song. A song of hope when I felt no hope at all. But when I sang it to and in our church, I found I could sing it along very well. Now I hope this song will bring hope to others.
A song to sing together as a church community to remind each other to come freely to receive grace from God, whose thoughts and ways are above ours.
Written as part of the 2024 Resound Worship 12 Song Challenge.
What we see and live and experience in this life now is just a fraction of what God intends for this world. One day we will see it's restoration in full, but for now, we can call, pray and sing that into the brokenness of today.