A Songwriting Tip
Lying in bed this morning— in those drowsy, almost-awake, musings— I realized I was in my all-too-frequent pattern of mentally beating myself up.
Several stupid mistakes I had made in volleyball last evening bounced through my mind, mixing with other assorted 'failures' until suddenly a new song [see my iPhone screen-shot, above] came to me— all the words of the first verse arriving with the melody.
Lying in bed this morning— in those drowsy, almost-awake, musings— I realized I was in my all-too-frequent pattern of mentally beating myself up.
Several stupid mistakes I had made in volleyball last evening bounced through my mind, mixing with other assorted 'failures' until suddenly a new song [see my iPhone screen-shot, above] came to me— all the words of the first verse arriving with the melody.
Since the bedroom was unusually cold, and I was feeling very comfortable, I decided to jot it down on my iPhone, instead of getting up to write it down.
If you know your 'Do Re Mi's, you'll soon be able to figure out my code, and sing the song, if I add two explanations: 1.to show a higher pitch, use a capital letter— otherwise you're staying on the same note, or going lower to the next one. 2.each period after a note adds an extra beat. [It's mostly in 3/4 time, but not perfect yet.]
No, you probably won't need to use this trick often— scribbling a song onto paper, as in the photo below, is much faster. But sometimes you may not have pen or paper available, and you know if you go back out and mingle with the crowd you'll probably lose the song. And if a song is on your phone, it's editable, searchable, sendable, and always available.
But I hope you'll use this next tip every day of your life!
A Living-Out-Your-Christian-Life Tip
A few minutes later, in the shower, the rest of the second verse came, showing God's way of living, and I decided I should consider the song finished with just those two verses, and here's why..
As Christians, we have two choices. 1.We can 'live in verse one' of the song', crying out to a legalistic God who is too much like ourselves and the people around us— always striving, always failing, always with our sins covering our eyes... OR... 2.We can 'live in verse two' where God invites us to be always living out of His abundant holiness!
It's a choice. I can choose. Right now.
In which verse will we live? Which way really gives deliverance from sin? Which verse helps you live out your life expressing the power of 'Christ in you'— which one best draws men to new LIFE?
Verse One
Before Your holiness, I cry for grace, I hang my head in shame, my hands across my face; I cannot bear to be the shame of what I see— So would my unbelief still program me, still poison me.
Verse Two
Within Your holiness, I breath Your grace, I lift my praise to You, I see Your smiling face; How I delight to be what Christ is making me— so my obedient faith re-programs me, enlightens me.
Of course there is a time for us to live in verse one: it's when we first see our sins, or a sin, and are repenting. But we mustn't permanently camp at Mt. Sinai. Even 'Crying out to God for grace' (always waiting for Him to do His part) can be sin, if He is waiting for us instead to just say "Yes, Lord, I thank You right now for Your abundant grace, and I choose to walk in it right now, with rejoicing!"
If you know your 'Do Re Mi's, you'll soon be able to figure out my code, and sing the song, if I add two explanations: 1.to show a higher pitch, use a capital letter— otherwise you're staying on the same note, or going lower to the next one. 2.each period after a note adds an extra beat. [It's mostly in 3/4 time, but not perfect yet.]
No, you probably won't need to use this trick often— scribbling a song onto paper, as in the photo below, is much faster. But sometimes you may not have pen or paper available, and you know if you go back out and mingle with the crowd you'll probably lose the song. And if a song is on your phone, it's editable, searchable, sendable, and always available.
But I hope you'll use this next tip every day of your life!
A Living-Out-Your-Christian-Life Tip
A few minutes later, in the shower, the rest of the second verse came, showing God's way of living, and I decided I should consider the song finished with just those two verses, and here's why..
As Christians, we have two choices. 1.We can 'live in verse one' of the song', crying out to a legalistic God who is too much like ourselves and the people around us— always striving, always failing, always with our sins covering our eyes... OR... 2.We can 'live in verse two' where God invites us to be always living out of His abundant holiness!
It's a choice. I can choose. Right now.
In which verse will we live? Which way really gives deliverance from sin? Which verse helps you live out your life expressing the power of 'Christ in you'— which one best draws men to new LIFE?
Verse One
Before Your holiness, I cry for grace, I hang my head in shame, my hands across my face; I cannot bear to be the shame of what I see— So would my unbelief still program me, still poison me.
Verse Two
Within Your holiness, I breath Your grace, I lift my praise to You, I see Your smiling face; How I delight to be what Christ is making me— so my obedient faith re-programs me, enlightens me.
Of course there is a time for us to live in verse one: it's when we first see our sins, or a sin, and are repenting. But we mustn't permanently camp at Mt. Sinai. Even 'Crying out to God for grace' (always waiting for Him to do His part) can be sin, if He is waiting for us instead to just say "Yes, Lord, I thank You right now for Your abundant grace, and I choose to walk in it right now, with rejoicing!"
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