New Song In The Works

So I started writing this song a little over a year ago... and then I wrote another song called Kingdom of God in about 20 minutes, but inadvertently used a couple of the ideas from the other song to do it. Song #1 got shelved and Kingdom of God has become one of our most sung songs over the last year. But I still really like Song #1!

In seemingly unrelated news, we just started a six month worship leader training program at the church so I get to teach classes on Monday nights and Thursday mornings for that. There are about nine worship leaders and leaders-in-training taking these classes, which is really encouraging for the future!

There is something about training worship leaders that sparks my creative juices. It's probably the fact that I once again am teaching worship fundamentals, how to flow in the prophetic, and preparing to teach on how to write songs from the heart that we can use to worship Jesus together! Thinking about teaching others to write and lead stirs me up to actually model the things I teach and to see what God will stir in my own heart in this season. My heart is stirring ... and the song ideas are starting to flow.

Back to the song I mentioned a minute ago: It's based on the opening lines of the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father in heaven ... let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done." Several years ago I heard Brian Doerksen, a great Canadian worship leader, call the Lord's Prayer "The Sons and Daughters Prayer" because we get to call God our Father. I've latched onto it myself (which you can hear about in "Prayer That Works - Our Father In Heaven" at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/clark-fork-city-church/id390001111).

For now, I'm tying in three concepts in this song's development:
1. God is our Father, so we get to talk to Him as His sons and daughters.
2. He is a sovereign God who has chosen to work through us.
3. He has chosen to send us to minister to the world in Jesus' name.

The working title of the song is "Send Us" but it might change as it moves along! We'll see... I thought I'd post this so you can all see how I process through a song! Notice all the scribbles and ideas in the picture. Stay tuned!

Song notes Part 3

Revelation
words/music by Jonathan Meek

Several years ago our church was hosting a youth conference called “The Flood” and I was asked to write a song that expressed the heart of the event. “Revelation” was born. We are the reason Jesus left His majesty in heaven, came to earth and endured the torturous death of the cross. We were hopelessly separated from God so Jesus opened the door to relationship with Him. He did it for us; WE were the joy set before Him! Then, instead of simply demanding that we worship Him, Jesus reveals His love, His grace, His freedom and His kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy! Should we worship Him? Of course! But when we realize His love for us, it comes naturally. What a God!

Song Notes Part 2

Praise The Name
words/music by Jonathan Meek

God's Names in the Bible are myriad! He's called the Alpha, the Omega, the Bridegroom, Yahweh, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Ancient of Days, and many, many more. "Praise The Name" started as a song to celebrate some of the names and attributes of God and quickly developed into a celebration of our salvation in Him as well. Funny how that happens! As I was singing through the verses, two different ideas went through my mind. First, an image of heaven's throne room with giant golden gates swinging open to reveal Jesus, while everyone and everything stood in awe of Him. Secondly, Psalm 24 came to mind, where we are likened to gates that open to welcome in the Lord. When I sing the lines, "Gates of praise swing wide in welcome, every gazing eye upon Him," I still think of both heaven's magnificent throne room and God's people praising Him here on the earth. Our praise has immediate impact here, but one day we will all stand before God Himself and worship Him there! Wow.