Though the Thanksgiving holiday has passed and many people are now beginning to celebrate Advent, I have a gift to offer in connection with my gratitude to the Lord. Please find my latest new hymn words with tune in the following video.

A few years ago, while doing some intense personal healing work with a gifted counselor, God put several new songs in my mind, giving me both words and melodies. But until now, those songs have not been formally recorded.

That has changed with this month’s composing work. My dear Paul put in many hours to help flesh out and mix the instrumental parts for one of them. God knew I needed a helper who is especially gifted to help me share these songs with the world.

People often ask why we have to go through hardship and also may be tempted to think that no one else can really understand our own personal trials, scars, grief, or pain. But God always has some redeeming purpose behind our life trials. And only Jesus who suffered on our behalf truly understands our stuggles. He wants to meet us in our reflecting and remind us that He wants to broaden our perspective.

These were the fundamental thoughts that shaped my song called The Conversation. You can hear it and read the words in the video below.

Hopefully, we’ll record the other healing songs in the future. But for now, I pray this first one will bless your heart.

Nearly twenty years ago now, in the spring of 2004, I had a memorable experience that would later inspire the writing of my most recent song. At that time, I was teaching English to graduate students in northeast China. One of my students invited me to visit his family over a week long holiday we were always granted in May. He was from Henan Province, and it so happened that his father worked as a provincial historian.

I accepted the invitation, and we spent days driving to and fro around the area with the father teaching my all kinds of interesting background stories about each place via his son’s translating help. Though I got to see some sights that other people might find far more recognizable and impressive, such as Shaolin Temple, the place that left the biggest impression on me was Yuntai Shan (Cloud Tower Mountain), a part of the scenic wonders around Jiaozuo. It felt like less of a mountain and more of a canyon when we hiked it. And at the time we went, it was blessedly lesser-known and not overcrowded, as is so often the case with any scenic spot in China, especially during a holiday.

When we hiked to the bottom and walked along the rugged path on the valley floor, we came alongside a wide steam. The water was so clear, we could easily see the sandy bed, rocks, and small fish under the gently moving surface. A local man was sitting nearby, selling snacks from a small cart. He called out to us when we stopped to take in the sight. “Put your water bottles in and have a drink. The water is very refeshing!” We looked back at him and then at each other a bit dubiously. Where in all of modern China could we drink the water without first boiling it, mostly for safety also in an attempt to make it taste better? But at his ongoing insistence, we did as he recommended.

And that may have been the sweetest, purest tasting water I have ever tasted in my life, before or since. I could not believe how wonderful the flavor was, and I drank from and refilled my bottle twice before we moved on.

A couple weeks ago at church, I overheard one of our gifted pianists, Joshua, playing “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” I eagerly began to sing the second verse which speaks of the Living Water that Jesus offers so that the one who drank it later said, “my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.” Later that day, I woke up from a nap with a scrap of melody running through my brain, the sound of a rushing brook plotted out in note form. I dashed to the office to hammer out what was in my head. And then the words started to flow over the coming days as well.

Here is the new song Living Water, in a video assembled by my Paul who also used his talent to create all the instrumental background around my rushing brook note theme.

Be blessed, friends.

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”

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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.

To shouts of praise and smiles bright

Enters our Lord the city’s gate

What! Days so short have changed the minds

Of those who scream out His fate

They cry with hate, with blinded hearts,

For what God planned since time began

And thus the perfect Lamb knows such pain

For sake of we, the ones who’ve sinned

They weep while wrapping Him in cloths –

Faithful the few who follow still

And lay Him in a borrowed tomb,

They watch as door’s mouth is sealed

But, lo, to their great shock and joy

On this third day, He lives again!

Our Jesus crushed the curse of death

And stands, eternal life to give!

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.

* Daily Prayer *

In the light of morning

God displays His glory

And He pours His love

To cleanse my heart

Oh how I need Him

Need His bright goodness

In my mind my Guide makes wisdom shine

When the noon sun blazes

Let my soul sing praise

To the Lord whose strength

Gives me voice to speak

And let me also lift high His mighty name

When I face the trial, the heat, the pain

Evening falls now, dimly

Gloaming brings the stars

My Lord rules the night

As He has the day

So I will lie down

And find sleep in peace

For God will keep watch over everything

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

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

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

We live to praise You, show all Your truth

Guide us in goodness, make us more selfless

That in our actions, they might see You

2. Teach us Your greatness by what You cherish

Teach us to love what’s dear to Your heart

Show us the value of Your creation

Children to aged — precious they are.

(Chorus)

3. Teach us Your greatness so we will keep You

Rightfully lifted, source of our strength

Then when we shine Your light in the darkness

Yours will the glory and honor be.

(Chorus)