God has been calling to mind my love for music and writing. He recently encouraged me to find my voice again. I’m a writer and a worshiper at heart. Whether it’s a song, a poem, a story, a blog… I love to weave words together in order to point people to their Heavenly Father.

Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

And Colossians 3:15-17 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

For today’s #ThoughtfulThursday, I want to do something a little different. I want to speak to you with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. I want to share some songs I’ve written, my collection of homemade psalms set to music. My hope is that they cause you to draw near to your Heavenly Father. Some of these lines were originally sung in His Spirit; some have been rewritten more times than I can count. Usually they start as an invading thought from Him and then we work on it together. They’re an overflow of a grateful heart, written after our move to Pennsylvania.

One is “finished”; the rest are a work in progress. ❤ 

Here With You

I know what to do

But you want me to be

Fully present with you

Waiting on your glory

 

From my head to my heart

Take me deeper still

Draw me in, pull me close

Call me to You until…

 

I am only Yours

And You’re wholly mine

We’ll dance forever

‘Til the end of time

If I put my hand in Yours

Would You show me how

To stay here with You

I am ready now

 

The chains are falling off

Your truth is shouting love

The lies are quieted

And I fix my eyes above

 

And I am overwhelmed

As You bring victory

I am overcome

As You whisper to me…

 

I am only yours

And you’re wholly Mine

We’ll dance forever

‘Til the end of time

If you put your hand in Mine

I will show you how

To stay here with Me

You are ready now

 

I just want to be, be loved by You

I just want to be, in love with You

I just want to be, be held by You

I just want to be, in step with You

I just want to be, be near to You

I just want to be, be one with You

I just want to be, be free with You

I just want to be, be here…

Here with You…

 

So my soul won’t you be

Be at rest again

He’s been good to you

And He will be to the end

 

Identity

You are near when I feel far

You are here when I’m unsure

You are close when I can’t see

You are with me, always with me

 

I am held in Your loving arms

I am safe near Your Father’s heart

I am whole ’cause of Jesus’ blood

I am free where Your Spirit reigns

 

The liar says I’m all alone

But You have said You are my Home

I’ll fix my eyes upon Your throne

And worship You forevermore

 

You call me chosen daughter

I call You Faithful Father

You call me blooming beauty

I call You Master Gardener

You call me pleasing vessel

I call You Perfect Potter

You call me favored child

I call You Holy Shepherd

 

Hands

You hold me in Your hands

There’s no where else I’d rather be

Fear has no place in here

Your love rushes over me

 

You hold me in Your hands

I am secure in You

You breathe Your life in me

I am at home in You

 

You wrap Your love around us

It changes everything

Fear has to go, it has to flee

It has no right, no place in me

 

Held

Held by the arms of the Father

Caught in the wave of His love

Kept in the hand of His mercy

He is good, He is here

 

Miracles

Do what only You can do

Do the hard work

Do the heart work

Nothing is too hard for You

 

Open up Heaven and pour it out

Do what only You can do

Do it Your way – surprise us –

So You get all the glory

 

Even if the answer is no

Even if the door is closed

You make a way where there is no way

And You open the right door in Your perfect time

 

You’re good – no matter what

You’re worthy – no matter what

 

Above

Hidden away in You

Nothing can come against me

 

My eyes are fixed on You

I will overcome

I will rise above

 

Set my heart on things above

I’m depending on Your love

 

Unfailing Love

I could never do a thing to earn Your love

I could never do a thing to lose it

My song will never end

For Your goodness knows no end

 

I will trust in Your unfailing love

I will rejoice because You’ve rescued me

I will sing to You because You’ve been so good to me

 

You hear every cry

You catch every tear

You answer each one with Your unfailing love

 

You meet every need

You hold me together

 

Make my eyes bright, give my eyes light

To wake me out of my darkness

To behold Your beauty and glory

I want to dwell in Your goodness

Aware of Your presence

Alive in Your love

 

I will trust in Your love

I will rejoice in my rescue

I will sing for all my days for You’ve been so good to me

 

Spontaneous

You have raised to life

What was meant to die

So we set our eyes

On Jesus Christ

 

Nothing in this world

Can satisfy

You are all we need

All we need to find

 

You are the God who hears

You are the God who sees

You are the God who knows

You are the God who cares

You are the God who heals

You are the God who loves

 

Father, Father

Bow before You

Lay it all down

Lay it all down

At Your feet

 

We cry Holy, Holy

Lord Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

 

You see me and You know me and You care

You hear me and You love me and You’re there

 

Here and There

Wherever I am, You are here

Whenever I go, You are there

I’m never gonna go where You’re not

 

Loneliness comes but the shadows are a lie

I know the truth, the Lord is in this place

His light shines brighter and overtakes the dark

 

I believe, help my unbelief

You are with me

You are always here

You surround me – You go before and You follow me

 

I’m in the midst of You

You’re in the midst of me

 

Even when I don’t understand

Even when I don’t know Your plan

You hear my cry

You remember Your promise

You see everything

And You know

(You’re a know-it-all so I don’t have to be)

 

In the water, in the river

In the fire, in the trouble

In the mess, in the heartache

In the broken, in the chaos

In the noise, in the quiet

In the joy, in the freedom

In the rain, in the sun

In Your presence, in Your glory

 

You’re always here

You’re always there

 

Coming Closer

The edges of Your ways

I’m stepping into grace

The wonder of Your heart

I’m leaning into Your arms

 

The beauty of Your love

I’m letting go of loss

The promise of Your peace

I’m standing in Your strength

 

I’m coming closer

I’m coming closer to You

I’m learning to rest in who You are

and who You say I am

 

I’m coming closer

I’m coming closer to You

I’m leaving the world behind

So I can draw near to You

 

| Photo credit: Ben White on Unsplash