Behind the songs
Rise Up – MESSAGE TO A FRIEND
I had the opportunity to attend a prayer and intercession meeting held in Longwy, France. During the meeting the verse Ezekiel 37 came to my mind, and inspired by this, the piece was written. Ezekiel 37 says:
“The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me to and from among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”’ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army. Then he said to me: ‘Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” Therefore prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.”
The Waiting – MESSAGE TO A FRIEND
During the morning service at my church, a friend was sharing her testimony and struggles of losing her dad. Although she felt God didn’t answer her prayers to heal her dad, she could see how God used her dad to bless others even while he was in hospital. She spoke of how she and her family were able to share the gospel with other patients in the hospital. Her testimony was so real and honest and it really touched me. She mentioned the part of Jeremiah that says, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”.
But how many times we have been praying for something and it seems that nothing moves? But He is faithful and He never will leave us or forsake us. Out of this thought and remembering the verse in Isaiah 40:31, this tune was written. Isaiah 40:31 reads “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles”.
My People – MESSAGE TO A FRIEND
I wrote this tune quite a while ago. A few years ago, while people were arriving at church for a prayer meeting, I started playing the piano. While I was doing this, I noticed that some people were arriving looking a bit tired, others looked very happy, and others looked excited to see their friends. As I continued playing, the phrase “Arise Lord, your people need to see your power and grace today” came to me.
The meeting progressed and as one body we were filling the room with His praises. It seemed that all of us put aside the tiredness and busyness of the day. We were simply enjoying being in His presence. The phrase “I dwell in the praises of my people” came to mind. Out of all this, this song was written.
The Prayer – MESSAGE TO A FRIEND
I wrote this song while I was praying for a friend who was going through the pain and disappointment of an apparent nonexistent response from the Lord. One of his relatives has been suffering from an illness for a long time and it seems like after praying for healing for many years, still nothing has happened. This made me think about my own struggles and my own prayer requests, which seem not to have been answered.
We serve a mighty God whose power has no limit. And yet sometimes it’s so hard to see His mighty hand at work when dealing with our broken hearts. The pain and frustration can sometimes make us blind to what God is doing.
Thinking about my friend’s and my own situation, I wrote this melody thinking about the love of God, so faithful, so tender but so powerful. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love conquers everything, and moves mountains. He loves us with no reserves. He even gave His only son for us. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”.
Message to a Friend – MESSAGE TO A FRIEND
I wrote this little piece while praying for a friend. She was going through some challenges but I didn’t know what to say or how to pray for her. At home while praying for her this little tune was written.
Momentum – MESSAGE TO A FRIEND
During the last few weeks my family and I have been seeing some breakthroughs. At church we have been praying for healing and we have witnessed healings. Recently some friends visited a church in America and came back inspired by the things God is doing there. Out of my high expectations to see more of Him in my life, in the life of my family, friends and church; and with a heart full of gratitude for the things he has done, the things he is doing and will do, I wrote this piece. I don’t want to lose this momentum.