Just Another Melodic Monday - O Come All You Unfaithful

"O Come All You Unfaithful" is written by Lisa Clow and Bob Kauflin and is the first track to be released from Sovereign Grace Music's forthcoming Christmas album, "Heaven has come".  Here is information from the YouTube page, explaining the filming of the video:

This video contains people who are processing “O Come, All You Unfaithful,” most of them for the first time, in light of their own experiences. A stillborn child. A strained marriage. Feelings of shame. Legalism. Loss. Loneliness. Or simply having a heart that weeps with those who weep. We think seeing their responses as Lisa Clow sings communicates even more clearly that Jesus wasn’t born for people who have it all together. He was born for those who have nothing. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11.28–30, ESV) “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1.21, ESV) So come.

Just Another Melodic Monday: Christ our Treasure

Today's song is taken from the album "The Glorious Christ" produced by Sovereign Grace Music, and its simple words express an important truth: "Christ our treasure, there is none like you!"

Just Another Melodic Monday: Turn your eyes

I heard this song back in November at a Sovereign Grace conference for pastors.  "Turn your eyes" is an update of an old chorus, and the extra verses help us to understand what it means to look to Jesus in faith as we remember his death, his resurrection and his promised return.  

The song is on the latest Sovereign Grace live album, "The Glorious Christ".

Just Another Melodic Monday - Before the throne of God above

It's funny - I was just looking back over the Melodic Monday blog posts since I began them in October 2015, looking for inspiration for a song for this week, and I realised that there is a classic hymn that we haven't featured but one that has become popular over the last couple of decades.

"Before the throne of God above" was written by Charitie Lees Smith in 1863.  It's original title was "The Advocate" as the song expresses the role of Jesus Christ "who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (Romans 8:34).  It was given a new melody in 1997 by Vikki Cook from Sovereign Grace Music, and this acoustic version is performed by Mark Rasmussen and friend.

Just Another Melodic Christmas Monday - God Made Low

Christmas is coming!  So, I thought it was time to share some Christmas songs and hymns on the Melodic Monday blog post, not only for you to enjoy listening to but also to consider sharing with your church if the song is new to you.

"God made low" is written Jason Hansen and Bob Kauflin from Sovereign Grace Music.  It focuses our attention on Jesus Christ being the Immanuel, "God with us", which was the theme of the message preached last Sunday morning (which will be posted on the blog on Wednesday).

Just Another Melodic Monday - Come, Lord Jesus

With the Sovereign Grace UK Leader's Conference coming up in less than 3 weeks, "Come, Lord Jesus" is a simple song from their album "Prayers of the Saints" expressing the prayer of Christians that Jesus Christ would return and take all of his people to be with him in the glory of heaven.  One of the passages that the song is based on is Romans 8:18-23:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 

Just Another Melodic Monday - Good and Faithful Shepherd

The school holidays have just started!  It seemed appropriate, therefore, to have a children's song for this week's Melodic Monday tune.  Here is "Good and Faithful Shepherd" from the album "Listen Up!" by Sovereign Grace Music.

Just Another Melodic Monday - All Creatures of our God and King

I had planned to meet with Nathan Smith last week, Lead Pastor of Grace Church Bristol, but we had to postpone.  I first met Nathan at a Sovereign Grace Conference several years ago, and we've continued to meet up a couple of times a year to share news and encourage each other - while having a nice meal, of course!  You can visit their church website at gracechurchbristol.org.

Here is a song from Sovereign Grace Music that we sing regularly, combining words from the sixteenth and twenty first centuries!

Just Another Melodic Monday: He is our God

I had a great time last week at the Sovereign Grace UK Conference in Christ Church, Mayfair.  As well as some awesome teaching, we sang a couple of their new songs, which unfortunately have yet to make their way to Youtube.  Here, however, is another new song called "He is Our God", which is on the forthcoming live album, "Prayers of the Saints".

Just Another Melodic Monday - Reformation Hymn

Here is a modern hymn from Sovereign Grace Music, recognising the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the "5 solas": Scripture alone; Christ alone; faith alone; grace alone; and God's glory alone.

Just Another Melodic Monday - Make Me Wise

We sang this children's song for the first time last Sunday morning.  It reminds us of the importance of wisdom, and provides a great opportunity to explain to the young ones what it means to be wise!

Just Another Melodic Monday - Grace Unmeasured

Grace is one of the things we've been looking at recently in the Gospel of Matthew, so here is "Grace Unmeasured", a song from Sovereign Grace Music.

Just Another Melodic Monday - Show Us Christ

This song, from Sovereign Grace Music and called "Show Us Christ", recognises that God reveals His glory through the preaching of His Word.

Just Another Melodic Monday - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

It's December, so it seems appropriate to have some Christmas-themed songs!  Here is "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from Sovereign Grace Music's album, "Prepare Him Room".  The lyric have been updated, allowing the song to progress from Old Testament hope to New Testament reality.

Just Another Melodic Monday - O My Soul, Arise

We had a great time at the Sovereign Grace UK Conference last week.  One of the songs I hadn't heard before was "O My Soul, Arise", a hymn by Charles Wesley that has been given a modern tune.

Just Another Melodic Monday - Come Praise and Glorify

We recently were sent some Sovereign Grace Music samplers by Nathan Smith, lead pastor of Grace Church, Bristol.  We regularly sing songs from Sovereign Grace, and asked for samplers so we could give them to people in the church who weren't familiar with their songs.  This week, "Come Praise and Glorify" is our "homework", as we'll be singing it together next Sunday.

Friday to the Father - 11/3/16

Jesus said: "This then is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven...' " (Matthew 6v9)

Praise God for a good trip to Kidderminster on Tuesday to meet Nathan Smith, one of the pastors at Grace Church Bristol.  Brandon and I met Nathan through the Worship God UK conferences held in Bath (although this year, the conference will be in Bristol).

We had lunch at a lovely little restaurant called Le Petit Gare.  As we ate, we shared how God was at work in our different situations.  We were encouraged as we recognised how much we can give thanks for, and how God provides when we trust Him and follow His will.

After bringing Nathan up to speed regarding the gospel work in Welshpool, we asked him if there were any particular needs he wanted us to pray for:

Pray for the services being organised over Easter.  Grace Church Bristol holds an Easter egg hunt on Good Friday as a way of meeting people from the local community.  Please pray that this will be an effective way of building more bridges.

Pray that the gospel will be powerfully shared as the church gathers on Easter Sunday.

Pray also for the following Sunday, when the church will be holding an evangelistic family service.

Finally, pray for the Worship God UK conference being organised for September 2016.  Its aim is to encourage and equip church communities and church leaders.  Pray for Nathan (as he is one of the main organisers) and pray for us.  In previous years, Brandon and I have gone without our wives, but this year we really want to take them with us!  However, this will be tricky to organise, so pray that the Lord will enable this if it is His will.

Thank you for your continued prayers.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Just Another Melodic Monday - Lamb of God

We're meeting with Nathan Smith tomorrow, a pastor of Grace Church Bristol.  We first met Nathan at the Sovereign Grace conference he helped organise in Bath a couple of years ago.  Since then, he's met with me and Brandon on a few occasions to catch up and give us encouragement.

It's funny to think back over the last few years.  There was a point when I was struggling at work due to stress, and struggling at church due to a conflict with the pastor.  Brandon and I went to a lunch in Bristol, organised by Nathan, and we heard a message from Jeff Purswell, who serves at the Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville.  We were encouraged as the Word was ministered to us, and by the friendly fellowship we experienced afterwards.

Looking back, I know now that I was there looking for someone to rescue me from the painful situation I was in.  In the weeks that followed, I came to realise that Jesus was that rescuer, and that he would provide everything I needed as long as I simply trusted him and followed his will.

Now, in a different job and a different church, I recognise how blessed I am, and that the source of those blessings is God.  So tomorrow, as we meet with Nathan, I'll seek to be the encourager more than the encouraged!

It seemed appropriate, due to Nathan's involvement with Sovereign Grace, that I share a song from the latest album produced by Sovereign Grace Music called "Sooner Count The Stars".  This song, "Lamb of God", helps us to see the glory of Jesus as the eternal God who died to save us and will return to take us to glory.

Just Another Melodic Monday - Behold Our God

It can be difficult for churches to embrace modern songs as part of their corporate worship.  One reason may be a preconception that the lyric content will be dissatisfying; that the words will not allow our deepest expressions to come forth.

As a church, we've found Sovereign Grace Music to be a good resource for modern songs that are suitable for corporate worship, with lyrical content that is biblical, thoughtful and God-glorifying.  

"Behold Our God" is an example of that, and there are plenty more to listen to on Sovereign Grace's Youtube channel.  Visit their website at www.sovereigngracemusic.org and you'll find free music sheets and lyric sheets.

Just another Melodic Monday - Who would have dreamed?

From the Christmas-themed album "Prepare Him Room" by Sovereign Grace Music, this is "Who would have dreamed".  I love the thought that we could have held God in our hands - it reminds us of the human reality of the birth of God's son.  

There hasn't been an opportunity for us to learn the song as a church this Christmas, so hopefully next year!