free2worship.com

Psalm 6 "What Will God Do For Me?"

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2008-06-06T18:28:32Z

I love to read the Psalms and then paraphrase them in my own words. This helps me understand a little better what the Psalmist may have been experiencing and it helps me to see how he related to God. Today I read Psalm 6. Here's my paraphrase.

Psalm 6

O Lord, let Your anger cool down before dealing with me.
I've already brought physical agony upon myself.
Show me Your mercy and healing instead of Your wrath.
Even my soul cries out to you,
"Hurry God! Hurry! Save me!"
If for no other reason than this -
Because Your love for me is unfailing!
If I die, there will be one less set of lips to give you praise.

I am physically worn out from crying -
All night and all day I wrestle with these agonizing thoughts.
I can't see beyond my own pain and sorrow
Because my enemies and their acusations are in my face.

I will say to them, "Get away from me, you who do not fear God -
For the Lord hears the weeping of my repentant heart,
He hears my cry for mercy, and He accepts my request."
And all my enemies and accusers will be put to shame -
Running away with their tails between their legs -
To see such great love of God Himself for me.

Paraphrased by Dave Hill

David was experiencing something in his life that made him petition God to correct him with mercy and healing rather than in anger and wrath. It appears that David felt God's judgment on him was just and imminent and he is in agony over it both physically and emotionally. David's weeping and crying in sorrow most likely displays a heart of repentance in this Psalm and not just regret for being "caught" or found out. His remorse is evident.

David's enemies are of interest to me in this Psalm. Are these "foes" simply enemies of David that are by-standers observing how God corrects His children or are they perhaps what David is referring to as God's discipline on him with wrath? Perhaps it's not either/or but both/and. In either case, David's appeal to God's unfailing love is successful and God hears and responds to David's request to show mercy on him. Neither God's wrath nor David's enemies overtake him but rather David is overcome by God's unfailing love and the enemies are overcome with dismay.

Have you ever wondered what God would do for you when you don't deserve any favor - but you only deserve is His wrath and anger? Have you ever wondered if all the bad stuff in your life is just coincidence or if it's God's way of disciplining you? I have. And yet this Psalm declares that if we cry to Him for mercy that He will give it to us. Why? For no other reason than His unfailing love for us. Cry out to the Lord for mercy and experience His unfailing love.

Here With You

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2007-07-22T20:14:33Z

It was a rainy day and I was spending some quality time at home - alone. I'd recently received a wonderful gift from a friend - a Taylor classical guitar and I just couldn't resist the urge to take it out of it's case and do some finger picking. I sat down with it at the dining room table looking out the window as the rain was mostly recognized by the drops trickling in the street. I had detuned the guitar to an open 'D' or Drop 'D' tuning and began playing some chord progressions eventually stumbling onto this one. Soon I was humming a few bars of what was to become the melody.

It seems that there's something about a rainy day that just makes you want to evaluate life. Maybe it has something to do with the washing or refreshing of the earth I'm not sure. I began singing "I wanna live like I've never lived before; I wanna feel like I've never felt before." And this song was starting to take shape.

As we grow in our walk with Christ, one thing we eventually learn is that all of life should be viewed through the grid of our relationship with Him and the ever increasing knowledge of what we are learning throuh the Word and the Spirit. And so it was with this song. It couldn't just be a song about wanting to freshen life up because the grid I was looking through required something more, something deeper. The addition of the simple words "Here with You" satisfied the need. I want to live here with You, Lord, like I've never lived before; and I want to feel like I've never felt before, here with You, Lord. The second verse demanded an even more obvious statement to express the desire to see and know the Lord like I never have before while the rain itself became my muse for the chorus.

The song was completed in a few hours and this recording was made on that cold rainy day. Whether you just listen or sing along maybe the feelings of a rainy day will be brought back to you forcing you to evaluate life once again and even more make you desire a deeper relationship with our Lord who brings us the warmth of the sun even on cold rainy days.

I wanna live like I’ve never lived before
I wanna live like I’ve never lived before
Here with You, here with You

I wanna feel like I’ve never felt before
I wanna feel like I’ve never felt before
Here with You, here with You

Chorus
And when the days are cold and rainy
And there’s nothing that I care to do
I just want the rain to come
And wash away my troubles too
But when I look to You,
You’re like the sun that’s shining on my face
You warm the through and through
And all because of You’re amazing grace
And I wanna stay here with You.

I wanna see You like I’ve never seen You before
I wanna see You like I’ve never seen You before
Here with You, here with You

I wanna know You like I’ve never know You, Lord
I wanna know You like I’ve never know You, Lord
Here with You, here with You

Without You

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2007-05-14T16:48:35Z

I originally wrote "Without You" in 1993. I remember picking up my guitar and sitting back in a wingback chair. As I began to play I picked out the notes to the introduction then the melody. Being somewhat melancholy, the melody, more or less, dictated the words to me, "I don't want to live my life, Lord, without You".

It's not really any new revelation and there really aren't too many ways to say it. It's simple and to the point. It doesn't mean that I want to take my own life when I feel like the Lord's not with me or when I feel at my lowest; but it means that I don't want to do anything in my life without including the Lord in it.

He is my hope and He is my strength. Why would I ever want to pursue anything without the Lord? I hope this song encourages you to walk with the Lord and include Him in everything you do.

I don't want to live my life, Lord, without You
I don't want to dream my dreams, Lord, without You
'Cause when my hope is gone
And I don't want to go on
When my strength is gone
Lord, it's You that makes me strong

I don't want to live my life
I don't want to live my life
I don't want to live my life without You

Words and Music by Dave Hill
(c)1993 Dave Hill. Administered by free2worship.com. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

--------------------------------------------------

This newer rendition of "Without You" is simply a result of wanting to freshen up a song. As a songwriter there's always that desire to write something new. That's what makes me keep writing - wanting a new, fresh way to say something to the Lord. In this case most of the lyrics remain the same and the newness is simply in updating the melody a little bit. I've also added a new simple chorus that restates the truth of where my hope and my strength come from - from the Lord.

The song remains accoustic in nature. I hope you like it and that it will continue to encourge those who hear it to encounter the Lord in their everyday living.

I don't wanna live my life, Lord, without You
I don't wanna dream my dreams, Lord, without You
'Cause when my hope is gone
I don't wanna go on
And when my strength is gone
Lord, it's You that makes me strong

You are my hope
You are my strength
You are the One who makes me strong
You are my hope
You are my strength
You are the One who makes me strong

(c)1993, 2007 Dave Hill. Administered by free2worship.com. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

Everyday Everywhere

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2007-04-09T21:15:41Z

Everyday Everywhere is a song that calls for God's people to sing His praise right now, right here, wherever we are.

Psalm 33:3 says, " Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."

We always have a reason to praise the Lord. Whether we see Him doing something in our life right now or not, His word is right and true and He is always faithful. He is righteous and He is just, pouring out His unfailing love over all the earth.

David praised the Lord seven times a day according to Psalm 119:164. I like the way Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message, "Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right." Let's practice giving the Lord praise everyday and everywhere. He alone deserves our praise. "Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." Psalm 116:2

Nothing else compares to how You love me
I'm gonna love You, I'm gonna love You
No one else can do the things You do for me
I'm gonna praise You, I'm gonna praise You
My life could never the same without You
I never really lived a day 'til I found You.

Everyday, Everywhere
I'm gonna love You
Anytime, Anywhere
I'll praise Your Name
Everyday, Everywhere
Lord, I love You
Anytime, Anywhere

Right here, I love You, Jesus.
Right here, I praise Your Name.
Right now, I love You, Jesus
Right now, I praise Your Name.

Words and music by Dave Hill.
©2007 Dave Hill / Administered by free2worship.com/ASCAP.
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

Worshipping God For Who He Is and What He Does

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2007-03-22T19:58:36Z

God has been teaching me lately that He delights in making things opposite, that is, when it's for the better. God's nature is total goodness and He must truely enjoy turning things that are bad into things that are good. He must like things that oppose Him because through these things He's able to reveal to us His character and His power, and as He turns things around, usually for our benefit, we should not forget to turn ourselves around and worship Him and give Him praise for what He's done.

Consider the following truths found in God's Word: When we give away our lives for God's purposes we find life that is truely life in Him. When we give away our money for His purposes we receive blessings from heaven that we can’t contain. When we’re poor He makes us rich. When we’re weak He makes us strong. When we’re sick He wants to heal us. When we’re discouraged He wants to encourage us. We are sinners but He makes us holy. We deserve death but He has provided eternal life for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our God is a God of oxymorons. We are holy sinners. We are living sacrifices. If we make ourselves last He makes us first. If we humble ourselves He lifts us up.

How much more exciting the Christian life would be if we could learn to live and think this way all the time. Not by tearing ourselves down but understanding that we are His delight and that He wants to and will bless us and lift us up as we build others up and put them first. What an impact it would have on our prayer life too, as we understand that God is waiting for us to pray in faith believing in Him to turn the bad to good and turn around all things for His glory and as we look forward to praising Him for the things that He does.

I have a good friend who's been diagnosed with cancer. As I pray for God's healing touch on him I keep having one recurring thought and that is this. that I will praise Him when my friend is pronounced cancer-free and even lead a praise service to give God the glory. I'll always worship the Lord for who He is, but I want to give God an opportunity to be praised for what He does too. I'm looking forward to the day when I will worship the Lord for this one specific act that I'm requesting.

I must try living this way more often; always looking for opportunities to praise the Lord as He answers my petitions to help others and myself. My worship takes on a whole new meaning as I bring needs before the Lord in prayer and anticipate His answering them and giving Him praise for what He's done!

Tell You About Jesus

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2007-03-05T06:34:49Z

This is an interesting song from a lyrical perspective. As I wrote this song the lyrics that came to mind were "I just want to be the one to tell you about Jesus". The song art, show above, really communicates what I was thinking and feeling as I wrote this song. It's an evangelistic song that expresses the joy that we have in telling others about Jesus. While this song doesn't really fall into the worship song category or the spiritual formation category, it is a song of a spiritual nature.

All worship music has an evangelistic element as described in Psalm 40:3, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord". This song, however, is direct in it's evangelistic approach as the lyrics are directed directly to those who have not yet put their trust in Jesus as their personal Savior.

As you listen to and sing this song you'll also find that it does encourage us as believers to share the message of Christ with others. It could be especially effective sung by a children's choir or youth group.

I just want to be your friend
I just want to hold your hand
I just want to be the one to
Tell you about Jesus

I call you friend
Even though we're strangers
But there's nothing
Stranger than the love of God
So take my hand
And I will lead you closer
I wanna lead you
Closer to the face of God

I want to see you smile
To know that you're God's child
I want to be the one
To tell you about Jesus

Copyright ©2006 Dave Hill. Administered by free2worship.com/ASCAP.
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

He Talks With Me

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2007-02-02T18:04:16Z

Every morning I step into the shower and begin a conversation with God. I'm not planning my day at this point or even asking for a revelation of what He wants me to do today. Instead, I just talk to Him about whatever comes to mind. Like my pastor, David Daniels, said in a sermon a few weeks ago, when you're praying and your mind starts to wander, go ahead and chase that rabbit! If something's heavy on your mind then talk to God about it, whatever it is.

Have you ever had one of those awkward moments when you're alone with someone and you don't know what to talk about? You start out by asking some simple questions to get the conversation going before you know it you've found something of common interest and you're talking up a storm. That's the kind of conversation I have with God in the mornings. Sometimes it's slow getting started but once the conversation gets going it's hard to stop.

This morning, for some reason, my mind wandered and I began to think of that mind-boggling thought that God has been around forever! I know you've thought of it before too. You can only think about it for a short time before your brain starts hurting. What was God doing before Genesis 1:1? What was the universe like with nothing in it except God? Every question I think of leads to two more questions and soon the questions alone start seeming like an eternal list.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote that God "has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Because God has set eternity in my heart, something within me knows that eternity exists. And if eternity exists then I'm even smaller than I thought I was and God is even bigger than I thought He was.

David must have felt this way when he wrote "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?" In relation to the vastness of the universe I am so very small and all I really know is what I can touch and smell and taste and see. Maybe that's what David was thinking when he wrote Psalm 8, "taste and see that the Lord is good". In other words, "Look here! I know that God is real because I can taste Him and I can see Him!”

The scriptures teach that by believing through faith in God and in Jesus Christ as my Lord that I have been reconnected with my creator. I am His child. I have a secure future in Him. I have a relationship with Him. Whether I believe in anything else, I believe in God, and in Jesus, and in His Word. As I talk with God, I know that He's real because I can taste and see and smell and feel Him with my spiritual being.

This is the God I worship. The one true and living God. A personal God who is mindful of me and cares about me. So I'm content about not understanding eternity past because when this life ends I have all of eternity future to sit and talk with God.

My Christmas Tree

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2006-12-12T05:14:14Z

"My Christmas Tree" has always been a favorite song among those who have heard it, from people in the church I grew up in, through my college years, and still today. This is one of the earliest songs I've written. My high school band director and good friend, Jim Par-Due, suggested the title for this song and I took him up on the challenge to write something. The bridge was added several years later.

This song questions the significance of the Christmas tree as we know it today and proclaims that the cross or "tree" on Mount Calvery, where Christ was crucified, is the real tree that should be revered at Christmas time. As I wrote this song I discovered many similarities between the Christmas tree and the cross.

The star or angel on the top of the tree symbolizes the proclamation of the star and the angels that the Savior has come. The cross also proclaimed with a sign nailed to the top of the cross that Jesus was the Savior of the Jews.

The fir tree is said to have been used by a monk in Germany, because it was an evergreen and because of it's triangular shape, to teach people about the Trinity and of God's salvation. The cross reminds us of the death of Christ for our salvation, which was the Father's plan, fulfilled by Christ, and sealed in us by the Holy Spirit for all eternity.

Ornaments on Christmas trees were originally fruit, nuts, and berries that symbolized the return of life in the spring. Jesus claimed to be "the way, the truth, and the life" and his place on the cross was imperitive to fulfill His claim. The cross is our symbol of hope for life eternal in Jesus Christ.

In addition to ornaments, presents were often put in or on the Christmas tree. Jesus was put on the cross as God's gift to man, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
Continue reading "My Christmas Tree"

Everything I Need

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2006-11-26T00:18:26Z

"Everything I Need" is one of those songs I just sat down and started playing. It came at one of those moments when you realize "it's all good" and that God is in control. There was nothing spectacular that happened that day. There were no particular blessings or circumstances that put me in the mood to write this song. It was just a simple moment of recognizing Who God is and what He meant to me, in my life, at that particular moment. It was a recognition that everthing good in my life is a result of Him.

This song isn't teaching the "Prosperiety Gospel" when it says, "You give me everything I love". But rather this phrase is the final thought in a progression of thoughts. God gives us everything we need, He has provided us with everything we have, and everything that He gives us, and only what He gives us are the things we love! The song then goes on to state that everything we need, everything we have, and everything we love is found in Him, when it says "I need You, have You, love You." And the bridge makes it's perfectly clear, as we declare that "You! Are everything I need. You! Are everything I have. You! Are everythng I love".

The apostle James says in his book, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created (James 1:16-17). God is the Father of light, who gives us good and perfect gifts from above. James makes it perfectly clear that God is not the author of temptation, or sin, or death; but God is in stark contrast to these things.

Ron Blue, in the Bible Knowledge Commentary, says that the phrase "every good and perfect gift is from above" is actually a Greek poetic cadence that is literally translated "every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above." This is interesting in light of the context of James' passage being about temptation and the process of evil desires giving birth to sin and sin giving birth to death. In contrast to the process of death, God gives birth to us through the word of truth and He gives us good and perfect gifts so that we in turn will give birth to more "perfect gifts" through "every good act of giving" as God's gift of life is passed on to all who will receive it.

So what better reason could we possibly have to shout to the Lord, "You! You're everything I need Lord!" He has provided us life through His son, Jesus, and this good and perfect gift has been passed on to us through the ages. God alone is the source of everything we have and everything we need.

Fly With Me

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2006-11-25T00:53:33Z

Listen to "Fly With Me"!

I'm often surprised at how many people have only a partial understanding of the basic teachings of the Bible. Things like where we will spend eternity, what the role of the Holy Spirit is, and where Jesus is, right now, and what He's doing? God's Word teaches us that Jesus is physically sitting at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us and acting as our mediator to the Father. In I Timothy 2:5-6 the apostle Paul wrote, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men." And in Romans 8:34 Paul wrote "Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

"Fly With Me" came about out of this understanding of where Jesus is, and having a desire to physically enter into His presence to worship Him. And more than that, it is an invitation for others to come and worship Him with me. There's just something about worshiping the Lord together with others who share the same adoration for our Savior.

The lyrics of this song vividly portray what our eyes of faith see as we fly and soar in spirit into the throne room; Jesus, himself, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. There we kneel together as we worship our Savior and our Father.

While this is a song about bringing others with us into the holy of holies to worship, it's also about the intimacy that we have with Jesus and our Father God. This song doesn't just leave us on our knees in worship but it takes us directly onto the lap of God and face-to-face with Jesus as we caress his face and adore him who's love for us is unmeasurable.
I'm often surprised at how many people have only a partial understanding of the basic teachings of the Bible. Things like where we will spend eternity, what the role of the Holy Spirit is, and where Jesus is, right now, and what He's doing? God's Word teaches us that Jesus is physically sitting at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us and acting as our mediator to the Father. In I Timothy 2:5-6 the apostle Paul wrote, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men." And in Romans 8:34 Paul wrote "Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."
Continue reading "Fly With Me"

About Me

nospam@example.com (Dave Hill) — 2006-10-17T19:07:00Z

When I was about nine years old, my brother and I got some little portable AM/FM radios for Christmas; mine was red and his was white. Those little radios opened up a whole new world to us - the world of music. We were constantly changing the channels listening to all different kinds of music. We lived in the Chicago area at the time and somehow as we scanned the stations we almost always landed on WLS or WCFL.

My interest in music sky-rocketd and my dad brought home an acoustic guitar for both my brother and I one summer day. I imagine he was hoping those guitars would keep us entertained for the summer, but little did he know they would entertain us for the rest of our lives.

I remember learning my first chords and learning some songs from a songbook. I learned three or four songs and performed them for my mom and dad. "Red River Valley", "God Didn't Make Little Green Apples", and "The Witchita Lineman" were a few of the first songs I played and sang.
Continue reading "About Me"