The most special person in the world

You’ve been very good to me
Really you have
I can’t fault your kindness
Giving
Time
Patience
Grace with my mistakes
Your door wide open to me
You hug me when I come inside
A blanket to my sharp edges
Soft Warm Strong

You’ve listened to me with wisdom
We’ve sung and we’ve strummed
You’ve opened up your passion
Let me stay all day long.
But when a night like this comes
I’m no more favoured than another one
I remember you’re just a friend far from home
A man with his own damn worries
A miracle really
That you loved me so well
For a moment there I forgot
I’m not your son
I’m not the most special person in the world.

So thank you for listening
And letting me down
It hurts like an avalanche
I’m muffled in its wake
But hearing my heart as clear as a bell
I don’t need you to love me
Don’t need anybody who could love me so well
I forget it isn’t true
You’re not my dad
I’m not the most special person in the world.

I’m not greedy to want more
I’m desperate and weak
If I don’t get it properly I’ll turn out a thief
Wrenching kindness from any in sight
By show offs, hard work, sleight of tongue
My disbelief will grow
And you won’t get a chance to love me at all

Alone, yeah
And despairing
Until I hear the words
Only one can give
That I don’t deserve

“Tim, you’re my son”
“Yes, you’re the most special person in the world.”

Trying to write a praise song 2

‘Moses went up on the mountain (The LORD)’

Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God.
God said, ‘I love you. Come closer. Tell me what you want.’
Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, Lord.’
God stood there with him, passed by him, and thundered his name.
And this is God’s name:

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

The people were grumbling, and God went to strike them down.
‘How long will they spite me when I give them all they have?’
Moses said, ‘Think of your glory, Lord;
‘The nations have seen you release them, now show them your grace.’
‘Just like you said:’

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people Lord.
Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people.

David was ‘wanted’. An army came for his life.
He hid in the mountains with nothing but God on his side.
David said, ‘Show me your mercy, Lord.
‘Bring joy to your servant, come save me and give your strength;
‘For you are the LORD.

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

God said to Jonah, ‘Go preach to the superpower’.
Jonah just ran, til a storm and a fish turned him round.
The people said, ‘Show us your mercy, Lord.’
Jonah went crazy: ‘I knew you’d forgive them again,
‘Because that’s who you are:’

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people Lord.
Because of your great love
Forgive the sin of your people.

You adopted a people and saved us from slavery.
You taught us to love you and gave us all that we need.
And then you showed us your glory, Lord:
Although we kept sinning you punished your own son instead.
There’s no one like him.

The LORD.
The gracious and compassionate God.
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.
Forgiving sin and seeing justice done.

Because of your great love
We’re free; we’re free to enjoy you Lord.
Because of your great love
We’re free; we’re free to enjoy you.

Trying to write a praise song

A confession. In spite of all my 'too cool for school' attitude, I've actually wanted for a long time to write a praise song. That other people will sing. As a songwriter, you probably can't top that for good feedback.

However, although it is very easy to write a bad praise song (I know from personal experience), it is hard to write a decent one. And judging from most of what we wade through in church meetings, to write a really good one is very hard indeed.

This morning I managed to put words together for a song I’ve had hanging around for a number of months. I’ve got another I did recently as well. They’re probably the best bashes I’ve had at the praise song form. So that’s quite exciting.

I’d love to know what you think of them. Chiefly, would they help you praise Jesus? Is there any phrasing, ideas, approach that would get in the way of that? Obviously I’d hope there’s something beneficial in there, but I would like to get better so do point out any problems you can see!

Unfortunately I can’t give you an idea of the tune and accompaniment on here. Just imagine that it’s really good. Maybe I’ll play them to you sometime.

‘Cast your cares onto Jesus’
Cast your cares onto Jesus; he cares for you. (x2)
I’ll cast my cares on you Jesus; you care for me.

Don’t worry what you’ll eat or drink.
Don’t worry what you’ll wear or look like.
Don’t worry about tomorrow now;
Jesus Christ knows what you need.

If you thirst, come to Jesus and have a drink. (x2)
You’ll overflow living water from within.

Don’t worry about your pension plan.
Don’t worry how your life will turn out.
Don’t worry about tomorrow now;
Jesus Christ knows what you need.

If the birds don’t save, yet they never miss a meal;
If the flowers don’t need make up to appeal;
Then giving Jesus all your life, he’ll give it back a hundred times.
Just try.

If you’re weary come to Jesus, he’ll give you rest. (x2)
His work is easy ‘cause he carries all the cares.

Don’t worry you can’t do this job.
Don’t worry that no one will like you.
Don’t worry you’re not good enough;
Jesus Christ is all you need.

If the birds are unwaged, yet they never miss a meal;
If the flowers don’t need fashion to appeal;
If God would send his son to die;
Then what on earth would he deny to us?

Cast your cares onto Jesus; he cares for you. (x2)

Over a year later, I wrote a new song...

When you were only a child
From traffick I called you son

But the more I called you, Israel

The further you'd run

It was me who taught you to walk

I took you by the arms

And when you'd fall only my kiss

Would make you feel calm

And I'll draw you with cords of love

Til you get my point of view

I'll take this burden from your back

And crawl to eat with you

And you will choose to be slaved

Before you let me in

All your plans in towers of smoke

Just so I won't win

And oh how can I give you up

Or treat you as my enemy?

All my compassion is aroused

My heart is changed in me

I'll hold back the devastation

My anger burns to do

For I am God and not a man

Holy among you

And when you listen to my roar

You'll tremble home to me

I'll be your God and you my son

Just how you're made to be.

There is a man

There is a man who knows my mind
When I do not; and he designed
To taste my weakness, so that he
Could ever help and strengthen me.
With every choice he kept constrained
All his abilities and made
No moan for his afflicted time;
But crossed his life pursuing mine.

For I was sick and didn’t know;
Abused my neighbours, even though
I’d been so much abused myself -
‘Til I could think of nothing else.
And everything I stole from life
I locked away and called ‘my rights’
‘Til he who made this world living slipped
Into it poor to make us rich.

And I was still his enemy
When Jesus screamed in agony,
‘Forgive them’; and so it was done:
Exhausting death, he made us one.
His perfect life is mine; no power
Can ever take it from me now.
And I am longing to begin;
To take my cross and follow him.
To take my cross and follow him.