As we wrote about on the blog, we are currently working on the production of a new album entitled “Beholding.” But, starting now, we wanted to take the time to begin introducing the songs on the album and to give some background about why they were written. We also wanted to post an acoustic version of each song (and provide the sheet music, for those interested in singing it in their fellowship times with family or friends). This is how we normally play these songs in our home with our kids and it gives a taste of how we wrote the song melodically. The album version will have more instrumentation/transitions and will become a compilation of all of the songs brought together in one place. Some of you know some of the songs, some of you know all of them, there will be newer songs on the playlist, there will be some songs that we are reclaiming and rearranging. Ultimately, though, it is a group of songs that we are singing as a family about and to God and, for those who want to join with us in singing them, we hope this information will be a blessing to you.

To start this series on the reasons behind the songs and the lyrics on this album, though, I wanted to give a bit of context. As some of you already know, when we were worship leading we would fill out something called a Service Template. This was basically just a fancy word for spending some time in reflection and preparation on what would be involved in the upcoming larger group time. It wasn’t a complicated thing, it was just supposed to be a “journal entry” form that we would use to write out our thoughts on what would be involved during that worship leading time when the band would be playing - a study tool, so to speak, that focused on taking the time to process things, to get your bearings. We would sit down and think through what the passage was about and what the group time would be focusing on. How would we write that out and explain it in our own words? That would be written down in the overview section. What’s a question that comes up that we could spend some time discussing as a band to get our eyes focused on God’s word before we begin to play through the songs? Jot that down in the same place. How does the overview relate to the songs that we will all be singing? Give some reasons for how they tie into the main idea of the group time in the song order section. How do they relate to the synopsis that we took some time to write in our own phrasing? Are they relevant songs or just random? Well, writing that out would help you know for sure. If you are going to say something (though you didn’t need to, nor do I think we have to), is it going to be something that is redundant and random or will it actually point to that main idea, too? Write something down as notes to reflect on so you can mull over it in the days before. Not to say that something might shift (you might remove a song or have different wording for your talking point), but you would have a jumping board to spring off from, something to process prior to speaking from a rooted place of thought. And it wasn’t meant to be this thing that was done after the fact, scrambling to get it completed before the day - it was something to help with the prep. A way to ponder things, put things in your own words, fill in AS you were thinking through your song order, with the overview being the foundation and the song order flowing out of that, at that time. Kinda like those thesis/argument charts that you fill in before writing an essay.

All that to say - this is our Service Template for this album. These are the reasons behind these songs and why they fall under the title and theme of Beholding that this album is focusing on. This idea of looking to Him, delighting in who He is, in wonder of all that He has done, and, with that view before our sight, being rooted deeply in hope and overflowing in a joy that the world could never shake.

So, to begin, we want to expand. on this song that we have entitled “With All Your Heart and Mind.” This was written as a song of blessing for our children. There are not many times that we have written a song for someone else - I think, including this song for our two kids, maybe three or four times? - but in each circumstance it has been a song that has come out of a blessing that we have prayed for that individual. A way to say, now and going forward, know that this is what we are praying for you, this is what we are delighting in pointing towards when it comes to you.

After the birth of our daughter we had written a blessing to her for her first birthday and we did the same for our son when he turned one, as well. This song is a culmination of both of those blessings and it has become a prayer for them that we sing over them, now and for the future: that they would see His glory and that it would be a treasure to them, that His wisdom would guide them along their path of life, that they would find their identity in Him, that His beauty would take their breath away. It encompasses all that we pray for them throughout the day and say with them before bed at night. Because this focus on Him, that wonder in seeing who He is and what He has done for His people, and the joy that He desires for them to live in - this is a joy beyond compare that bolsters hope and gives a surpassing peace.

In the same way as “His Great Love For You” we wanted to include this song on an album such as this because, while it is a song written for another person/people, it is what we want to focus on and communicate through this album in its’ entirety: it is a prayer of beholding Him together as worshippers, a prayer of Him being first in our vision and first in that parent/child relationship as worshippers of Him, a prayer of looking to Him and our overflowing response of worship to what we see.

Song Lyrics

VERSE 1:

We have not ceased to pray for you

That God would open up your eyes

To see His stunning glory in His truth

Words more valuable than gold

Would your heart be filled to overflow

In joy-filled praise of Him

VERSE 2:

We have not ceased to pray for you

Would godly wisdom light your path

With discerning ears to heed His voice

Strong in faith, mature in mind

A house built firmly on the Solid Rock

That won’t be shaken

CHORUS:

Oh sing to Him, our Sovereign God,

Full of grace and truth

Oh sing to Him, our Faithful King

His promises assured

VERSE 3:

We have not ceased to pray for you

That you would see He is enough

Only beholding Him can satisfy

And bring rest to a restless heart

Joy isn't found in status, fame or wealth

But one who hopes in God

BRIDGE:

May His beauty take your breath away

All else is dim as He shines bright

With all your heart, with all your mind

Worship Him, the Lord our God