There is nothing we love more than to feel God's presence as we sing songs which praise Him. But there comes a time when we must also show God that we also celebrate and share His WORD through music which has a tendency to linger long after the example of Jesus' life may be be put aside as we go about our busy lives. I have learned that God seems to have the uncanny knack of filling those empty spaces as long as we make a start and earnestly strive do what we think would be His will. That’s just one of so many things I am learning about God I’m not sure how it works but that’s not for me to understand. That's another thing I have learned about God. However I think we're missing something. I think we're missing Jesus the Teacher. We all know that music can be an incredibly powerful medium. I prayed that God would both inspire and enable me to write music which was perhaps a little different from other praise and worship songs many of which have so incredibly inspired me. Such is my growing passion for this God who had in His perfect time given my life renewed purpose that I began to listen even more intently to the messages at my local church each week and to make notes as I listened. I made a commitment to composing appealing, singable songs which hopefully would get stuck in your head but which more importantly embodied the sentiments of God’s Word. I decided to call this venture : Your Word My Song. I was determined to listen more carefully each Sunday to God’s Word and became so inspired that I was able to compose seven songs which I trusted would reflect God’s message for our lives. Every song emanates from a Bible verse. Nevertheless I felt that I needed a special voice to sensitively and passionately bring these songs to life. As is so often the case when we put God first something usually happens when God is ready. Some dear friends from our church invited us to an amateur theatre production of My Fair Lady. It was a trip down memory lane and we enjoyed it so much. Near the finale of the production out onto the stage stepped a young man to sing. His most beautiful tenor voice was so captivating that the audience applauded spontaneously as one. I felt God’s timing. This was the voice I needed for my songs. This young man’s name was Alastair Cooper-Golec. He was just twenty one. After several attempts over many months I finally tracked him down and he agreed to come to our home and hear the songs which I had composed. I forewarned him beforehand that these were songs about God which to my relief he assured me would not be a problem. I showed him the lyrics. He loved them and related to them and asked to hear the music. I then played the songs for him thinking that he may perhaps (albeit with the utmost diplomacy) reject them and be on his way. To my delight he said he loved them. ‘When can we start recording?’ he asked. I was elated. We went on to produce seven songs on both CD and a DVD (for churches to play and perhaps sing during Offering etc) both of which include a Vocal and Instrumental version and alternatively an Instrumental Only version. Each song on the DVD features lyrics for singing on a screen enhanced by the most beautiful photography courtesy of Travis Easton (a parent of children to whom I had taught music) as each song unfolds. Every CD jacket includes lyrics. Whatever happens this has been an incredible learning curve and it simply feels good to play a part in getting God’s message out there in a world which seems in moral decline. Undoubtedly the most important thing we can do when we sing to God is to praise Him but perhaps we could as we praise Him also share His Word in song. Our songs should also refoect His teachings in the Bible. Jesus died for us. He atoned for our sins. We have felt His sacrifice and we must joyfully sing His praise. But Jesus taught us also by His perfect example how to live our lives. We have heard His teaching and we must honour Him by articulating in any way we can; especially perhaps in song; the things He has taught us. Sometimes a song makes the message linger on. WHEN I HAVE YOU reminds us that God is all that we need in order to lead a truly fulfilled life. JESUS' LOVE IN ME encourages us to love one another as Jesus loves us. Jesus’ love is unconditional and we should aspire to emulate this perfect unconditional love in order to encourage others to seek out Jesus. COMFORTER OF MY SOUL reassures us that when we can’t manage life on our own and we are not in control God is always there for us. We need only reach out to Him in prayer and we will in time be unconditionally comforted even though we may feel unworthy of His love. INTEGRAL TO THE VINE reminds us that it is only by really connecting with God everyday in everything we say and do that we can truly experience the fruits of His love ETERNAL WISDOM reassures us that God is all powerful and all knowing and that we should follow His Word without question. IN HIS PERFECT TIME encourages us when we are impatient for God to change something in our lives that as long as we live according to His will, things will change but only in His perfect time. IMAGES OF LOVE encourages us to look around us and truly see the grace and love of God in the everyday images of our world. To know that He created all that is beautiful and that even greater than this is His love for us. These are just some of the lessons which Jesus has taught me. I hope that when you sing and share the sentiments within these songs you too will feel that you are more earnestly praising Him.