Hi all!

Hows your week going?

I’m writing you from Missouri where I’m on a songwriting retreat. I came here to work on songs over Christmas, and am now back here finishing them and making demos. Weather is always a funny thing – it seems so bizarre that I had breakfast with my friend Willy in San Diego today, a block away from the ocean, with sunshine and palm trees. Then I had dinner with friends in MO, walking into their house through snow and ice on the front lawn!

Just found this video on Youtube – it’s from a TV filming I did in Canada recently. Hope you enjoy it. The TV  show is called “100 Huntley Street” and it reaches 1.5 million viewers per week.

I found the song on someone’s Blog. They wrote the Blog entry about my song, which really encouraged my heart! This is what the Blogger wrote – her website is here if you want to check it out. This is what she wrote:

“I heard this song two nights ago when trying to fall asleep. Typically I listen to a CD rather than the radio because I like to wake up to quietness (well, besides my alarm), but for some reason I had my radio that night.

This song came on. I was in awe. I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but never like I heard it two nights ago. I couldn’t remember the name of the song when I woke up, so I e-mailed the station and just got an e-mail back telling me the artist and title.

“Jesus, my passion in life is to know You”
- I was so taken by this. It has been a long day, and I had been frustrated because other passions were getting in my way. My sight was clouded and I was confused.

“May all other goals bow down to
This journey of loving You more”
-I was so glad to hear this line! I was able get all those other passions to go away!  I literally wanted them to bow down to my real glory, joy and passion-Knowing and loving Jesus more

“Jesus, You’ve showered Your goodness on me
Given Your gifts so freely
But there’s one thing I’m longing for
Hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life”
- It was my heart’s cry. I wanted Jesus, I wanted Him to be in the forefront on my mind and life.

“Above all else
Above all else
Above all else
Give me Yourself”
-I was about to cry listening to the chorus of this song. It’s so beautiful and simple and Vicky Beeching has a very sweet voice.

“Savior, the more that I see Your beauty
The more that I glimpse Your glory
My heart is captured by You
Jesus, You are my greatest treasure
Nothing this world can offer
Could ever compare to You
So, hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life”
-So pretty, so amazing, so true, just what I needed to hear.

This is one of my top songs and I think I will print it out to be my prayer for  while “

It’s so encouraging to know the songs I’m writing are making a difference… that excites me as I work on these new songs…believing and trusting that somehow they too will help people connect with Jesus!

Ok….A theological and songwriting type-question for you now!….

“What themes do you think are missing in today’s popular worship songs, songbooks and albums??”

Share your thoughts in the comment section…. For example, if you are a worship pastor what kinds of songs do you struggle to find for your church? What events in the church calendar are lacking good songs? perhaps you guys can help me think up a few unusual ideas on what to write about!

Vicky