Theme Verse:
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
                                                  (Psalm 40:16)

Thought:
Everything that is good, every good and perfect gift is from the Father above.  This song especially gives thanks for the gift of faith, life, and salvation, which all flow from Christ's work on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.

One of the greatest gifts we have from God is faith, for it is by grace, through faith, that we are saved.  Thank You God for ears to hear an eyes to see.  May that gift be given to all that your name would be exalted in all the earth.

Theme Verse:
But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are His … He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; He brings light to the deepest gloom. (Job 12: 13,22)


Thought:  I have always loved the depth and richness of old hymns.  This is a re-imagining of Johann Lindemann's "In You is Gladness."  I wanted to capture the tension of the lyrics (gladness amid sadness) in the music so I put the song in the relative minor key and adjusted the lyrical order.  I created a chorus and bridge out of some of my favorite lines.  Enjoy!

Theme Verse:  Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 
                                                   1 Cor 10:16-17

Thoughts:  I wrote this song at the English District's yearly convention for Concordia Publishing House's sacramental songwriter project.  They wanted it to be in 1st person plural and be closely tied to the sacraments.  It was then featured on their release, "Singing the Sacraments."

I have always been amazed at how God uses the Eucharist to create unity in His church through Christ.  As we receive Christ's body and blood through the bread and wine, we are in a very real sense participating in His body and blood.  In one sense through the sacrament Christ, in whom there is no division, is making us is body.  "We are Your Body" then is an affirmation and a prayer to make our unity more and more visible.

Theme Verse:
    For the Word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (Psalm 33:4)

Thoughts: 
    This song was published by the Worship Art Leadership Institute's (WALi) "Armchair Project."  They took it from the key of D to the key of E, and had a woman sing it.  I love this relaxed arrangement and what a voice!

    The idea for the song came from a time I was reading through the book of Job, especially chapter 37.  It is the end of Elihu's speech to Job  in which he argues that Job should maintain that God is righteous, just, and redemptive in the midst of his suffering. 
    Elihu says: "Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice.  When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back." 
    Wow, I thought to myself.  If only I experienced God's voice in that way - especially His application and guidance for my own life.  I know and believe He speaks to me through His Word and visits me through His sacraments and yet I still want to hear his voice like that.  Like lightning, in a roar, to me and clearly.
    So the song.  It begins by acknowledging the truth that we all experience; that when times get hard we can find ourselves straining to hear God's voice through the chaos.  This is a reality we face in fear, and in fear we may even begin to believe He is absent...                           ------>

...The chorus and bridge are prayers for God to speak to us, to speak truthfully and lovingly and in His way.  In it we come humble before Him to simply say: speak to us, we yearn for it.  Make yourself known as we come to You in faith through Jesus.
    The song then ends with a verse echoing the situation of the first verse: a tumultuous storm.  And yet this time we re-approach the situation through the eyes of faith and say: "the storm rains and the only thing I believe - in power you reign over me, you reign over everything."  Amen to that.  Come Lord Jesus.
   

Track Credits:
Arranged/Produced: Corey Witt
Engineer and Mixdown: Chris Steffen
Drums: Bryan Taylor
Keys: Michael Lee
Bass: Sean Hurley
Guitars: Tim Neinhuis & Corey Witt
Vocals: Emily Hamilton