I want to let you know some of our news. The last 6 months has been the most emotionally challenging of my life. I won’t go into the details here, suffice to say that during Holy Week we moved from Pimlico in Central London to a peninsula on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides just off the North West Coast of Scotland.
We spent nearly 5 years in Central London, planting and nurturing a congregation called The Sanctuary at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster and it was truly a wonder to watch what God was doing among us. It was a busy and rewarding time in so many ways and that season for us is now over and the congregation is in good hands as it continues to evolve.
Today, I find myself writing from a very different place. We live in a detached house with sea views on 3 sides. Our lounge, bedroom and recording studio look out to the most extraordinary panoramic views with the ocean and the mountains of the main land to my left, a rocky coast line and the mountains of Harris directly in front of me and more sea to the right just past the isthmus. 150 yards beyond our house are sheer cliffs — it’s dramatic! The sunsets are totally amazing and I spend most nights here gazing out of my studio watching the sun set and the stars rising. Venus shining brightly over the silhouette of the mountains is simply breathtaking as is the moon through a telescope. It is a wonderful place to be still, silent and to practice solitude. There is a clarity here and a perspective that London too easily obscured.
We are not totally alone here though, there is a thriving community and over the next few weeks we will be having a number of house warming parties as we invite our neighbours and people from our new church community over. We are also looking forward to having our first set of guests to stay in May.
So this is a time out from ‘doing’ and is an in depth lesson in ‘being’. We are not sure how long this season will last, that is in God’s hands. However, it will probably last as long as it takes for healing, wholeness, strength and total integration to work its course in us — so probably a fair while!
I drove up here on 1st April in the snow, leaving London behind and moving steadily north. From the nation’s capital to the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ as the sign reads as you enter the Scottish Highlands. Spring is here, the lambs are leaping (we are surrounded by sheep and lambs and pretty much every other farm animal you can mention as well as eagles and seals and otters and whales!) and just when you think spring has come at last, there is a hail storm or a snow blizzard! The winds are strong here, but you never know whether it will be a winter blizzard or a spring wind greeting you. I think that it is the nature of the Island’s weather!
I was reading from the Prophet Isaiah this morning. I love chapter 51 verse 11. In many ways it speaks of my hope for our time here, to come to a place where sorrow and sighing flee away. It’s a promise that I am holding out for.
The ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 51:11 The NIV Bible
My work here will be mostly song writing, recording and study. Learning to let silence have its way as I learn to hear and interpret the music that comes from that place.
I hope to be posting new songs more regularly as well as working on an instrumental album for release next year.
Today I am releasing the song Fragile Case. It is a very special song for me at this moment in my life and the first song I wanted to release during this new season. I hope it speaks to you and enables you to encounter God’s mystery – that God dwells within fragile and broken people.
Words and Music Copyright © Jonathan Green, 2010.
Play 'Fragile Case'Download the MP3 version of Fragile Case
Download the Chord Chart for Fragile Case
Lyrics for Fragile Case
Your glory, seen in a life of grace.
Your glory, set in a fragile case.
Lord take my brokenness;
the pain, the fears, lost dreams.
Surrendered now to you,
dependent on your grace.
For who am I without you?
Lost without hope.
But now that I’ve found you;
I have a new home.
You my creator, shaping this heart.
Come craft in me your plans.
Hold me.
Christ in me,
Christ in me,
Christ in me:
Your glory, God’s mystery. (Repeat)
I am delighted that Abide has been played on UCB UK and UCB Inspirational radio stations nearly every day since mid March. UCB is a national Christian radio station and you can listen on your DAB radio or stream the station online.
Download the song for free below. Also, check out the chord charts and words for download in the ’songs’ part of this website and use the song in your church.
Download the MP3 version of Abide
It would be wonderful to hear the song on other radio stations – do feel free to play it sometime. Download the higher quality wav file of Abide
Words and Music Copyright © Jonathan Green, 2010.
Play 'God With Us'Download the MP3 version of God With Us
Download the Chord Chart for God With Us
Words to God With Us
Lord of the heavens,
lord of the earth.
Lord of the seas,
of everything that breathes.
You created us to know you.
You created us to walk with you.
Help us find our place in this world Lord — God with us!
Help us find our place in this world.
Be the reason we live;
be the one who guides us.
Help us find our place in this world.
Lord of the future,
lord of the past.
Lord of our dreams;
of that’s built to last.
Ending:
God with us, God with us.
God with us, God with us.
I don’t really know what to say, apart from that I am stunned that 2 of my songs reached the top 5 shortlist in a national song writing competition.
Abide came first and Never Walk Alone came third.
Check out UKCMC for more information.
All I can say is that I am humbled, thrilled and would appreciate your prayers as I continue to walk down unknown paths as yet to see!
Words and Music Copyright © Jonathan Green, 2009.
Play 'Our God Reigns'Download the MP3 version of Our God Reigns
Download the Chord Chart for Our God Reigns
Words to Our God Reigns
Come let us sing for joy to the Lord,
shout aloud to the rock of our salvation.
Come let us sing for joy;
make music in the streets.
Come let us shout, let’s dance,
lift up your hands, praise our maker!
Forever more we will sing,
our God reigns.
Sing for our God reigns.
Dance for our God reigns.
Shout that our God reigns.
Cry out, our God reigns.
Live for our God reigns.
Come and bring your praise.
Every knee will bow down, ten billion tongues will speak out! (Repeat x2)
Every knee will bow down, ten billion tongues will cry out!
Forevermore we will sing.
Our God reigns.
Tag:
Forevermore, forevermore, forevermore we will sing. (repeat)
Ending:
Our God reigns.
‘God With Us’ is coming on wonderfully. The Song is EPIC and should be released early December! I can’t wait for you to hear it and try it out in your church.
Subscribe to the Safe House Sounds mailing list to be first to hear about it!
Words and Music Copyright © Jonathan Green, 2009.
Play 'Abide'Download the MP3 version Abide
Download the Chord Chart for Abide
Words to Abide
Here I am, on my knees before you.
Hear my prayer: that I might be like you.
Jesus you; faithful friend, my healer.
As I walk, lead me on as I sing.
How I love you.
How I trust you.
Father God, source of life, creator.
Open arms, invited to be with you.
In your love; overwhelmed by mercy.
I stand in awe, worship you as I sing.
Move in me, breath of God renewing.
Spirit come, bring your life and healing.
Cause in me, reflections of your glory.
Every step, lead me on as I sing.
The wonder of your love,
your majesty sublime.
Created by design, to know you.
Now caught up in your life,
I live to know your more.
Abiding in your love;
forever, evermore.
Words and Music Copyright © Jonathan Green, 2009.
Play 'Invocation'Download the MP3 version of Invocation
Download the Chord Chart for Invocation
Words to Invocation
Spirit of God, come breathe new life we pray.
Into our weary hearts, Lord let your presence come:
Fill us again! (Repeat)
Breath from heaven,
move among us.
Holy Spirit come.
Father, Spirit, Son;
renew us.
Let your blessing fall, God fill us!
Breaker of these chains,
come free us;
to live a life of love.
Spirit of God, transform our lives we pray.
Into your image Lord, to live a life of love:
God’s glory unveiled.
Spirit of God, reign in our lives we pray.
Awaken our senses, fill us with passion:
To follow your way.
Come Spirit, come!
Come Spirit, come!
In this first article I want to explore the first step in the writing process — creating the space and the right conditions to receive songs into our lives. Of course, if you write poetry or plays or sermons or paint and sculpt, then many of these principles apply!