The Shining Light

I really love the poetry of William Cowper (/ˈkuːpər/ KOO-pər; 26 November 1731 – 25 April 1800). Broken down he has some the most inspirational, quality prose ever composed. His timing as well as honest observation are far and away superior....a true gift of God. He grew up training to be a lawyer, became distraught and his "tortured soul" was committed to asylum due to insanity (possibly long range bi-polar disorder) where he attempted suicide the first three times. He had further bouts with depression, attempts at suicide and "insanity" often due to his fear of having strayed in his heart, having committed some unknown sin, and having become forever cemented in his destiny; a place in hell. He was eventually so consumed with the weight of his sin, and insanity, he committed suicide in April of 1800.

In the interim, he held a view, when lucid, of the law, grace and the word of God that was strikingly unique. Always peering in wonderment at the goodness and justice of God. I feel like I relate to him very strongly. Our common emotions, struggles with depression, and fatalism change how we look at the Bible, trust God, and feel His love.

This brings to light the struggles we have but I feel also, a concept. I personally do not hold entirely to the camp of Arminius or Calvin. I can say that I definitely lean in my heart one way and am checked in my head by another. I truly believe that, much as two people staring at a mountain from different sides, there are somethings they absolutely see with clarity but others are masked or incomplete. They argue with ferocious tenacity about the thing they see, unaware of their perspective of the same thing and that it maybe different from the other side and inevitably incomplete. I see, though, that the fatalist is worse served by Calvin and the indeterminate by Arminius, but in ether camp, one can be lead away into hopelessness, depression, and apathy (not to mention pride, self-righteousness...and hell), living in the saying of Job quoted in Job 34:9 "There is no profit in trying to please God." That is a statement, not only of hopelessness, but the abandonment of God he flirted with in his dire moments. I think that in some small amount this happened with him. It is, as I believe, the closer we draw to Christ we feel both that we want to choose Him but also take comfort in Him choosing us before we had the choice. When we fall we know there is forgiveness in the moment and before time itself existed.

Thankfully through the Lords work and Job's honest prayers and petitions to God, the Lord reveled Himself to Job. Job's response was right...in adversity, run to the light of God. The slanderer, our enemy the devil, desires for us to separate, to isolate ourselves, and wallow in our own pride or failings. That is why I really love the two hymns I combined of his here: The Shining Light, and The Light And Glory Of The Word. Cowper shows the hopelessness of our position under the Law, but the Light of God's word and Spirit, are a gift more precious than anything attainable on earth. They are truly "a light that gives to every age, it gives and borrows none." Run to God, lead by the light of His word and Spirit and He will be found.

you can listen to the song here: https://soundcloud.com/thedivisiontree/the-shining-light
The chords below are actual but can be played as bar cords or basic versions....don't get distraught by the sus and 9ths. Feel free to capo when you've figured out what key is comfortable to you.

The Shining Light

(tuning that I use CGCFBbD)

words by William Cowper, Music By Paul H. 

      D#maj9

My former hopes are fled,

           Gm7

     My terror now begins;

  D#maj9

I feel, alas! that I am dead

         Gm7

     In trespasses and sins.

      D#maj9

Ah, whither shall I fly?

       Gm7

     I hear the thunder roar;

       D#maj9

The Law proclaims Destruction nigh,

            Gm7

     And Vengeance at the door.

D#maj9, Gm add9, Gm, Bb add9

D#maj9, Gm add9

  D#maj9

I see, or I think I see,

        Gm7

     A glimm’ring from afar;

   D#maj9

A beam of day, that shines for me,

          Gm7

     To save me from despair.

         D#maj9

Fore-runner of the sun,

       Gm7

    It marks the pilgrim’s way;

     D#maj9

I’ll gaze upon it while I run,

             Gm7

     And watch the rising day.

D#maj9, Gm add9, Gm, Bb add9

D#maj9, Gm add9

Faster

Bb add9, D#maj9, Gm, D#maj9

Bb add9, D#maj9, Gm, D#maj9

        Bb add9             D#maj9

The Spirit breathes upon the word,
        Gm                      D#maj9

And brings the truth to sight;
      Bb add9           D#maj9

Precepts and promises afford
   Gm             D#maj9

A sanctifying light.

    Bb add9         D#maj9

A glory gilds the sacred page,
     Gm               D#maj9

Majestic like the sun;
   Bb add9          D#maj9

It gives a light to every age,
   Gm                         D#maj9

It gives, but borrows none.

Fsus4 6^th, D#maj9, Fsus4 6^th

       Bb add9              D#maj9

The hand that gave it still supplies
       Gm                       D#maj9

The gracious light and heat;
       Bb add9          D#maj9

His truths upon the nations rise,
         Gm                  D#maj9

They rise, but never seat.

      Bb add9    D#maj9

Let everlasting thanks be thine,
      Gm                     D#maj9

For such a bright display,
     Bb add9               D#maj9

As makes a world of darkness shine
        Gm                          D#maj9

With beams of heavenly day.

Fsus4 6th

      D#maj9

My soul rejoices to pursue
       Gm7

The steps of Him I love,
      D#maj9

Till glory break upon my view
    Gm7

In brighter worlds above. (repeat)

D#maj9, Gm add9, Gm, Bb add9

Effort For The One You Love

Mark 12:41-44 NKJV

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who  were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;  for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in ALL THAT SHE HAD, HER WHOLE LIVELIHOOD.”

We, as humans, try to make some kind of standard, some kind of rule about the volume we give to the Lord. People have much money/talent/time, feel good about giving a lot compared to what the poor give; while those that have little feel ashamed of how few actual dollars they give to Him. The problem is that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the heart of the Lord.

The idea that we some how smuggle in is that volume (how many dollars, time we spend helping others, how complicated or simple a song is) is what He wants. While we may not say it, our love and attention to the world and how it operates bleeds into our thinking. We idolize celebrities that adopt one baby from Africa (when they have enough to build 100 orphanages), metal guitarists who can play a billion notes a second, or the Grammy nominated folk singer who can play the simplest song.

The idea of giving that we get from old testament is our 10%. We act like that was our goal but He instituted it as a minimum standard (Lord knows I'm not perfect at this or any of it). We don't see how He has amplified that, as He has EVERYTHING in the new testament. If you hate a man or lust after a woman it's murder or adultery. There was one temple that God lived in, now we, who have the Holy Spirit, are all temples of God. It was 10% of your money, now it is give of everything until it hurts, not out of pressure but joy to His glory.

Mr Lewis has something helpful to say on the matter...
"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them."

All that to say I think that it would again be the influence of the world to say that the Lord only wants us to give away our money. He wants us to give EVERYTHING to Him and for his glory. That means if you wanted to read a good book, but somebody wants help moving, you help move them. If there is an option between an easy or simple worship set or song and the RIGHT song or set that is difficult but glorifies the Lord, you do the more complicated and you spend the time and effort to do it.

Again the motivation is what? Are we trying to justify ourselves before God? Earn our way to heaven? If we love, believe, profess, repent to the Lord, accepting His blood that paid the price for our sin, and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we know that justification before God is done. We do these things out of LOVE for Him who saved us when we were lost! And really, if we love Him, what amount of time/money/resources is ever going to be enough?

As for worship, the Lord has gifted us  with abilities, and if we aren't pushing ourselves, putting in the effort, to give back to Him with all we have, we have to ask ourselves if we are being like Pharisees or that widow. That being said if the Lord has gifted you with a love for the simple song, guitar line, or beat, do it the best you can for Him. If He has given you a passion for the ornate (I would say it would be a sin to call an ornate gift to God, "flashy" as if there was something inherently worldly about complexity), be ornate! The common denominator is that it shouldn't be easy. He wants us to give EVERYTHING not just a lot, which doesn't look the same for those rich in talent or poor. How much effort are we giving the one whom we profess to love and gave up His very life to be with us? How much attention and time are we putting in for our bridegroom? The Lord wants our heart totally. THAT is what "leading" worship is about. Being first in line to pour our whole hearts out to God, not necessarily playing a complicated guitar part OR singing a lyrically super simple song that even a five year old could pick up first try. There is no holy musical "worship" genre, only wholly devoted worshipers of the eternal lover of our soul.

-Paul

Children Of The Promise

hey howdy hey,

I made a chord sheet for my new song. If you wanted it or were curious about playing it, I posted it below as well as a link to hear a demo.

Worshiping the Lord is a great honor and thankfulness is at its core. We are returning to Him with gratitude for what He has done and promised us! He has done so much for us but looking forward to the full completion of His promise is our hope. He has promised us a way to full reconciliation with Himself which He Himself accomplished. He has given us the guarantee, that is the Holy Spirit, of our eternal communion with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 says

"5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

Think about it though we are confident and have faith in a guarantee of His promise? Let me submit something to you....a guarantee is only as good as the one guaranteeing, and isn't He the only one who can truly guarantee?!? Emphatically YES!

-Paul

you can hear it here:
https://soundcloud.com/thedivisiontree/children-of-the-promise-demo

CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE

                 

C                  A*F/C

He formed the land

                       C                           A F/C

The seas and founts pour from His hands

            C                A F/C

But we hardened our hearts

                   C       A F/C

With wicked re-be-llion

      C               A F/C

He suffered and died

                       C                         A F/C

Our hope and rock pierced at His side

       C                     A F/C

The rift that Adam begun

              C                 A F/C

The holy savior has undone

            GMaj             F/C

But He saw what we are

                      GMaj    F/C

Lost sheep of His pasture

                  Am         C       F/C

We are the children of the promise

               Am         C               F/C

We were destined children of wrath

               Am                C              F/C

We were saved by the grace of a Holy God

                      Am  C           F/C                      C

To spend for-e   -  ver with Him, ever with Him

C          A F/C

Oh let us sing

          C             A F/C

Let us shout joyfully

              C             A F/C

Come before His presence

               C                    A F/C

The Holy King that is our God

C               A F/C

Oh come let us

           C                   A F/C

Bow before Him in worship

          C                     A F/C

Let us kneel before the Lord

                       C     A F/C

Our God our      ma - ker

      GMaj             F/C

He saw what we are

                      GMaj    F/C

Lost sheep of His pasture

                  Am         C       F/C

We are the children of the promise

               Am         C               F/C

We were destined children of wrath

               Am                C              F/C

We were saved by the grace of a Holy God

                      Am  C           F/C                      C

To spend for-e   -  ver with Him, ever with Him

       GMaj

The Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord

        Am

Who was born of David

     GMaj

Declared by the Spirit of Holiness

        Am

The promise of resurrection

               F/C

Through Him we receive grace

       GMaj

As apostles to the nations

      Am

For His name we all are called

      BMaj

For His name we all are called

                  Am         C       F/C

We are the children of the promise

               Am         C               F/C

We were destined children of wrath

               Am                C              F/C

We were saved by the grace of a Holy God

                      Am  C           F/C                      C

To spend for-e   -  ver with Him, ever with Him

 (2x)

*The “A” is a quick drop of the root of the “C” chord to open A. It is not required. All “A”s are truly “Am”s

The “F/C” can be played as a F power chord or C power chord with lower F root or bass note. Whatever is preferred?

or....

CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE

(psalm 95, romans 1)

C                (A) Fmaj9

He formed the land

                   C                (A) Fmaj9

The seas & founts pour from His hands

            C                (A) Fmaj9

But we hardened our hearts

                    C     (A) Fmaj9

With wicked re – bell – i  - on

     C            (A) Fmaj9

He suffered &  died

                   C              (A) Fmaj9

Our hope & rock pierced at His side

       C                    (A) Fmaj9

The rift that Adam be-gun

              C                 (A) Fmaj9

The holy savior has un-done

             G                   Fmaj9

But He saw what we are

                       G           Fmaj9

Lost sheep of His pasture

                  Am         C       Fmaj9

We are the children of the promise

                Am        C               Fmaj9

We were destined children of wrath

                Am               C              Fmaj9

We were saved by the grace of a Holy God

                        Am C     Fmaj9              C         

To spend for - ever with Him, ever with Him

C (A) Fmaj9 C (A) Fmaj9

C        (A) Fmaj9

Oh let us sing

           C               (A)  Fmaj9

Let us shout joy – ful - ly

               C            (A) Fmaj9

Come before His presence

                C                 (A)  Fmaj9

The Holy King that is our God

C             (A) Fmaj9

Oh come let us

            C                (A)  Fmaj9

Bow before Him in worship

          C                     (A) Fmaj9

Let us kneel before the Lord

                    C    (A) Fmaj9

Our God our    ma - ker

             G                   Fmaj9

But He saw what we are

                       G           Fmaj9

Lost sheep of His pasture

                  Am         C       Fmaj9

We are the children of the promise

                Am        C               Fmaj9

We were destined children of wrath

                Am               C              Fmaj9

We were saved by the grace of a Holy God

                        Am C     Fmaj9              C         

To spend for - ever with Him, ever with Him

        G(sus4 6^th)

The Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord

        Am

Who was born of David

     G(sus4 6^th)

Declared by the Spirit of Holiness

       Am

The promise of resurrection

               Fmaj9

Through Him we have received grace

     G(sus4 6^th)

As apostles to the nations

      Am

For His name we all are called

      Bbsus2(add9 flat5)

For His name we all are called

                  Am         C       Fmaj9

We are the children of the promise

                Am        C               Fmaj9

We were destined children of wrath

                Am               C              Fmaj9

We were saved by the grace of a Holy God

                        Am C     Fmaj9              C         

To spend for - ever with Him, ever with Him (2x)

 

Original tuning was DADGCE but can be tuned to standard and capo’d or modulated to anything.

 
Words by Paul H. from Psalm 95 and Romans 1
Music by Paul H.