Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
This week’s Come Follow Me lesson is studying Matthew chapter 4, and Luke 4-5 and is titled ““The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me”.” In this video – I included depictions from three different stories found within these chapters – Jesus inviting his disciples to follow him, Jesus healing a possessed man and Jesus declaring he is the Messiah.
“The Lord Is My Light” is a very hopeful, joyful and fearless song which I could definitely feel as I began to arrange it. So I decided it would be fun to do this one as another piano solo. To be played “Resolutely” as it suggests at the top of the hymn, (which can be found in the LDS Hymnbook).
This week, for the first time, I’ve done an instrumental collaboration with a friend of mine, Paige Vogt, who is a beautiful violinist. I am excited to share this with you! I had a lot of fun with this project. We adapted this piece from a two-part voice, violin and piano arrangement of the same song by Nik Day, Josh Rich, and Leandra Gibson. Also, for the first time in this series, I am posting a song that is not the “suggested song” for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson. Paige and I had been working on this project already for another event and I decided that I couldn’t pass up the chance to record it with her. Regardless, I feel that the lyrics of this hymn fit very well with these passages of scripture found in Malachi…
Here is a vocal arrangement of “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” as found in the LDS Hymnbook; which is the suggested song for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on Jonah & Micah. The story of Jonah is one where he at first doesn’t want to “go where you want me to go” and flees the call of God to preach to Nineveh. Upon his calamities and repentance he listens again to the Lord’s command and preaches to the people of Nineveh. Jonah has to repent multiple times for not hearkening and not understanding God’s love for his people of all nations, (….and don’t we all need to do the same thing!)
Here is a piano arrangement of “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet” as found in the LDS Hymnbook; which is the suggested song for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on Amos & Obadiah. One verse that stands out to me as going well with this hymn is: Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”. I love the idea that God has always and will continue to speak to prophets to warn and preach to his children, to act as a “watchman on the tower”, and to give guidance for their specific struggles in the period in which they live.
Here is a piano arrangement of “Come unto Jesus” as found in the LDS Hymnbook; which is the suggested song for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on Hosea and Joel. One of the beautiful scriptures from this section that goes well with this hymn is Joel 2:13; “Turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd” found in the LDS Hymnbook. This lesson studies portions of the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. Ezekiel chapter 34 uses the symbolism of the “Shepherd” in a few different contexts. One of these contexts is “shepherds” or leaders during Ezekiel’s time who should have been caring for their flock or the people within their stewardship, but were not…. and the other being the ultimate “shepherd”, Jesus Christ, who seeks after his lost sheep.
Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “Israel, Israel, God is Calling” from the LDS Hymnbook. It is a strong song discussing the ongoing gathering of Israel. This lesson studies chapters 1-20
This week, I am posting a piano arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “I Stand All Amazed”. We are studying chapters 50-57 in the book of Isaiah. I Stand All Amazed, is a song in the LDS Hymn Book and is a favorite among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its message echoes the thoughts and prophecies expressed in this section of Isaiah.
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “How Firm a Foundation”. We are studying chapters 40-49 in the book of Isaiah. How Firm a Foundation, is a song from the LDS Hymn Book and has a strong and glorious message. There are 7 verses and I chose to present verses 1, 2, 3 and 7. Some of the verses referenced at the bottom of this hymn come from our section this week.