Latest hymn (finally!): Your Body Is A Temple

at 01/27/10 12:34PM

Started these lyrics back in summer '08 when I was a wee lad... started the music back in September '09... edited and finished it 1.25.10.

Your Body Is A Temple

Your body is a temple,
Made holy to the Lord;
He sealed you with His Spirit
And filled you with His word.
If God is Lord within us,
What place have idols here?
Now tear down passing pleasure,
And set up awe and fear.

Your body is a temple:
A sanctum free of vice,
A house for prayer and worship,
A place for sacrifice.
If pride and lust are found there,
Or anger, sloth, and doubt,
As Christ once cleansed the temple,
Rise up and drive them out!

Your body is a temple,
The time has passed for sin,
Now use it for His glory
And let Him dwell within.
The price that bought your temple
Was Christ--His blood alone.
So keep your temple sinless,
For you are not your own.

Thoughts? Comments?

To God be all the glory!

4-23 of 23 comments « prev 1 2 next »

Excellent!

by ethantweedie14 at 01/27/10 2:13PM
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for using your talent in such a godly way.

by gemma at 01/27/10 2:37PM
My only nitpick: the double-v sound in "of vice" in 2.2 is slightly awkward. But, even with that, this is great. Good work, and God be praised!

by dwatkins at 01/27/10 4:14PM
If you're concerned about "of vice", you could always switch "of" to "from". Overall, this is absolutely loaded with powerful quotes from Scripture. It's excellent work. How's the music?

by jabberwock at 01/27/10 4:52PM
Stephen, this is amazing! It is a great song and all there is left to say-other than "wow"- is your line "To God be the glory"

by dawsonlover10 at 01/27/10 5:16PM
Stephen, thank you for sharing these verses of your song - its fantastic.

by celticgirl1787 at 01/27/10 9:26PM
I th ink I'll have to leave "of"--I think the double v is a lesser evil than "free from", at least with the way the music works.

by rundrummerrun at 01/28/10 9:05AM
Stephen, that was beautiful!! Amazing!! Awesome!! to God be the Glory definitely! U have an awesome gift and I like others want to thank you for using your gifts to worship God!!

You have inspired me!!

by skittles_rainbow09 at 01/28/10 1:42PM
Stephen, that was beautiful!! Amazing!! Awesome!! to God be the Glory definitely! U have an awesome gift and I like others want to thank you for using your gifts to worship God!!

You have inspired me!!

by skittles_rainbow09 at 01/28/10 1:42PM
LOVE IT!

by adeline at 01/28/10 3:22PM
You know what they say: When faced with wheat or boll, choose the lesser of two weevils.

On second thought: No, they don't actually say that. And for that also, God be praised. :)

by dwatkins at 01/28/10 5:17PM
Love it! The organization and progression really work. God is glorified in this! :)

by mitim at 01/28/10 7:22PM
My favorite is verse two! I can't wait to hear the music :)

by sjbgurl at 01/29/10 3:59PM
Hi Stephen - I wish I'd been able to come to lectures so I could hear this with your music - thanks so much for sharing it here. All three verses are good, in my opinion-for what that is worth! - I especially like #3.
:) please give your mom a hug for me.

by mr_and_mrs_berry at 01/30/10 5:36PM
Thanks! What church do you attend? I'm in San Juan, Puerto Rico preaching. I've only been here four months, and preach mostly for an English speaking group here, but the Spanish is getting better daily, and I've preached some in Spanish too. I am Jennifer and Julie Holt's brother, Joel. I don't know if you know them, but I seem to remember they met you - perhaps at camp somewhere.

by no_clever_name at 02/09/10 10:06PM
excellent hymn, 'cause it draws heavily from scripture (but the tune is also good). good thoughts, good connections.

in other news, i am about to write a comment in a different style, using alternating caps, irregular punctuation, and perhaps intentional misspelling (because i feel like it):

by humankumquat at 02/10/10 10:29AM
HAI STEpHEN!!!1 how"s itt GoInG? DiD u C teh SUPeRBOwL it wAS pRty c00l??/ ‹3

by humankumquat at 02/10/10 10:31AM
my apologies; i simply felt the need to try that out.
(please note, that last thing is not a heart, despite its appearance; it literally means that the preceding statement is less than three.)

by humankumquat at 02/10/10 10:36AM
Adam, I may die from laughing.

by sr15min at 02/25/10 11:03PM
^me too that was hilarious!

by dawsonlover10 at 03/03/10 9:45PM

Sometimes

at 01/11/10 2:11AM

we're hopelessly blessed beyond anything we could ever deserve.

This is one of those times.

So true! And sometimes those times are very early in the morining! :P

by obi_wan_kenobi at 01/11/10 7:27AM
amen!

by arya at 01/11/10 12:16PM
Good. :)

by anna6689 at 01/11/10 12:35PM
Amen, dearest brother of mine. I miss you and Nate already! Come home soon. Love you!

by 1cor13 at 01/11/10 3:55PM
you know, anytime you or i choose to think about, it is always one of those times.

by redmustang at 01/11/10 3:56PM
I think my whole life is one of those times.

by mitim at 01/11/10 10:08PM
Amen!

by sr15min at 01/11/10 10:55PM
I agree!!!!

by adeline at 01/12/10 6:38PM
Agreed.

by humankumquat at 01/20/10 2:10PM
Thank you, thank you! That is exactly what I needed, and I knew somebody could tell me. I have been working in five minute increments at like 2 in the morning so form is more than a little off, and capability to recognize that is too! ;)

by mitim at 01/25/10 1:20PM
Whatcha Say, Jason Derulo. ;)

by mitim at 01/25/10 3:48PM

This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way!

at 01/01/10 1:55AM

In the new year, may God grant each of you
greater gratitude,
more selfless love,
deeper trust,
more joyful service,
bolder courage,
more thoughtful wisdom,
and more vibrant hope in Him!

After you have suffered for a little while,
the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,
will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be dominion forever and ever.
Amen.
- Peter (1st letter 5:10-11)

Amen! Same to you, Stephen!

by ethantweedie14 at 01/01/10 6:35AM
Sounds like a hymn. A good one.

by jabberwock at 01/01/10 8:28AM
Love it! Thank you!

by adeline at 01/01/10 9:07AM
Lovely.
Hoping for 2010 to be a year of abundant blessings for you and yours.

by sallyanne at 01/01/10 12:54PM
To you as well, oh dearest brother of mine!

by 1cor13 at 01/01/10 7:42PM
Praying the same for you, brother.

by sr15min at 01/01/10 11:35PM
Amen and Amen and Amen and Amen and... you get it :)
Can't wait to see you back at FC!

by sjbgurl at 01/02/10 10:20AM
Happy New Year Stephen!

by dawsonlover10 at 01/02/10 11:01AM
thanks :) Same to you!

by daddysgirl at 01/07/10 9:36PM
Hi Stephen. Hope you have a great semester! :)

by mr_and_mrs_berry at 01/09/10 6:31PM

Solid joys and lasting treasure / none but Zion's children know!

at 11/30/09 11:23PM

You'll never guess...

God has blessed me beyond measure. :)

Thanksgiving break was more than I could have asked for--family, church family, new hymns, old hymns, (trying to) write hymn tunes, new friends, old friends, prayerful night runs, encouraging phone studies!, prayer with brethren and sistren, waking up to the voices of my family :), home-cooked meals, 4 a.m. conversations and prayers, shaving for the first time in a month, out-of-tune piano playing, more prayer...

You know, I don't think I've ever felt as much like a pilgrim as I have recently.
And that's a good thing.

"When we're counting our blessings, we need to count the times when we're forced to face our need for God. Any episode of "hunger" that disrupts our sense of self-sufficiency and jerks us back to reality is to be appreciated." - Gary Henry

Most recent hymn chorus attempt:

The mysteries belong to God,
The things revealed, to us.
His voice moves us to faithful work,
His silence, deeper trust.

...and though you have not seen Him, you love Him,
and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,
you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory...

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers
to abstain from fleshly lusts
which wage war against the soul.
- Peter

May you be filled to His fullness!
Stephen

I absolutely love the "most recent hymn chorus attempt"!

by anna6689 at 12/01/09 9:51AM
And I'm glad to hear you are doing well. :)

by anna6689 at 12/01/09 9:52AM
The Gary Henry quote is quite true, and I've definitely realized that this week.

And ditto about the most recent hymn chorus attempt! :)

by august28rose at 12/01/09 12:06PM
Nice chorus! Do you usually come up with the verses or chorus first?

by arya at 12/01/09 6:24PM
great post! :) So much to be GRATEFUL FOR!

by adeline at 12/01/09 8:01PM
Amen, amen.

by sr15min at 12/02/09 12:06PM
Blessings indeed! The chorus makes me eager to hear the rest of the hymn. A very good thought to keep in mind.

by eladea at 12/02/09 11:23PM
:) Serve God hard today!

by heidiw at 12/07/09 10:05AM
:P

by eladea at 12/11/09 2:04PM
sentence. :)

by paradise_ray at 12/16/09 9:34AM
I. Am. Stoked. :) I hope you enjoy being home for a brief time! See you soon!! Oh, will I need a flash light for camp?

by heidiw at 12/19/09 4:42PM
Ok, then. Flash light will be added to the check list! Any other practical suggestions you can think of would be great. Thanks, friend!

by heidiw at 12/19/09 8:53PM

Make Thou my pathway plain

at 11/12/09 12:13AM *

Forever since I posted? Yessiree, bob.

Trying to do better? In so many ways, yes.

First, God is glorious beyond my comprehension to have brought me thus far.
I'm coming to a crossroads in the life God's given me. I cannot thank Him enough for the path that has led me here.
The future is hazy. I have fear.
What a perfect time to learn to trust God more!

Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
- David (Psalm 27:11,8)

___________________________________________________
Musings:
-- Is there a connection between the dove in Gen 8 lighting on the tree coming up from the flood water, and the form of a dove lighting on Jesus coming up from the baptismal water?
-- Is there a connection between the 430 years of Egyptian bondage and 400 years of silence + 30 years before Jesus' ministry--leading to the ultimate deliverance from bondage?

This is worth your time.
Have a blessed one!
Stephen

Thanks so much for the singing. It was wonderful!

by sallyanne at 11/12/09 1:40AM
:) wow good thoughts!

by adeline at 11/12/09 5:29AM
I would be skeptical of the 430 connection since the whole "400 years of silence," thing is really something WE have come up, not a concept found in the Bible. And it wasn't necessarily silent...it just means we don't have any written records of prophecy from that time (people like Simeon and Anna in Luke in fact might indicate God did communicate at least some during the time before Jesus' birth...).

But the dove connection...that it VERY interesting; I'll have to think about it more. Where else do doves show up in the Bible...

by engelishgentleman at 11/12/09 6:55AM
Amen.
And the video? Definitely worth people's time.

by sr15min at 11/12/09 7:37AM
I couldn't feel more the same about life right now. I am so thankful for opportunities to learn to trust Him more. "All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know what'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well."

by anna6689 at 11/12/09 8:44AM
Proverbs 29:25. Psalm 71:17-21.

by mitim at 11/12/09 7:34PM
I always enjoy seeing your name light up, bro :)

by pianobub at 11/13/09 12:00AM
I love reading your updates. About your questions, I have no idea, but I hope you find the answers soon and let us know! Those are really good questions.

by dawsonlover10 at 11/13/09 7:55PM
When you get home - hug on your mom and sister for me please. :)

by mr_and_mrs_berry at 11/14/09 1:54PM
you did always like that water imagery...

by diminished_seventh at 11/15/09 9:44AM
doing well, been very blessed. wish you well with the coming crossroads.

by diminished_seventh at 11/15/09 3:47PM
I know sometimes I wish I had a map with the answers and directions for the rest of my life. Like you said, what an excellent time to learn to trust in God! Prov 3:5-7.

by eladea at 11/16/09 12:35AM
aah Stephen I miss you!!
Hope that you're doing well:]

by i_am_a_sheep at 11/16/09 7:05PM