Luke Chi
Praise songs have always made the presence of God clear to me. As I was growing up, I enjoyed singing praise songs during worship the best during Sunday Service because God had full command of my heart. Some of my old
time favorite songs are "Isn't He, Make My Life A Prayer to You, and Listen to Our Hearts." I never get tired of singing praise songs. In the days of my youth, I attended a small Chinese Church in an English speaking fellowship in
Queens, New York. There were only about fifty of us worshipping. Every week I attended fellowship on Fridays and Sunday service. God always showed up. I believe He heard our hearts and our sincere desire to be in His presence.
More than Just Worship. When I was younger, I found many opportunities to visit other churches. With the little allowance money I had, I traveled to those events to see what God was doing in other places. I had a good time and felt a part of His big plan. In many of these events, I often asked the worship leader for their sheet music. Why would I go out of my way for their songs?
A Songwriter's Heart. I know now that God created me with the heart of a songwriter. This is where He has directed my time, energy and interest. God saw my love for worship songs and plant a seed of creativity. I did not dis- cover until later.
The Development Stage. I believe God teaches us differently; however, we all get our inspiration from one
place. That place is Jesus. My relationship with Him is the essential element in the development of my songwriting skills. Without personal worship and devotion, it would be impossible to write songs. In the early stage that is what God is looking for. He did not care how much I offered to Him. More or less, He was looking for what He could get
out of me.
Growing and Learning. Much of songwriting comes from our time spent with Him. However, where we grow learn to write can be an avenue of many things. I would like to give some helpful ideas and tools to help us become mature writers.
Growing. As I visited other places, I ended up with new tunes to take home. I have always enjoyed singing new somgs to God. Even now, I still collect them. I know that praise songs have always been a great way to help me see how to write music. Over time the songs that had been sung in church were infused in me and gave me a better sense music should be written.
Learning. There are many ways to learn how to write. The way I learned was by spending time learning how others wrote their music. In high school, I was in the jazz band. I remember that I would come to class very early to give out sheet music for all the players. When my classmates began walking into class, many were listening to recordings. I questioned them as to what they were listening to and the answer was always jazz. They listened to jazz in order to improve their musicianship. I never really knew what God had been doing that in my life until later. At home I would play the songs that I had collected and used that as personal worship time.
Don't Stop Now! Over years I started to look closely at the sheet music, I owned. I discovered the need to pay some attention to Christian music. During that time, a Gospel Crusade was held in New York. I had just graduated from high school with no job and no college plans. So with some pocket money I had, I began helping out the Cru- sade. We spent our mornings evangelizing and attending services at night. There I met some prolific Christian artists such as 4Him, T.D. Jakes and Carmen.
During the Crusade, I remember a Christian Brother discussing his views on pop music. At that time, I did not take sides. I grew up surrounded by my mother's taste in music, including classical rock and the VH1 top ten lists. It gave me all that I needed to enjoy in life. Not long after the Crusade, I bought my first Christian CD, Jars of Clay. Soon my pop collection became obsolete. I never stopped growing and learning. If we want to be great at what we do, we
must never stop seeking the truth. It is the truth, which gives us our ability to be the best.
Your Time Spent with God. During my time in Bible School, I lived in West Medford, NJ. There I learned the fundamental tools for ministry. All that training prepared me for what I would face later in life. Unbeknownst to me, God had his own plan for me. Some of my spiritual girts would discover and I began to write music. During the little free
time I had, I would pick up my guitar and play praise songs. I never stopped doing what I loved the most. Just coming to Him and giving Him my all. The time that I spent with God became the time He showed me how to write.
There He delivered my first song. That displayed His sign of His call in my life. Moments like that seem like forever. With all our busyness and life trails, it is not easy to take breaks. But God knows that in our hearts we long to see Him.
When He Writes Your Songs. I know that He wrote all of my songs. Once I tried to write a song without Him. I picked out some Bible verses and tried to figure out the formula of music writing. Well, you know the story, it never worked out. The only way to write is just being at His feet. As He fills your mind and heart with a new song, He reaches to you and to the audience. Only then will you know songwriting is perfect.
Hearing the Melody and His Words. Many will ask where the melody and the lyrics come from. I always respond "just listen and be." What I mean is we must have our ears open and let all things be still. We wait before God as He shows us Himself. Nothing can be better then just listening, waiting on the Lord for His source of supply. The way I achieve this is by playing a chord up and down, being focused until He begins to speak to my heart. Then I will speak of what He just told me and write it down. The melody comes smoothly when the words are being spoken from the heart. There are days when you will not hear anything from Him. When this happens to me I sing and play praise songs. Sometimes He will also just give you half of a song. However, do not stress over it. You do not need to com- plete the song. Just wait on Him and He will give you the song in His best timing.
Putting it All Together. When it comes to putting down God's words, it can be pretty messy. I never write with lined paper. I always have a sheet of eight by eleven blank copy paper on which to write down words and music. When I used lined paper I never wrote on the lines because I find them to constrict the spontaneity of the process.
Atfer you get together, all the words and music bear in mind that there needs to be some form of order in your songs. Most of my songs have three or four parts in them. For a three part song there are usually two verses and a chorus. For a song with four parts, there are two verses, a chorus and bridge. The songwriting process between you and God does not end right after you write down the song. There is more work to be done, but He will continue to guide you through the process. We will start to put the song together. Always remember that the song is like a short story. It has a beginning middle and an ending. Each part of song needs to flow smoothly to the next part, in order to give it beauty and voice that speak on one color. This gives the song a sense of unity.
