Project 01 Songstory
For: The Institute of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.
When starting this essentials*blue course, I was preoccupied with God’s righteousness. Following the course helped me to put this into words and to balance it with other aspects of His nature. Now, when finishing the course, I am at awe again of God’s beauty. I have learned that taking time to remember God — His majesty and power and grace and beauty — is not just a privilege, but a responsibility and a precaution. I am inspired to ‘reawaken hunger for beauty at every level’; I want to celebrate ‘the goodness of creation’ and ‘the healing of the world, the new creation itself’ (1)
The song that I wrote as the final project for this course, is inspired by Habakkuk 3, where Habakkuk is celebrating the beauty and mercy of God. While he waits for God to answer his questions and complaints, God shows up and reveals Himself to him. Habakkuk’s response then is to burst out into praise. In doing so, he describes Gods beauty. The idea that stands out to me in this scripture is that even though darkness had arrived in Habakkuk’s live, his land was destroyed and his farm was burned, he shouts for joy to God.
This teaches me that it does not matter what we go through or what circumstances we are in and that despites anything: God is always faithful; His beauty never change; His majesty will reign forever; His love is endless and eternal. We can enter into His presence anytime and He will minister His peace and strength to us. Praise God!
1. N.T. Wright, Simply Christian, p. 201.
