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Beautiful Grace
4 replies
Gravatar for Jayson Oldham Jayson Oldham From Ladner Baptist Church
18 July 2008 - 12:58am
Hey everyone. I am totally new to this, as my bro-in-law just told me about it today. From what I have seen and heard on this site, I think its HUGE! Helpful, great insights, great songs, and a great forum to have others share thoughts on personal worship songs. This song is called Beautiful Grace. I am preaching this Sunday on this topic and I find myself writing songs during my reflection of the text. This one came quick, it is fairly predictable and simple, but perhaps that gives it a pretty feel. Not really sure. I am singing it as part of the message. I would love others thoughts on it. Its still early. I want a better build to the bridge part and am open to suggestions, progressions, etc I recorded a very simple second vocal harmony for some dynamics, but other than that there is much room for arrangements. Here are the lyrics... Beautiful Grace Verse: It’s favour undeserved It’s free love shown That took me, Your enemy And made me Your own. There’s nothing I could have been Nothing I could have done To arrive at this place In You I am beautiful, changed By Beautiful Grace Chorus: Beautiful Grace comes, when I’ve fallen down Beautiful Grace comes, with my face to the ground Beautiful Grave comes, Though I was sin stained and destined for dead. But you saved me By Beautiful Grace Bridge: You plucked me from out of despair My lost soul is now lost in Your care Oh God of Grace You called me to be Your child For Your glory I now live my life Of God of Grace thanks, never stop singing to God! Jays

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Gravatar for Micah King Micah King From St John the Baptist
#1
18 July 2008 - 12:26pm
Hi Jayson I really like what you've produced here, however I think perhaps at the moment it might be better suited as a prayer than a song. I'm a bit uncertain of its congregational use for singing, in particular I found the structure of the verse quite hard to follow. However, the lyrics in this are amazing and the meaning behind it is brilliant. I really love the imagery you use in the chorus, it's fresh and new and I love the image of being sin stained and destined for dead but nonetheless we have been saved. Also, one other thing I noticed, when you went from the verse to the chorus for the first time, you built up the music to immediatly drop down the tone again... I think you need to maintain the build up throughout the chorus or perhaps a better idea would be to refrain from building up to the chorus the first time but then really show the power by building up the music through the bridge (like you did) and then enter the chorus with lots of power and noise. Brilliant job Blessings
Gravatar for Jayson Oldham Jayson Oldham From Ladner Baptist Church
#2
18 July 2008 - 6:57pm
great advice! It most definitely is a prayer and response to God's redemption in my life. If it does work itself into something that could be corporately sung, i think i would have to simplify it. I am also going to experiment with a soft groove rhythm, which might allow others to follow it easier, help with timing, and help the builds between verse, chorus and bridge. i also hear strings, specifically cello... but these are all ideas floating. thanks again soul strummer. Jays
Gravatar for Chris Sayburn Chris Sayburn From Worship Central // Leeds Adviser
#3
18 July 2008 - 10:07pm
Hey Jay! really nice intimate song, some steps to make it more Congregational would be to 1) change the I's to "we" me to "us" etc... E.g It’s favour undeserved It’s free love shown That took us, Your enemies And made us Your own. There’s nothing we could have been Nothing we could have done To arrive at this place In You we are beautiful, changed By Beautiful Grace 2) erm....it's hard to explain and it's too late to record (my wife would prob break my guitar if i wake our 2yr old up!) but its basically doing "in You we are beautifully changed, By Beautiful grace. that but without the pauses.... as mentioned i'll record it 2moro and show you what I mean. 3) I think the chorus timings would need looking at as when in your in a place of surrender and intimacy you want it to be able to flow like a prayer rather than wondering when to come in or wait etc... great song as a ministry sing to though, blessings from across the pond!