I began this session with a longer song-writing session and we all shared our experiences in creativity. It was eye-opening for everyone to hear about processes and fruit and other goods. We began by singing Psalm 34 over a simple chord progression and eventually a phrase came out of it that became the chorus. I realized the group was too big to actually write a song with so I had half the group use that progression and chorus and go off and write the rest of the song on their own. And this fantastic song is what came out!

WRITERS: Tom & Machelle Kushnerick, Todd Anderson, Adrianne Forster, Tammy Benelli, Ellie Pugh, Emily Springfield, Kimberly Stelter, Angie Daugherty, Keri LaBrant, Anthony Ashley, Jacob Felix, Aaron Strumpel

LYRICS: Come my children listen to me I will teach you, I will feed you (2x)

The lions grow weak and hungry but the children of the Lord never faint (2x)

We will lack no good thing (4x)

Oh it’s sweet, like honey from the comb when you speak to us, when you sing to us

The righteous cry out and you feed us (4x)

We will lack no good thing (4x)

You’re hand reaches out to us (guys)

You’re not too far away (gals)

Come my children listen to me I will teach you, I will feed you (2x)

SHOVEL SONG #1: DARKEST OCEAN – Psalm 33 – Worship@8500 – June 25, 2011
Every group is different and this group was brilliant and small. Afterwards I realized I had pushed them all realllllllyyyyy hard because I recognized the song was taking off in a crazy good way. We had 8-10 people that day and were looking at Psalm 33 and the idea of God putting these massive things into household storage places created some real wonder in our heads and hearts. So this song was born when one of our group, Renee, free-wrote the prose for the first verse. The rest is history – enjoy!

WRITERS: Justin & Melissa Murphy, Mary Arnold, Bekah Smith, Scott Kavli, Renee Swick, Vince Ackerman, Bill & Gayle O’Hair, Aaron Strumpel

LYRICS: The darkest ocean set aside in jars//Defined in your words brighter than the stars//Your strength forms my heart (2x)
The tallest mountains pointing to the skies//Defined in your words, “My God, how they cry!”//Your strength forms my heart (2x)
Where could we go, where you are not with us?//Where could we go, where could we go?
Surrounded by//All you’ve made//In Your arms//Home I’ve gained