Where You Are

We just got back from an amazing church camp at the weekend. From the worship to the word, to the sense of unity and fellowship it was fantastic. In the worship and the word in almost every session, a common theme emerged - we need God's presence more than we realise... even when we are longing for Him.

That desire birthed this song over the course of the camp. For some time now, I'd wanted to write a chorus on His presence (and in particular references to 2 Corinthians and Psalm 16) but had long given up. For reasons I cannot explain, creativity suddenly flowed and the ideas coagulated during the camp - all I can say is glory to God! Here is the very new "Where You Are"

VERSE
Where You are, o God
There is freedom
Where You are, o God
There is joy complete
Where You are, o God
There is nowhere else
That I want to be

CHORUS
Here in Your presence
Here in Your courts, Lord
I'm satisfied
I am transformed
Here in Your presence
Here in Your courts, Lord
All I want is to worship You

BRIDGE
Let Your fire burn in me
Let Your fire burn in me
My heart longs for more of You, God

Have not yet recorded this as it is only a few days old but stay tuned! I pray these lyrics bless you... for anyone interested in sheet music this will shortly be ready so please contact me if you wish to use this in your church.

Let us, His people, long for more of Him, and be satisfied only where He is!

For His glory,
AM

Psalm 130 (My Soul Waits)

Time for another post, it's been ages. We have just finished a series on prayer at church and for weeks a video ran at the start with Psalm 130. I had come across this psalm before and wanted to write a song on it but never got around to it. Having seen this week after week the ideas began to flow. I read a commentary which really shaped my idea for "My Soul Waits" - saying that the idea of the nightwatchman waiting for the sun was not of vain hope, but knowing the shift WILL end because the sun WILL rise. Deliverance will come!

My prayer is that the end result is a song that declares God's faithfulness and the faith we should have in Him and His power.

VERSE 1
I lift my voice to You, my Saviour and my King
So faithful are You Lord, I know You hear
If You recalled each sin, I know I could not stand
In mercy You forgive, in grace I live

PRECHORUS
More than the watchman waits for morning
Knowing the sun will rise again

CHORUS
So my soul waits for You, O Lord
My hope is in Your Word alone
Confident in Your promise true
In Your faithfulness I stand secure

VERSE 2
So everything I am will hope in You, O God
Your never-failing love, Your mercy strong
Forgiven and redeemed from all my sin and shame
Now all I want is to be where You are

BRIDGE
You are faithful, You are true, I'll wait on You, Lord
Through the darkness, You lead me, I will worship You

My prayer is that these words are a blessing and encouragement to all no matter where you are. God is faithful! Deliverance will come! No recording as this is very new - but keep an eye on this blog and twitter for more news. If you want to know more about the song or want sheet music for your church, you know what to do - please contact me!

Blessings,
AM

Who Is Like You

Thought I'd blog one more song for today. This one is dear to my heart as it's one of my earliest songs and I've always loved the feel of it. I was 19 when I started writing this one after meditating on Psalm 71. 6:8 feel.

VERSE 1
Lord You lead me through the valleys
From the depths You have rescued me
In my weakness You restore me
In my frailty You are my strength

When all that surrounds seems hopeless
I'll trust in You, Lord

CHORUS
Who is like You, precious Jesus
No one can compare to You
Who is like You, gracious Jesus
We exalt Your holy name

VERSE 2
I will proclaim Your salvation
Awesome power and righteousness
I will tell of Your great wonders
I will sing of Your faithfulness

Your glory and matchless worth, Lord
My soul will declare

BRIDGE
Saviour, Redeemer, Messiah, Great I AM
No one else worthy of praise, no one else worthy

I pray these words bless you. For those interested, there is a recording of this online - www.myspace.com/andrewmihaleff. If you would like to use this song at your church, please contact me for sheet music and so on.

For His Name!
AM

Greatness Of Knowing You

Long time since my last post, apologies. I had wanted to write on Philippians 3 for ages. When I preached on it nearly 3 years ago, even more so I sensed I had a lyric brewing. It took the better part of 18 months and after nearly shelving it, the song was saved by dabbling with a borrowed Strat.

While the verses deal with the text, the bridge reminds us that we aren't there yet but God in His mercy continues to change us - the result is we can't help but sing! The chorus echoes Paul's ultimate summary - that nothing in this world compares to the greatness of knowing Christ!

VERSE 1
All that I've loved fades
In light of Your mercy
All that was my gain
I now count as loss
So that I may be found in You Lord
And by faith, receive Your righteousness

CHORUS
O the greatness of knowing You Lord!
O the wonder! O the blessing!
O the greatness of knowing You Lord!
Nothing in this world compares

VERSE 2
I long to know You
In Your resurrection
And to share with You
In Your suffering
So that I may become like You, Lord
In Your death and share Your risen life

BRIDGE
Humbled by Your mercy
From glory to glory, Jesus
You are changing me
For everything You've done, Lord
For Your name and honour, Jesus
Highest praise, I bring

I pray this song is a blessing to you. There is a recording up on www.myspace.com/andrewmihaleff. If you would like to use this at your church please contact me and I'd be happy to get sheet music to you.

"O the wonder!" May we always be in awe of this amazing truth.

AM

Our Great God

Over the latter half of 2010, we have been looking at the Trinity as a preaching series at church - and an awesome series it's been. I had discussed with our pastor about writing a song on the Trinity and how precious few songs there are about it. Graciously, God gave me this song - and thankfully, it was finished right at the start of the series!

Each verse deals with the members of the Godhead, while the idea behind the chorus echoes a few classic hymns that mention the Trinity. The pre-chorus/bridge carries an interesting idea of God being perfect in mercy, power and unity. In every sense of the word, our God - three persons in One - is perfect. His mercy and love, are perfect. And yet they are perfectly balanced with His sense of power, justice and holiness. And the unity and harmony between each member of the Godhead is flawless.

VERSE 1
Glorious Father
Lord of creation
God eternal and unseen, You are

VERSE 2
Wonderful Jesus
God of salvation
Crucified, now risen, coming King

PRECHORUS
Perfect in mercy
Perfect in power
Perfect in unity
How marvelous are You, oh Lord

CHORUS
All glory to the Father
All glory to the Son
All glory to the Spirit
We bring praise to our great God
Three in One

VERSE 3
Oh Holy Spirit
Comfort and counsel
Guarantee of hope, our future sealed

I pray these lyrics are a blessing to you, as they have been to me. I'm pleased to announce there is now a recording online at www.myspace.com/andrewmihaleff. For those wanting sheet music, please don't hesitate to ask.

"Perfect in mercy, perfect in power, perfect in unity... how marvelous are You, O Lord" - amen.

AM

Amen

Happy New Year! Well it's been a month since my last blog so what better time to get another one in...

This is an older song I wrote back in 2005. I had read the end of Jude and wanted to put it to music for some time. After playing with a few different ideas, this came out. Three verses and a chorus, with a tag that soars to the finish. The first two verses help explain the background to Jesus' coming while the last verse and chorus deal with Jude's doxology itself.

VERSE 1
From heaven, You came
The King of all kings
The holiest One, would take on all sin
Your arms open wide
You embraced sacrifice
An unworthy world, You gave Your life for

CHORUS
All wisdom and all glory be
Unto You, O Lord, You're deserving of all praise
All power and all authority
Unto You, O Lord, forever, amen

VERSE 2
From heaven, You came
Great Light of the world
Slain for the freedom of every soul
You broke through the night
In magnificent light
And forever You stand in victory

VERSE 3
Creation will bow
As Your trumpet resounds
When You will return to this earth as King
Your arms open wide
You'll welcome Your bride
Blameless and pure in Your presence

TAG
All honour and all praise, amen
To You, forever Lord, amen

I pray this song is a blessing to you. There is a recording up on www.myspace.com/andrewmihaleff. If you would like to use this at your church please contact me and I'd be happy to get sheet music to you.

In Christ,
AM

We Crown You Lord (all hail the power)

I love hymns! One of my favourites is All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name by Edward Perronet. Many regard this as the church's "national anthem", but there is a great missionary story to this worship standard...

E P Scott was cornered on the mission field, the local tribes ready to spear him. Scott closed his eyes, pulled out his violin and begin singing "All Hail", believing death was imminent. He opened his eyes and saw every spear lowered, some of the men in tears. All Hail the Power of Jesus Name indeed!!

I read that story and felt this song and its themes cannot be forgotten. "We Crown You Lord" is my humble attempt at reinventing this classic. The verse begins word for word, while the rest paraphrases the great truths throughout the hymn. And while the chorus and bridge are new, they too draw on Perronet's inspired writing. I don't pretend this could rival the old hymn, this is simply a new twist on it.

VERSE 1
All hail the power of Jesus' Name
Let angels prostrate, fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
All hail the Maker of all things
Created by His words
All hail the King above all kings

CHORUS
We crown You Lord of all
God of the heavens, Lord of creation
We crown You Lord of all, Jesus
We crown You Lord of all
God of the ages, Lord of the nations
We crown You Lord of all, Jesus

VERSE 2
All hail the sinless One, whose blood
Has saved us from the fall
All hail our Saviour and our God
All hail the Risen, Glorious Son
Who conquered sin and death
All hail the Lamb, our victory won!

BRIDGE
We, the redeemed, in unity declare
We join the eternal song
Before the nations, we stand together
And crown You Lord of all

I pray these words bless you. For those interested, there is a recording of this online - www.myspace.com/andrewmihaleff. If you would like to use this song at your church, please contact me for sheet music and so on.

For His Name!
AM