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To Children's Children

by Steven Searcy

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes PDF liner note booklet
    Purchasable with gift card

     

1.
Choose Life! 02:06
lyrics
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20) Choose ye now, for better or for worse; Choose ye now, a blessing or a curse. Choose life! Choose life! Obey the Lord. Choose life! Choose life! Obey the Lord, choose life! Cast away your idols made of stone; Worship God and trust in him alone. Choose life! Choose life! Obey the Lord. Choose life! Choose life! Obey the Lord, choose life! Reach up now and take his holy hand; He will lead you to the promised land. Choose life! Choose life! Obey the Lord. Choose life! Choose life! Obey the Lord, choose life!
2.
The Joy of the Lord 01:54
lyrics
(Nehemiah 8:9-12) The joy of the Lord is our strength! So be still, for this day, it is holy. Give praise to the God who forgives! Slow to anger, abounding in mercy. For this day is holy to the Lord; We must not mourn nor weep. Stand up and give praise to the Lord, To our God who will love us forever. Blessed be his glorious name, Which is exalted above all. The joy of the Lord is our strength! Now be still, for this day, it is holy.
3.
Mercy, Not Sacrifice 02:16
lyrics
(Hosea 6:6, Amos 5:21-24, Matthew 9:10-13) God desires mercy, not sacrifice— Deeds of compassion, not liturgies. God hates our feast days, Our hymns of false praise; He hates our smooth ways Of living lies. God desires mercy, not sacrifice— Be his disciple, don’t just be nice. His lambs we must feed, Help all who have need, And sow the good seed Of transformed lives. God desires mercy, not sacrifice— He desires mercy; He desires mercy.
4.
Where Your Treasure Is 02:19
lyrics
(Matthew 6:19-21) Where your treasure is, your heart will be; Where your treasure is, the Lord can see. Give your heart to him, your mind and soul; He will heal your wounds, and make you whole. Where your treasure is, the thief breaks in; You may lose your wealth, but not your sin. Jesus died to save, he will forgive; He will raise you up that you might live. Where your treasure is, you’ll spend your days; May you spend them all in joy and praise. Let the Kingdom be your priceless gem; Give your all to God and follow him.
5.
Consider 03:00
lyrics
(Matthew 6:28-30) Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; They toil not, neither spin, But Solomon in all his splendor Was not like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field Which lives a single day, Will he not keep us safe in his care And hear us as we pray? Consider the sorrows of our days, how we know Rejection, loss, and pain, Till Jesus comes and heals our sadness And brings us joy again. If God so clothes the grass of the field Which lives a single day, Will he not keep us safe in his care And hear us as we pray? Consider the follies of our lives, how they grow In seeking wealth and fame. But Jesus came to give life meaning; We praise his holy name. If God so clothes the grass of the field Which lives a single day, Will he not keep us safe in his care And hear us as we pray?
6.
The Touch of Jesus' Hand 03:01
lyrics
(Mark 1:40-42) We need the touch of Jesus’ hand; We want to see his blessed face. We pray he’ll come and with us stand And heal us by his grace. We need the touch of Jesus’ hand, To feel his presence here; We know he’ll understand And teach us not to fear. Though evil ways have been our choice And love of self has led to sin, We long to hear the Master’s voice And know he’ll call us friend. We need the touch of Jesus’ hand, To feel his presence here; We know he’ll understand And teach us not to fear. We need the peace that comes from him To face our dark and lonely night; May Jesus heal our vision dim By his own holy light. We need the touch of Jesus’ hand, To feel his presence here; We know he’ll understand And teach us not to fear.
7.
The Good Shepherd pt. 1 02:09
lyrics
(John 10:10-15) The thief has come to kill and destroy, To kill and destroy the sheep. The hireling runs when danger comes near, When danger comes near his keep. But Jesus came that we might have life, That we might have life, And have it abundantly. He is the good shepherd who lay down his life By his gracious choice. He loves us and leads us through care and through strife; His sheep know his voice. Yes he has come that we might have life, That we might have life, And have it abundantly.
8.
The Good Shepherd pt. 2 01:49
lyrics
(John 10:16-18) I have other sheep, not of this fold; I must bring them in also. My Father has loved, called them from old; My voice they will know. And there shall be one flock, one shepherd, And peace shall rule over all. I lay down my life to save them; Sinners will heed my call.
9.
Love One Another 02:28
lyrics
(John 13:34) Love one another, love one another, Even as God loves you. And be gracious, and be gracious, As the Lord gives grace to us. Love one another, love one another, Even as God loves you. Serve one another, serve one another, Even as Jesus served. For our great God, yes our great God Was the servant of us all. Serve one another, serve one another, Even as Jesus served. Pray for each other, pray for each other, Even as Jesus prayed. For to seek God is to find life; Let us pray his will be done. Pray for each other, pray for each other, Even as Jesus prayed. Live in the new birth, die to the old self, Even as Jesus died. For to lose self is to gain life; Jesus died and yet he lives. Die to the old self, live in the new birth, Even as Jesus lives.
10.
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled 02:36
lyrics
(John 14:1-3) Let not your hearts be troubled, Neither let them be afraid. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go I will come again, I will come again, I will come again, And take you to myself. Let not your hearts be troubled, Neither let them be afraid.
11.
Without God's Love, I Am Nothing 02:23
lyrics
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3) If I speak with tongues of men and angels And have not love, I am nothing. I am nothing. I’m a noisy gong, a clashing cymbal; Without God’s love, I am nothing. I am nothing. I could have the gift of prophecy, Understand all mystery, Have all faith to move mountains— I could give away all that I’ve earned, Give my body to be burned— All these things I could do, But without love, I gain nothing. I am nothing. If I speak with tongues of men and angels And have not love, I am nothing. Without God’s love, I am nothing. I am nothing.
12.
More Excellent Than Angels 01:01
lyrics
(Hebrews 1:1-5) More excellent than angels he, Begotten son that we might see Our Father’s love for you and me, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen.

about

This is a collection of songs written by my grandfather, known to all his grandchildren as “Fafa” (from the Swedish word for grandfather). I remember Fafa singing many of these songs to me when I was young, and they have stuck with me over the years. A few, which I did not remember hearing before, have been adapted from music notation and ideas sketched out in an old notebook from the early 1990s which Fafa recently gave me.

Some of these songs were written as hymns or songs for individual or group singing; others were envisioned as anthems for a church choir. Most of the lyrics are quotations or adaptations of scripture, and I think the direct, memorable melodies match well with the simple truth of the words. Setting God’s word to music and singing it is a great way to meditate on it (Psalm 1:2) and hide it in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

I was struck by this recently as I was singing “Choose Life” with my son, Edmund. He quickly expressed enjoyment in it and has asked to continue singing it. Over and over in scripture we see the idea of the Lord’s love and faithfulness to families, and are encouraged to teach our children and to pass on the word of God and the good news of his grace to the coming generations (Gen. 17:7, Ps. 78:2-7, Prov. 22:6, 2 Tim. 1:5). Singing and worshiping together is one way to do that.

So this collection of songs is a personal tribute to Fafa, and an expression of praise to the Lord for his unchanging faithfulness. May these songs bring each of us to a deeper understanding of God’s goodness and grace, and may they encourage us in proclaiming the gospel to our children and to our children’s children.

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children.” Deuteronomy 4:9

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children.” Psalm 103:17

credits

released February 24, 2017

All songs written by Karl G. Johnson, Jr.

All tracks arranged, performed, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Steven M. Searcy.

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Steven Searcy Atlanta, Georgia

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