At the end of 2019 I was asked by my lovely friend and sister in Christ, Katy if I would like to be a part of the 2020 Tearfund concert tour to help raise money for this wonderful Christian Charity. Having had the privilege of being a Performer in the 2019 Tearfund concerts, I was over the moon to be able to say yes to Katy’s offer!
The tour consisted of ten dates at different venues across the UK that would see me and three other Christian Musical Theatre Professionals bringing an evening of songs, testimonies and entertainment to an audience, accompanied by our wonderful Musical Director Dan. The main reason for the evenings however was to raise money to help support Tearfund in their important work as they go worldwide and help those living in poverty and third world conditions.
I had been given the wonderful opportunity in 2019 to not only sing but also share one of my poems as part of the concerts so you can imagine my glee when Katy asked me if I would be willing to share a poem for the 2020 concerts too. Not only did she ask if I would be happy to share a poem but she also asked if she could commission me to write one especially for the event! I always love a poetry request and I said I’d be happy to hear her thoughts and then pray for inspiration from the Author!
Katy went on to share with me that one of the communities that Tearfund was helping hugely was a village named Awallu Wallu in Uganda where she and Dan had visited at the end of 2019. Something that had instantly moved Katy during her time there was the joy of the people living in the village. She explained that in spite of their simple living conditions and sometimes extremely difficult and tragic circumstances, the joy that overflowed from their hearts was so inspiring.
Upon arrival, one local woman named Betty had approached Katy and Dan and shared immediately, “I’m a single mother living with HIV but I must tell you about how good Jesus is to me! I must sing you a song about Him!” Katy explained that the whole trip was a truly inspirational and humbling experience for her and she went on to ask me if I could write a poem that talked about the joy of the Lord that could compliment the message being shared by Tearfund at the concerts.
As I prayed over the request and thought about the videos and pictures of the trip Katy had shared with me, a few Scriptures from the Bible came to mind. The first was Nehemiah 8:10 which reads,
“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The second verse was 1 Timothy 6:6 where it says,
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
I felt both of these truths were very evident in the hearts and lives of the people living in Uganda and wanted to write a poem that could reflect the joy a person feels when they know Jesus as their Saviour. Although I don’t know what it’s like to live in Uganda, I certainly know the joy of the Lord in my own heart and I can see how His faithfulness has brought me through many painful trials and tribulations in my life too.
I felt inspired to write a poem that spoke about the joy the Lord brings into the heart of a human being no matter where they live in the world and no matter what hardships they face. I also wanted to share the power of the Gospel and why it can reach the human soul like no other message can. As Habakuk 3:18 says,
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
When we know Jesus as our Saviour then our salvation is one thing that no trial or tribulation can ever touch. We can be certain that our eternity with Jesus is always secure no matter what we go through in life. What joy this truth brings to the human soul and so it’s for this reason that I’ve called my poem, “God Of Salvation.”
Such joy O’ Lord, such joy there is for every child of God!The tour consisted of ten dates at different venues across the UK that would see me and three other Christian Musical Theatre Professionals bringing an evening of songs, testimonies and entertainment to an audience, accompanied by our wonderful Musical Director Dan. The main reason for the evenings however was to raise money to help support Tearfund in their important work as they go worldwide and help those living in poverty and third world conditions.
I had been given the wonderful opportunity in 2019 to not only sing but also share one of my poems as part of the concerts so you can imagine my glee when Katy asked me if I would be willing to share a poem for the 2020 concerts too. Not only did she ask if I would be happy to share a poem but she also asked if she could commission me to write one especially for the event! I always love a poetry request and I said I’d be happy to hear her thoughts and then pray for inspiration from the Author!
Katy went on to share with me that one of the communities that Tearfund was helping hugely was a village named Awallu Wallu in Uganda where she and Dan had visited at the end of 2019. Something that had instantly moved Katy during her time there was the joy of the people living in the village. She explained that in spite of their simple living conditions and sometimes extremely difficult and tragic circumstances, the joy that overflowed from their hearts was so inspiring.
Upon arrival, one local woman named Betty had approached Katy and Dan and shared immediately, “I’m a single mother living with HIV but I must tell you about how good Jesus is to me! I must sing you a song about Him!” Katy explained that the whole trip was a truly inspirational and humbling experience for her and she went on to ask me if I could write a poem that talked about the joy of the Lord that could compliment the message being shared by Tearfund at the concerts.
As I prayed over the request and thought about the videos and pictures of the trip Katy had shared with me, a few Scriptures from the Bible came to mind. The first was Nehemiah 8:10 which reads,
“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The second verse was 1 Timothy 6:6 where it says,
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
I felt both of these truths were very evident in the hearts and lives of the people living in Uganda and wanted to write a poem that could reflect the joy a person feels when they know Jesus as their Saviour. Although I don’t know what it’s like to live in Uganda, I certainly know the joy of the Lord in my own heart and I can see how His faithfulness has brought me through many painful trials and tribulations in my life too.
I felt inspired to write a poem that spoke about the joy the Lord brings into the heart of a human being no matter where they live in the world and no matter what hardships they face. I also wanted to share the power of the Gospel and why it can reach the human soul like no other message can. As Habakuk 3:18 says,
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
When we know Jesus as our Saviour then our salvation is one thing that no trial or tribulation can ever touch. We can be certain that our eternity with Jesus is always secure no matter what we go through in life. What joy this truth brings to the human soul and so it’s for this reason that I’ve called my poem, “God Of Salvation.”
A joy that wins the heart of every nation.
Delight that’s inexpressible for when we turn to You,
We see our Great Redeemer and the God of our salvation!
Praises to our Mighty King who chose to face the Cross,
Glory to the God who left His Throne!
We honour and exalt the One who paid the sinner’s debt,
We lift on high the name of Christ and sing His name alone!
For no one else defeated death and paid the cost of sin,
No other name can bring such jubilation.
Only You can truly set the human spirit free,
For only You redeemed the souls of every generation!
Such joy O’ Lord! A joy that tribulation cannot touch,
Nor poverty, nor times of woe and strife.
Our reason to rejoice remains as solid as a rock
For Jesus rose again and bought our souls eternal life!
Who could hide such inner joy to know they are forgiven?
You’ve cleared us from eternal guilt and shame!
Surrounded by Your shield of love, united with Your Spirit,
With hearts of gratitude we cannot help but praise Your name!
You’ve shown us endless mercy Lord, in this the heart rejoices!
You teach us how to love our fellow man.
May Your Spirit overflow and bolster those around us,
Let us glorify the Source, our God, the great I Am!
For You are our Provider Lord, yes You’re Jehovah Jireh.
You give us gifts and skills to earn a living.
Whether we abound in wealth or live a life more simple,
Help us learn to be content with all that we’ve been given.
May we use our days on Earth to bless the lives of others,
Help Your people flourish with Your strength.
O’ how our souls abound in hope when we rely on Jesus!
Your love surpasses every height and every given length!
Such joy O’ Lord! Such joy there is in knowing Christ our Saviour!
Let our triumph set each heart ablaze!
Help us to inspire those who’ve yet to know their Maker,
May we sing in one accord and give You all the praise!
Habakuk 3:18
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
1 Peter 1:6-9
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”
Nehemiah 8:10
“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
1 Timothy 6:6
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Psalm 5:12
“For you bless the godly, O Lord;
You surround them with your shield of love.”(NLT)
Romans 15:13
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
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