THE GRACE OF GOD

I am going to share the lyrics of one of my very first songs I wrote and recorded.  All of the lyrics are taken literally from the Bible so technically I can't take all the credit here.  When I was recording the vocals my producer at the time wanted me to take some of the lyrics out of the fourth line, BY THE GRACE OF GOD I'M MADE PERFECT IN HIS EYES, simplify it he said.  I told him I couldn't since I had taken it directly from the Bible, my friend told me he was probably right and that it would be OK to remove the word, "made" from the sentence, so I did.  When I got back home with the finished recording I gave a copy to a couple who sang at our church regularly and since he did some songwriting it was of interest.   They listened to it and without telling me decided to sing this song, THE GRACE OF GOD, as a prelude one Sunday. Here I am in church completely unaware of what they had planned to do and as I sat down they started singing this song.  I remember wanting to run and hide but I was captured.  They did a beautiful job but beforehand when they took it to the pastor to get his OK, he made them change that line from "perfect" to "forgiven" so they sang, BY THE GRACE OF GOD I'M FORGIVEN IN HIS EYES.  I realized at that moment I should not have compromised and taking that word out does change the meaning, while we are still perfect in His eyes we must be "made" that way first through the blood of Christ.  So anyway that line always makes me cringe when I hear it but here are the lyrics the way I originally wrote them.   Enjoy!:)

The Grace of God


Verse 1

By the grace of God,

I am who I am

By the grace of God,

I am committed to Him

By the grace of God,

I have the power to testify

By the grace of God,

I'm made perfect in his eyes

CHORUS

His grace is sufficient for me

and his grace covered all at calvary

and I know his grace will lead me home to the place,

 that he's prepared for me,

because his grace is sufficient for me

Verse 2

It is the grace of God,

that's been given to me

It is the grace of God,

that sets my spirit free

It is the grace of God,

that freely justifies

By the grace of God,

he dwells daily in our lives

CHORUS
Bridge

It is by grace we are saved,

through faith not of good works

lest anyone should boast,

but by the sacrifice,

of him who gave his life

CHORUS
©2006 Denise Edwards

I'M TOO BUSY

Here is a song I wrote awhile back and thought of my Mom as I came up with the chorus and verses.  She would always say, "everyone is just so busy", I think she was referring to everyone going about their lives and not caring or thinking about anyone else .  In her generation people took time out of their busy lives to visit each other or make a phone call, there was genuine concern.  This song actually talks about another kind of busy, here it is:  



I'M TOO BUSY



I'm too busy working my job

making the grade

investing my pay


I'm too busy, on the phone

take it from me,

just leave me alone

I'm too busy, preparing a meal

anytime of the day

it's a big deal

I'm too busy with activities

there's no time

just for me
CHORUS
Any I should be busy about God's work

telling my neighbor about my Saviour

who came to earth, for what it is worth

to save lost sinners like you and me


And I should be busy, telling the good news

How God sent His Son,

the work has been done, it is finished

He took our place, now we can live

on and on in Amazing Grace.
Verse

I'm so busy reading the news

working so hard,

I pick and I choose


I'm so busy writing a book

painting a picture

just take a look


I'm so busy finishing school

shopping for clothes

looking so cool


I'm so busy

when I'm on the road

talking every minute on my cell phone
Chorus

Bridge

Oh I'm so busy waiting in traffic

and I'm so busy about others business

the line is busy again, I can't stand it

They're always engaged on the telephone
Verse

Let's get busy everyday

asking God

for the right words to say

Let's get busy out on the street

sharing the good news

with friends that we meet


Let's get busy lending a hand

to the lost and lonely

in every land


Let's get busy speaking the truth

loving our enemies

this is the proof
Chorus - And we will be busy....
©2011 Denise Edwards

LOVE IS.......

Here is a song I wrote awhile ago. We always talk  about love, but we tend to forget that the reason we are able to love is because God loved us first when He sent His only Son into the world to die for us so that we could become children of God.  It is the greatest love story of all time, as my pastor would say.  The inspiration for this song is from an anonymous poem I read while substitute teaching. I wrote it down on a piece of paper  and forgot about it.  I found it a year or two later in my purse and was inspired to write LOVE IS..., it hasn't been recorded yet but I have performed a couple of times.  Enjoy!:)




LOVE IS.....
verse 1
Love, is a hand

That reaches out, it pulls you in

It's a word of hope

Saying it's OK

Things will get better

With each passing day (I say)



Love is, the kindness in a smile

It's knowing you would go the extra mile

It's picking you up when you're feelin' down

Helping to turn your world around



CHORUS

For God is Love

and no greater love is there than this

That a man lay down his life, for another

We cannot love each other without Gods' love

We love because he first loved us


verse 2
Love, is holding on not letting go

It's the hope that you have at the end of the day

It means patiently waitin

Love can be strong when the world is hating (I say)



Love is, when you speak of someone kindly

Building them up not tearing them down

It is giving to someone

Not getting something for yourself in return

Chorus
verse 3
Love, is a kind word spoken softly

Reaching your hand out to the poor and needy

It is giving your life for another

Treating each other like sister and brother(I say)



Love is, the understanding heart

Willing to mend not pulling apart

It's forgiving and forgetting

There is not enough love in this world

Chorus

©2011 Denise Edwards

My Favorite Bread Recipe

I am going to share my favorite bread recipe with you.  I got it from the back of a Dakota Maid Bread Flour bag, I add a few extra ingredients to  boost the nutritional value and try to keep a few extra loaves on hand at all times.  I grew up on homemade bread and my Mom would make 20 - 30 loaves at a time, since there were ten of us it took a lot of bread to feed us, granted we weren't always all at home  at the same time but there was usually a good number of family around.  I usually multiply this recipe x 4 and I get around 8 loaves depending if I make fry bread or rolls or fleisch keigla etc...  you get the idea. What we don't eat I freeze.  Anyway here it is and hope you enjoy making some for yourself.


WHITE PAN BREAD

4 1/2 to 5 cups Bread Flour ( Dakota Maid is amazing)
1 3/4 cups Water
1 packet (1 Tablespoon) Active Dry Yeast
1-2 tsp. Salt
2 Tbsp. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Vegetable Shortening
2 tsp.  Non-Fat Milk Solids (I use milk)

Follow directions on package for yeast hydration.  Kneed dough until smooth, dry and pliable (10 minutes).  Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in size.   Divide dough in half.  Shape into 2 loaves.  Place in pans and let rise to desired height. 
Bake at 400 to 425 F.  Makes approximately 2 delicious loaves. 

Here are my directions:
I usually put all of the ingredients together at once except the flour as long as the water is warm it works out very well. I let this mixture set about 20 -30 minutes, until it looks like a big sponge, then I add the flour, a handful of oatmeal, 1/4 to 1/2 c. cornmeal, 1/4 -1/2 c. whole wheat flour or 1/4 c. wheat germ, I have added flax seed and molasses as well.  It's all very good. I mix it all together and let it rise then punch it down and repeat two or three times,  I then lop off  a chunk, shape it, put it in pans, slather on some veg. oil, let it rise again and bake it.  Not too difficult but it does take practice as I've made a few football type loaves when I first started, getting the right consistency can be tricky but this recipe has definitely improved my success rate.  Hopefully you have the same results.  Enjoy!!:)

LORD LIFT ME UP

This song is one of the first ones I recorded.  I was leaving church one Sunday and loved the upbeat postlude played by our guitarist and his wife and thought, "it sure would be nice to have an upbeat song like that," so I put my thoughts into action and by the time I arrived home I had it finished and simply had to write it down and play through it a few times.  I recorded it two weeks later and shortly after added a bridge which I regret was not part of the trac but anyway here are the lyrics with the bridge,the song has been added to Reverbnation so feel free to listen on that site.  I loved how the musicians put the trac together and ended up using it as the title to the CD.  Here are the lyrics to LORD LIFT ME UP!!  Enjoy!

Lord Lift Me Up


CHORUS

Lord lift me up,up,up

Make me more like you

full of compassion,

faithful and true

Let the light of your Son come shining through

That others might see and believe

That they would not be decieved

Verse

Life is like a river flowing out to the sea

It twists and turns and moves so swiftly

It flows through the valley

It flows 'round the bend

With God as our Father

It never ends

CHORUS

Verse

You call us out of darkness to your marvelous light

Like a beacon shining in the night

You set us high upon a mountain top

shedding light to the valley below
CHORUS

Bridge

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Let your light so shine upon all men

Let your Holy Spirit dwell within

giving the power and the might

take the glory forever and ever and ever Amen!
CHORUS



*words and music by Denise Edwards

THERE ARE ANGELS

Not too long ago I added another song to Reverbnation and wanted to share those lyrics with you so here they are.  Enjoy!:)

THERE ARE ANGELS


Chorus
Resting in the arms of an angel

God is walking beside you

Leading and guiding every step of the way

His angels will shield you and protect you

Bringing you closer to the Lord

Giving you peace hope and serenity

Every moment of the day

Verse 1

In the face of a tragedy

Or the loss of a loved one

There are angels close by

They will comfort you

And when the storm clouds come

or the tempest gets high

Our God delivers

He's standing by

Chorus

Verse 2

In the face of discouragement

Or the loss of integrity

Our God still loves you anyway

He will build you up

When feeling helpless

And situations get worse

No greater power

Exists on this earth

Chorus

Bridge

He will command his angels

concerning you

And they will lift you up

In their hands

Chorus

If you believe in miracles

Then believe it's true

There are angels all around

Intervening for you

In times of trouble

God can lend you a hand

His many angels are at his command

Chorus



Words and music by Denise Edwards

©2009 Denise Edwards

I TRUST IN YOU

Here is a song I wrote and recorded on the MY GOD CAN CD.  I just added the track to Reverbnation and the production of it I think turned out amazing thanks to Mark Mosley and his wonderful musicians!!  I wrote it to address trust issues we have in this day and age and as a reminder that God can always be trusted, He knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us unconditionally.  The song came together quickly and was real happy with the way it turned out.   Here are the lyrics:

I TRUST IN

Chorus
I trust in you

all my hopes, all my dreams

all my plans, all my schemes

my life is in your hands

not a day will go by that you're not by my side

VERSE 1

No one can love me like you do,

No one on earth cares like you do.

You see me through and through,

I cannot hide anything from you,so

Chorus
VERSE 2

Yes, I believe it's true,

that life itself is a gift from you

In everything I do

May I live solely to glorify you

Chorus

BRIDGE

As I learn better and better to serve everyday

May my faith grow to be stronger each step of the way

As I climb slowly and steadily along lifes road

Please be my guide I need you by my side

Chorus



Words and music by Denise Edwards

©2010Denise Edwards