If you’re reading this post it’s likely that you’ve picked up a copy of our music CD ‘One Thing’ somewhere – we hope you liked it. If you’ve not heard it or want to download the mp3s – click here. Otherwise the lyrics for the songs and some of the stories behind them are below.
1. One Thing (James Richards)
I was in Bible School one day and we looked at times in the Bible where the phrase ‘one thing’ came up. Later that day I wrote this song.
One thing I know, one thing I’ve seen
Once I was blind but Jesus made me see. I see.
One thing I ask, one thing I seek,
To dwell in the house of the Lord my God and King. He’s my King
We’ll see the beauty of the Lord and we’ll live eternally
Where all pain and tears have ceased we’ll be with Him
And we’ll bow down at His feet, giving glory back to Him
In a perfect family, we’ll be with Him. We’ll be with Him.
One thing I do, forgetting the past
I will press on towards prizes that will last. They will last.
One thing that I must never forget, His promise is true and the Lord is coming back.
He’s coming back!
Nothings gonna separate us from His love in Christ
Nothings ever gonna keep us apart
He’s demonstrated His love upon that rugged Cross
And I will sing, I will sing……
2. You are my King (James Richards)
When You came into this world of sin and shame
From your glorious domain
You said that You had come to seek and save the lost
By Your love shown through the Cross
You are my my King
You are my Lord
You are my God
And I love You
On a rescue mission You would prevail
There was no way that You would fail
You disarmed the powers and authorities
Triumphing over them publicly
You are everything to me (x3)
Jesus everything to me.
3. Nothing Compares (Simon Matheson)
I was broken but You made me whole
I was dead but You brought me back to life
Brought me back to life
I was empty but You filled my cup
I was lost but You, You came and found me
You came and found me my Lord
Now forever I will sing
Nothing compares, to all that You’ve done for me
No-one could ever take Your place, no-one will ever share Your fame
So I lift up my heart and I lift up my voice
Lift up Your name, in Your grace I rejoice
Nothing compares to the freedom I’ve found
Now all I can say is ‘thank you Lord’
I was blind but You made me to see
I was bound but You broke off all my chains
You broke all my chains
I was guilty but You paid my debt
All alone but You made me Your child
You made me Your own
4. Everything Changed (Simon Matheson)
I wrote this song having just heard a sermon on the road to Emmaus – it struck me just how much ‘Everything Changed’ for those two men as they suddenly realised they’d been walking with the risen Jesus – the phrase just stuck in my head and this song came out of it.
Once lost, and helpless without You
So ashamed, and dying in all of my sin
All alone with no-one to comfort me
Without hope, with nothing to live for at all
Then you sought me, You found, me
You came and You rescued me
Everything changed
When You opened my eyes to Your beauty
Everything changed
When You drew me to bow at Your throne
Now I am Yours, I am Yours
I am loved as a child of the King
Everything’s different now, for eternity
No longer in condemnation,
No longer in fear of the grave
No longer alone in my suffering
No longer a slave of my sin
I stand as a child of my Saviour
Forgiven, forever washed clean
Accepted and loved now completely,
Forever I’m free, yes I’m free
Beautiful Saviour
You are the One who is worthy
Awesome Redeemer
You are the One I adore
Jesus my King, You’re my King
I will live for Your glory alone,
I will be different now, for eternity
5. Closer (James Richards)
I really like looking through old hymn books because the words are often so ‘meaty’! This song is a result of ‘borrowing’ words from two hymns and cutting and pasting them together. Can’t say which ones – that would be telling!
Closer Lord to You I cling, closer still to You
Safe beneath Your sheltering wing I will ever be
Strong the blast of doubt and sin
Fierce assaults without within
Help me Lord the battle win
Staying close to You
And when I stand before Your throne
Dressed in beauty not my own
When I see You as You are
I’ll love You with a pure heart
Chosen not for good in me
Wakened up from wrath to flee
Hidden in the Saviours side
By the Spirit sanctified in You.
6. You are Everything (James Richards)
I wanted this song to be a simple expression of why I love Jesus so much – because He died for me.
You came into the world and You laid down Your life for me
Gave up everything You had and shed Your precious blood
So that I could be redeemed
You are the glorious One
With feet glowing bronze and a face like burning sun.
Jesus, Your everything to me
Your my Lord and King
Cause You laid down Your life for me
(x2)
You are my Rock (James Richards)
You are my Rock, You are my King, You are my Lord, You’re my everything
You are my Father, and I will rejoice at the sound of Your Name.
When I’m afraid I will trust in You (x4)
7. Reflection – Instrumental
8. Treasure like you (Simon Matheson)
This song is written for my family, my wife and kids – after Jesus the greatest gifts God could have given me
Never known joy like this before
Just to see the smile that lights up your face
Never known joy like this before
Just to hold you close to me each day
And I know I don’t deserve to have you as my own
But while you’re here I’ll cherish every moment
All I want is to see you smile
All I want is to see you shine
Just to know, you’re satisfied in Jesus alone
Just to know you’re held within His arms so strong
All I want, all I want for a treasure like you
And when the storm winds blow, I’ll be right by your side
Just hold my hand and know you’re not alone
And fix your eyes, on the One who loves you
More than I could ever love you, trust in Him alone
9. Where can I go? (Simon Matheson)
This song came out of a time when I was a fairly new Christian and I was really seeking God for His direction in a particular area of my life – it was the first time I’d struggled like that & one of the greatest encouragements was this verse from the Psalms – ‘my times are in Your hands!’.
Where can I go when I’m on my knees
When I feel helpless and alone
When all around me says that there’s no hope
I need someone to trust
Who can I lean on
I know You’re always there
You’re watching over me
You’ll never let me slip
I know I’ll never fall
My times are in Your hands
And I place my hope in You
My strength, my Shield, my Deliverer
The God in whom I trust
Through all my days I will sing Your praise
And tell of Your wonderful love
I’m held secure in everlasting arms
And I’m safe within Your hands
10. Your Works (James Richards)
After reading Psalm 139 I just had to cry out with King David that You’re works are wonderful!
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well, they’re wonderful
Your Name is so beautiful, the Name above all names, Jesus.
We all like sheep have gone astray
Each to our own way
There is none that seeks Your face
But when the time had fully come
You sent forth Your Son
And all my sin was laid on Him.
11. Free (Simon Matheson)
Condemned I stood, guilty without a plea
Broken and bound, and darkness surrounded me
There was nothing I could do to break my chains apart
I had nothing left worth living for
But now I’m free, Jesus came and took my place, I’m free
No more chains, no more disgrace
I’m free to walk, I’m free to run, I’m free to live again,
Cos now I’m free
What matchless love, my Saviours blood poured out for me
Such boundless grace, that calls a sinner to be clean
I stand in awe that He would ever call my name
And welcome me with open arms
12. Awesome Jesus (Dai Hankey)
Jesus, King of love
Your blood has washed our sins away
You laid down your life for us
Now we lift our hearts to you in praise
Awesome Jesus
We love You for You first loved us
Perfect love demonstrated on the cross
You took the nails
You took our place
You took it all and gave us grace
You are awesome Jesus
Jesus, Prince of peace
Your love has cast all fear away
You carried the cross for us
Now we lay down our lives for You today
Your love never fails (x3)
You are awesome!
13. Brokenness (Simon Matheson)
I don’t know about you but sometimes I go through times when I look at myself and can’t imagine how I could ever be the person God wants me to be – this song is written for that time – in our brokenness, God has a way of pouring out His beauty.
Staring now in the mirror once again
Nothing good do I see
Needing now to feel your touch again
To see you changing me
Longing now to meet You in this place
Longing for your embrace
On my knees now to meet You in this place
Longing to be free – to be free
In my brokenness You pour out beauty
Make me shine again
In my emptiness
You fill me with Your love that never fails
In humility You lift me higher
Than I’ve ever been
As I wait on You
You clothe me with Your glory so divine
Oh come surround me – surround me in Your love
14. Heavenbound (James Richards & Simon Matheson)
I was on a church holiday and I couldn’t get the phrase ‘heavenbound’ out of my head. I just felt an overwhelming urge to write an upbeat song about going to heaven. My friend Simon helped to write the words for the verses.
Heavenbound with my eyes on You
Every trial You will take me through
Here on earth I will seek Your face
Give me strength now to run this race.
I know that I don’t belong in this world that’s full of darkness
I turn my eyes to what’s ahead
I know You’re preparing a place for me and someday soon
You’ll take me there, where all hurt and pain will cease
Sometimes I feel like there is no hope left to cling to
I fix my mind upon the promise You have made
You said that one day You are coming back to get me
I will be with You for eternity
I will honour You, I give my all to You
I will honour You, all my days
I will honour You, I give my all to You
I will honour You, til I see you face to face
I know one day You will return in all Your glory
And every knee will bow down low
I’m longing for that day with everything that’s in me
For I will see You face to face