This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
God has a lovely way ...
God has a lovely way ...
People may intend things for evil:
God intends to use them for good.
People's lives face frequent upheaval,
but God can make them run as they should.
Don't be afraid of admitting
the mistakes you have made in the past.
God has a lovely way of knitting
the future
into goodness which will last.
People may be unrealistic:
God creates the ways they can shine.
People aims may well be simplistic,
but God can purify and refine.
Don't be dismayed by the shutting
of the doors you had hoped would swing wide.
God has a lovely way of putting
his people
into places where they'll thrive.
People may be wolves in sheep's clothing,
God brings good when they meant to harm.
People may be filled with self-loathing,
but God can see their souls' inner charm.
Don't be condemned by the feeling
you're beyond all his love and his grace.
God has a lovely way of healing
the people
who repent and seek his face.
People's aims in life are defective,
God will work his purpose and goal.
People have a selfish perspective:
but God can heal, forgive, and make whole.
Those he foreknew he predestined
to conform to the life of his Son.
God has a lovely way of making
a future
where we'll be with him as one.
Words copyright © John Hartley 2009. All rights reserved.
Based on Genesis 50:20-21 and Romans 8:28-29.
Story behind the song
I started thinking about this song when a colleague on an e-mail chat list posted a request for songs based on the life of Joseph, as told in Genesis 37-50. Apart from the songs in the Lloyd-Webber musical I couldn't think of any, and I began to ask myself what were the significant points of the story which might be taken up in song. This song was one of the results: "You intended evil, but God intended it for good" says Joseph to his brothers - a lesson we can all apply to our own lives.
John Hartley.
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.