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 gives you strength
God gives you strength
The song is supposed to go: CHORUS - VERSE - CHORUS - ENDING, and the different verses are for use on different days with different themes. However, those using it should feel free to make whatever local provision seems best. The final ending is sung alternately leader and everyone else.
CHORUS:
God gives you strength when life gets tough,
He keeps you going when you've had enough,
He's always there even when it's rough,
so keep on trusting Jesus.
VERSE 1:
God made Samson really strong,
even when he got it wrong:
God's the same for us today,
when we follow Jesus' way.
CHORUS:
God gives you strength when life gets tough,
He keeps you going when you've had enough,
He's always there even when it's rough,
so keep on trusting Jesus.
ENDING: *
Will you flop down? NO! NO! NO!
Will you drop down? NO! NO! NO!
What will you do? We'll trust in God,
We'll keep on trusting Jesus!
* The ending is alternately the leader and Everyone.
Other verses for the different days:
VERSE 2:
God loved Jonah even though
Jonah wanted to say "no".
God wants us to turn to him:
he forgives us when we sin.
VERSE 3:
God sent fire down, lots of flame,
when Elijah called his name:
God has power to help today
when we turn to him and pray
VERSE 4:
God kept Daniel safe from fright,
shut the lions' mouths all night:
God can make us just as brave
we know Jesus comes to save
VERSE 5:
God gave Moses work to do:
"Don't be scared 'cos I'm with you".
God has jobs for us right here,
Jesus helps us conquer fear.
Copyright © John Hartley 2005.
Story behind the song
This song was written for a holiday club at St James Bolton, which was to take as its theme the strength which God gave to five Old Testament characters (one for each day of the week, as in the five verses). Although it is definitely on the menu for the club, I feel it is still at an early draft stage, and I would welcome critiques - particularly improvements to the tune.
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.