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December 2003 Table of Contents
Cover Story
The First Time
By Geron Davis
Writing for a new project is always exciting...and a little scary! Between projects, there are always the songs that come along the way. By the time we start planning for a new worship recording, we usually have about half of the songs that we need. At this point, I begin to evaluate what we have, both thematically and stylistically, to determine what is needed to make the project complete. Whenever I commit to a company to do a new worship recording, I have this momentary, gripping fear that maybe the last project was the LAST PROJECT! What if the songs just don't come? What if I can only write four or five? What if this and what if that . . . thus the "scary" part of each new endeavor. I always want to have fresh and relevant material to offer people. If I can't relate to people, where they are and be in touch with what God is doing and saying, then we're just wasting time and money. One of the ways that I try to stay relevant is to stay in touch with real life people and the ways that God is working in their lives.
In preparing for our new release, Closer, I sat down with Music Minister Jeff Brockelman (over lunch, of course) and asked if there were any testimonies or circumstances in their church family that would offer encouragement to other believers. He immediately began to relate to me the story of a testimony that had just been given by Jill Bilderback, a lady whose husband was in the choir. He told me that she was a shy person who had to write her testimony out and read it to overcome the fear of being in front of an audience. She began her story with the words "the first time I came to Grace." Now, the name of their church is Grace Baptist. Jill was referring to that, I know. What I heard, however, was something much bigger! I looked at Jeff and totally zoned out on what he was continuing to say. I interrupted him and said, "That's your song, bro"! I identified with what she was saying in a broader sense of the word. Grace. You see, we all have our "first time I came to grace" memory . . . the moment that we encountered God's mercy and unconditional grace for the very first time. For some, it is a complete turning from a life of sin and wrongdoing and becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. For others, it is simply recognizing that, in spite of our church upbringing and religious heritage, we were born in sin and shapen in iniquity and need a Savior. Regardless of the circumstance, it is unforgettable! Any born again believer can tell you the place, how old they were, and how incredible they felt the moment they knew that their name was written in the Lamb's book of life. It's the same incredible feeling whether you are in Tennessee, Tallahassee, or Taiwan. Incredible!!
We all know that, because of our fallen humanity and sinful nature, we have to go back repeatedly. Paul said that he had to die daily. In fact, God is so aware of our continuous need for His mercy and grace that He has heaven bake up a fresh batch for us every morning! Each day when we wake up there are new mercies waiting. And we will need them. But regardless of how many times we go back, none of us will ever forget the joy, the love, and the hope we all found the first time . . . that we came to grace.
I was bearing the scars of the infinite wars
That had crushed me for so many years
I was bleeding and bruised from the hurt and abuse
That had cost me a million tears
All the winds and the rains like a hammer of pain
Had etched lines of grief on my face
But the past was released and it all turned to peace
The first time that I came to grace
Old things were passed away and all became new
My heart started singing, the clouds broke, the sun came through
Though I've returned over and over nothing will ever erase
The memory of the first time that I came to grace
I could never describe how I feel so alive
Since I met grace and mercy that day
Traded all that was wrong for a heavenly song
And joy chased my sorrow away
It's amazing to me that a King's majesty
Would be traded to die in my place
But He took my despair and He made me an heir
The first time that I came to grace
Old things were passed away and all became new
My heart started singing, the clouds broke, the sun came through
Though I've returned over and over nothing will ever erase
The memory of the first time that I came to grace
The love I found the first time that I came to grace
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Old things were passed away and all became new
My heart started singing, the clouds broke, the sun came through
Though I've returned over and over nothing will ever erase
The memory of the first time that I came to grace
The love I found the first time that I came to grace
The hope I found the first time that I came to grace
© 2003 words & music by Geron Davis Davishop Publishing / Brentwood-Benson Publishing ASCAP
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