Wonderfully Made: Choosing Life

David RayFamily, Kids, Ministry, Music, Musings, Preschool, Worship4 Comments

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I watched this video for the first time with tears streaming down my cheeks in the lobby of an Orlando hotel.

We have been so blessed over the years to have our songs travel all over the nation and even occasionally around the world. (I’m not exactly sure how it happens, I just know that my ASCAP statement includes royalties from Norway.) But I have never been so moved by the powerful way in which a church used one of our songs.

We met Sheila Goskie, Director of Children’s Music at Idlewild Baptist Church in the Tampa, FL area, at a children’s choir conference last fall, where we shared our song “Wonderful” from the album Doorpost Songs: This Is Love. The song is based on Psalm 139:7-16, a passage that includes the familiar verse, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Sheila knew immediately how she was going to use the song.

Both kids had mothers that considered terminating their pregnancies. But both mothers courageously chose life instead.

For Idlewild’s Sanctity of Life Sunday in January, Sheila and the media team at Idlewild used the song to share the story of two children. (You’ll see them in the first group of kids who sing the song, the boy in the middle and the girl on the right.) Both kids had mothers that considered terminating their pregnancies. But both mothers courageously chose life instead.

Every breath these kids take is a gift, not only from a wonderful Creator, but from a courageous mother who wouldn’t let them be just another statistic. And in the crowded lobby of an Orlando hotel I watched them use that precious breath to sing praise to the God who made them wonderfully.

“You knew every single day before one had come to be,” they sang. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. All your works are wonderful.”

“You knew every single day before one had come to be,” they sang. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. All your works are wonderful.”

They sang, and I wept.

Maybe you will, too. (But don’t say I didn’t warn you!) Here’s the full video, with a special thank you to Sheila Goskie and the team at Idlewild Baptist Church.

You can download “Wonderful” on iTunes, and find a full set of music resources on our website.

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About the Author

David Ray

David Ray is a worship leader, artist and songwriter from Houston, Texas, where he serves at Salem Lutheran Church. He and his wife, Jess, are the creators of Doorpost Songs, a series of songs and resources designed for kids worship, multi-gen worship, and family worship. Dave and Jess are the parents of three rambunctious kids and they love getting to serve churches and families across the nation.

4 Comments on “Wonderfully Made: Choosing Life”

  1. I know the two kids in the story and they are 2 great kids. Both my kids were able to be part of this music special at Idlewild. I was able to watch as I walked out of church after both services and there were people wiping there eyes. This was the perfect song for this story. Their story is a special story but watching them sing with the emotions they did was special.

  2. We are so grateful to go to a church that values all life. Thank you for this amazing song. I cry every time I see this and am honored that Sheila thought of our family. Nicholas is such a special boy thank you for sharing our story.

  3. I’m not gonna lie, we miss you guys like crazy at Bear Creek, but it is apparent that what you are doing with your music is so special and much bigger than you could have done at a single church. We still listen to This is Love all the time in our household and having our son’s voice on it just makes it that much more special.

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