"Not for Ourselves Alone Are We Born" is an emotional instrumental piece for piano and cello featured in the upcoming Never2Late Productions feature film, State of Grace, composed and performed by Randy Bonifield.
ALBUMS EPS & SINGLES
This song is taken directly from Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30. However, this song was born not simply as a reflection on the scripture but as a divine inspiration in which I felt more like a translator than a songwriter. There was no element here of the hard work of song crafting. On the other hand, I felt like I needed to get out of the way
This song is taken directly from Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30. However, this song was born not simply as a reflection on the scripture but as a divine inspiration in which I felt more like a translator than a songwriter. There was no element here of the hard work of song crafting. On the other hand, I felt like I needed to get out of the way and just document what I was hearing.
It began as I slept.
I woke up Tuesday morning, September 28, 2021 with a series of phrases and the faint sound of a melody running through my head as if it was being sung to me in a dream. After quickly rising and going to the piano, I recorded a quick voice memo of the song and began preparing for the workday. As I went about getting ready to leave, more and more lyrics came to mind. Throughout my commute, I would be at a red light recording additional voice memos as the lyrics continues to form.
Let me be very clear: this isn't usually how songs happen for me, so I was making every effort to keep up with the inspiration that was flooding over me.
It was a Tuesday. And Tuesdays are typically the day when we gather as a church staff to pray for our congregation and for one another. That particular Tuesday was proving to be a rather heavy day emotionally as we shared some significantly challenging moments in the lives of our church family for which we were praying. As we began to share our own personal prayer requests, one of our staff members shared some incredibly heartbreaking news and it became quite clear to me that the song that was forming throughout my morning was not one that was given just for me. And so after we prayed together, I began to share these words as a hopeful promise to us of God's love and care.
I am with you when your heart is filled with grief
I am with you when it's so hard to believe
I am with you and I will never ever leave
I am peace, so come to me
Come unto me all you who are weary
Come unto me and I will give you rest
Bring me your fear,
Your hopes, and your burdens
For I am with you and I will give you rest
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
It began as I slept.
I woke up Tuesday morning, September 28, 2021 with a series of phrases and the faint sound of a melody running through my head as if it was being sung to me in a dream. After quickly rising and going to the piano, I recorded a quick voice memo of the song and began preparing for the workday. As I went about getting ready to leave, more and more lyrics came to mind. Throughout my commute, I would be at a red light recording additional voice memos as the lyrics continues to form.
Let me be very clear: this isn't usually how songs happen for me, so I was making every effort to keep up with the inspiration that was flooding over me.
It was a Tuesday. And Tuesdays are typically the day when we gather as a church staff to pray for our congregation and for one another. That particular Tuesday was proving to be a rather heavy day emotionally as we shared some significantly challenging moments in the lives of our church family for which we were praying. As we began to share our own personal prayer requests, one of our staff members shared some incredibly heartbreaking news and it became quite clear to me that the song that was forming throughout my morning was not one that was given just for me. And so after we prayed together, I began to share these words as a hopeful promise to us of God's love and care.
I am with you when your heart is filled with grief
I am with you when it's so hard to believe
I am with you and I will never ever leave
I am peace, so come to me
Come unto me all you who are weary
Come unto me and I will give you rest
Bring me your fear,
Your hopes, and your burdens
For I am with you and I will give you rest
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
"Come Sing for Joy" serves as a joyous response of worship to the revelation of all that God has done on our behalf. Its foundation is in the language of the imperative of the opening strains of Psalm 98, “Sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” (Psalm 98:1).
"Come Sing for Joy" serves as a joyous response of worship to the revelation of all that God has done on our behalf. Its foundation is in the language of the imperative of the opening strains of Psalm 98, “Sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” (Psalm 98:1).
The first verse focuses on creation’s praise (Psalm 98:7-8) and invites the worshiper to join with all creation in lifting this song of God’s salvation. The chorus sings of God’s deliverance of all things through Jesus and his ultimate deliverance as the King who will come again.
The second verse invites the worshiper to sing over those who cannot, at this time, sing this song for themselves (the lost, the least, the weak, the poor), while the final chorus points to the day when all will be put to right and God’s justice will be made known to all of creation. And the party at the end of this song represents the joy yet to come.
This is a song meant not just to be heard, but to be joined. So turn it up and come sing for joy.
The first verse focuses on creation’s praise (Psalm 98:7-8) and invites the worshiper to join with all creation in lifting this song of God’s salvation. The chorus sings of God’s deliverance of all things through Jesus and his ultimate deliverance as the King who will come again.
The second verse invites the worshiper to sing over those who cannot, at this time, sing this song for themselves (the lost, the least, the weak, the poor), while the final chorus points to the day when all will be put to right and God’s justice will be made known to all of creation. And the party at the end of this song represents the joy yet to come.
This is a song meant not just to be heard, but to be joined. So turn it up and come sing for joy.
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0:00/4:38
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Passion (Remastered) 3:410:00/3:41
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0:00/3:16
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0:00/3:47
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0:00/4:08
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0:00/3:10
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0:00/3:55
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0:00/3:52
Every Christmas, my family pulls out a bin of Christmas CDs to play throughout the season. It's a wonderful collection of songs of inspiration and celebration designed to lead us through the season of Advent. With "The Beauty of Weakness," I wanted to create something similar for the season of Lent. As we were walking through our Lenten series at
Every Christmas, my family pulls out a bin of Christmas CDs to play throughout the season. It's a wonderful collection of songs of inspiration and celebration designed to lead us through the season of Advent. With "The Beauty of Weakness," I wanted to create something similar for the season of Lent. As we were walking through our Lenten series at my church, Christ Community Church in Leawood, Kansas, I was determined not only to create a music resource to accompany our devotional book and teaching series, but also something we could return to each year to assist us as we take the 40 day journey of Lent. This collection of songs is designed to be experienced as a whole. It is designed to encourage reflection, contemplation, introspection, and ultimately devotion. Each song builds upon the other to journey the listener through a musical liturgy pushing the worshiper toward a life of thanksgiving, commitment, and devotion.
all musical compositions and lyrics by Randy Bonifield, © boogielamb music (BMI) unless otherwise noted
"St. Patrick's Breastplate"
Based on a prayer of St. Patrick, translated by Cecil Frances Alexander, music and adapted lyrics by Randy Bonifield and Phil Laeger, © 2017 boogie lamb music (BMI)
"Christ is All"
© Public Domain, Words by Herbert Howard Booth and W.A. Williams, music by W.A. Williams
Psalm 51:1-12 and Psalm 130
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Psalm 22:1-18
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
"Give Me Jesus"
© Public Domain, Traditional African-American spiritual, arrangement by Randy Bonifield, @2018 boogielamb music (BMI)
all musical compositions and lyrics by Randy Bonifield, © boogielamb music (BMI) unless otherwise noted
"St. Patrick's Breastplate"
Based on a prayer of St. Patrick, translated by Cecil Frances Alexander, music and adapted lyrics by Randy Bonifield and Phil Laeger, © 2017 boogie lamb music (BMI)
"Christ is All"
© Public Domain, Words by Herbert Howard Booth and W.A. Williams, music by W.A. Williams
Psalm 51:1-12 and Psalm 130
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Psalm 22:1-18
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
"Give Me Jesus"
© Public Domain, Traditional African-American spiritual, arrangement by Randy Bonifield, @2018 boogielamb music (BMI)
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0:00/4:12
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Christ is All 5:510:00/5:51
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0:00/5:52
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Word of God 4:490:00/4:49
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Psalm 130 1:380:00/1:38
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Wait 5:000:00/5:00
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Psalm 22:1-18 2:530:00/2:53
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The Way of Suffering 2:010:00/2:01
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0:00/4:13
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Give Me Jesus 2:390:00/2:39
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0:00/4:20
This song cycle represents a journey – both musical and spiritual – that travels a route over many different terrains and many years. Imagine it, if you will, as a photo album of the snapshots captured along the way. These songs are markers and remembrances of moments in this artist's process of becoming. And at the center of that is Christ Jesus,
This song cycle represents a journey – both musical and spiritual – that travels a route over many different terrains and many years. Imagine it, if you will, as a photo album of the snapshots captured along the way. These songs are markers and remembrances of moments in this artist's process of becoming. And at the center of that is Christ Jesus, who takes the broken and makes it beautiful.
A piano-playing, singer/songwriter from Kansas City, Randy Bonifield invites his listening audience to a bench-side seat with his down-to-earth, hold-nothing-back approach. When all is said and done, Randy’s aim is to focus the listener on the story and the context around us of truth and beauty - all that is good, true, noble, admirable, desirable - gifts given to make us more aware of what it truly means to be more human, more alive, more connected to what ought to be.
A piano-playing, singer/songwriter from Kansas City, Randy Bonifield invites his listening audience to a bench-side seat with his down-to-earth, hold-nothing-back approach. When all is said and done, Randy’s aim is to focus the listener on the story and the context around us of truth and beauty - all that is good, true, noble, admirable, desirable - gifts given to make us more aware of what it truly means to be more human, more alive, more connected to what ought to be.
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44 4:020:00/4:02
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The Child I Am 4:570:00/4:57
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Beautiful to Me 5:180:00/5:18
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0:00/1:58
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Creator of My Soul 4:140:00/4:14
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Restoration Hymn 4:230:00/4:23
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Psalm 108 2:180:00/2:18
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0:00/5:01
Produced by Christ Community Church in Leawood, Kansas, "Songs of Christmas" celebrates the music of a season celebrating the birth of Jesus – the Word of God – and the hope He brings to all who believe.
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0:00/4:58
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0:00/3:45
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Glory (God With Us) 4:350:00/4:35
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Word of God 5:000:00/5:00
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Go Tell It Medley 5:210:00/5:21
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0:00/4:14
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The Light Has Come 3:470:00/3:47
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Silent Night 4:230:00/4:23
Santa is a busy guy on Christmas Eve. It's hard for him to be away from home, but he's got a job to do. And the best part about it...is coming home to Mrs. Claus at the end of the day.
A piano-playing, singer/songwriter from Kansas City, Randy Bonifield invites his listening audience to a bench-side seat with his down-to-earth, hold-nothing-back
A piano-playing, singer/songwriter from Kansas City, Randy Bonifield invites his listening audience to a bench-side seat with his down-to-earth, hold-nothing-back
Santa is a busy guy on Christmas Eve. It's hard for him to be away from home, but he's got a job to do. And the best part about it...is coming home to Mrs. Claus at the end of the day.
A piano-playing, singer/songwriter from Kansas City, Randy Bonifield invites his listening audience to a bench-side seat with his down-to-earth, hold-nothing-back approach. When all is said and done, Randy’s aim is to focus the listener on the story and the context around us of truth and beauty - all that is good, true, noble, admirable, desirable - gifts given to make us more aware of what it truly means to be more human, more alive, more connected to what ought to be.
cover photo credit: Erin Walker on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/@epw615)
A piano-playing, singer/songwriter from Kansas City, Randy Bonifield invites his listening audience to a bench-side seat with his down-to-earth, hold-nothing-back approach. When all is said and done, Randy’s aim is to focus the listener on the story and the context around us of truth and beauty - all that is good, true, noble, admirable, desirable - gifts given to make us more aware of what it truly means to be more human, more alive, more connected to what ought to be.
cover photo credit: Erin Walker on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/@epw615)