NEW HOPE MUSIC - Featured Christian Songwriter: Lynn DeShazo !!

Our background MIDI is "Bringing The Presence Of Jesus",
written by Ralph Merrifield,
performed by Rhesa Siregar (from Indonesia)

Lynn DeShazo is a gifted songwriter and worship leader.
She is the author of numerous praise and worship songs,
many of which have been recorded by Integrity Music.

Lynn has over twenty years invested in worship ministry on the local church level, and has been a published songwriter since the early 1980's. Lynn has been an exclusive songwriter for Integrity Music for over fourteen years, and is best known for such songs as "More Precious Than Silver," "Lead Me To The Rock," "Turn My Heart," "Be Magnified," and "In Your Presence, O God." She also has produced eight recordings of her own music to date, and now offers an audio tape presentation of a weekend retreat for songwriters called "Expressing The Song Within."

Now traveling frequently as a guest worship leader and minister to churches, conferences, and women's ministries, Lynn helps to bring times of refreshing and healing in God's presence through worship and song.

Lynn resides in Birmingham, Alabama, and serves on the worship team of Liberty Church when she is not "on the road" as part of her traveling ministry.

In July of this year (2004), "More Precious Than Silver" will be 25 years old. I’m amazed at this simple song’s longevity. That would be a nice long life if it dropped off the planet tomorrow. It continues to be a blessing to God’s people, and I am grateful. I can only hope that I’ll write another song with that kind of staying power. "Ancient Words" might be a good candidate, though. I have laughingly said that "More Precious Than Silver" was the first half of my writing career, and maybe "Ancient Words" would be the second half. "Be Magnified" is holding it’s own right now (1990), and "Be Unto Your Name" (1996) is also doing well. It might go the distance, too.

"One of my personal favorites is "Praise Him", written in 1984. I continue to use that song regularly in ministry, and it is a favorite of my church’s, as well.
Bob Fitts recorded this song for Integrity on a project called PROCLAIM HIS POWER in 1993. That’s a great version of it, I think.

Among the songs I’ve written, my home church is really enjoying "Worthy of Praises" right now. Don Moen just recorded a terrific Celtic arrangement of this song on his new CD, THANK YOU LORD. Look for it in March (2004).
You can also find it on an Integrity Songwriters’ CD called SING FOR JOY,
or my own recording, THE DIAMOND TURNS."

My favorite songs and hymns are spread out among a variety of composers and styles. I grew up in the Methodist Church, so the hymns I learned there are the ones I tend to love most, I suppose. Charles Wesley was certainly well represented. I just love anything with a great melody, though, and I am really drawn to melodies that are reminiscent of early American folk songs.

There are so many wonderful worship songs being written these days.
Among my current favorites are "My Heart Will Trust In You" (R. Morgan),
"I Will Bow To You" (P. Episcopo), "We All Bow Down" (L. LeBlanc),
and "Worthy Is The Lamb" (D. Zschech).

I get a lot of questions from people who are curious about my life as a songwriter, or how I go about writing a song. I always tell them that being a songwriter is a lot like working a Christmas tree farm. Year one: plant trees. Year two: plant more trees. Year three: plant more trees and keep taking care of the other trees you’ve planted. Year four: more of the same. About the seventh year, you finally have enough growth to realize a harvest.

In other words, songwriting as ministry involves a lot of hard work and is a long-term proposition. It is definitely not a vocation for someone looking for instant gratification! Being a songwriter certainly has it’s rewards, course.

There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment when you finally finish that song you’ve been working on and you get to try it out in a worship service and…. they like it! One of the greatest compliments a worship songwriter will ever hear about their music is "that’s what I wanted to say to the Lord!". Folks, it doesn’t get much better than that. About the only improvement on that would be to hear the Lord say, "Child, I was just waiting for you to sing that to Me!"

Lynn DeShazo Ministries
d/b/a Ready Writer Music
P.O. Box 43097
Birmingham, AL 35243

Lynn's wonderful web site includes a contact page for email.
You will also find bio, picture, CDs, articles, music samples, and a Song Finder,
which provides information on where her songs appear on Integrity products.

Paul Baloche (Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Above All - with Lenny LeBlanc)
Rick Founds (Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Jesus Draw Me Close)
Mark Altrogge (I Stand In Awe Of You, I'm Forever Grateful)