Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave
When Mike Weaver and I got on Skype to write a song, we had no idea that God would step into those three hours and allow us to be a part of a song like Redeemed. In fact, in the moment, we just thought we were writing a song that ministered to the both of us and to our churches...
Typically, a songwriting session starts with a conversation. Mike was sharing about a holy encounter he had recently. At that time, Mike had been a part of a weight loss campaign where he had very successfully lost all but 6 of 90 pounds. He had lost 84 pounds. But Mike, like all of us tend to do, saw the success of so much weight lots as a failure because of the 6 pounds he didn't lose. So in his basement one night, as Mike was deep in a battle with self hatred, God met him in that moment and said "Mike, why don't you let me tell you what I think about you...I like the way you smile...I love your heart for people and I even like your silly sense of humor because I put all of that in you...and you're mine, not because of your track record or your ability or inability to do anything..it's based solely on what I have already done for you with the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for your life...you are mine is because of my track record...".
As I heard him share his story, I realized that we were in a very similar place with different circumstances. I was getting to the point where I (in my own words) was wondering "is there ever going to be a day where I don't wake up and struggle with stupid all day long..". What I meant was would there ever be a day that I didn't struggle with my sin. You know, that one sin that we find ourselves falling into again after we said we'd never go there again. But prior to Mike and I's conversation, I had begun to find breakthrough because I realized that I had to move from "I don't want to ever want to go back to that sin again" to " I CAN'T go back to that sin again because that's just not who I am anymore. That sin is an old coat that, by the grace of God, I've grown out...it just doesn't fit anymore." In other words, I really started believing what God said about me in His word especially in Romans 8 (just read the whole chapter).
I don't remember where in our conversation he shared it, but at one point Mike shared the chorus of Redeemed that he had already started. As soon as I heard it I was all in (first of all because it had a 6/8 blues vibe) because I also knew he had brought something very special and it was just a matter of building around that chorus and filling in the blanks with our stories. I didn't know where and how far the song would go, but I did know that what we had written would would be a good prayer to put on the lips of the people in our churches and that was good enough.
It's been almost 3 years since Mike and I wrote that song. More than the recognition and awards that have come with that song, the stories are still the biggest reward. I've heard so many stories from inmates, recovering addicts, grieving families, and stay at home moms of how God used that song in their lives at the right time. Those stories never get old especially knowing that Mike and I were just sharing truth with each other that day and God chose to step in and take our little 6/8 blues song and use it to tell His story of restoration and redemption in so many other lives.
Typically, a songwriting session starts with a conversation. Mike was sharing about a holy encounter he had recently. At that time, Mike had been a part of a weight loss campaign where he had very successfully lost all but 6 of 90 pounds. He had lost 84 pounds. But Mike, like all of us tend to do, saw the success of so much weight lots as a failure because of the 6 pounds he didn't lose. So in his basement one night, as Mike was deep in a battle with self hatred, God met him in that moment and said "Mike, why don't you let me tell you what I think about you...I like the way you smile...I love your heart for people and I even like your silly sense of humor because I put all of that in you...and you're mine, not because of your track record or your ability or inability to do anything..it's based solely on what I have already done for you with the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for your life...you are mine is because of my track record...".
As I heard him share his story, I realized that we were in a very similar place with different circumstances. I was getting to the point where I (in my own words) was wondering "is there ever going to be a day where I don't wake up and struggle with stupid all day long..". What I meant was would there ever be a day that I didn't struggle with my sin. You know, that one sin that we find ourselves falling into again after we said we'd never go there again. But prior to Mike and I's conversation, I had begun to find breakthrough because I realized that I had to move from "I don't want to ever want to go back to that sin again" to " I CAN'T go back to that sin again because that's just not who I am anymore. That sin is an old coat that, by the grace of God, I've grown out...it just doesn't fit anymore." In other words, I really started believing what God said about me in His word especially in Romans 8 (just read the whole chapter).
I don't remember where in our conversation he shared it, but at one point Mike shared the chorus of Redeemed that he had already started. As soon as I heard it I was all in (first of all because it had a 6/8 blues vibe) because I also knew he had brought something very special and it was just a matter of building around that chorus and filling in the blanks with our stories. I didn't know where and how far the song would go, but I did know that what we had written would would be a good prayer to put on the lips of the people in our churches and that was good enough.
It's been almost 3 years since Mike and I wrote that song. More than the recognition and awards that have come with that song, the stories are still the biggest reward. I've heard so many stories from inmates, recovering addicts, grieving families, and stay at home moms of how God used that song in their lives at the right time. Those stories never get old especially knowing that Mike and I were just sharing truth with each other that day and God chose to step in and take our little 6/8 blues song and use it to tell His story of restoration and redemption in so many other lives.
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