True Confessions of Hannah Faith

Jamie Soles - The Way My Story Goes

Posted on February 16th, 2005 by hanfaith.
Categories: Deep Thoughts, General.

I’m not much of a children’s music connoisseur. Even though I have a two year old and a six month old, we don’t usually listen to much designated little ears music. But last month, I ran across an ablum online that I thought I’d give a try. Éva has her own little devotions in the morning when she drinks her milk, reads her Bible, and listens to a tape. I was trying to find something for her to listen to that was Bible story oriented. So, in my searches online, I found The Way My Story Goes by Jamie Soles.

I had my reservations about purchasing it. I ordered it from Canada, so I wasn’t really sure if it would get here, but I decided to take a risk. I’m so glad that I did. It was well worth it.

“TWMSG” traces the redemptive story through the Old Testament to the time of Jesus. Now I may not be a collector of children’s music, but most that I have heard focus all pretty much on “God is Love” and “God loves me”. All very well and true… but there is so much more to it than that. And here’s where this tape fits in. “TWMSG” is not afraid to explore the gritty history of Israel and connect it to Jesus in an interesting and beautiful way. It is not afraid to speak to children of the deaths of the wicked and the salvation of the righteous.

How many children’s songs do you know about this story:

Six hundred Philistines met their demise
Dented by an ox goad guided from on high
Shamgar swung it, we have sung it
He delivered Israel.

Read the lyrics to “Dreams” - a song of Esther. I love how the ending connects Esther’s story to our story.

Have you heard? there’ll be a beauty contest
All you girls, you must be seen
For the king is right now looking for the perfect girl
To be his queen
He has sent his men to find you
Esther leave your past behind you
Come and see
Have you not dreamed of being royalty
This king could offer you your dreams!

Think of this!
Imagine living in a place like this
Here with the king
All that’s fine
And every morning with the king you’ll dine
You’ll want to sing
He’s the King of kings in glory
You could be his wedding story
Ponder well
And spare no effort to prepare yourself
This King could offer you your dreams!

Ah ah ah AHASUERUS!! Ahasuerus??
Ohhhh! Ahasuerus might be great
But Jesus reigns and will forever
Come and see!
One word could turn you into royalty
This King could offer you your dreams!

Not only does this tape wonderfully trace the history of Israel, but it also does so from a reformed persepective. How many children’s tapes do you know of that do that?

Here’s another of my favorites. This one tells of the groanings of Israel in captivity.

Give ear, oh Shepherd of Israel
You who lead us like a flock
You dwell on Your throne in power
Show Your strength, come and save us

CHORUS

Restore us oh God
Cause Your face to shine
And we will be saved

We’ve had many a savior
Priest and prophet, judges and kings
They all have ended in failure
Only shadows of the real thing

CHORUS

For the vine that you have planted
Has been torn down to the ground
And we perish at the frown upon Your face

There is a Man You will honor
Let Your hand rest upon His head
He will keep us from turning
He will hold us to You instead

CHORUS 2X

And finally, here’s a joyful song recounting the joy of our salvation:

There was once a time
When we had no love for Christ
We were aliens and strangers
Hopeless and in danger
We could not do right
‘Cause we had no right within us
But things have changed
Whatever happened to us?

Jesus to the rescue
We are not the same
Now we live to glorify His Name

Many still behave in their unbelieving ways
Turning birthrights into bean stew
Though they never means to…
They have got to know
That they have no place to run to
But things can change…
Who’s gonna tell it to them?

Jesus to the rescue
They won’t be the same
They could live to glorify His Name
Jesus to the rescue
We are not the same
Now we live to glorify His Name
Jesus to the rescue
We are not the same
Now we live to glorify…
Now we live to glorify His…
Now we live to glorify His Name!

I would highly recommend this album to all parents (and hey, you might just enjoy it yourself even if you don’t have kids) if you are looking for something with a little more substance than your usual toddler musical affairs. I also wish this was more readily available in the states. It seems to me the kind of thing that bookstores like the Westminster Bookstore should carry.

Jamies Soles and his family

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