Intimacy and Humility

Interviews with Miriam Webster and Chris McClarney

Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 Posted: 12:48:36PM HKT

Miriam Webster. (Photo: Kingsway Media)

Miriam Webster

CP: When did you begin writing songs? What inspired you?

Webster: I just always loved music when I was little. I kind of began writing songs on a guitar probably nine but I always wrote songs in my heart. I started writing songs that are really cheesy you wouldn’t want to hear them. But I guess what inspired me is that I had a lot of worship music playing in the house. I just loved going myself in the room and just writing my little songs.

What are the challenges facing those who wish to write their own songs?

Webster: It’s always one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration but I guess once you get past, generally in my songs if there’s something I want to write about, some sort of hook something God’s spoken to me some revelation, I had to write about that.

When I am worshipping I want people to experience the beautiful presence of God so I try to create something, write songs about the beauty of God or His presence and I guess the challenge is making everything line up with what you want to say but I don’t find that a challenge; I find that very exciting.

Get pass a certain kind of song you can think about. I guess the challenge is you can get busy with other things but it’s best but you realise this is what I’m supposed to do, bring God’s song to the earth not just from other people.

CP: Would you discourage people who don’t have a special revelation from God to write songs?

Webster: No I wouldn’t, because if you want to write a song go for it; but I guess what I’m saying is something that’s coming deep from the heart, something that will touch people, something that is real.

But I believe that when we speak the Word of God it’s going to be powerful in any situation so I encourage that. Some of them encourage sitting down writing even if it’s just a love song, it’s what God made, everything He’s given so many things to write about.

CP: Many of your songs are being sung by artistes all over the world. How do you strike a conversation with today’s generation?

Webster: I guess I think say for instance Made Me Glad is a song that’s quite well known. I don’t want to sound too spiritual but to be personally honest I believe when I have time with God often what would come out of my heart would be: “You are my shield, You are my strength, You are my refuge” and this revelation that God wants to be our very intimate source refuge and strength.

Once I left my daily routine on purpose, went into a house faraway and I kind of took that song and went on piano worshipping one day I felt God wants me to put this into song. When I put it up on a piano it was just a very powerful time of God saying: “I am your shield, your strength” and I had to write about it in my thought. No matter what vehicle I felt this was a song God was wanted to get out there. I personally felt this is a song God wants people to hear He wants it to be out everything.

Whether we feel it or not when we speak those words God works on our behalf and the Holy Spirit will grab the word and use that and working with that gives us liberty to work on our behalf so I think that as we proclaim His Word He is set free to do His thing.

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Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com