1985 - This song came to me on one of our trips back from the Anaheim Vineyard one Wednesday evening. It was May 22, 1985, and we were learning to speak in tongues and to worship in the spirit. On the way home, I think I was playing THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE and at the end I just extended it so we could practice singing in tongues and making spontaneous melodies. Then I changed the chord structure slightly and began singing this. I felt like it was what God was speaking to us at the time. Looking back, I ask myself “did the thing come to pass?” and I have to answer, “yes”, although not exactly in the way I had expected it to. So typical of God isn’t it? Kind of like when God told Moses he had heard the people’s cry and was about to do agreat work among them and through them. Little did they know it would take thousands of years to play out all God had planned through them! Twelve plagues and 40 years wandering in the desert later, they finally entered the Promised Land, and their troubles were just beginning! It makes me realize that God sees thing so differently than we do. He’s far more interested in building character in His people than providing comfort and happiness. So stop your whining! (LOL) It is interesting that on the same piece of paper , on the way up to Anaheim, I wrote the following verse:
“Take me to the sky its cold down here My hands are numb and my feet are cold. I search for warmth and I try to open my heart”
It’s almost like the song CHILDREN OF ZION was God’s answer to the cry of my heart just a few hours earlier. It also brings to remembrance how much my countenance changed after the meeting and training sessions we attended at that Vineyard. We drove up there feeling gloomy and down and returned feeling energized and full of the Holy Spirit. What a blessed season! Okay maybe I’m sounding a bit nostalgic, but don’t mistake that to assume I’m not living another blessed season this very moment! At the time of this writing, the song was incomplete, but something tells me that it’s going to be very easy to finish up and I can’t wait to get started recording it. Update: I finished the song, so here are the finalized lyrics…
CHILDREN OF ZION
© 1985 Words & Music by Reginald M. Michaud
Children of Zion I hear your voice, I hear your cry
Give ear to your prayers
I know your name and I know you by heart
I’m coming down to you; I’m coming down to you
Children of Zion I hear your voice
I hear your cry, give ear to your prayers
I know your name and I know you by heart
I’m coming down to you; I’m coming down to you
And when you hear the sounds of war
Then you know I’m knocking at your door
If your heart is filled with fear
Just remember I am near and I’ll wipe away your tears
Children of Zion I hear your voice, I hear you calling
Give heed to your prayers
Pour out My love and anoint you with power
I’m coming down to you
Children of Zion I hear your voice, I hear you calling
Give heed to your prayers
Pour out My love and anoint you with power
I’m coming down to you; yes I’m coming down to you
When I leave children do not grieve
For I will send My Holy Spirit; just believe
Greater things than I have done
For my glory you will claim
In the power of My name
Children of Zion I hear your voice, I hear your cry
I long for your prayers
Call you by name and I show you My heart
I’m coming down to you; I’m coming down to you
Children of Zion I hear your voice
I hear your cry, give ear to your prayers
I know your name and I know you by heart
I’m coming down to you; yes I’m coming down to you
And when you hear the sounds of war
Then you know I’m knocking at your door
If your heart is filled with fear
Just remember I am near and I’ll wipe away your tears