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"Friend of God"Israel Houghton serves as one of the worship pastors for Lakewood Church in Houston. Here is a portion of his amazing story.
I really should have been one of those abortion statistics you read about. My mother became pregnant with me when she was 17. My mother's white and my biological father's black. Her family wasn't supportive of their relationship and gave her the choice to have a back-alley abortion or to be disowned. I'm here because of the decision she made-and because of her conversion shortly after that. So when I lead worship I'm crazy. I realize how fortunate I am to be called by God and to be protected, to be covered by him. I'm incredibly grateful.
I grew up in a fairly legalistic home. My parents loved God, and they did the very best they could with what they knew. They came from a very discipleship-oriented, fairly heavy-handed way of doing kingdom work. So I would have more easily said, "I am afraid of God" than "I am a friend of God." The view I had of God was dysfunctional, almost like he was looking for opportunities to punish me. That was more what I caught than what was taught. But the more I said "I am a friend of God," the more that old, condemning view was purged from my life. I gained a healing sense of God saying, "I want to know you."
Here is a devotional thought on the song
www.gospelflava.com/articles/songinword-friendofgod.html
Here is an interview with Israel that gives great insight into Israel’s walk with the Lord. www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/israel_houghton_041205.aspx
Click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty0SO7IvtXM
"You never let Go"
This powerful new song by Matt Redman has been described as follows from Christianity Today: "You Never Let Go" begins with a quiet piano and moody atmospherics that mirror far-from-ebullient lyrics based on Psalm 23: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/You're perfect love is casting out fear/And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life/I won't turn back, I know you are near…The chorus is a loud, exultant proclamation that God will never let go of us and in it Redman uses the minor-key construction to subtly (and maturely) declare that God's love is still valid, even in the midst of pain.
Click here to listen watch the video www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw
Click here to read more about Matt Redman on his myspace - you can play the song directly from his stand-alone player and can buy the song from his website http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=120781688
Lyrics:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I’m caught
in the middle of the storms of this life I won’t turn back I know You are near
And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me
"No More Night"
Click here for the song sung by David Phelps and narrated by Joni Erickson Tada www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQijZ0OpaU&mode=related&search=
Click here for an arrangement by David Phelps: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vX3HHtytDo
Walt Harrah is a noted song writer, session singer and record producer.His songs include Think About His Love (Integrity Music), In The Lord Alone (Maranatha Music), and No More Night (Word). He has been a session singer for 20 years, appearing on dozens of film soundtracks from "King Kong" to "Amistad," and numerous television programs, including the Oscars and the Tonight Show. He served as producer and singer with the vocal group Haven, a regular contributor to Haven Ministries radio programming. He has appeared on numerous recordings for Integrity Music, Maranatha Music, Word and other Christian recording companies. He received a bachelor of church music from the University of Southern California and a masters of divinity from Fuller Seminary. He serves as worship minister at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, California.
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"
The theme of the song is based on Deut. 33:27: "The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." Anthony J. Showalter chose this verse to use in two letters sent to two men who had then just recently lost their wives in death. Showalter had conducted a singing school in South Carolina a few weeks earlier and both of these men had been students there.
Showalter was expressing his sympathy and love in response to their tragic losses. Lowell Mason was the father of the 'singing school movement' in America. Started in Boston around 1830, the movement would spread into the south. The teachers would teach the masses to sing the hymns line by line and note by note. By 1888, native Virginian, Anthony Showalter has become one ot the best teachers the movement had to offer.
On a night in 1888, a third letter was also sent containing the lines of a refrain and the melody of a song. Showalter wanted to express in song the truths of Deut. 33:27, but as hard as he tried, he could not complete the stanzas for the hymn. The letter was sent to Elisha Hoffman in Pennsylvania asking for assistance in completing the song. Rev. Hoffman, author of "I must tell Jesus", "Glory to His name", and two thousand other hymn-poems, would write three stanzas and send them back to Professor Showalter in Alabama.
Click here for a clip from the Andy Griffith show where they sang the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LNJeSuvzv8
Click here for a slower version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzOg2tvtCHc&feature=related
Click here for an Alan Jackson version: http://deehymn.homestead.com/everlasting.html
"Healer"
This song is by Mike Guglielmucci. The song swept the country in one of those email attachments. I heard the song first and was reminded that each of us is in need of some kind of healing whether it be physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional. Mike claimed to be battling cancer when he wrote the song, he recorded the song at one of the Hillsongs recordings while on oxygen. The only problem was he didn't have cancer and was recently exposed as a fraud. I really struggled about whether to do the song when I found this out, but then it was if the Lord spoke to me and reminded me that there were times in worship when my words and heart were as fraudulent as Mike's.
You may want to read the story if you're interested, but I do ask you to pray for Mike and and as you do as the Lord where in your heart are you fraudulent.
The following statement was issued by the church Mike represented.
Australian Christian Churches National Executive:
Quote:
Representatives of the National Executive recently met with Michael Guglielmucci. At this meeting he read a statement indicating that his claim to have cancer was untrue. His credential with the ACC was immediately suspended.The National Executive is taking this matter very seriously and is awaiting the results of medical tests before determining the full extent of the discipline that will be imposed upon him.We are very concerned for the many people who have been or will be hurt by Michael's actions and we encourage all of our churches to pray for all those affected.
Click here to read the article www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24216087-5006787,00.html
Click here to listen to the song: www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c6c33b42e93a6d234a3a
Click here to listen online: www.imeem.com/mosesvalle/music/Nn616ryG/mike_guglielmucci_healer/
“In Christ Alone”
This song was written by Keith Getty & Stuart TownendTownend and Getty both admit they are motivated by the idea of capturing biblical truth in songs and hymns that will not only cause people to express their worship in church, but will build them up in their Christian lives. “I’ve been amazed by the response to this song,” says Townend. “We’ve had some incredible e-mails about how people have been helped by the song through incredibly difficult circumstances.” One e-mail described how a U.S soldier serving in Iraq would pray through each verse of the song every day, and how the promises of God’s protection and grace helped to sustain him through the enormous pressures and dangers of life in a war zone.
Click here to read more about how the song was composed
www.crosswalk.com/1275127/
Click here to worship along with the Newsboys
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo
Click here to worship along with Natalie Gran
twww.youtube.com/watch?v=MA9WbEn-Nj8&feature=related
The following is a paper John Brewer put together for a seminary class on worship. It's great to know this modern hymn has such a great foundation in the word of God.
In Christ Alone
By Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Paraphrase
Only in Christ and in His promise of life do I find hope and a reason to sing. His work on the cross, my assurance of salvation, is the only thing that I can cling to when I feel empty and defeated. This incredible love calms my life’s anxiety. This amazing peace puts to rest my continual effort to save my self. He is my comforter, my everything. I no longer sit immobile but now stand because of Christ’s great love.
Through Christ, God became a man. He took on humanity but remained fully God. His decision to take on humanity was a gift of God to demonstrate His love and righteousness. Though He came to save all men, so many rejected and continue to reject Him. Sin displeases God and deserves punishment in order to maintain His standard of righteousness. The punishment for sin is the death of a sacrifice. Man could never provide a sacrifice that completely atones for his sinful nature. Therefore Jesus, being completely man, lived the perfect life and bore every sin thus allowing me to live.
This hope for mankind was seemingly killed by the cruelty of man. But, death was unable to defeat Him. The Ultimate Sacrifice took the punishment of sin in its fullest: death. But His victory over death accomplished for man what man himself was incapable of doing. Sin’s power and curse of death was broken when Christ rose from the grave. I gladly call Him my Savior, and He calls me His own; bought with the price of His life.
Now that I am saved, I have no guilt nor am I afraid of death. This is the power given to me by Christ. From the beginning of man’s life to the point of His death, our whole being and all of our eternity depends on what we do with Christ. His lordship of our lives determines how we will live and how we will spend eternity. Under His reign, nothing can separate me from His hand. It is in this power that I live, either until I die or until He returns.
Scriptural Support
In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song;
Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 3:1-3 This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 10:4 What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
Titus 3:4-7 My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
John 1:1-14; Luke 1:31-33 This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save.
John 3:16; Matthew 21:42 Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied;
Romans 3:23-26 For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.
1 Peter 2:24 There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain;
Luke 23:46, 53 Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again!
Luke 24:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Romans 6:5-7, 23 For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:20;
No guilt in life, no fear in death—This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
Romans 8:15; 2 Timothy 1:7
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
Galatians 2:20; Romans 13:14 No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Romans 8:38-39; John 10:28 Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
2 Peter 3:11-14
Offertory this Sunday is by Carrie Hollingsworth
Jesus, bright as the morning star Jesus, how can I tell you How beautiful you are to me Jesus, song that the angels sing Jesus, dearer to my heart Than anything Sweeter than springtime Purer than sunshine Ever my song will be Jesus, You’re beautiful to me
Click here to worship along with Ce Ce Winans: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8FSUNFXHM
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