Behind the Praise - Sunday August 2, 2009

We'll begin our worship with this powerful song of declaration by Israel Houghton.

"Say So"

Another great song by Israel Houghton click here to read about his ministry with "NEW BREED" www.newbreedmusic.com/

Click here to listen to Israel in the studio singing "SAY SO"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayuUrynTMy0

Click here to worship along at a worship event the song "SAY SO"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGlVQzUweso&mode=related&search=

Click here to watch more of Israel sharing a new song "If not for Your Grace"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgizH3sIizU&mode=related&search=

"I will Boast"

Read more about Paul Baloches' ministry here
www.leadworship.com/paul/about.html

This song is based on the verse Jeremiah 9:24
"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
The Apostle Paul, writes this in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written(in Jeremiah 9:24): "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Click here to worship with the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yiAFexAeqc

"Total Praise"

Click here to learn more about Richard Smallwood:
www.richardsmallwood.com/

Click here to worship along with Richard Smallwood:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=phBXe4RN3t8

"Your Love O Lord"

Johnny Mac Powell (born December 25 1972), originally from Montgomery, Alabama, is an American singer-songwriter and producer who formed the Christian rock band Third Day with guitarist Mark Lee. Powell won the 2001 Gospel Music Association award for "Male Vocalist of the Year". Background After his family moved from Alabama to Georgia, Powell attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he met Lee and became involved in a band known as "Nuclear Hoedown". This experience resulted in further collaboration when he began writing songs about his faith, formed a Christian band, called Third Day, and eventually landed a record deal with Gray Dot Records. Powell lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Aimee and their three children Scout, Cash, and Camie Love.

Click here to visit Third Days' website:
www.thirdday.com/

Click here to visit their myspace:
www.thirdday.com/

Click here to worship along with Third Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mP4LhdE4vc

"O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"

Charles Wesley was suffering a bout of pleurisy in May, 1738, while he and his brother were studying under the Moravian scholar Peter Böhler in London. At the time, Wesley was plagued by extreme doubts about his faith. Taken to bed with the sickness on May 21 Wesley was attended by a group of Christians who offered him testimony and basic care, and he was deeply affected by this. He read from his Bible and found himself deeply affected by the words, and at peace with God. Shortly his strength began to return. He wrote of this experience in his journal and counted it as a renewal of his faith; when his brother John had a similar experience on the 24th, the two men met and sang a hymn Wesley had written in praise of his renewal.
One year from the experience, Wesley was taken with the urge to write another hymn, this one in commemoration of his renewal of faith. This hymn took the form of an 18-stanza poem, beginning with the opening lines 'Glory to God, and praise, and love,/Be ever, ever given and was published in 1740 and entitled 'For the anniversary day of one's conversion'. The seventh verse, which begins, 'O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing', and which now is invariably the first verse of a shorter hymn recalls the words of Peter Bohler who said, 'Had I a thousand tongues I would praise Him with them all.' The hymn was placed first in John Wesley's A Collection of Hymns for the People Called Methodists published in 1780. It appeared first in every (Wesleyan) Methodist hymnal from that time until the publication of Hymns and Psalms in 1983

Click here to hear an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mHDcIGXBtw

Click here for a contemporary arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1LwDBVpg_E

Click here for an acoustic guitar arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8AuFL1qN0&feature=related

"The Stand"

The following was written by Michael W. Smith about this worship song.Recently I was struck by the Biblical truth behind the song "The Stand," written by Joel Houston of Hillsong and recorded by Michael W. Smith on his album Stand. This truth is based on Paul's very encouraging words to the Romans in Chapter 5, verses 1-3 which are wonderful words to celebrate and "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" as we praise our Lord and Savior Jesus for coming to die for our sins as our perfect, blameless substitute for our sinful natures on whose grace we "stand with arms high and hearts abandoned in awe of the one who gave it all".Michael W. Smith says "Stand is a call to stand up for what you believe in." It's a call to stand in awe of the One who gave all and to stand outside of the walls of the church rubbing shoulders with the lost. Together, we stand as followers of Jesus sharing a powerful opportunity: To live as a child of God. We must live as though we believe we are loved," he says. "It's time we take a stand believing we are loved," Smith concludes. "And then, let's go. Let's go change the world."Joel Houston wrote this powerful worship song. Although the church his parents pastor is famous for its music ministry, Joel Houston didn’t intend for its youth group to make records. “The reason we first recorded a United album in 1999 was simply that there was an overflow of songs being written by the youth,” he says. Each week some 3,000 young people participate in United, the youth ministry of Hillsong Church based in Sydney, Australia. And while Houston, 26, provides creative oversight, he says all the youth help produce the live worship projects that are recorded annually during Hillsong’s Encounterfest youth conference. “Our desire is to ... see the younger guys in our team equipped and released into their gifting,” says Houston, son of Hillsong pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston. “We want the younger generation to be taking what we’re doing and make it seem tiny in comparison to what they are achieving for God in the years to come.” Even though the group leads worship in places such as Japan, England and Colombia, United’s priority is Sydney. “All we do is centered on building our local church and reaching the youth in our community,” Houston says. “This has always been our focus. And the incredible thing is, in the midst of this God has opened the door for us to have incredible influence by His grace across the earth.”

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs worship ministry:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkGLbKV26zo

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/pieerejean/music/ZwSNdWyM/joel-houston-hillsong-publishing-the-stand/

Behind the Praise - Sunday July 26, 2009

"Glorified"

This powerful song was written by Jared Anderson. Author of the songs “Rescue”, “Amazed”, and “Hear us from Heaven”, Jared Anderson is a prolific writer committed to the local church. He aims to put Jesus in the spotlight with his songs and leadership for New Life Church. Jared grew up at New Life Church where he joined the choir at 13 years old and played keyboards in the youth band all through high school.Now, as before, he is a member of both New Life Worship and Desperation Band as well as his heading up his own recordings. When he’s not leading, writing, or recording, Jared is at home with wife Megan and children Everett (3), Beckett (2), and Francie (1).

Click here to visit Jareds' myspace:
www.myspace.com/jaredandersonmusic

Click here to worship along with Jared Anderson:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H667w4HdcVQ

"God, You are my God"

The worship choir will minister this song with Lisa Speir

Oh Thou who knowest my beginning,
Thou who created the plan,
who orchestrated my life's journey;
God, You are my God.God of decisions, Creator of answers,
Thou who ordained my way, through my transition,
held my position; God, You are my God.I will forever give You praise,
honor and celebrate Your name,
God of the past, present, and Who is to come;
Whatever You do with me it's alright, You have my total trust,
Glory and honor, dominion and power; God, You are my God.

"How He Loves"

Click here to listen to John Mark McMillan share about how this song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chx6s3qXKt4

Click here to purchase the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnOvuo7JmB0&feature=related

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,Oh how He loves us,How He loves us all
He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa!

Click here to purchase the song "How He Loves"


"Lead me to the Cross"

Savior I come Quiet my soul remember Redemptions hill Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom Everything I once held dear I count it all as lostLead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself I belong to You Lead me, lead me to the cross
You were as I Tempted and tried You areThe word became flesh Bore my sin and death
Now you're risenTo your heart To your heart Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

Brooke Fraser was born in New Zealand. She is on of the main key worshippers of Sydney Australia's Hillsong Church and is married to on of Hillsong United's songwritters Scott Ligertwood. She has appeared on many live worship albums. She is a born again Christian. She was born to former 'All Black' Bernie Fraser and Lynda Fraser and is the oldest out of 3 children

Click here to learn more about Brooke Fraser:
www.brookefraser.com/

Click here to listen online: www.imeem.com/people/riK9nJK/music/Mj1XCeWj/hillsong_united_lead_me_to_the_cross/

Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvMQOZkusQ

“In Christ Alone”

This song was written by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Townend 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 Grant
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA9WbEn-Nj8&feature=related

Behind the Praise - Sunday July 19, 2009

"The Lord Reigns"

Here is Klaus' testimony in his own words:

There are moments in each person’s life that shape us and cause us to change our course. One such moment in my life happened in the spring of 2003 at an “Encounter” event in Mexico. I attended the conference to help with worship and ended up with an encounter that would change my life. The word I received that weekend from Lindell was that I had not been forgotten, the Lord had need of me in this hour, and that a fountain for the nations was about to open up. Soon after, I received an invitation to be the Worship Leader at Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. From the fall of 2003 through the spring of 2005 I had the privilege of entering into the presence each morning with about 1000 students who were hungry to see God move in their life. That season also opened up the opportunity to produce two CFNI Worship projects,"Glorious" and "Overtaken". I was born in Germany, but by the time I was ten, my family ended up in Canada after several years in Chicago and Michigan. At the age of five I began taking piano lessons and continued training in classical and jazz until I was about 18. I remember hearing Keith Green for the first time and being captivated by the sound of his heart. A lot of other influences weighed in to shape my musical mindset. In 1984 I left Canada and moved to Dallas, Texas to attend Christ For The Nations, Institute. Soon after graduating, I married Julie, who is an amazing woman and my best friend. We have three children, Candace, 11, Aaron Judah, 2, and Olivia Grace, born June 20th of last year.After a number of years in music ministry in Plano, Texas, we felt a season of change coming into our lives. In 1995 I left the church where I was leading Worship and began getting involved with real estate and remodeling homes. Through the years I have continued traveling and Leading Worship while building custom homes in McKinney, Texas. In the spring of 2005 I left Christ For The Nations and started Pure Worship Ministries. We are producing Worship that I believe, touches the heart of God and ministers to His people. The best is yet to come.

Click here to learn more about Klaus Kuehn:
http://www.klausmusic.com/

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/atst/music/c1gewWR1/klaus_kuehn_the_lord_reigns/

Click here to worship along with Klaus:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaWrJtY4fYY&feature=related

"Everything"

This worship song was written by Israel Houghton. Israel is an internationally recognized worship leader, recording artist, songwriter, and producer. He has been in full time worship ministry since 1989. He, His wife Meleasa, and his two children, Mariah Engelique, and Israel Duncan II reside in Austin, TX.He is the National Director of Music and Worship for Champions for Christ a high impact ministry to college and professional athletes with Pastor Greg Ball. He also leads worship regularly at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. with Pastor Joel Osteen. Israel and Meleasa founded New Breed Ministries in 1995. Comprised of world class musicians and singers who are all ministers in their respective churches. They travel extensively with a message that crosses cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries.Known specifically for their diverse sound effectively captured on the 2001 Hosanna! Integrity release of New Season as well as 2002's Lakewood Live 'We Speak to Nations', their heart is to deliberately diminish the lines that separate the Church, and bring all people together through worship. Once a member of Fred Hammond and RFC, he has also worked with the Young Messiah Tour, TBN, Crystal Lewis, Anointed, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and is currently finishing an Israel and New Breed- Integrity Gospel / Sony release produced by Tommy Sims due in October. With a heart for the Nations, true worship, and a passion for the Presence of God, Israel and New Breed add purpose to any event.

Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHmNXvUhZtI

Click here to purchase the song "Everything":


"How He Loves"

Click here to listen to John Mark McMillan share about how this song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chx6s3qXKt4

Click here to purchase the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnOvuo7JmB0&feature=related

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realise just how beautiful You are,And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,Oh how He loves us,How He loves us allHe loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa!
How He loves.Yeah, He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.

Click here to purchase the song "How He Loves"


"From the inside out"

This powerful worship song is by Joel Houston. Joel Timothy Houston (born September 19, 1979) is a song writer and worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is employed as the producer of Hillsong's youth band, Hillsong United. He is the oldest son of Hillsong Church's pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and grandson of Frank Houston. He has two siblings, a brother Benjamin and a sister, Laura.

Click here to worship along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0qZl_Qu84

Click here to listen online:
www.last.fm/music/Hillsong+United

"How Great is Our God"

This worship song was written by Chris Tomlin. Chris said he almost apologized to the Lord for writing such a simple song, but felt that the English language could only go so far in describing the greatness of our God. After writing the song he felt in his spirit that he had written a song that would be embraced by the church around the world.
Chris received his first guitar from his father, Connie, at the age of eleven after contracting a case of mono. Then, Tomlin wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. He entered college planning to study medicine, but he stated that he felt God's calling to something else and did not pursue that career.In the mid-1990's Tomlin spent time leading worship at the Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences, as well as at various camps around the state of Texas.Following college, at Texas A&M University Tomlin continued to play and write songs, and in 1997, Louie Giglio asked if he would be interested in working with the Passion Conferences. Tomlin agreed, and he has played a key role ever since. His first nationally released solo project, entitled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, which saw the emergence of songs "Forever" (his most famous song other than "How Great Is Our God"), "Be Glorified", and "Kindness", all of which made the top 200 in the CCLI 2005 top 500 worship songs.
According to Christian Copyright Licensing International's list of the top 25 worship songs in the United States as of August 2007, Tomlin held 5 spots with songs he has either written or co-written with other songwriters: "How Great Is Our God" (#1), "Forever" (#5), "Holy Is the Lord" (#7), "We Fall Down" (#12),and "Indescribable" (#22).

Click here to listen to the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-302-HowGreatisOurGod-Tomlin.mp3

Click here to listen to Chris share about how the song came about on newsong café: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpfKli_4LQ0&mode=related&search=

Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxPG_mRHDs&feature=related

Click here to learn more about Chris’ ministry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Tomlin#Biography

Click here to visit Chris’ website:
http://www.christomlin.com/

Click here to visit Chris’ myspace:
www.myspace.com/christomlin

"Grace will always be greater than Sin"

The worship choir and orchestra will share this song with soloist Rose Jacobson.Click here to learn more about the Hoppers who wrote this song:
www.thehoppers.com/

Click here to worship along with the Hopper family:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQTIb1v6wM

“I have a River”

I have a river, a river of life,Flowing in side of me, and it never runs dry.I have a treasure, a glorious prize,The Spirit of God in me, in abundant supply.Verse 1Jesus, You are my living water,
And I’ll never need what this world offers.So I will rejoice,For You have made me glad.I want this world to want what I have.Verse 2Spirit of God, my source of power.You’ve given more, than I could ask for.So I will rejoice,For You have made me glad.I want this world to want what I have.

Click here to listen to the song:
www.emusic.com/album/I-Have-a-River-MP3-Download/10941126.html

Billy Foote has been a worship leader for 16 years. He travels with his band and his wife, Cindy, is the vocal lead. Together they lead worship at college, youth, mission and church-wide events. Billy is also a prolific worship song writer. He’s written many widely known songs such as “You Are My King (Amazing Love),” “Sing to the King,” “You Are God Alone (NOT A god),” “I Have a River” and “Break Our Hearts.” Billy and Cindy desire to teach that worship is more than a song or something to do at an event. It’s a lifestyle.

Billy and Cindy adopted their daughter Libby and you can follow their family story at www.followthefeet.blogspot.com/.

Currently Billy and Cindy are also adopting from Ethiopia.
You can follow this adoption journey at:
www.adoptingaria.blogspot.com/.

They make their home in San Antonio, Texas.
You may also visit
www.myspace.com/billyfooteband

Click here to learn more about Billy’s ministry:
www.billyfoote.com/

"Sweet Mercies"

We'll begin Sunday with the song "Sweet Mercies" by David Ruis, click here to hear his story behind the song
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-238-SweetMercies-Ruis.mp3

Click here to learn more about David's ministry
http://www.davidruis.com/

Click here for the lyrics
www.mixed-up.com/lyrics/worship/sweet-mercies

"How He Loves"

Click here to listen to John Mark McMillan share about how this song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chx6s3qXKt4

Click here to purchase the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnOvuo7JmB0&feature=related

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,Oh how He loves us,How He loves us all

He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves us,Whoa! how He loves.

Click here to purchase the song:


“Who Can Satisfy”

Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based ministry from there. Formerly a homosexual, Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma with his wife of nearly 24 years and their nine children.
A primary source of inspiration for Jernigan's message and music is an experience he describes as his "deliverance from homosexuality", which he states to have begun during a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert in 1981 at Oklahoma Baptist University. Jernigan has stated that he believes his prior identification as homosexual was related to a childhood perception that he had been rejected by his father. He claims that both perceptions were erroneous:
As a boy I needed a role model to show me the way to manhood. But because I felt rejected by the main man in my life I, in turn, rejected him and began to yearn for intimacy with a man in perverse ways. Because of this wrong thinking I came to believe I was homosexual. It must have begun early in my life because I remember having those feelings for the same gender at a very early age.
It was then [during a critical moment at the 2nd Chapter of Acts concert] that I lost the need to be accepted or loved by others because I realized Jesus would love me and accept me no matter what, even when I was rejected by others! It was also at this same time that those sexually perverse thoughts and desires were changed...and He began to replace them with holy and pure thoughts about what sexual love was all about.
You may know the music of Dennis Jernigan rather than the mention of his name. Songs like: "You Are My All in All", "Great is the Lord Almighty", and "Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus", as well as hundreds of others are sung literally all over the world. Dennis believes worship is all about relationship rather than performance...and he believes he is called to help people get honest with themselves and with God simply because he has found in his own life that honesty and truth have set him free. He has an incredible testimony that he shares very openly with his audiences.

To read more about Dennis visit his website at
www.dennisjernigan.com/.

Dennis and his wife Melinda, along with eight of their nine children make their home in Muskogee, Oklahoma where they serve Christ through the local body of believers known as New Community Church.

Click here to listen to the song “Who Can Satisfy” by the Lee University Singers:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNMw73XAtaA&feature=related

Click here to hear the Hebraic Christian worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUGjaCtxwKQ&feature=related

Click here to listen to Dennis share about his favorite scripture: www.revver.com/video/516239/dennis-jernigan-shares-about-his-favorite-bible-verses/

Sunday July 5, 2009

"Delivered out of the Hands of Pharoah"

Click here for an arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEo02Da-V9k

"Glorified"

The Crossroads youth choir will share this powerful song by Jared Anderson. Author of the songs “Rescue”, “Amazed”, and “Hear us from Heaven”, Jared Anderson is a prolific writer committed to the local church. He aims to put Jesus in the spotlight with his songs and leadership for New Life Church. Jared grew up at New Life Church where he joined the choir at 13 years old and played keyboards in the youth band all through high school.Now, as before, he is a member of both New Life Worship and Desperation Band as well as his heading up his own recordings. When he’s not leading, writing, or recording, Jared is at home with wife Megan and children Everett (3), Beckett (2), and Francie (1).

Click here to visit Jareds' myspace:
www.myspace.com/jaredandersonmusic

Click here to worship along with Jared Anderson:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H667w4HdcVQ

"I will Stand"

Glenn Packiam wrote the following on how he wrote this powerful worship song:

I was sitting in my office late on a Friday afternoon, about to leave to get ready for the MILL, our college and 20-somethings service. In my hands was a picture from the sonogram of our first child, a girl. The picture made all the emotions I had felt when I sat in the ultrasound appointment, watching and listening to her beating heart, come rushing back. The pregnancy had been full of some scary moments, so to be at this point was overwhelming. I went over to the office next door where there was a keyboard and began to sing. "I will stand and worship You for everything You are to me I will lift my voice in praise for all the wonders You display I will stand, I will stand and worship You." Not long later, the song was finished, with the exception of few phrases I kept tweaking. Through salvation we see God's love demonstrated and His goodness revealed. That is reason enough to praise. But God keeps drawing us with tender mercies, calling us into relationship with Him. The only response to that kind of grace and love is to worship--not to attempt a repayment, not to prove that we deserve it--simply to worship. As we started to do the song at our church, I watched as people responded to God with a firm, unshakable decision to worship. "I Will Stand" is a declaration to God, a choice to worship no matter what, because it is the only response to God's great love and grace.

[Additional reading: Romans 5] -

Glenn PackiamClick here for a sampling of the song:
https://secure.praisecharts.com/index.php?module=shopping&action=search&sort=2&author=Glenn%20Packiam&start=0&t=16

“I Need Thee Every Hour”

This Hymn was written by Anne Hawks in 1872. She wrote the following about how the song came about.

One day as a young wife and mo­ther of 37 years of age, I was bu­sy with my reg­u­lar house­hold tasks. Sud­den­ly, I be­came so filled with the sense of near­ness to the Mast­er that, won­der­ing how one could live with­out Him, ei­ther in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Ev­e­ry Hour,” were ush­ered in­to my mind, the thought at once tak­ing full pos­sess­ion of me.

After writ­ing the lyr­ics, Hawks gave them to her pas­tor, Ro­bert Low­ry, who add­ed the tune and re­frain. The hymn was first pub­lished at the Na­tion­al Bap­tist Sun­day School Con­ven­tion in Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, in No­vem­ber 1872. Some years lat­er, af­ter the death of her hus­band, Hawks wrote:

I did not un­der­stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb­bing heart of hu­man­i­ty. It was not un­til long af­ter, when the sha­dow fell over my way, the sha­dow of a great loss, that I un­der­stood some­thing of the com­fort­ing pow­er in the words which I had been per­mit­ted to give out to others in my hour of sweet se­ren­i­ty and peace.

Click here to worship along with Randy Owens & the Isaacs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VeQrymN568&feature=related

Click here for a gospel arrangement by Marvin Sapp:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnlHpGnRjbc&feature=related

"Your Unfailing Love"

When the darkness fills my senses
When my blindness keeps me from your touch, Jesus come
When my burden keeps me doubting
When my memories take the place of you, Jesus come
And I'll follow you there to the place where we meet
And I'll lay down my pride as you search me again
Your unfailing love, your unfailing love,
Your unfailing love over me again

Click here to read Morgans' bio:
www.reubenmorgan.com/downloads/reuben_morgan_bio.pdf

Click here to learn more about Reuben Morgan:
www.myspace.com/reubenmorgan

Click here to worship through the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHUhIdQfo34

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/donkor/music/xQ42saKz/hillsong-your-unfailing-love/

“Overcome”

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only son perfect and spotless one He never sinned, but suffered as if he did

All authority, every victory is Yours All authority, every victory is Yours
Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is Your name, You overcame
Power in hand speaking the Father's plan You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the LambAnd the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

Click here to learn more about Jon Egan composer of this powerful song:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=34106535

Click here to listen to the story behind the song:
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“Battle Hymn of the Republic”

Words by Julia W. Howe 1861. This hymn was born dur­ing the Amer­i­can ci­vil war, when Howe vis­it­ed a Un­ion Ar­my camp on the Po­to­mac Riv­er near Wash­ing­ton, D. C. She heard the sol­diers sing­ing the song “John Brown’s Body,” and was tak­en with the strong marching beat. She wrote the words the next day with a strong march­ing beat. "I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired po­em be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind, and I said to my­self, “I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep and for­get them!” So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper."The hymn ap­peared in the At­lant­ic Month­ly in 1862. It was sung at the fun­er­als of Brit­ish states­man Win­ston Church­ill, Amer­i­can sen­at­or Ro­bert Ken­ne­dy, and Am­er­i­can pre­si­dents Ron­ald Rea­gan and Ri­chard Nix­on.Music: John Brown’s Bo­dy, poss­i­bly by John Will­iam SteffeJohn Brown was an Amer­i­can abo­li­tion­ist who led a short lived in­­sur­­rect­­ion to free the slaves.

Click here to listen to the many arrangements of this great hymn:
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"Low Down the Chariot"

Click here to listen to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhhBs6g3Di8