Thursday, November 26, 2009

Behind the Praise - Sunday December 6, 2009

"We Three Kings"


Written by Rev. John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891) in 1857, he wrote both the music and lyrics of this carol. In 1863 the said Christmas carol was published in Rev. Hopkins' Carols, Hymns and Song. "We Three Kings" was written for the General Theological Seminary in New York during their Christmas pageant. Interesting Fact: Aside from being a writer and editor, Hopkins was also a stained glass artist and book illustrator.

We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain


Following yonder star O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Click here for an arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHf1p3C8iVw

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDe3zcTejjQ

"O Come All Ye Faithful"

Also known in Latin as "Adeste Fidelis", this Christmas carol is credited to an English hymnist named John Francis Wade (1711-1786). Written originally in Latin, 'O Come All Ye Faithful', it was penned as a hymn by an Englishman called John Wade. In Latin, it is known as 'Adeste Fideles'. Another Englishman called John Reading composed its music in early 1700s, which was first published in 'Cantus Diversi' in 1751. Rev. Frederick Oakley translated it to English in 1841.

Click here to read more about the history of the song:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeste_Fideles

Click here to listen to Bianca Ryan sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I8XAf4Rwa4

Click here to hear a traditional setting:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZKp4npV47Q&feature=related

Click here for the various recordings of this Carol:
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=o+come+all+ye+faithful&search_type=&aq=f

"Mary did You know"

Mark Lowry is best known as a singer and comedian who spent more than a decade as a regular fixture of Bill Gaither's vocal band. But years from now, when all is said and done, Lowry's most enduring legacy will probably be the beautiful little song that he wrote 18 years ago as a meditation for a Christmas program at his church.
In 1984, the leaders at Lowry's Nashville congregation asked him if he'd be willing to write a musical for Advent. He gladly agreed.Inspiration came as Lowry focused his heart and mind on the wonder of Christmas.
"I tried to picture Mary holding the baby Jesus on the first Christmas morning and wondered what she was thinking about that child," he says. "She knew he was special—the Virgin Birth was her first clue—but could she ever imagine all the things that he would do while he was here?"
Soon, Lowry came up with a series of questions that he would like to ask Mary: "Did she know he would walk on water? Raise the dead? Give sight to the blind?"
Lowry decided to use the questions as a monologue to be recited between the scenes of his musical. But the profundity of those questions lingered in his mind long after the church musical was done.
Six years later, harmonica virtuoso Buddy Greene supplied just the right music and "Mary, Did You Know?" was complete.
Since then, Lowry and Greene's tune has become a modern classic. It has been recorded by more than 30 different artists (besides Lowry), including Kenny Rogers, Kathleen Battle, and Reba McEntire.
"I hear from a lot of people who have sung it in the church choir for Christmas and Easter programs," says Lowry. "When I wrote it, I felt there was something special there, but I never imagined how wide-reaching it would become."

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfpK6cNPF7Y

"Lord I lift Your Name on High"

Rick Founds wrote this song.It was written in 1989 during Found's morning devotion. Having developed the habit of playing guitar while watching television, he found it very natural to play while reading Scripture on his computer monitor."I'd just reach over and grab my guitar," he recalls. "I'd plunk along with whatever I was reading that day."He remembers marveling one early morning at the love of God who created the world though He knew we would rebel and fall. It amazed Rick that God had a plan to redeem us from the very beginning. As Founds meditated over his cyber-Bible and touched his guitar strings, God's plan struck him as something of a cycle.He thought of the cycle of rain that comes down, waters the earth, evaporates back into the clouds and then returns.Suddenly, the now famous chorus emerged: "You came from heaven to earth to show the way / From the earth to the cross my debt to pay / From the cross to the grave / From the grave to the sky..." Interrupting his own lyric, Founds explains, "The response to grasping even a little bit of that knowledge is praise, and thanksgiving and gratitude!" When he completes the line, 'Lord, I Lift Your Name on High,' a moment of silent awe follows.

Click here to read more about this Carol:
www.ccli.com/WorshipResources/SongStories.cfm?itemID=11

Click here to worship along with Rick Founds:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBezK_v_FqY

Click here to worship along with the group Petra:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cx5YmS7GXQ&feature=related

Click here to worship along with some great images:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OF5iaFNE7Q


“You are For me”

Click here to visit Kari Jobe’s website:
http://www.karijobe.com/

Click here to hear Kari share about how she wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watchv=mB4phSOaheM&feature=PlayList&p=E7841C140C8806D7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7
Click here to listen to Kari Jobe sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdfKTTeGj2U&feature=fvw

Click here to purchase “You are for me”
Kari Jobe - Kari Jobe - You Are for Me



"Tell me the Story of Jesus"

This great hymn was written by Fanny Crosby, here is some short information on her testimony:

The story of Fanny Crosby is one of sorrow, yet of the deepest love. At the age of six weeks old, Fanny developed an eye infection. The family physician was unavailable so another physician was called. He applied hot mustard poultices to the baby’s eyes. This caused severe burns to Fanny’s eyes and she was permanently blind from then on.Fanny never felt bitter but instead grew into a young woman who “saw” God in everything around her and in every circumstance that life handed to her. Although she was physically blind, Fanny had the keenest of spiritual sight…which is reflected in her 9,000 plus hymns. Her love for God and her eagerness to share with others what Christ had done for them brought countless numbers to Christ.


Click here to hear a gaither video of the song great harmony:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cclh18f3Fc4

Click here to hear a great trio sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JezvAf3PGfU

"The First Noel"

The word Nowell comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas", from the Latin word natalis ("birth"). It may also be from the Gaulish words "noio" or "neu" meaning "new" and "helle" meaning "light" referring to the winter solstice when sunlight begins overtaking darkness.


Click here to read more about the song:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_No%C3%ABl#Animaniacs_parody

Click here to listen to Clay Aiken sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJhlB-CzCsc

Click here to hear Helmut Lotti sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=We4xRHMuCNg&feature=related**

Click here for an interesting arrangement - one person, two guitars:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cyWiw3cSOI



“Crown Him with Many Crowns”

This worshipful text is the combined effort of two distinguished Anglican clergymen, each of whom desired to write a hymn of exaltation to our suffering but now victorious Lord.
Matthew Bridges' version first appeared in 1851 with six stanzas. Twenty-three years later Godfrey Thring wrote six additional stanzas, which appeared in his collection Hymns and Sacred Lyrics. The hymn's present forrn includes stanzas one, two, and four by Bridges and the third verse by Thring.
Each crown in this hymn text exalts Christ for some specific aspect of His person or ministry—
(1) Stanza one for His eternal Kingship;
(2) stanza two for His love demonstrated in redemptive suffering; (
(3) stanza three for His victorious resurrection and ascension, and
(4) stanza four as a member of the Triune Godhead ever worthy of worship and praise.
The tune, Diadernata (the Greek word for crowns), was composed especially for this text by George Elvey, a noted organist at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, where British royalty often attend.
Click here to read more about this hymn:
http://songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/crown-him-with-many-crowns

Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdK4lzg8gsU

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWCEFKsZqLY

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I'M THANKFUL

"More than anything, I’m thankful for Jesus. I could not make it through the day if I didn’t have Him. He lavishly gives His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, purpose, provision, patience and hope, just to name a few! Jesus is the only thing in life that really matters."

Deborah Reavis

I am thankful for the opportunity to teach and learn from all the terrific GAs. The blessings I have received for 8 wonderful years are far too many to count. Girls, Moms and Dads, You are the best. Thank you God for choosing me for this task.

Kathy Fairchild

Monday, November 23, 2009

BEHIND THE PRAISE - Sunday November 29, 2009

"Hosanna"

Paul Baloche wrote this with Brenton Brown to be sung on Palm Sunday. Contemplating that sense of expectancy led Paul to start with the phrase “Praise is rising”. Paul said there is that same sense of expectancy when God’s people gather to worship that was felt along the road in Jerusalem when the people crowded the streets to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Ever wonder what Hosanna really means? Hosanna is Hebrew for "Save now" from Psalm 118. It is an intensified imperative, a cry, addressed to God, particularly used in the Feast of Tabernacles, when prayers for rain were offered. In the New Testament the crowd shouted it when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It is used as an exclamation in Christian worship.

Click here to listen to Paul share how he wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml

Click here to worship along with Paul Baloche
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIg2QOzPpg

or here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZoDH2H1Ls

"In the House of the Lord"

This song was composed by Laird Sillimon, check out his ministry here:
www.sillimonsound.com/

Check out Laird's myspace here:
www.myspace.com/lscovenant

Click here for an arrangement of this powerful worship song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=anFH8nPscfk

"Shout to the North"

Men of faith rise up and sing Of the great and glorious king
You are strong when you feel weak In your brokenness complete

Shout to the north and the southSing to the east and the west
Jesus is saviour to all Lord of heaven and earth

Rise up women of the truth Stand and sing to broken hearts
Who can know the healing powerOf our awesome king of love

We've been through fire.We've been through rain
We've been refined by thepower of his name
We've fallen deeper in love with you You've burned the truth on our lips

Rise up church with broken wings Fill this place with songs again
Of our God who regins on high By his grace again we'll fly.

Click here to sing through the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqsdnwli0Qo

“I Stand Amazed in the Presence"

This hymn was written by Charles Gabriel. Growing up on an Io­wa farm, Ga­bri­el taught him­self to play the fam­i­ly’s reed or­gan. He be­gan teach­ing in sing­ing schools by age 16, and be­came well known as a teach­er and com­pos­er. He served as mu­sic di­rect­or at Grace Meth­od­ist Epis­co­pal Church, San Fran­cis­co, Cal­i­for­nia (1890-2), then moved to Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois. In 1912 he be­gan work­ing with Hom­er Ro­de­heav­er’s pub­lish­ing com­pa­ny. His ed­it­ed some 43 song books, 7 men’s chor­us books, 19 an­them col­lect­ions, and 23 can­ta­tas.

I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene
And I wonder how He could love me, A sinner condemned, unclean.

How marvelous, how wonderful And my song shall ever be.
How marvelous, how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me.

For me it was in the garden He prayed, "Not my will, but thine"
He had no tears for His own griefs, But sweat drops of blood for mine.

He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv'ry, And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see,
'Twill be my joy thro' the ages, To sing of His love for me.


Click here for an arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjCoX4tRoT8

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkFOtaO8B9c&feature=related

“You are For me”

Click here to visit Kari Jobe’s website:
www.karijobe.com/

Click here to hear Kari share about how she wrote the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB4phSOaheM&feature=PlayList&p=E7841C140C8806D7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7
Click here to listen to Kari Jobe sing the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdfKTTeGj2U&feature=fvw

Click here to purchase Kari's version:
Kari Jobe - Kari Jobe - You Are for Me

"Jesus Paid it All"

The following is from Alex Nifong who wrote the additional chorus:
I have an old hymnal that I frequently play through sometimes during my private times alone with the Lord. I was playing through that song one day in Jan of 05 and I just started praying and singing out the phrase O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. It was as simple as that. Just a prayer that came right out of my heart. This is a new arrangement of the old hymn, based on the recording from the Passion album "Everything glorious". It adds a new line "O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead".

Check out the composer of the tag on his website
www.alexnifong.com/

Here’s a story about the song:

The words were written by Elvina M. Hall and the music by John T. Grape on New Year’s night, 1886, some missionaries were holding open-air services in order to attract passers-by to a near-by mission, where meetings were to be held later. "All to Christ I owe" was sung, and after a gentleman had given a short address he hastened away to the mission. He soon heard footsteps close behind him and a young woman caught up with him and said: "I heard you addressing the open-air meeting just now; do you think, sir, that Jesus could save a sinner like me?"The gentleman replied that there was no doubt about that, if she was anxious to be saved. She told him that she was a servant girl, and had left her place that morning after a disagreement with her mistress. As she had been wandering about the streets in the dark, wondering where she was to spend the night, the sweet melodies of this hymn had attracted her, and she drew near and listened attentively. As the different verses were being sung, she felt that the words surely had something to do with her. Through the whole service she seemed to hear what met her oppressed soul’s need at that moment. God’s Spirit had showed her what a poor, sinful and wretched creature she was, and had led her to ask what she must do. On hearing her experience, the gentleman took her back to the mission and left her with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night. A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. There she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One day the gentleman whom she had met on New Year’s night was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, "All to Christ I owe"…and she seemed overwhelmed with the thought of coming to glory…Two hours afterward she passed away.

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

Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OOjfaBGnA&mode=related&search=

You can go here to Kristians' myspace and click on the song just to listen
www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill

WOW - here it is in Spanish
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Behind the Praise - Sunday November 22, 2009

"O Magnify the Lord"

(Regi Stone/Michael Popham)

Click here to learn more about Regi:
www.registone.com/

Michael Popham, who has published and sold 1,000,000 units during his 26-year Christian music ministry. His songs such as "Here in This House" have been recorded by Christian music artists and choirs, including Christ Church Choir, Vicky Yohe, and the Talley Trio. His praise and worship songs, including "At Your Feet" and "God Is My Refuge and Strength," have reached #1 spots on CCLI's recorded charts and been sung by churches all around the world. Popham is one of the worship leaders at Holy Trinity Community Church in Nashville.

O magnify the Lord with me,
Let us exalt His name forever,
O magnify the Lord with
Me let us sing praises unto His name.
For the Lord is good let the earth sing out,
His mercies endure forever,
With a joyful song and a mighty shout
Proclaim His name forever

"You are Good"

Nearly Disposed - Israels' Testimony

My mother became pregnant at the age of 17 in Waterloo, Iowa. You can imagine how this is shaping up. She was given the choice of a back-alley abortion or being disowned by her family. Thank God she chose the latter. Ultimately, she was disowned, abandoned by my biological father, and ended up in San Diego, California. Picture this. It was 1971 and my mother was 8 months pregnant, all alone, thousands of miles from home, and forced to enter reality unprepared. Pretty bleak. One day while walking down the street, a lady pulled up in her Volkswagen Bug, got out, and respectfully yet boldly, began to share the Gospel with her. Words of life and hope began to overtake the words of rejection and abandonment she had grown accustomed to. There on a street corner, she ended up on her knees and cried out to God-committing her life to Jesus Christ. The lady gave her a bible and that's how I got my name. My mother started reading at page one and well, you know-you have a bible, my name's on every page!
I'm often asked by skeptics or the stoic, why I'm as passionate about worshiping God as I am. The answer is simple for me. In this age of disposable relationships, I could have easily become a statistic and at best, a distant memory of a youthful mistake. Instead, a Sovereign God rescued my mother and me and gave us hope, a future, and a testimony of the providence of God. The very least I can do is enter into His gates with fresh thanksgiving, His courts with a passionate praise, and eventually bow before His throne in intimate worship. As far as leading worship goes (which is my passion and calling), I now realize that there have been demands put on me from every part of my experience since day one - culturally, emotionally, musically, and more. So things tend to sound cross-cultural, cross- denominational, and cross-generational. I like to call it, "The Sound of New Breed Worship." I tend to lead from an internal platform founded in Psalm 124:2, "If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side"....where in the world would I be? In an age of disposable relationships, maybe we should be asking ourselves that question a lot more often. I am confident that we would worship with far more conviction, intensity, and overwhelmed gratitude if we did. It is my delight to encourage you today.
Israel

Israel leads a worship band called "New Breed" here's their website, you can listen to portions of the songs they sing including "You are Good" www.newbreedmusic.com/

Click here to learn more about Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton

Click here to worship along with Israel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAGZ8HmiWCM

Click here to see Israel singing "You are Good" in concert:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCpy1Bg255A&feature=related

"Every Where that I Go"

Click here to hear about the story behind the song: www.youtube.com/watchv=5TI9yRDbdZE

Click here to learn more about Israel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton

Click here to worship along with the Lakewood Church: www.youtube.com/watchv=d0W0oCGcu8k&feature=related Click

Click here to listen online: www.imeem.com/pickurnose/music/fEmluTVP/everywhere_that_i_go/

"Thank you Lord"

This song of thanksgiving was written by Paul Baloche & Don Moen.

We are commanded to give thanks:Psalm 136:4-9 -

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who placed the earth on the water. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights -- His faithful love endures forever. The sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever

Click here to learn more about Don Moen www.jjonline.com/biographies/donMoen.php

Click here to learn more about Paul Baloches' testimony www.christianmusic.com/paulbaloche/bio.html

Click here to worship along with Don Moen www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZwl_VJJ3xM

“Step By Step”

David Strasser wrote this popular worship song. David also writes under the pseudonym Beaker. David is a christian songwriter and musician well-known for his collaborations with artist Rich Mullins. He received his nickname as a young man, when friends said he looked like Beaker the Muppet.
When Beaker was in the seventh grade, his youth pastor introduced him to his friend Rich Mullins, and the two soon became collaborators. Beaker co-wrote, performed, and toured with Rich Mullins for several years. The first song they wrote together was "Boy Like Me, Man Like You", a 1991 hit for Mullins. Beaker is also responsible for writing the modern praise chorus "Step By Step" ("Oh God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you..."). He was also instrumental in co-founding the Kid Brothers of St. Frank with Rich Mullins, and well as co-writing a musical about Saint Francis of Assisi entitled “Canticle of the Plains”.
In the mid-90s, Beaker dropped out of the spotlight to focus on family life. He and his wife Julie had a son named Aidan, for whom Rich Mullins penned his hit song "Let Mercy Lead".


Click here to worship along with Rich Mullins: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6INI7LteJZg

Click here to worship along with Rich Mullins & Bebo Norman: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ugTc4bJ-o&feature=related

"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:
www.christomlin.com

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

"Always Forever"

Offertory Sunday will be "Always Forever" sung by Tetelestai. This song was written by Martha Munizzi. In an interview about the album "Change the World" that produced this song, she writes:"This record has songs that we wrote and songs that were brought to me. We went back to the beginning. Songs talk about how we’re created for a purpose, to be loved by God, to love and be loved. When we walk in that understanding, it releases us to love other people. When we’re working so hard, thinking we have to earn His love, then it’s hard to love others.When we receive His love for ourselves, then we can open our hearts and see people the way God see’s them, on another level and another plateau. That’s how the world is transformed by God’s love and not by our religion or our ideas but by our kinship with God, and that’s how we change the world."

For the full interview, click here: http://blackgospel.com/martha-munizzi-interview-2008/

To listen to this song on Youtube, click here: www.youtube.com/watchv=OzdZT3LRinQ&feature=PlayList&p=05093B054F498DC8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=61

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Behind the Praise - Sunday November 15, 2009

"God of My Days"

Zach Neese's perspective:"God of My Days" took me two years to write, because I was concerned about the hearts of the people that it would minister to. The lyrics had to be true in the mouths of both mourners and people who were rejoicing. It had to ring true as a sacrifice of praise and as a statement of faith. I began writing out of a holy discontent. I was frustrated by the Church's tendency to paint a happy face over the reality of people's suffering. Sometimes Christians come across as uncompassionate because we deny or fail to address people's pain. Our churches are full of people who are hurting, and many times we make them feel guilty about it.God isn't afraid to talk about pain. He never denies it. He guarantees it (John 16:33). He also guarantees that He will never leave us to face it alone (Hebrews 13:5) and that He is bigger than whatever we're facing.He is the God of every season and situation of our lives.Recently, my wife Jen and I had a baby girl, and God was right there rejoicing with us. A few years ago, we lost a baby boy. God was there for that too, wrapping us in His powerful, comforting arms and helping us mourn. In both situations, He was God. In both, He was worthy of praise, and from both, He will bring something miraculous.Maybe I don't understand. But I believe. He is God of my days, King of my nights, Lord of my laughter and Sovereign in sorrow. He is the Prince of my praise and the Love of my life. He never leaves me, and He is always faithful. He is the God of my days.

Click here to visit Zach's myspace - you can play the song from here.
www.myspace.com/zachneese

Click here to worship along with the gateway worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHGaXj-gdEc

Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBAExdZPad8



"Turn Your Eyes Upon the Cross"
Worship choir - Soloist Tami McLallen


"Hungry"

This song was written by Kathryn Scott while living in Glasgow. Kathryn found her self desperate for the Lord and this song became her personal cry for revival.

Click here to listen to Kathryn share her story:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml


Hungry I come to You For I know You satisfy
I am empty but I know Your love does not run dry
So I wait for You So I wait for You I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me Jesus You're all This heart is living for
Broken I run to You For Your arms are open wide
I am weary but I know Your touch Restores my life


Click here for Kathryns' myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=95452289

Here is Kathryns' bio:

Kathryn (Rainey) Scott was born into a very musical family with a passion for ministry. During her early childhood, her father Roy and singer/songwriter mom Mildred worked in a recording studio when the family wasn’t travelling across the UK with an evangelism group. It was during those early years that Kathryn made a decision to follow Jesus. And, by age 9, she had begun writing songs with the encouragement of her mom. At 19, she entered Elim Bible College (now Regent’s Theological College) in England, where she studied theology and met her future husband, Alan. The couple married after college and together began to seek God’s plan for their lives, believing they were called to plant a church but not sure of how to go about it. They began the journey by becoming assistant pastors at Alan’s home church, South West Glasgow Vineyard. At that time, Kathryn met award-winning artist and songwriter Brian Doerksen and began working with him to hone her own skills as a worship leader and songwriter. Soon after, she penned the songs Child of God and Hungry, which were eventually recorded by Vineyard Music. Two years later, Alan and Kathryn departed for Northern Ireland to plant a church of their own. A year later, Causeway Coast Vineyard began meeting in a local pub when the couple could find no other available venues. Within a few years, the church grew to a congregation of over 400 adults and 100 children. And, as the church grew, so did Kathryn’s reputation as a songwriter. She signed with Integrity Music and released her critically-acclaimed solo debut Satisfy in 2003. The CD included the popular songs At The Foot Of The Cross, Search Me, Know Me and the evergreen Hungry among others. She also continued writing with Doerksen and artist Paul Baloche, contributing songs and guest vocals to their recent Integrity CDs. In mid-December of ‘07, Kathryn will release I Belong, a studio recording produced by Brent Milligan. The CD features co-writes with Baloche and Doerksen and with her first writing partner and coach, her mom. Kathryn and Alan are busier than ever at Causeway and as parents to their young daughters Sophie and Emily Joy.

Click here to worship along with Kathryn Scott:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gPbAz4H6ZE

Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/ronny1994/music/EaWlJeAP/kathryn_scott_hungry/

“At the Cross”

Hillsong music ministry

Here’s another worship song written by Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan. Here’s a short portion of her testimony and how God delivered her from bulimia.

Darlene's no stranger to troubled teen years. Outwardly her childhood seemed glamorous—she was singing and dancing on a weekly children's television show in Australia, Happy Go 'Round, at the age of 10. But when she was 13, her parents divorced. The pressures of television, combined with the emotional turmoil of her parents' divorce and the custody battle that ensued, took their toll. By age 14, bulimia reared its ugly head. But in 1980, God intervened: Darlene's father rededicated his life to Christ and started taking Darlene to church, where she asked Jesus into her life at 15. While there she also met Mark, her husband of 16 years, with whom she shared faith in Christ. Darlene and Mark dated for a year and a half and married one week after she turned 19.

Click here to learn more about Darlene:
www.darlenezschech.com/

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

Click here to worship along in Spanish with the Hillsong music ministry:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l8_5WXEpF0

“Here I Am to Worship”

If songs are like children to their writers, then 25 year-old Englishman Tim Hughes carried "Here I Am To Worship" to full term, letting the reverent tune take perfect shape over a nine-month period. Back in 1999 while still in college, he first sat down to craft a musical response to his reading of Philippians 2:5, which says, "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus." And from the start, he had the humility part mastered. "I was playing around with my guitar when the verse just came out," he modestly recalls. "However, I couldn't get a chorus that I was happy with. The original one was embarrassingly bad!" Thankfully, Tim recorded the verse into his Dictaphone, and months later during a quiet creative time, he patched it together with another strong melody idea and brought "Here I Am To Worship" to fruition. "I'd been reading about the cross and thinking through Jesus' amazing sacrifice," Tim says of the lyrical theme. "Sometimes when God meets with us we don't quite know how to respond properly. It's often too much for us to take in. Hopefully in a small way the chorus captures that: 'Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, worthy, wonderful.'" Although the song had been completed, the writer was still not convinced of its potential. Leading worship at his Soul Survivor home church one day, Tim sang "Here I Am To Worship" for his fellow members and was duly advised by his pastor Mike Pilavachi to start using it more often. Since then, Hughes - who built his own chops leading Delirious and Matt Redman favorites - has seen the song take on a life of its own. It must be a God thing.... People have seemed to really connect with it, and we've had some special times in worship using the song," he admits. "I remember one time at the end of a Worship Together conference in San Diego when we'd been performing the song. The band stopped, and then the congregation just kept singing the chorus for about 15 minutes."

Click here to listen to the story behind the song by Tim Hughes.
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-196-HereIAmtoWorship-Hughes.mp3

Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_kAjok4-Uk

Click here to read more about the composer Tim Hughes
www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/1227531/

“Jesus Messiah” Offertory by Jason & Stephanie Meyer

This song was written by Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves. Chris shared the following on how the song came about.

I have always wanted to write a song with the word messiah in it. I have always been intrigued by the idea of Jesus being the Messiah and I wanted to capture that in a song. Jesus the one who came to save us, he is a rescue for sinners and a ransom from heaven.

Messiah is the transliteration of a Hebrew term, Mashiach. The New Testament (Greek) equivalent is Christos. Both terms mean "the anointed one."

Click here to listen to Chris share how the song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHpHIotUzPA

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAssOfn5cAI

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Behind the Praise - Sunday November 8, 2009



“Forever”

This worship song is based upon the passage in Psalm 136 “His love endures forever”. It took four years for Chris to finally finish the song after working on the song off and on.

Click here to listen to Chris tell about how he wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-263-Forever-Tomlin.mp3

Click here to learn more about Chris Tomlin:
www.christomlin.com

Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOZVFHqKg1k

"In Him"

This new song is from the pen of Don Poythress.
Click here to learn more about this new worship artist with country roots.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYbCGjO4EWw

"Give Thanks to the Lord"

This song was written by Jon Essen, Stew & Karin Essens' son. The song is a great reminder of all that we have to be thankful for.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is the reigning King
Thanks to the Lord the ruler of everything
Thanks to the Lord for He is the reigning King
Thanks to the Lord the Ruler of everything

"Take my Life and Let it Be"

Frances R. Havergal wrote the following about how he wrote the song: I went for a lit­tle vi­sit of five days (to Are­ley House). There were ten per­sons in the house, some un­con­vert­ed and long prayed for, some con­vert­ed, but not re­joic­ing Christ­ians. He gave me the pra­yer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did. Be­fore I left the house ev­ery one had got a bless­ing. The last night of my vis­it af­ter I had re­tired, the gov­ern­ess asked me to go to the two daugh­ters. They were cry­ing, then and there both of them trust­ed and re­joiced; it was near­ly mid­night. I was too hap­py to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and re­new­al of my own con­se­cra­tion; and these lit­tle coup­lets formed them­selves, and chimed in my heart one af­ter ano­ther till they fin­ished with “Ever, On­ly, ALL for Thee!”

Click here to hear a newer version of the hymn
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEzbwcMG9Gc

Click here for a great arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU9Pi4g_3No

“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,

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:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=33819070&blogID=440712561

Click here to worship along with the Desperation Band:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sjYWrpNoCs