Friday, March 31, 2017

Pop Gospel Praise: Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace


Music Only Video And Lyrics Below

Luke 24: Jesus Has Risen — Painting: "The Ascension" - Benjamin West — 1801

Hi!

My search for great Christian music continues — and more and more I'm being rewarded.

As the Bible says seek and you will find....

I'd never head of Phil Wickham before — but some how I came across his music recently.

Today I've decided to share his praise song: "This Is Amazing Grace."

The lyrics are under the music only video embedded below.

I pray it Blesses you!






"This Is Amazing Grace"

[Verse 1:]
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder,
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

[Chorus:]
This is amazing Grace,
This is unfailing Love,
That You would take my place,
That You would bear my cross,
You laid down Your life,
That I would be set free,
Oh, Jesus, I sing for,
All that You've done for me.

[Verse 2:]
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?
The King of Glory, the King of Glory.

Who rules the nations with Truth and Justice,
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy!!
Oh

[Chorus]

All that You've done for me! 

 -----------------------------------------

Thanks so much for stopping by!

May God Richly Bless you! 

Jesus is LORD!

Seek Him!

-------------------------------------------


9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.




Thursday, March 30, 2017

He Rains On Me - The Johnson Family


Hi!,

While I enjoy all kinds of music — my love of Southern Gospel continues to grow — and this from a guy who grew up in the Colorado mountains far from hearing any of it in church — or on TV or the radio.

But there's just something about it that speaks to my tastes — and more importantly — it Blesses my spirit.

Fortunately, I'm finding more and more of it too.

Screen Capture From Another Video Of The Johnson Family
Screen Capture From Another Video Of The Johnson Family


Case in point:  I discovered "He Rains On Me" a beautiful southern Gospel song by The Johnson Family and have embedded a music only video of it below — along with lyrics at the bottom of this post.

I can't find anything about the family or their music ministry except the video's description says the song was written by Victoria Johnson — and is from The Johnson Family's latest project "Come Take A Journey."

Please give the video below a spin — and I pray it will Bless you too!




He Rains On Me - lyrics

Chorus: 

He Rains On Me (He Rains On Me),
He Rains On Me (He Rains On Me),
He gives all I ever need,
He Rains On Me,

He Rains On Me (He Rains On Me),
He Rains On Me (He Rains On Me),
A soul that soars on wings of peace,
Every time His sweet Spirit Rains On Me,

Friend I've been broken and brought down,
As low as I could be,
But then I cried with all that's in me,
Oh Lord, Won't you hear my plea,

And I knew just when it happened,
When He looked beyond my fault and saw my need,
As I felt His loving hand of kindness,
And His mercy raining down on me,

(Chorus)

I don't know how You do it,
How You make me feel the way I do,
Oh, but it just takes one touch of Your hand,
To make me feel brand new,

And it only takes one breath,
For you to breath a new life into me,
And I wish that every nation, every race,
And the whole wide world could see,

You Rain On Me (You Rain On Me),
You Rain On Me (You Rain On Me),
You gives all I ever need,
You Rain On Me,

You Rain On Me (You Rain On Me),
You Rain On Me (You Rain On Me),
A soul that soars on wings of peace,
Every time Your sweet Spirit Rains On Me,


 -----------------------------------------

Thanks so much for stopping by!

May God Richly Bless you! 

Jesus is LORD!

Seek Him!

-------------------------------------------


9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.




Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Country-Pop Gospel: Reba McEntire - Back To God


Music Video Embedded Below - Lyrics Included At The Bottom
------------------------------------------

Hi!

Through the years Reba McEntire has only been on the edges of my radar.

I knew she was a country singer who had achieved some recognition for her work — and I knew she had a TV show — although I'd never watched more than a few minutes of it.

I'd also seen her on a few talk shows — but truly must confess I knew little else about her.

Recently someone on Twitter posted her new single "Back To God" and I gave it a listen.

I was really surprised to both hear her make such a bold declaration of faith — and find myself really liking the song.

Yes — she puts more than a little "twang" on the vocal — but the track is as much "pop" as it is country — and the video is filled from beginning to end with beautiful imagery.

A Screen Capture From Reba McEntire's Video - "Back To God"
A Screen Capture From Reba McEntire's Video - "Back To God"

You'll find the song on her new double-disc gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope — and according to Nashville Country Daily, on Feb 14, 2017, she has been rewarded for her efforts:

[The album has] ascended to the No. 1 spot on both Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and Top Christian Albums chart with more than 54,000 equivalent albums sold according to Nielsen Music.

[This] marks the first time Reba has scored a No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart, while becoming her 13th No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. Her lucky No. 13th chart-topping album extends her record for the most No. 1s for a female artist. Reba’s new album also debuted at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200. 

“This album has been a huge gift to me,” said Reba. “It has helped heal my heart and has let me know I can move forward with faith and hope. I am so thankful to God for His guidance that lead to this moment. I pray that everyone who listens to these songs, receives exactly what the Holy Spirit wants them to receive. These CDs go out to my family, friends and fans remembering these songs from their growing up years and to those who are just beginning to sing along. We could all use more faith and hope. I sure do appreciate yours!”

http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/02/14/reba-mcentires-new-faith-based-album-ascends-to-the-top-of-two-billboard-charts/

Anywho, please give Reba's music video I've embedded below a spin — and I hope it'll speak to you as much as it did to me.



"Back To God" - Lyrics

Oh, have you looked around,
Have you heard the sound,
Of Mama's cryin'?
Or do you turn away,
When you see the face,
Of the innocent dyin'?
In these darkest days,
Are you not afraid,
That it's too late?

You gotta get down on your knees, Believe,
Fold your hands and beg and plead,
Gotta keep on praying,
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain,
Pound the floor and scream His name,
Cause we're still worth saving,
Can't go on like this and live like this,
We can't love like this,
We gotta give this world back to God,

Have you lost a love,
Do you feel like givin' up,
Has your heart been broken?
Are your kids okay,
Will they come home safe,
Do you lie there hoping?
You can make a wish, you knock on wood,
Oh, it won't do no good,

You gotta get down on your knees, Believe,
Fold your hands and beg and plead,
You gotta keep on praying,
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain,
Pound the floor and scream His name,
Cause we're still worth saving,
We can't go on like this and live like this,
We can't love like this,
We gotta give this world back to God,

You gotta get down on your knees, Believe,
Fold your hands and beg and plead,
Keep on praying,
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain,
Pound the floor and scream His name,
Cause we're still worth saving,
Can't go on like this and live like this,
We can't love like this,
You can hope the best,
Make a wish,
The only answer is,

We give this world back to God,
Oh, give it back,

 -----------------------------------------

Thanks so much for stopping by!

May God Richly Bless you! 

Jesus is LORD!

Seek Him!

-------------------------------------------


9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.


Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Praise Music: I Will Worship You - Matthew Ward



Hebrews 12:28-29 

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe....

-------------------------------------

 

Hi!

Back in the 70's, Matthew Ward sang with his sisters in the pioneering Christian pop-rock band the 2nd Chapter of Acts.

http://www.2ndchapterofacts.com/AboutUs.html

Matthew has a unique and powerful voice — and he could've had a successful career as a worldly pop or rock artist if he had chosen to — but he decided instead to spend his life using his talent for God.

I Will Worship You - is a praise song from his 2000 CD Even Now — which features a number of praise and worship songs that can be sampled and purchased on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Even-Now-Matthew-Ward/dp/B00004U5FN



The video is very simple - just the lyrics over a black background — but I hope this song will Bless you!





Thank you for stopping by!







Friday, March 10, 2017

Video & Story: Modern Day Jonah Spends Three Days Trapped In Sunken Boat


Video Below

--------------------------

Psalm 69:13-14

13 But I pray to you, Lord,
    in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
    answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
    do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
    from the deep waters.

------------------------

Hello,

I first heard about this amazing story back in December of 2013—and I was reminded of it again recently.

An Associate Press article I found on Fox News explains it succinctly:

------------------------

Entombed at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in an upended tugboat for three days, Harrison Odjegba Okene begged God for a miracle.

The Nigerian cook survived by breathing an ever-dwindling supply of oxygen in an air pocket.

As the temperature dropped to freezing, Okene, dressed only in boxer shorts, recited the last psalm his wife had sent by text message, sometimes called the Prayer for Deliverance: "Oh God, by your name, save me. ... The Lord sustains my life."

Fox News 
----------------------

While Harrison prayed in the freezing, pitch black of the sunken vessel—100 feet underwater—a team was dispatched above for a "recovery operation" to retrieve the ship's crew's bodies—taking them about 72 hours to get to the site.

Then as a rescue diver—who was in contact with the crew above and video taping his progress—made his way through the dark, murky water looking for bodies—suddenly the diver saw a hand reaching out to him—and it grabbed hold of him— giving him a good fright.

----------------------

Harrison had been found—and what was a recovery operation now became a rescue mission—and the team now had to figure out how to get the cook back to the surface.


A Screen Capture From The Video Below:  Harrison Right After He Was Found Alive
A Screen Capture From The Video Below:  Harrison Right After He Was Found Alive

Eventually they were able to get a breathing mask to him—and could then move him to a submersible. 

Harrison had survived but his skin was badly damaged by three days in salt water—and he'd had nothing to eat or drink except for one soda pop.

But God had sustained Harrison—keeping his mind calm—and filling him with hope to keep holding on in the icy blackness. 

He needed to spend 60 hours in decompression chamber—and for anyone wondering as I did:  Had he panicked and tried to swim to the surface—air expanding in his lungs would have killed him.

---------------------

If you're like me, as you watch the video, you'll feel yourself short of breath imagining being there.

A quick note about the diver's voice:  The diver is using a mixture of helium and oxygen.

--------------------

Another very good article about the story can be found here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/man-survived-days-shipwreck-vows-return-sea-article-1.1545568

---------------------

A commenter on the video below added the following information:


"I read up a bit on this, and the long list of occurrences that allowed Harrison to survive are pretty mind-blowing. 

First, he just happened to be going to the bathroom when the ship flipped and sank. Everyone who was in the sleeping quarters where Harrison slept died. 

He happened to get pushed by the running water towards a high and enclosed point in the middle of the ship, which is believed to be the only point where a large, stable air bubble formed. 

Given the dimensions of the air bubble, he actually should have died of CO2 poisoning from his own exhaling after about 30 hours, but he kept jumping back into the water to search for supplies which disturbed the surface of the water and caused it to absorb more CO2 (he had no idea he was doing this at the time). 

Also, one of the worst aspects about his situation, the fact that he was 100 feet underwater, is actually what caused the air to be compressed enough where that small room could keep him alive. If he had only gone down 15 feet, he only would have had about 25 hours or so of air. 

It is quite an amazing set of circumstances."

-----------------------------

Hope you find the video below as fascinating as I did—and let it remind you that God answers even when it seems hopeless:











Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Beautiful Video: My Life Is Yours - Arabic Christian Praise Music With Lyrics


Mathew 28

18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV)

---------------------------------------------------

Revelation 7
 

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

 

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

---------------------------------------------------

Hello,

It is wonderful to find video, photos and references to Christians all around the world—worshiping our Lord!

I find it especially touching to see it in areas where that belief can come at a cost greater than most of us pay in western nations.

A Screen Capture From The Video Below
A Screen Capture From The Video Below

Case in point:  I found a lovely video of Arabic Christians worshiping in Cairo, Egypt—and have embedded it below.

The song is called My Life Is Yours—and please make sure you have YouTube annotations turned on so you can see the English sub-titles.

I love watching the faces of the worship team as they sing their praises to our God and King.





Thank you for stopping by!

God Bless you—keep holding on to Jesus with all your might!

: )




Saturday, March 4, 2017

Music Only Video: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms - Iris DeMent

(Music only video below)

Hi,

When I was a teenager I attended a little First Baptist church in the mountains of Colorado.

On Sundays, the 25 or so of us in the congregation would sing old hymns accompanied by a young church-member on piano.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Old-country-church-autumn-colors-sky_-_West_Virginia_-_ForestWander.jpg
This reminds me a bit of that old church.
 
Maybe that's why I responded so much to the 2010 Coen Brother's remake of the western True Grit.

The movie begins with the quote from Proverbs 28:1 across the screen:  “The wicked flee when no man pursueth..."

And then through out the movie there are references to God and faith—and the soundtrack features many lovely, simple instrumentals of old hymns like those we sang in that church long ago.

From wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Grit:_Original_Motion_Picture_Soundtrack :

The film was scored by Carter Burwell a long-time collaborator with the Coen brothers who wanted to use 19th-century church music for their remake.  

Burwell spent the summer going through hymn books—and he ended up utilizing the 1888 hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" as Mattie's theme, and about a quarter of the score is based on it Iris DeMent's version of it (from her 2004 album Lifeline)—and that recording is used during the end credits.

Other hymns are also referenced in the score, including "The Glory-Land Way" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". 

Although—make no mistake about it—the movie is full of western violence.

But in my opinion the violence is shown for what it is—a natural extension of poor choices—delivered by men who are human and filled with their own flaws as well.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cristo_Redentor_Rio_de_Janeiro_4.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

It reminds me of the Bible's Old Testament stories where God's people—who are far from perfect—but never-the-less became instruments of God's justice.

In spite of the very human qualities of the characters—I felt uplifted and moved by the story and the soundtrack.

13 year old Hailee Steinfeld is magnificent as Mattie Ross—a young girl who wants to track down her father's killer.

Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Barry Pepper are all excellent as well.

As indicated above—instrumental hymns are repeated as themes throughout—and at the end Iris DeMent's haunting version of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms plays over the credits.

Because of this song's raw quality—it may not be for everyone—but I loved it and you might just as well.


: )

You'll find the lyrics below the video.

Enjoy!




Leaning on the Everlasting Arms - Lyrics 
http://www.metrolyrics.com/leaning-on-the-everlasting-arms-lyrics-iris-dement.html
 

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

 --------------------------------------

Thanks for stopping by!

God Bless!

 Remember—Jesus is LORD—and He is returning soon!