Worship Songs for March 2

I haven't heard from too many of you yet, so please let me know what you think. Is this a worthwhile endeavor in your opinion? I really want to hear from you!

Blessings,

Bill

P.S. You may need to cut-and-paste the links this week (rather than simply clicking on them).


So, here are the songs we're planning to use this Sunday:

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 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



Amazing Grace
John Newton wrote this hymn some time after converting to Christianity in the village of Kineton, in Warwickshire, England. The lyrics are based on his reflections on an Old Testament text he was preparing to preach on, adding his perspective about his own conversion while on his slave ship, the Greyhound, in 1748.
The melody most often used for this hymn was not original (nor was Newton a composer). As with other hymns of this period, the words were sung to a number of tunes before and after they first became linked to the now familiar variant of the tune "New Britain" of which the composer is unknown and is in William Walker's shape-note tunebook Southern Harmony, 1835.
Click here to view the many arrangements of Amazing Grace on youtube: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=amazing+grace+&search_type=



My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Ray Palmer (1808-1887) Lyrics/Lowell Mason (1792-1872) music

Ray Palmer wrote these lyrics upon receiving a vision of Christ shortly after his graduation from Yale University, while working as a tutor at a New York school. However, he kept them to himself until meeting Lowell Mason on a street in Boston, Massachusetts. When Mason asked him to write something for a new hymnal, Palmer dug out his old notes and produced these lyrics, written two years earlier. After taking the lyrics home and reading them, Mason composed this tune. Several days later he saw Palmer again and said:
You may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of My Faith Looks Up to Thee.
An interesting story connected with this hymn:
Mrs. Layyah Barakat, a native of Syria, was educated in Beirut and then taught for a time in Egypt. Driven out in 1882 by the insurrection of Arabi Pasha, she, with her husband and child, came to America by way of Malta and Marseilles. Her history is a strange illustration of God’s providential care, as they were without any direction or friends in Philadelphia when they landed. But the Lord took them into His own keeping, and brought them to those who had known of her in Syria. While in this country she frequently addressed large audiences, to whom her deep earnestness and broken but piquant English proved unusually attractive. Among other incidents she related that she had been permitted to see the conversion of her whole family, who were Maronites of Mount Lebanon. Her mother, sixty-two years of age, had been taught ‘My Faith Looks Up to Thee’ in Arabic. They would sit on the house roof and repeat it together; and when the news came back to Syria that the daughter was safe in America, the mother could send her no better proof of her faith and love than in the beautiful words of this hymn, assuring her that her faith still looked up to Christ.
Click here to listen to an acoustic guitar arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P_WthVlBtA

Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SvuIcfmyg8&feature=related


My Faith has Found a Resting Place
Little is know about either the author of this hymn text, Lidie H. Edmunds, or the source of the tune other than that it is an old Norwegian melody. The hymn in its present form first appeared in the hymnal Songs of Joy and Gladness, published in 1891. It has become increasingly popular in recent years as a testimonial hymn in church services. May it testify of your faith in God.

Click here to listen to the song Hale & Wilder sing a duet of the song:
http://hale-and-wilder-my-faith-has-found-a-res-mp3-download.kohit.net/_/212007



Blessed Be Your Name
We'll continue our worship with this song by Matt Redman. This song is based on Job 1:21 “Naked I came from my mothers’ womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away: Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Click here to hear the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-257-BlessedBeYourName-Redman.mp3

Click here to worship along with Matt Redman:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xo5KogzaI

Click here to worship along with Tree63:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZH9T9XNVU&mode=related&search=



For all You’ve Done
This song is by Reuben Morgan.

Reuben Morgan on men worshipping:
People are more passionate than ever, Morgan observes. I think God's stirring the church. For the most part, churches are singing the same songs no matter where you go, which is pretty incredible. Even in countries that don't speak English, they're still singing the same songs. As a strong male leader, Morgan is particularly interested in seeing the men of the church take more risks in their outward expressions of faith. I think a really good model for men and worship is David, Morgan says. Men can be a little more reserved when it comes to expressing their feelings and really being passionate. But I think there's health in a guy really learning how to do that in the right way. I think the Bible is clear on what are appropriate ways to express our love for God passionately. My personal feeling is that lifting our hands, shouting and all of that is a way of connecting with God. They're expressions, and they can be healthy in our growth.

Click here to read more about Reuben Morgan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Morgan

My Savior, Redeemer
Lifted me from the miry clay
Almighty forever
I will never be the same

‘Cause You came near
From the everlasting
To the world we live
The Father’s only Son

You lived and You died
You rose again on high
You opened the way
For the world to live again
Hallelujah
For all You’ve done

Hallelujah
For all You’ve done

Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs on the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrxyIQQR7uY
Click here to worship along with the Lakewood Church in Houston: www.youtube.com/watch?v=60cZ5SmlXMc&feature=related


Indescribable
On June 14, 2007, Chris Tomlin's recording of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117. What an incredible place from which to experience the indescribable majesty of God!

This song is all about how great our God is. The artist of this song is Chris Tomlin and originally written by Laura Story. Laura Story holds the CCLI copyright of this song.

Like the twists and turns of a mountain road, Laura Story’s life has held its share of unexpected moments – some exhilarating, some terrifying, and some simply beautiful to behold. Leaning solely on her faith in the sovereignty of God, Story has learned that no matter what comes around the next bend it’s going to be an incredible view.

Once an aspiring symphony conductor, Story didn’t even know she could sing – much less write songs – until she was in her early twenties. Today, Story is not only a gifted vocalist and worship leader but also the composer of one of the most beloved worship songs of our generation – “Indescribable”. The song has topped the charts and been recorded by multiple artists.


Click here to worship along with Chris:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PTvr755V8s

Click here for a moving DVD with the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTxZAl7ceU

Breathe
A friend's suicide had left her reeling, but out of Marie Barnett's desperate need for God came a worship classic sung around the world.
Marie Barnett didn't consider herself a worship songwriter, although she had led worship with her husband John for years and wrote her own compositions during her personal worship time. John was the writer, penning what Barnett terms "tons" of worship music through the years (including "Holy and Anointed One"). "He's the worship writer," she explains, adding "I never sat down and wrote thinking, This could be sung in a congregation. It was more between me and the Lord in my bedroom with the door locked."
But that all changed during a Sunday evening service at the Mission Viejo Vineyard in Southern California. The Barnetts were leading worship as they had done hundreds of times before, and words to what would become the worship song "Breathe" just spontaneously came out.
" We had been singing 'Isn't He' by John Wimber," Barnett recalls, "and my husband continued to play. I was so enthralled with Jesus at that moment, thinking I could never live, I could never even take a breath if I didn't have a word from Him every day. And so I heard those words-'this is the air I breathe, this is my daily bread'-and I started singing them."
Before she knew it, the congregation had joined her. Still, it wasn't as if Barnett left that night convinced she has a worship hit on her hands. There had been other spontaneous songs, but she soon realized "Breathe" was different. "People would come up to me at the grocery store and say, 'You know what we were singing on Sunday night? I've been singing it all week.'"
So they began to sing the song regularly in church and it continued to elicit a strong response, bringing many to tears. Barnett says even now she can hardly get through it. "I think the word 'desperate' digs deep into me," she says by way of explanation. "The longer I'm a Christian, the more desperate I am for God."
Not to mention Barnett was feeling particularly desperate around the time the words for "Breathe" came to her. A dance teacher by day, Barnett's boss of 10 years had recently taken his own life, leaving behind a note asking her to take over the dance studio. "He was very depressed and had just gone through a divorce and was on all kinds of weird medications and into New Age thinking," she recalls of the tragic incident. "He even came to church with me once right before he took his life and I was like, Well, what good did that do? In the end, the event left Barnett with questions for which there were no answers. And that desperation came out in her songwriting."
Shortly after being written, "Breathe" wound up on Vineyard's Touching the Father's Heart #25 and seemed to be on its way to finding a broader audience. But if there's one thing Barnett learned from watching her husband's songwriting career, it's that the timing isn't up to us.
"We recorded the song for Vineyard and then nothing happened," Barnett says. "Not that I thought anything about it because to me it was just a neat thing the Lord gave to our church." Five years later, worship leader Brian Doerksen was putting together Vineyard's Hungry and contacted Barnett about including "Breathe." Then came Michael W. Smith's version on his 2001 release, Worship.
Barnett was driving in her car when she first heard the track playing on the radio. "I just started bawling. I love that version because at the end when he's saying 'Cry out to Him' it's like 'Oh! People are worshipping Jesus! Yea!'"
Since writing "Breathe" Barnett regularly contributes songs to the worship time at Vineyard Community Church of Laguna Niguel, the California church plant where she and her husband lead worship today. And she continues to run the dance studio as her late boss wished. With more than 600 students and 20 classes to teach each week, Barnett says the business venture provides with her plenty of material for her songwriting. And to round out her schedule, she also teaches at worship conferences, going "wherever people invite me."


Click here to worship along with Michael W. Smith:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oad8ov10AjY


a

What do you think?

Here is some insight into some of the songs we'll be singing Sunday (or have sung recently). This info has been prepared by a colleague of mine in Texas, Mark Garner. I'm considering making this kind of information available on a weekly basis.

Please take a look and let me know if you find this beneficial in your personal worship times and in preparing to lead on Sunday. (I really think you will!)

Blessings,

Bill



Grace Alone
Scott Wesley BrownScott Wesley Brown is an artist whose career has spanned three decades, and continues to prove his relevancy to the changing times. Through the years, Scott Wesley Brown has left an indelible mark on Christian music…a prolific songwriter, dynamic vocalist, challenging author, international missionary, worship leader and Christian music pioneer!The past three decades have seen his signature on no fewer than 9 number one singles on the Adult-Contemporary and Inspirational charts. His songs have been recorded by Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, Bruce Carroll, Pat Boone, The Imperials, Petra and international opera star Placido Domingo.Scotts’ heart is mission minded - and his actions display that. Brown's journal records covert missions behind the Iron Curtain and the first publicly promoted Christian music event in the U.S.S.R. It was during this August, 1989 concert that over 15,000 Soviets heard the passionate cry for love and compassion while the Spirit moved some 2,000 to join in the family of Christ. He has taken over 100 musicians on trips to the mission field and provided hundreds of musical instruments to musicians and missionaries in third world and restricted access countries.

Click here to learn more about Scott:
http://www.scottwesleybrown.com/

Click here to worship along with the
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lhilgWXIE

Click here to listen to a choral arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbSGNve6e7U&feature=related



Every promise we can make,
every prayer and step of faith,
every difference we will make
is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,
every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind
is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us our Cornerstone;
We will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,
every hearth we hope to teach,
everywhere we share His peace
is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,
every tear we wipe away,
every sorrow turned to praise
is only by His grace.


Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble

Martin Smith is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of the English Christian rock and worship band Delirious? He is generally considered to be one of the foremost songwriters in modern Christian worship music. Some of the most recognized songs by Delirious? include "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”, "History Maker", "My Glorious", "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble", "Shout To The North", "Deeper", "Majesty (Here I Am)", and "What A Friend I've Found".

In 1995, Martin was involved in a near-fatal car accident, and during the weeks of his recovery, he decided to become a full-time musician. He wrote the 'King Of Fools' song 'August 30th' based on this experience.

Click here for the story behind the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-197-DidYouFeeltheMountainsTremble-Smith.mp3
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Q5vVa0q8Q

Click here to sing along:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICRukDH7eKo

Click here to watch Martin Smith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO_bKR2Wzhk&feature=related


When it’s All Been Said and Done

This song was written by Jim Cowan. Jim was born on Sept. 26, 1952 in Gunnison, Co. Growing up in Colorado he was very involved in sports. He participated in competitive ski racing, baseball, golf, tennis, soccer, swimming, and many outdoor activities. His Dad was a recreation director for the city, and his Mom taught music in the Elementary school. Jim’s early music training included piano lessons from his mother, and voice lessons from a retired voice teacher and friend of the family. After high school, Jim studied music at Western State College in Gunnison, and at Emporia State Teacher’s College in Emporia, Kansas. His training included classical voice, piano, theory and harmony of music, and general studies. It was while he was at Emporia State that Jim experienced a spiritual conversion, and began to seek for God’s direction in his life. He withdrew from school and went to the Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, New Mexico. It was there that he converted to Catholicism, and began to write songs for liturgy and worship.

Click here to listen to an inspiration thought on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc5SdTV6rYk

Click here to worship along with Don Moen:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOSMDQTngDs&feature=related

Click here to read more about Jim Cowans’ ministry:
http://www.jimcowan.com/



Breathe on me, Breath of God

This hymn by Edwin Hatch (1835-89) and was privately printed in Between Doubt and Prayer (1878). It was later published in Towards Fields of Light (1890), a memorial volume to Dr Hatch compiled by his widow. Edwin Hatch was educated at both Cambridge and Oxford, and ordained an Anglican priest. From 1859 to 1866 he was in Canada as Professor of Classics (Toronto) and Rector of the High School, Quebec. Upon returning to England he spent the rest of his life in academia. Hatch was a man of deep piety and simplicity of spirit, and won an international reputation for profound and original scholarship. The original verse 3 line 2 reads "Blend all my soul with thine...". Hatch used the word "blend" in the several works on the influence of Greek ideas on Christian thought and organization. One commentator remarked that Hatch's religious poems "are a beautiful supplement to his theology and reveal the depth and tenderness of his religious life". Breath has long been associated with the concept of the Holy Spirit - both Greek and Latin have the same word for spirit and breath (pneuma and spiritus). The hymn is a meditation on John 3:3-8, where the creating breath of God (Genesis 2:7) becomes the breath of the Holy Spirit in the new creation. It brings new life and love (verse 1, Galatians 2:20 and 5:22), purity and obedience (verse 2, Psalm 51:10, Mark 13:13), surrender and inspiration (verse 3, Acts 2:3-4), and eternal life (verse 4, 1 Peter 5:10).

Click here to listen to an organ arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOupg0nTpwE



All I need is You

Marty Sampson is a Christian songwriter and a worship leader at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Originally featuring in the Youth Alive albums of the late 1990s, he was one of original Hillsong United worship leaders and has led worship on every United album to date. He plays guitar and occasionally piano. He was married in November of 2006 to Michelle.
Sampson was a former worship leader for Hillsong United together with Joel Houston (son of pastor Brian Houston). His last album with United in the 2007 United album All of the Above, could be his last album with Houston and the Hillsong United team.
Since his marriage with Michelle, Sampson has moved from Hillsong United to the Hillsong band and helps lead worship with Darlene Zschech and the rest of the team. He is now one of the main worship leaders in Hillsong Church along with Zschech and Reuben Morgan.

Click here to worship along with Marty :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV63_Vmf-74

Click here to listen to Marty share:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9kY3w04Ip4&feature=related