"This is the Day" This powerful worship song was written by Rebecca J. Peck. She has written many worship songs. Here is a powerful testimony of the impact of her music.
When the space shuttle Columbia exploded on February 1 2003, there were some wonderful Christian people on board. One of those was Col. Rick Husband. Husband was an active choir member at his church in Texas. Not long before the shuttle's departure, his choir made a recording of many popular worship songs. The recording also featured one new song entitled "Breath of the Spirit," written by Rebecca Peck. Husband took the CD on board with him to play for the crew (he was a featured soloist on the recording). After the incoming shuttle exploded, the CD was found in the yard of a Texan. Though the front was charred, the back was clearly readable. Some of the last music the astronauts
Click here to listen to a portion of the song: www.wordmusic.com/products/book.cfm?upc=080689410178
"Praise to the Lord"
The lyrics for this great hymn were written by Joachim Neander
Click here to learn more about this great composer who died at the young age of thirty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joachim_Neander
Click here to hear the story behind the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7qq_0UNREE
Click here to read the lyrics and sing along
www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/t/pttlta.htm
Click here to listen to the hymn played on tubular bells
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNy8UOvdyNM
Click here to hear a Finger style guitar arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0aPO9k037k&mode=related&search=
Click here to hear a hear a solo violin arrangement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOysumrQfc&mode=related&search=
"Cover the Earth"
Cruse-Ratcliff began ministering at the age of six alongside her family, The Cruse Family a well-known evangelistic musical group. The group, popular throughout much of the 1970s and early 1980s, traveled and ministered all across the world. They released 25 albums and received two Dove Awards.
While Cruse-Ratcliff always had a heart for music ministry, she would not become involved with worship music herself until later in life.At the age of nine, she became the youngest licensed ASCAP songwriter. Since that time, she has written for and produced more than 100 album recordings.
From 1997 to 1998, she traveled with Revival Ministries International leading worship for evangelistic crusades in the United States and abroad. In late 1998, she moved to Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas , serving as one of three worship leaders.
In January 2000, she received a phone call from Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen, who offered her the opportunity to become the church's worship director. She was Osteen's first hire when he became the new pastor of Lakewood. While Cruse-Ratcliff said she and her husband did not initially feel drawn to the church, they quickly fell in love with the people and moved to Houston.
Nearly 9 months after her arrival, Lakewood added an additional service on Saturday nights to keep up with the church's rapid growth.
Today, Cruse-Ratcliff leads weekend worship services at Lakewood Church alongside Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, former members of the Contemporary Christian music duo Anointed. They are also frequently joined by well-known singer and songwriter Israel Houghton.
Cruse-Ratcliff is married to Marcus Ratcliff, whom she met while working at Covenant Church. They have one child together, Windsor, whom they consider their greatest treasure. She is the daughter of Joe and Nancy Cruse, who have been pastors for more than 50 years, and is one of five children. Her siblings, Jane Cruse Bearden, Dr. John Cruse, Joe Cruse III and Karen Cruse Adams are all involved in full-time ministry.
Cindy wrote this song in collaboration with Israel Houghton and Maleesa Hougton.
Click here to worship along with the Lakewood Church in Houston:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWEfZ-f4L0Q&feature=related
“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.
“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
“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=
“All Hail the Power of Jesus Name”
Some years ago, missionary E. P. Scott went to India. He set out to visit a remote mountain tribe which had never heard the name of Christ. As he neared their land, he was suddenly surrounded by a savage band of warriors, all pointing their spears straight at his heart. Expecting a quick death, the missionary pulled out his violin and began playing and singing in their native language the hymn "All hail the power of Jesus' name." He reached the stanza that reads:
Let every tribe and every tongueOn this terrestrial ball To him all majesty ascribe And crown him Lord of all...
The natives lowered their weapons and some were in tears. E. P. Scott spent the rest of his life ministering to these primitive people.
The hymn which so effectively moved this Indian tribe is often referred to as the "National Anthem of Christendom" and has been translated into almost every language where there are Christians. The author of the hymn, Edward Perronet was the descendent of a French Huguenot family which fled first to Switzerland and then to England to escape religious persecution. Perronet was a pastor who worked closely with John and Charles Wesley for many years in England's eighteenth- century revival.
At that time, Methodists were savagely persecuted. According to John Wesley's diary, Edward did not escape his share of abuse either. "Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire" at Bolton, he wrote.
Edward was uneasy about preaching in front of John Wesley. Wesley urged him to do so several times. Finally, Wesley forced the issue. He announced that Brother Perronet would speak the following week. A week later, witty Edward mounted the pulpit and declared he would deliver the greatest sermon ever preached. He then read Christ's "Sermon on the Mount" and sat down!
Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itUNSwS4q9E
Click here to hear an acapella arrangement by Point of Grace:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKT0WZM5aI8
Click here to hear an organ arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d54CqTpLW9E
Click here to sing along with Avalon:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucF_C7rYe58
"Friend of God"
Israel Houghton serves as one of the worship pastors for Lakewood Church in Houston. Here is a portion of his amazing story.
I really should have been one of those abortion statistics you read about. My mother became pregnant with me when she was 17. My mother's white and my biological father's black. Her family wasn't supportive of their relationship and gave her the choice to have a back-alley abortion or to be disowned. I'm here because of the decision she made-and because of her conversion shortly after that. So when I lead worship I'm crazy. I realize how fortunate I am to be called by God and to be protected, to be covered by him. I'm incredibly grateful.
I grew up in a fairly legalistic home. My parents loved God, and they did the very best they could with what they knew. They came from a very discipleship-oriented, fairly heavy-handed way of doing kingdom work. So I would have more easily said, "I am afraid of God" than "I am a friend of God." The view I had of God was dysfunctional, almost like he was looking for opportunities to punish me. That was more what I caught than what was taught. But the more I said "I am a friend of God," the more that old, condemning view was purged from my life. I gained a healing sense of God saying, "I want to know you."
Here is a devotional thought on the song
www.gospelflava.com/articles/songinword-friendofgod.html
Here is an interview with Israel that gives great insight into Israel’s walk with the Lord. www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/israel_houghton_041205.aspx
Click here to listen to the song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty0SO7IvtXM
"I will Worship Thee / I Exalt Thee"
Judy Jacobs is an ordained Minister of the Gospel, inspired and anointed woman of God who through word and song presents the Good News of Jesus Christ. She is known for her dynamic singing and ministry of the Word. Minister Jacobs demonstrates the joy of a true worshipper and encourages followers of Christ to experience freedom, allowing God to transform their lives. Minister Jacobs uniquely communicates God's powerful message to His people. As a teacher, preacher and psalmist she has led thousands of people to a saving knowledge of Christ through concerts, conferences, churches and conventions around the world. Minister Jacobs shares, "Seeing my parent's commitment to prayer and fasting, gave me a hunger and desire after the things of God and they became the greatest spiritual influence in my life." God began to broaden her territory of ministry in 1989 and she established His Song Ministries. Since then, her ministry expanded as she recorded several music albums. Her latest project, "Almighty Reigns" was released October 2005. She has also began creating preaching and teaching sessions on tapes, compact discs and DVDs. "Surely this is excellent preaching wrapped in song and saturated with anointing!" - Bishop T. D. Jakes Further extending her ministry, in 2002 she established the "Press...Push...Pursue" Women's Conference. This conference brings an expectation of the Holy Spirit to do the miraculous, the unthinkable, the unbelievable and the undeniable. Currently being hosted in Louisville, KY and internationally in the Caribbean, it brings a unique blend of dynamic ministers, worshippers and speakers to impart to women from all walks of life. For many years there was not a mentor in Minister Jacobs' life. She explains that her mother was one of the Godliest people she has ever known. Her mother really spoke into her life and helped her; molded her into a Christian wife and mother. Through experiences, she has learned that living a Christ-centered life is vital to living victoriously. This explosive ministry encourages audiences out of their comfort zone, to seek the power to walk in the authority and the boldness of God and experience the complete fulfillment He wants for each of their lives.
Click here to learn more about Judy:
http://www.judyjacobs.com/
Click here to worship along with Judy Jacobs:
www.imeem.com/people/BscrzBe/music/U8vYK1k8/judy_jacobs_i_will_worship_youi_exalt_thee/
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