Sunday morning, as I made breakfast for my family before church, River Valley Worship’s “Hope Has a Name” began playing, and I realized I really love this song and it deserved to be shared with ya’ll.
The lyrics are simple, but so powerful and I can’t help but be filled with hope and joy as I sing (and shout) “Hope has a name, His name is Jesus” and “My Savior’s cross has set this sinner free!”
There is a song, I know it well A melody that’s never failed On mountains high, in valleys low My soul will rest, my confidence, in You alone Chorus: Hope has a name, His name is Jesus My Savior’s cross has set this sinner free Hope has a name, His name is Jesus Oh, Christ be praised, I have victory There is a light, salvation’s flame Christ undefeated, trampled the grave See now the cross, be lifted high The light has come, the light has won, behold the Christ
Chorus There’ll be a day my hope complete Now home in glory, Your face I’ll see My pain no more, my fear will cease I bow my life, I fix my eyes, on Christ my King I bow my life, I fix my eyes, on Christ my King Chorus
Today’s worship is “Until My Voice is Gone” by Travis Ryan. Every time I hear this song I can’t help but raise my hands in praise. I like it because it describes why we praise Him, and how even when we’re struggling and feeling weak, He’s still God and deserving of our praise and thanksgiving.
Check out the song for yourself below!
No other King commands our full attention No other name’s above all other names No other throne rules over every nation No other God deserves our highest praise
No other death could buy our sweet redemption No other blood could wash away our shame No other cross could lead to resurrection No other God deserves our highest praise
Chorus: So I raise my hands until my strength has faded Stand in honor ‘til my knees give way I will lift my voice and shout a grateful song I will sing, O I will sing until my voice is gone
No other hope can make our hearts courageous No other peace can make us stand up brave No other Love has earned our full affection No other God deserves our highest praise
Bridge: So when we’ve exhausted every single way With our bodies weak and with our voices strained You are still the song in us that never ends We can’t help but stand and start it all again
Today’s worship song is “Another in the Fire” by Hillsong UNITED. Recently, I read Psalm 105 and noted that verses 1-4 were written almost as a “how to worship:”
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!
The rest of the chapter goes on to describe the many marvelous deeds that God did for the Israelites; from the covenant God made with Abraham, to the placing of Joseph in a position of authority. The sending of Moses to rescue His people from captivity; the plagues released on Egypt; and His provision of water, quail, and manna while in the desert. So, it’s no wonder that this song, “Another in the Fire,” would strike a cord with me.
I feel like this song does just what Psalm 105 states…It gives thanks to the Lord, talks about His marvelous deeds, and glorifies His holy name. It also makes me recall Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3); Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14); and Paul and Silas behind those shaking prison walls (Acts 16). Lastly, it’s a beautiful reminder that whatever we may face, this same God–this all-powerful, all-sufficient, everlasting, Light of the world–sent His Son to die for our sins, and promises to never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone
There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me
All my debt left for dead beneath the waters
I’m no longer a slave to my sin anymore
And should I fall in the space between
What remains of me and this reckoning
Either way I won’t bow
To the things of this world
And I know I will never be alone
There is another in the fire
Standing next to me
There is another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
What power set me free
There is a grave that holds no body
And now that power lives in me
And I can see the light in the darkness
As the darkness bows to Him
I can hear the roar in the heavens
As the space between wears thin
I can feel the ground shake beneath us
As the prison walls cave in
Nothing stands between us
Nothing stands between us
There is no other name
But the Name that is Jesus
He who was and still is
And will be through it all
So come what may in the space between
All the things unseen and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone
There’ll be another in the fire
Standing next to me
There’ll be another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
How good You’ve been to me
I’ll count the joy come every battle
‘Cause I know that’s where You’ll be
Today’s song is LIFE Worship’s “How Can We Not (Give Praise).” This song has been a favorite of mine for months now. It sings of God as Creator of the universe and how He created everything, including man, to worship Him. My favorite line is taken straight from the Word: Made to worship/If we don’t sing the rocks will soon cry out!
As I sang this song again this morning, I just knew it was the song for today. As we begin this new year, let’s remember that we were created to glorify God, therefore, everything we are, do, and say should worship and honor Him.
Lastly, God is so perfectly good, how can we not give Him praise for all that He is, all that He’s done, and all that He’s promised to do?!
From the start
Before You made the earth and seas and stars
In Your heart
We were set apart
Made to worship
If we don’t sing the rocks will soon cry out
By Your spirit
We are set apart
Chorus: God of the ages, King of the heavens
Matchless in power and strength
Made for Your glory, here to adore You
How can we not give praise
Look to Jesus
Through the battle unto victory
By Your power
We will overcome
Bridge: You are the one
There’s no one above You
Who can compare to You
You are the one
There’s no one beside You
Who else deserves our praise
Let Your Church rise
Spirit, let Your fire now run wild
By Your Spirit
We have overcome
Let Your Church rise
Spirit, let Your fire now run wild
By Your Spirit
We have overcome!
We have overcome!!
Today’s song is “The Comforter Has Come” by SEU (Southeastern University) Worship. The first time I heard this song, I thought about Christmas, which was weird because obviously, the song is talking about the Holy Spirit, as Jesus described in John 14-16. However, when you look back at Scripture, Jesus was described as a Comforter, as well. In Lamentations 1:16, after the author describes the depraved and lowly state of Israel he states, “I weep for these things; my eyes overflow with tears, because a comforter, one who could restore my soul, is far away from me.” We know that the only one who can restore our soul is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Actually, even God the Father is described as Comforter in Isaiah 51:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. This makes sense, since we serve One God–in three persons–who all share the same qualities and characteristics.
Anyways, I love this song right now, because He’s our Comforter in this season, and every season. Check out the lyrics below and let me know what ya’ll think.
I need a fire/So won’t You burn in me again/I need new life/So will You breathe on me again
Pre-chorus – Spirit of God/The hope of glory here/You’re my desire/So won’t You draw me near
Chorus – Into Your heart/Into the deepest parts/The Comforter has come/The Comforter has come/In Your heart/I’m found in the deepest parts/The Comforter has come/The Comforter has come
I’m weak and poor/But You are strong in me/This is resurrection life/Living inside of me
Bridge – Holy Spirit come/Like a rushing flood/We are open come and fill us with Your power/All-sufficient One/Who was and is to come/We are open come and fill us with Your power
Today’s song, “Let it Be Known” by Lakewood Church, has the sound of a 90’s Hillsong praise song, and I love it! When the chorus comes up I just want to shout out “MY GOD STILL SITS ON THE THRONE.” We serve an eternal and sovereign God. He holds the universe together with a Word; and even when we feel like everything around us is madness and falling apart…He has it all under control. And He is worthy to be praised!
I’ve seen His kingdom/Oh, I know His name/Bought me my freedom and covered my shame/Jesus a wealth for my soul/Greater than gold/Now I know the truth/All of creation here stands as the proof/Jesus, the hope of the world/Our cornerstone
Chorus: Let it be known/My God still sits on the throne/And only He has all the control/Jesus alone/Watch it unfold/As we collide with His love/Our former heartaches all come undone/In Jesus alone
I’ve seen His power/The work of His hands/Heaven and earth move on His command/Jesus, the author of life/A sight to behold
Bridge: His story is our story/His triumph is our own/Seated in all His glory/Forever on the throne/And if all hell should rise up/We’ll face it without fear/For our God is truly stronger/Greater than anything
I love a lot of old Passion Worship songs, so I thought I’d listen to a few of the more recent albums and this song…guys, it had me jumping around the kitchen and yelling “thank You Jesus!”
Check out these lyrics guys! It talks about carrying the weight of sin and shame until Christ called us out of darkness, like the way He called Lazarus from the grave. We serve a God who brings dead people to life, people! If that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.
I was buried beneath my shame/Who could carry that kind of weight?/It was my tomb ’til I met You/I was breathing but not alive/All my failures I tried to hide/It was my tomb ’til I met You/You called my name and I ran out of that grave
Chorus: Out of the darkness/Into Your glorious day/You called my name and I ran out of that grave/Out of the darkness/Into Your glorious day
Now Your mercy has saved my soul/Now Your freedom is all I know/The old made new, Jesus, when I met You/You called my name and I ran out of that grave
Bridge: I needed rescue, my sin was heavy/But chains break at the weight of Your glory/I needed shelter, I was an orphan/Now You call me a citizen of heaven/When I was broken, You were my healing/Now Your love is the air that I’m breathing/I have a future, my eyes are open/’Cause when You called my name/I ran out of that grave
Today’s song was a difficult choice, because there were a few different songs that I could have shared. But Sunday, an old song popped into my head, “Nothing But the Blood” by Matt Redman. The verse that stuck out was, “Your blood speaks a better word…” and I began to think about different aspects of the Word.
In Genesis, God spoke a word and the world, and everything within was formed. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God.All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Then John 1:14 described Jesus as the Word made flesh. In John 19, Jesus said that “it is finished” and then in Revelation 12 we read that Satan, the accuser, is conquered by the blood of the lamb and the word of the testimony of the believers.
And so, the song we’re looking at today is “Better Word” by Elevation Worship. Beside the chorus singing, “Nothing but the blood/A better word was spoken” the bridge goes on to state “I left my shame where the nails were,” and I can’t help but get excited about this song, and the fact that it reminds us of what Christ did for us on the cross. There aren’t a lot of current songs that talk about our sin and need for Christ–it’s actually something that I personally feel has prevented revival in this generation; a lack of brokenness and repentance, but that’s a conversation for another date.
Check out the lyrics below and listen for yourself to this simple, but beautiful song describing an individual who finally realizes there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves. It’s only by the blood shed on the cross that we’re saved, and it’s to that, we cling.
What can wash away the guilty stain
After all the wrong I’ve done?
I’ve already tried a thousand ways
But it’s never been enough
What could be enough?
Chorus: Nothing but the blood
A better word was spoken
Oh, I know it was
Nothing but the blood
Every curse was broken
Oh, I know it was
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood
And when I’m reminded of my shame
To the fountain I will run
Every failure covered now in grace
For the Lamb has overcome
What can overcome?
Bridge: On that cross, hallelujah
I left my shame where the nails were
Jesus Christ, O Lamb of God
Be lifted higher forever
On that cross, hallelujah
I left my shame where the nails were
Jesus Christ, O Lamb of God
Be lifted higher forever
I woke up Sunday in a mood; one of those moods where I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep through church. The hubby went in to church early, because he was playing percussion for the worship team, so I forced myself to get up and get ready before Cookie Girl woke up. I was trying not to let my downcast mood get to me and started listening to worship as I got breakfast ready for the both of us, and “Even Louder” performed by ISAAC began playing. And my mood began to change as I sung…even when my eyes can’t see it/I’ll sing ’til I believe it/Even Louder/Even Louder.
Sometimes we have a hard time facing the day, because of the things that are going on in our lives, or the enemy is playing games with our emotions, or whatever reason, and we have to remember that we praise God because of who He is; and the only thing to do is praise Him right on through the storms and struggles. I love the lyrics of this song because they talk about God’s faithfulness, holiness, & love; how He’s worthy of praise; and how even when it’s difficult we’ll choose to worship Him.
Faithful in the sanctuary/Faithful in the storm/Worthy in the empty spaces/Worthy in my song
Pre-Chorus: A thousand years of endless praise/Will never be enough/Through it all my heart will cling/To Your unfailing love
Chorus: Even if the drums stop beating/My soul will keep on singing/Even louder/Even louder/Even when my eyes can’t see it/I’ll sing ’til I believe it/Even louder/Even louder
You are holy in the highest places/Holy in the flood/Even in a world that’s changing/I will lift You up
Bridge: I will sing Your promise in the dark of the valley/’Til I see your goodness in the land of the living
This is a pretty simple song for a congregation to sing, has an upbeat tempo, and would be a great addition to a worship set list.
brokenredeemed 