Category: Praise

Giving to God the glory due to Him!

Categories
Praise

Alive Forever!

I recently found this song from 2005 in my music collection, and on playing it was absolutely caught up in how amazing it is. It brought me back to one of the large Easter services that my church held years ago when I got to be in the worship choir. It was meaningful to me then, and still is today!

When I discovered this song again and started playing it, I could not stop. I had to put it on repeat and play it again and again and again. There are many Easter songs in the history of the Church, and all are important, but this particular one is to me one of the very best!

On this Easter Sunday 2017, rejoice in the certainty that Jesus rose from the dead, and that His life opened the way for us to have life also, both now and eternally!

(Celebrate! He’s alive!)

Let the children sing
A song of liberation
The God of our salvation
Set us free
Death, where is thy sting?
The curse of sin is broken
The empty tomb stands open,
Come and see!

He’s alive, alive, alive, Hallelujah!
Alive! Praise and glory to the Lamb.
Alive, alive, alive, Hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen!

Let my heart sing out,
For Christ, the One and only
So powerful and holy
Rescued me
Death won’t hurt me now
Because He has redeemed me
No grave will ever keep me
From my King

I’m alive, alive, alive, allelujah!
Alive! Praise and glory to the Lamb!
I’m alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen

I’m alive, alive, alive, allelujah!
Alive! Praise and glory to the Lamb!
I’m alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! praise and glory to the Lamb.
He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen!

He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! praise and glory to the Lamb.
He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen!

He’s alive! Forever, Amen!
He’s alive! Forever, Amen!

He’s alive!
He’s alive!
He’s alive!

(Come on, celebrate!)

He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s alive
He’s alive, he’s alive!
He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s alive
He’s alive, he’s alive!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!

He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! praise and glory to the Lamb.
He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen

He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! praise and glory to the Lamb.
He’s alive, alive, alive, hallelujah!
Alive! Forever, Amen

He’s alive, forever, Amen!
He’s alive, forever, Amen!

Categories
Praise

No Falling

Today’s featured song: Psalm 121 (He Will Not Let You Fall) by the Calvary Chapel Worship Community from the 1984 album Psalms Alive 2.

These songs from Tape JM-31 were taken off of (wait for it) … a cassette tape. And, being the frugal person I am, I did not want to waste one inch of tape to leave it blank. So, at some point, the tape on one one side or the other would run out, and what I would do was to record a song that either I already had a copy of, or one that I liked but not so much that it would bother me if it was shortened. That is what this, track 21, represents. However, it really is a good song, and since I did not take it off the radio but added it to this JM tape from the vinyl record album from which it came, I decided to here include the full version (not the one that was cut at the end). (By the way, the fact that I’ve reached 21 tracks on one side of a cassette means that this almost certainly was a 120 minute cassette; most of the tapes I recorded onto were 90 minute cassettes, but a good quality 120 minute tape was very doable.)

This song is also an example of my growing enjoyment of music that was focused on worship and praise. Songs of evangelism, or a clever turn of phrase, or a good tune, these all were still enjoyable to me, but I found that songs like this, and those in the Praise Album series by Maranatha! Music (which long preceded the worship music boom of the 1990s) were much more relaxing and lifting than things by someone who was more pop oriented. At this time in my life, I still enjoyed the pop music of high school and college (by then, they were oldies), although a steady diet of them was eventually wearing to my spirit (it was like having candy to eat all the time; after a while, it got tiresome). The Jesus music featured in many posts on this blog, and for most of what has been on this tape JM-31 so far, was something I could listen to for a longer time, but even this would get old (like having steak all the time). Worship music seemed far more nourishing to my soul, and was ultimately one of the places where I focused my listening as the 1980s wore into the 1990s.

This song is a good example of the worship and praise music that came out of Calvary Chapel during the Jesus music years.

I look up to the mountains
To the hills I turn my eyes
Who will come to help me?
Can I find a place to hide?

The One who made the heavens
And the earth will hear my call
The Lord will come to help me
And He will not let me fall

He will not let you fall
He will not let you fall
He is never weary
And He will not let you fall

He will not let you fall
He will not let you fall
He is never weary
And He will not let you fall

The One who watches Israel
Will His vigil keep
Through the burning sunlight
And in the darkness deep

Constantly beside you
You need not fear at all
The Lord is there to help you
And He will not let you fall

He will not let you fall
He will not let you fall
He is never weary
And He will not let you fall

He will not let you fall
He will not let you fall
He is never weary
And He will not let you fall

So when you are in danger
And by trouble you are found
And your very soul is threatened by
The evil all around

In all of your ways
And in your troubles great and small
Now and ever after
He will not let you fall

He will not let you fall
He will not let you fall
He is never weary
And He will not let you fall

He will not let you fall
He will not let you fall
He is never weary
And He will not let you fall

(repeat)

Psalms Alive 2
Categories
General Praise

The King!

Today’s featured song: He Is The King by Gary McSpadden from the 1981 album It Was Enough.

The offering for today is another two-parter from Tape JM-31, tracks 18 and 19. First is the song by Gary McSpadden, a look forward to that final battle when God intervenes and ushers in the kingdom of Jesus on earth, the time when everyone, whether they accept Him or not, will acknowledge Jesus as King.

Secondly, we have another radio station identification, featuring a song by Bill Gaither, Fully Alive, and a passage from 2 Corinthians 3:6. More interestingly, the radio station is WEMI-FM, from Neenah and Menasha in Wisconsin (the station actually serves Appleton). I recorded this while visiting some friends up in Wisconsin. Although I had somewhat become aware of this, it was still surprising to hear the same jingle package used on more than one radio station (this was the same one used on WHME from South Bend, Indiana).

Kings and queens and beggar men
Presidents and servants
The people of all nations
Will gather on that day

We will kneel before the King
None will be observers
We will lift our voices
Together we will sing

He is the King
And He will reign forever
He is the King
And we will sing His praise
The King of kings
And Lord of lords forever
Jesus (Jesus) – He is the King!

Armies march with hurried step
Rushing to the battle
A battle that is over
Before it has begun
Bombs and guns and blades of steel
Will have no power
Soldiers lay their weapons down
The King of kings has come

He is the King
And He will reign forever
He is the King
And we will sing His praise
The King of kings
And Lord of lords forever
Jesus (Jesus) – He is the King!

Hallelujah to the King
He is our salvation
Master of the universe
King of all creation

He is the King
And He will reign forever
He is the King
And we will sing His praise
The King of kings
And Lord of lords forever
Jesus (Jesus) – He is the King!

He is the King
He is the King
He is the King!

It Was Enough
Categories
Jesus Praise

A Little Peace

Featured song: I Need A Silent Night, by Amy Grant, from the 2007 album, Amy Grant Christmas: The Complete Collection.

It is so easy to spend time working on various things to try to make me happy, whether they are related to music, or computers, or entertainment, or anything else. What I’ve seen over and over is that all of these things, though perhaps innocent themselves, are not ultimately satisfying. You would think that hours spent doing something wonderful that I enjoy would make me happy, happy, happy! Right?

But sometimes, after spending a long time doing what I enjoy, I come out of it not feeling happy, not feeling fulfilled. And I may go on to the next activity, hoping and expecting that to make me happy.

C.S. Lewis put it well in one of his writings. He felt that the things in this world that make us happy and give us joy do so because they are a dim reflection of the real joy that is in the life to come, the life that will be eternal with Jesus. (In the same way, Lewis wrote that things that cause despair or sadness are just a small taste of what eternity apart from Jesus will be like, if that is your destination.)

If my joy in Christmas is from it being a “perfect” Christmas, one in which all of my plans follow through perfectly, I likely will not be satisfied. But if I focus on Jesus and His coming, then all these peripheral things that we’ve added to the season will fade to the background, and I can get that real joy, the joy that does not leave.

I’ve made this same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It brings me to the push and shove

Children are cryin’
While mothers are tryin’
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buyin’
And standing forever in line
What can I say?

I need a silent night
A holy night
To hear an angel voice
Through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear
A little peace right here
To end this crazy day
With a silent night

December comes and disappears
Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace?
Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home
Wishin’ for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now
Rushin’ around
Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night
A holy night
To hear an angel voice
Through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear
A little peace right here
To end this crazy day
With a silent night

What was it like
Back there in Bethlehem?
With peace on earth
Good will toward men?

“There were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said, ‘Fear not! For behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.’ ”

I need a silent night
A holy night
To hear an angel voice
Through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear
A little peace right here
To end this crazy day
With a silent night

To end this crazy day
With a silent night