Worship Songs
July 19, 2009
“Crown Him With Many Crowns”
This worshipful text is the combined effort of two distinguished Anglican clergymen, each of whom desired to write a hymn of exaltation to our suffering but now victorious Lord.
Matthew Bridges' version first appeared in 1851 with six stanzas. Twenty-three years later Godfrey Thring wrote six additional stanzas, which appeared in his collection Hymns and Sacred Lyrics. The hymn's present form includes stanzas one, two, and four by Bridges and the third verse by Thring.
Each crown in this hymn text exalts Christ for some specific aspect of His person or ministry—
(1) Stanza one for His eternal Kingship;
(2) Stanza two for His love demonstrated in redemptive suffering;
(3) Stanza three for His victorious resurrection and ascension; and
(4) Stanza four as a member of the Triune Godhead ever worthy of worship and praise.
The tune, DIADERNATA (the Greek word for crowns), was composed especially for this text by George Elvey, a noted organist at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, where British royalty often attend.
Click here to read more about this hymn: http://songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/crown-him-with-many-crowns
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdK4lzg8gsU
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWCEFKsZqLY
Click here to purchase “Crown Him With Many Crowns”
“We Will Glorify”
We will glorify the King of kings
We will glorify the Lamb
We will glorify the Lord of lords
Who is the great I AM
Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty
We will bow before His throne
We will worship Him in righteousness
We will worship Him alone
He is Lord of heaven, Lord of earth
He is Lord of all who live
He is Lord above the universe
All praise to Him we give
Hallelujah to the King of kings
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Hallelujah to the Lord of Lords
Click here to learn more about Twila Paris:
www.twilaparis.com/
Click here to read more about Twila Paris:
www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003440/Twila-Paris.html
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4skT9ndv6ng
Click here to purchase “We Will Glorify”
"My Life is in You, Lord"
Daniel Gardner wrote about the meaning of this song he composed:
This comes down to being our ultimate declaration. We are in Christ; he is in us and works through us. Our true life is in the heavenlies, not here on earth.
The only way we can grow into that understanding is the same way we grow into anything—we have to “think on it,” repeat it to ourselves, speak/sing it aloud, pray it. We have an easy habit of saying and repeating what is true, and having not a clue as to what it really means. Use the declarations in this song, sung again and again, to invite the Holy Spirit to work this understanding of your position in Christ deeply inside of you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0M0NALW7EM
Click here to purchase “My Life is in You, Lord”
“Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus”
This powerful worship song was written by Dennis Jernigan. Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based ministry from there. Self-avowedly ex-gay, Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma with his wife and their nine children. Jernigan has been married to his wife for more than twenty-five years.
A primary source of inspiration for Jernigan's message and music is an experience he describes as his "deliverance from homosexuality". Jernigan states that this began during a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert in Norman Oklahoma. Jernigan believes his prior identification as homosexual was related to an erroneous childhood perception that he had been rejected by his father.
As a boy I needed a role model to show me the way to manhood. But because I felt rejected by the main man in my life I, in turn, rejected him and began to yearn for intimacy with a man in perverse ways. Because of this wrong thinking I came to believe I was homosexual. It must have begun early in my life because I remember having those feelings for the same gender at a very early age.
It was then [during a critical moment at the 2nd Chapter of Acts concert] that I lost the need to be accepted or loved by others because I realized Jesus would love me and accept me no matter what, even when I was rejected by others! It was also at this same time that those sexually perverse thoughts and desires were changed...and He began to replace them with holy and pure thoughts about what sexual love was all about.
Following the experience at the concert, Jernigan developed a ministry based on his personal experience, which he shares at churches and other locations around the world.
Dennis has written many of the worship songs we sing including "Who Can Satisfy", "We Will Worship the Lamb of Glory", "I Belong to Jesus", "When the Night is Falling" and "You Are My All in All". Here are some links that will share more about Dennis' ministry.
Click here for an article about Dennis www.okbu.edu/news/view_article.php?id=1127
Click here for Dennis' website
www.dennisjernigan.com/
Click here to listen to the song online: www.imeem.com/imyaya/music/yraNtNgA/dennis-jernigan-nobody-fills-my-heart-like-jesus/
Click here for an acapella arrangement: www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ed4f66a00527a13ba699
Click here to purchase “Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus”
"Hosanna"
Paul Baloche wrote this with Brenton Brown to be sung on Palm Sunday. Contemplating that sense of expectancy led Paul to start with the phrase “Praise is rising”. Paul said there is that same sense of expectancy when God’s people gather to worship that was felt along the road in Jerusalem when the people crowded the streets to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Ever wonder what Hosanna really means? Hosanna is Hebrew for "Save now" from Psalm 118. It is an intensified imperative, a cry, addressed to God, particularly used in the Feast of Tabernacles, when prayers for rain were offered. In the New Testament the crowd shouted it when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It is used as an exclamation in Christian worship.
Click here to listen to Paul share how he wrote the song:
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Click here to worship along with Paul Baloche
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIg2QOzPpg
Click here to purchase “Hosanna”
"My Jesus, I Love Thee"
Sixteen-year-old William Featherston of Montreal, Canada wrote this simple but profound hymn in 1862, not long after he was converted to Christ. William wrote no other hymns that we know of and his brief life ended just before his twenty-seventh birthday. Here is a story about the influence of this song:
A Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Michigan once related the following incident to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:
‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’
This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.”
Worship along with Crystal Lewis by clicking here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgjkl_Nv1Yg&feature=related
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYfBZnMve_E
or here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BZoDH2H1Ls
Click here to purchase “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
“I Love You, Lord”
This popular song was written by Laurie Klein. Here is the story: A remote mobile home gleams faintly in the crisp Autumn sunrise. Within that metal refuge in the high deserts of central Oregon, a young mother is having a quiet time with the Lord. Her toddler is still asleep. Her husband is a full-time college student, and the couple is surviving on $400 per month. They have no home church, no friends nearby, and she does not drive. Even the expense of a long distance phone call might leave them without milk or bread in weeks to come.
Such is the backdrop of Laurie Klein's classic praise song, "I Love You, Lord", written in 1974.
"It was a very hopeless time, a very depressed time," she summarizes. "I felt the poverty of my own life keenly at that point, both emotionally and physically."
"That morning I was so empty," she says, recalling her time with the Lord. "I knew I didn't have anything to offer Him. I asked if He would like to hear me sing . . if He would just give me something He would be in the mood to hear."
Klein describes "I Love You, Lord", as a gift from God that emerged spontaneously: "I sang the first half and put the chords with it with no effort," she says.
I love You Lord
and I lift my voice
To worship You
O my soul, rejoice!
Intrigued and moved by these words, she remembers thinking, "maybe I should write that down." She stopped long enough to get a pen. When she came back, the last two phrases came just as easily:
Take joy, my King
in what you hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
in Your ear.
Laurie's husband, Bill, recognized the simple beauty of the song and encouraged her to play it for a local pastor and some visiting musicians. Eventually the song surfaced at Jack Hayford's Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. There Buck and Annie Herring learned the song and included it on Annie's Kids of the Kingdom. But its greatest exposure was on Maranatha! Music Praise 4 in 1980.
Since then, Bill Klein has lost count but estimates the song has been released on 60 or 70 recordings. As of this writing, the most recent recording is a classic rock arrangement on Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus. Laurie's personal favorite is Phil Keaggy's instrumental on The Wind and the Wheat.
"I Love You Lord" has emerged in at least a half-dozen dialects, but the author particularly enjoys a Pidgin English version that starts, "Me like-a You, Papa-God".
Pondering the enduring popularity of the classic, she says, I feel like God not only gave me the song, but He kissed it. He has kind of a "Midas touch." The things He touches are golden ... and I think people recognize this.
I also think that's why it has translated well into other languages and cultures.
The Kleins, now parents of two grown daughters, live in Dearpark, Washington. Both have served on staff at various churches over the years, but their focus these days is House of Mercy, through which Bill acts as consultant to worship leaders of various denominations. A sampling of their song writing, including a stunning version of "I Love You, Lord", is available on a 1996 independent recording called All My Days.
Now 47 years old, Laurie Klein is more driven by a thirst for intimacy with God than ever. God has placed the phrase, "prepare Me a place" on her heart as a personal theme for this year. "We're called to prepare room for Him," Laurie explains. The heart of a worshiper becomes evident as she speaks. "We must be prepared to meet Him no matter who we're talking to or what we're doing, whether we're worshiping in church or worshiping with all the tasks that make up our day."
That, she has come to understand, genuinely makes a "sweet, sweet sound" in God's ear.
Click here for a choral arrangement of the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6QE2k1FepQ
Click here to purchase an instrumental arrangement of “I Love You, Lord”
“I Never Lost My Praise”
This gospel song was written by Tramaine Hawkins.
In 1969, Lady Tramaine joined the Edwin Hawkins Singers and was a part of the Gospel Music Revolution via the recording of “Oh Happy Day”, the first million-selling Gospel single to top the Pop record charts as well as the first cross-over hit, in all cross-sections of the world. Lady Tramaine then moved on to the Los Angeles area to join Andrea Crouch and the Disciples, where she sang lead vocals on the Grammy-nominated single "Christian People". After sharing her gifts with Andrea Crouch and the Disciples, Lady Tramaine returned to the Oakland area where she rejoined the Edwin Hawkins Singers. Lady Tramaine can be heard singing lead vocals on the “Love Alive” Series with Walter Hawkins and The Love Center Choir and also with The Hawkins Family in the 70's and 80's.
Click here to worship along with Tramaine:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOkwUKn_gfc
Go here to listen to the song on Tramaine’s myspace standalone player
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=85236027
Click here to purchase “I Never Lost My Praise”
"Here is Our King"
This worship song was written by David Crowder in response to the Tsunami on December 24, 2004. David and his wife were watching the images of devastation preparing to attend the Passion meeting in Nashville later that month. David was having trouble processing the level of devastation. He remembered telling his wife that 9-11 made more sense, as we are used to humanity doing something to each other. Historically we've done unkind things to each other and all we have to do is turn on the news. David knew how to process that devastation, but to be able to see such devastation unfold before his eyes was a new process for him. He struggled with how to look at that and still say "God is Good". This song was David's response to God in the face of such a tragedy.
From wherever spring arrives to heal the ground
From wherever searching comes the look itself A trace of what we’re looking for
So be quiet now and wait
The ocean is growing the tide is coming in Here it is
Here is our king, here is our love here is our God who’s come to bring us back to him
He is the one, he is Jesus, Jesus
Click here to worship along with David Crowder:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Fl_nqGJc0
Click here to listen to David share about how the song came about:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aea5Mq4sSUA
Click here to purchase “Here is Our King”
“Let God Arise”
Hear the holy roar of God resound
Watch the waters part before us now
Come and see what He has done for us
Tell the world of His great love
Our God is a God who saves
Our God is a God who saves
Let God arise
Let God arise
Our God reigns now and forever
He reigns now and forever
His enemies will run for sure
The church will stand, she will endure
He holds the keys of life, our Lord
Death has no sting, no final word
This high-energy song was inspired by Psalm 68:1. The song affirms that death does not get the final word over humanity.
Click here to worship along with Chris Tomlin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaLckqfvZHQ
Click here to listen online:
www.imeem.com/nimrod/music/3TuQOCzZ/chris-tomlin-let-god-arise/
Click here to purchase the song:
“Our God Saves”
Paul Baloche wrote this song of declaration. Paul said “people are looking for the magic pill, the thing that will give them life, and God is the only answer. We come in the name of the Father, in the name of the son, in the name of the spirit, as we worship, we will rise with you and world will see that our God saves.”
Click here to learn more about Paul’s ministry:
www.leadworship.com/
Click here to hear Paul share the story behind the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqJy6NHe6Po
Click here to listen to the song:
www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=our+god+saves&aq=f
In the name of the Father
In the name of the Son
In the name of the Spirit
Lord we've come
We're gathered together
To lift up Your name
To call on our savior
To fall on Your grace
Hear the joyful sound of our offering
As your saints bow down, as your people sing
We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings
And the world will see that
Our God saves, our God saves
There is hope in Your name
Click here to purchase “Our God Saves”
"Jesus Paid it All"
The following is from Alex Nifong who wrote the additional chorus:
I have an old hymnal that I frequently play through sometimes during my private times alone with the Lord. I was playing through that song one day in January of 2005 and I just started praying and singing out the phrase “O praise the One who paid my debt, and raised this life up from the dead.” It was as simple as that – just a prayer that came right out of my heart.
This is a new arrangement of the old hymn, based on the recording from the Passion album "Everything Glorious". It adds a new line "O praise the One who paid my debt, and raised this life up from the dead". Check out the composer of the tag on his website www.alexnifong.com/
Here’s a story about the song: The words were written by Elvina M. Hall and the music by John T. Grape on New Year’s night, 1886. Some missionaries were holding open-air services in order to attract passers-by to a near-by mission, where meetings were to be held later. "All to Christ I owe" was sung, and after a gentleman had given a short address he hastened away to the mission. He soon heard footsteps close behind him and a young woman caught up with him and said: "I heard you addressing the open-air meeting just now; Do you think, sir, that Jesus could save a sinner like me?" The gentleman replied that there was no doubt about that, if she was anxious to be saved. She told him that she was a servant girl, and had left her place that morning after a disagreement with her mistress. As she had been wandering about the streets in the dark, wondering where she was to spend the night, the sweet melodies of this hymn had attracted her, and she drew near and listened attentively. As the different verses were being sung, she felt that the words surely had something to do with her. Through the whole service she seemed to hear what met her oppressed soul’s need at that moment. God’s Spirit had showed her what a poor, sinful and wretched creature she was, and had led her to ask what she must do. On hearing her experience, the gentleman took her back to the mission and left her with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night. A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. There she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One day the gentleman whom she had met on New Year’s night was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, "All to Christ I owe”, and she seemed overwhelmed with the thought of coming to glory. Two hours afterward she passed away.
Click here to worship along
www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxhvivQYfI
Click here to worship along with a younger generation led by Kristian Stanfill:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OOjfaBGnA&mode=related&search=
You can go here to Kristian’s myspace and click on the song just to listen
www.myspace.com/kristianstanfill
WOW - here it is in Spanish
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRBtWP_buA
Click here to purchase “Jesus, Paid it All”
"The More I Seek You"
This worship song was written by Zach Neese. Here’s a little background information on Zach.
Education: I got my B.A. in English from UT Austin (after trying art, advertising, pre-med and astronomy), then became Secondary Ed certified.
Previous Lines of Work: I mostly worked as a teacher of one stripe or other before entering fulltime ministry. I also worked with emotionally disabled kids and was an Autism Therapist. I served as a Youth and Worship Pastor for five years before becoming the Director of the Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI) School of Worship. Since then, I have primarily been leading worship and training worship leaders.
One of the Things I Find Most Fascinating: The cross never ceases to amaze me.
Best Thing Someone Said to You: “You make me love Jesus more.”
Life Motto: He who knows, knows that he knows not.
People I’d Like to Meet: After you meet Jesus, everyone else is pretty unimpressive. I guess I wouldn’t mind picking David’s brain, Moses’, or Jesus’ parents (Mary and Joseph). I have two sons in heaven that I am looking forward to meeting very much.
Most People Don’t Know This About Me: My grandmother was a synchronized swimming coach. I was too young to know that it wasn’t a cool guy pursuit, so now I’m the only man I know who can do a Flamingo Bent Knee.
Zach Neese likes to place himself in the middle of a biblical story and see if a song comes forth. This song came out of Johns’ emotion at the Last Supper.
Click here to visit Zach’s myspace:
www.myspace.com/zachneese
Click here to read more about Zach Neese, who wrote this powerful worship song
www.gatewaypeople.com/churchinfo/index.php?action=staffbiodetails&sid=180
Click here to worship along with Kari Jobe
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3GijrnfStk
Click here to purchase “The More I Seek You”
