Worship Songs
May 3, 2009
“Come, Now Is the Time to Worship”
Brian Doerksen was born into a Christian family in a very musical home, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. At first, he wasn't interested in living for God. But when he was 15, he says, "I heard the Lord saying, 'Give Me your whole life.' And I said yes."
Soon he developed "this incredible hunger to serve God through music." He became the full-time music minister at a Vineyard Church, in British Columbia, and discovered a gift for songwriting. His most famous composition to date came in the summer of 1997, during a time that he describes as "the darkest and lowest season of my life."
When Brian and a team of investors lost more than $1 million in a failed ministry project, Brian and his wife, Joyce, lost their house. And Brian fell into a deep depression. Hoping to regroup, Brian moved his family to England and became the worship pastor of South-west London Vineyard, but life dealt another blow when he and Joyce discovered that three of their six children had a condition called Fragile X Syndrome, a form of mental retardation.
"One morning, I went for a prayer walk, to pour out my heart to God," he says. "As I was walking, I heard as clear as a bell, 'Come, now is the time to worship … ' I thought, Wow! The call of worship is being sounded all of the time and in all kinds of ways. I was sweating, and walking, and singing that line over and over again, just sensing God's nearness." Back at home, he ran upstairs and sat down at the piano. "I took a pad and began to write everything I could think of concerning the call to worship. Suddenly, I realized that God's call to worship doesn't come only to those who have it 'all together.' It comes to all of us." That epiphany gave birth to "Come, Now Is the Time to Worship," a song that Brian says "became like wings to lift me up from those shadows that had almost engulfed me."
Within weeks of teaching the song to his congregation, he began hearing reports of other churches singing it. Purely by word of mouth, the song made its way to churches around the world. Brian recorded the song in 1998, and it has since become one of the most popular modern praise songs.
Now back at home in Canada, Brian says: "I believe God wants us to come and worship just the way we are, though when true worship happens we don't stay the way we are."
Click here to worship along with Brian Doerkson:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPWq8eM4lu8
Click here to learn more about Brian:
www.briandoerksen.com/
Click here to purchase Brian Doerksen's version:
“Jesus Saves” (hymn)
The heart of the Christian gospel is a person, not a church or a system of doctrines. The angel proclaimed: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Priscilla J. Owens, a Baltimore public school teacher for 49 years, wrote these stirring soul-winning words for a missionary service in the Sunday school of the Union Square Methodist Church. Fourteen years later, William Kirkpatrick wedded his vibrant music to her words. And through the years they have challenged God's people with the urgency of soul winning.
We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea; echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free; highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Click here to listen to Buddy Green and Russ Taff: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Z5ScrUB3Y
Click here to listen to a gospel arrangement of “Jesus Saves”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ6TKNQmaTI
Click here to purchase “Jesus Saves”
“Only a God Like You”
Tommy Walker didn’t speak until he was three years old. They say once he started he hasn’t stopped. Tommy has led worship at Christian Assembly in Los Angeles, California with his pastor Mark Pickerill, since 1990. Tommy believes every person is created to give glory to their Creator. Only in fulfilling this purpose can we find true meaning in life. Tommy has traveled with Promise Keepers, Greg Laurie Harvest Crusades and Franklin Graham. He has written over 100 songs that include “He Knows My Name”, “That’s Why We Praise Him”, “Lord, I Believe in You”, “Break Through” and “This is What Christmas Means to Me”. For the last decade Tommy has traveled internationally holding worship concerts and mercy ministry outreaches in places where people are in great need. He has led his worship team to the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Guatemala, Zambia and Brazil. Tommy has been married to his wife Robin for seventeen years and they have four children. Tommy’s prayer is that he will be found faithful to His God, his family and his local church.
Click here to learn more about Tommy Walker:
www.tommywalker.net
Click here to sing along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr117slPVEg&feature=related
Click here to purchase Tommy Walker's version:
"I'd Rather Have Jesus"
At the age of 23 George Beverly Shea (1909 - ) had a hard decision to make. He could accept a job offer in a secular singing position in New York City with a great salary and wide respect; or he could continue singing in churches and for Christian radio programs. While sitting at the family piano, he started to prepare a special hymn for the Sunday service. On the piano he found a poem by Mr. Rhea F. Miller. He immediately began to compose the music for the poem and used the song that same morning in his father's church service. He also used those words to direct his life and has shared his song, "I'd Rather Have Jesus" with audiences around the world.
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land;
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand:
Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin's dread sway!
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame;
I'd rather be true to His holy name
He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb
He's all that my hungering spirit needs
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead
Here is a great clip of the Crabb family singing this great song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT4DkKjfJGE
Here is a clip from one of the Gaither Videos
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y34lUGEmv10
Click here to purchase George Beverly Shea's version:
“Please, Forgive Me”
Click here to learn more about Travis Cottrell:
www.traviscottrell.com
Click here to listen online:
www.halleonard.com/closerLook/75708530/LionOfJudah_PleaseForgiveMe.mp3
For every time I've been unfaithful
For every time I've been untrue
For every time I've been ungrateful
For all You've done
And all You do
Please forgive me
Please forgive me
For when my pride has been unbroken
For when my soul has been unmoved
For all the praise I left unspoken
When I owe everything to You
Please forgive me
Please forgive me
Chorus
There is a fountain filled with blood
Where Your forgiveness ever flows
Come wash me in the healing flood
And I'll be white as snow
“Lord, Let Your Glory Fall”
This worship song was written by Matt Redman. Matt shared the following on why he writes:
"I can look back on the past few years of writing songs and see what God has been doing in my life," says Redman. "It's a bit like journaling. It's just part of me and it's how I let my heart overflow before God. But on top of that, when you've poured out your heart to God in a little room somewhere, and then one day you visit a church in another country and they're singing your song, it's a great encouragement, because ultimately that's what the songs are for."
Click here to learn more about Matt Redman:
www.mattredman.com/
Click here to worship along on the song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-GzhcRhIs
Click here for another arrangement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc9u_3PI74k
Click here to purchase Matt Redman's version:
"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 David Crowder's version:
“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”
"Here In Your Presence"
Jon Egan wrote this song after meditating on the presence of God. He said that as he leads worship for the youth, he sees what a few moments spent in the presence of the Lord can do for people. Click here to listen to Jon Egan share how he wrote the song (scroll down to the song):
www.theheartofworship.org/stories.shtml
Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence
Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders
The kings and their kingdom are standing amazed
Here in Your presence, we are undone Here in Your presence,
Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Click here to worship along with the New Life worship team:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZyT2fEK3I
Click here to purchase the New Life Church version:
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