I Heart Worship
Praise and Worship Songs
Skillet Lyrics in Worship Songs
Feb 19th
Skillet is a Christian rock band that was created in 1996 in Memphis, Tennessee. Skillet has grown in popularity for their progressive style of rock music but they have also become a major contributor of worship songs and have leapt to the forefront of the worship genre. Worship songs continue to grow in popularity especially as commercially successful bands such as Skillet produce albums that are center around Worship Songs. Skillet’s most recent album Awake, is an example of a top christian album. The album was certified Gold and sold over 68,000 units in its first week. The fact that Skillet can have this level of commercial success with their writing and still continue to produce worship albums should be a testament to the important and prevalence of Christian worship songs in our society today.
Skillet has continued to produce quality worship songs and their band has emerged as a worship artist that has gone on tour for solely Christian worship type concerts. Skillet’s album Ardent Worship is dedicated solely to music worship songs. Skillet’s song writing is the main reason for their rapid rise in popularity. Skillet has managed to blend thoughtful lyrics along with progressive music styles into a unique blend of music that they have perfected.
Skillet is a great example of a leading Christian worship artist but there are many other Christian artists who write worship music. Steven Curtis Chapman is the most commercially successful Christian worship artist in history. He has sold more albums than anyone else and he continues to produce some of the top worship albums each year. The Christian bands Third Day, Mercy Me, Toby Mac, and The David Crowder Band are also all leading worship artists.
Worship songs have continue to progress in style over the past 50 years. There has been a significant trend towards more upbeat contemporary style worship songs over more traditional somber worship songs that have been sung in years past. The hymnal has been discarded and replaced with a slideshow of praise songs. Worship music however has not lost it’s central focus. The entire focus of any Christian worship song is just as it sounds, to lead the singer in worship. Many of these songs are sung in churches across America every Sunday morning. Many of these leading artists also participate in youth events, Christian rallies, and other big Christian gatherings. Many successful secular icons have even invited worship artists to perform at their events because of their popularity.
Worship music can take many forms. Skillet and other leading contemporary Christian artists have developed their unique version of worship music but there is still a large segment of Christians who still prefer the traditional hymn music Whatever style you choose the important thing is whether or not you agree with the intent of the music, and if that is true then the rest is only details.
Song Writing Inspiration (Twitter Poll Results)
Feb 19th
Song Writing Inspiration
Sometimes as song writers we go through dry spells, where no matter how hard we try or how long we sit at our piano or guitar – nothing comes out. It is like we have run empty of creativity and can’t seem to find inspiration anywhere.
But then again, sometimes it is the complete opposite. I can go through times where I can write a new song each day for a whole week (not saying they are all good). This got me thinking about why this happens. Why do we seem to through these cycles of constant inspiration then no inspiration. Why can I sit down with my guitar and write the majority of a song in 20min, where everything seems to flow so easily, and then not be able to write anything new for a month?
It all comes back to inspiration, so I put the question out to the @IHeartWorship Twitter followers, to see where they drew they inspiration when it comes to song writing.
Where Do You Get Inspiration For A Song?
LaCyn@IHeartWorship anywhere and everywhere. God can inspire me no matter what I’m doing.
Alejadukes2006@IHeartWorship personal time with God, relationships, people, just people in the street.
ViMad@IHeartWorship the inspiration source is God but the nature, the society ,the situations inspires us to write songs with content to worship
emmanuelgee@iheartworship I get it from moments in my life, and/or what God has spoken to me. Just pray
The thing that I love about all these answers is that it always came back to two things, LIFE and GOD.
LIFE and GOD
Everywhere that we look, every moment of our day, we encounter people, problems, beauty, love, hope, despair, rejection, affliction, persecution, hope, justice, injustice, the joy of a new friendships, the loss as someone departs from our lives. Everyday we are given countless opportunities to see not only the result of man’s sin and the impact that it has had on our world, but also the beauty of seeing God’s grace, His mercy, His love and His hope shining into these situations as His people carry on the work that He started. There is inspiration for songs everywhere, but are you open to seeing them? You have to allow God to open your eyes and soften your heart to what is going on around you.
My Story Of Inspiration
I great example of this was recently when I was in Canada. I was watching a documentary on MTV about the poverty in Africa and my heart just started to break seeing the lack that they had. How whole countries were starving while we sit in the comfort of our homes.
So as I am watching this documentary, I start crying out to God, “What can I do? I need to do something!” As I am praying this they do a close up of this one young African boy and something just grabs me. Now I have seen a lot of ads and documentaries about Africa as it’s a passion of mine, but never has an image been so burnt into my mind. The hurt in his eyes burnt into my soul, and suddenly these lyrics start pouring into my head and by the end of the documentary I had the majority of this song written with music!
So Far Away
[v 1.]
As I look into your eyes my heart is breaking
I am moved,I am moved
Standing on the outside looking in
What can I do, What can I do[chorus.]
You’re so far away
It feels like there is world’s in between us
But I see your pain and I know I must try
To reach out to you[v 2.]
As I look and see you smiling despite your pain
I am moved, I am moved
The face of countless millions needing us now
But what can I do, what can i do[chorus]
You’re so far away
It feels like there is world’s in between us
But I see your pain and I know I must try
To reach out to you[bridge]
I can’t sit in comfort while millions are dying
I can’t pretend everything is alright
With young children fighting and so many dying
This injustice has gone on to long[chorus]
You’re so far away
It feels like there is world’s in between us
But I see your pain and I know I must try To reach out to you
You’re so far away
But my heart won’t let you go
Now I know that this song won’t help feed that young boy, but what God did was allow me to express exactly how I was feeling at that time so that every time I come back and read those lyrics, or jump on my guitar and start playing that song, I will be taken straight back to the place that I wrote it and remember the promise that I made that day and know that even though I probably can’t reach that one boy, he is the face of millions that I can help.
Have you ever been inspired so strongly to write a song? I’d love to hear your story. So please leave a comment below!
Your Team Has Won – Why Aren't You Celebrating?
Feb 18th
I had quite a late night (or should I say morning). You see, I am a massive football fan and with the World Cup quickly approaching, the final qualifiers are well underway. Now I am from Australia, so the Socceroos are who I support (If you don’t follow football, just stick with me – I have an interesting point) had an important game this morning at 2am – if they won or even drew the game, they won their place in the 201 World Cup in South Africa.
Being as the game was so late, concentration was difficult – and my mind started to wander. I starting thinking about how passionate true supporters of sporting teams actually are. Have you ever been to a sporting event live to see the fanatics – you know, the group of people who all dress in team colours, love a good chant and seem to get really passionate about their team? I have! In fact this picture is of me at one of the earlier World Cup qualifiers that I actually got to see live.
Fanatical Supporters Know How To Celebrate
Now you would think that during the game that the supporters got as crazy as they could and then when the game finished they would all just quieten down and head home – not so! When their team scores – there is celebration, when an opposing attack is thwarted -there is celebration and when their team wins, sleeping is the last thing on their mind.
They will billow into the streets dancing and singing, being loud and uninhibiting – AND THEY DON’T CARE! They tell everyone one they meet what has happened – they can’t help it.
Do You Show This Much Passion For ‘Your Team’?
I find it funny, actually quite sad, that as Christians we can get so excited about our local sporting team. We will dance and cheer, scream and yell. But when it comes time to praise God in church, we think we are going over the top with a bit of foot tapping (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the point).
We are a part of God’s team! And you know what?
Our Team Has Already Won!
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening
and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage,
its destructive power.
But now in a single victorious stroke of Life,
all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone,
the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!- – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (MSG)
Try and tell me that isn’t something worth shouting about? How can you stand still and not want to jump up and down and dance like crazy when you read those words!
I don’t believe people when they say, ‘That’s just not me. I’m praising on the inside.’
Personally I would consider myself very reclusive. I prefer to keep to myself and am not that out going. But, when it comes to God and singing out what He has done for me and how great He is, I cannot help but to shout. I cannot help but to jump around. It is like something inside of my sparks and suddenly I’m not dancing and shouting in a room full of people, I am worshiping and praising my God at His throne – and that is all I care about.
David Got This
This has to be one of my favourite stories in the bible, and really highlights the two types of people when it comes time to praise God corporately. It is the story of David bringing the Ark of The Covenant back to Jerusalem.
12 Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. – - Samuel 6:12-15 (NIV)
David had seen the power of the Ark, and how it had blessed Obed-Edom’s household. He was so excited to bring this power and blessing back to Jerusalem. (Something worth getting excited about. Wouldn’t you agree?) And David definitely got excited! He started dancing before the LORD – in his under garments! The Message versions says that David “Danced with great abandon before the LORD”
I love the picture that this scripture paints, because it takes me back to the image of the fanatical supporter after their team has won – running down the streets, dancing and shouting. Letting everyone know that they are celebrating.
That is exactly how we should be!
Acting Like This Will Upset A Few People…
As you continue to read on from that passage another person comes into play, David’s wife Michal.
Let’s take a look at how she reacts to Davids praise:
16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart… vs16
20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” vs20
Michal didn’t grasp a hold of this at all (Who knows…maybe she is a two-tapping praiser). As she watched David dancing, she couldn’t see his heart behind it all. Instead all she could think was how this was going to affect her reputation, she can already hear her friends gossiping about this.
I think that this is a major reason why a lot of people cannot give God their uninhibited praise. They are too worried about how it makes them look – but it’s not about them. This is why I love Davids reaction.
21 David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” vs 21
He knew that the offering of praise that he was giving was only what God deserved, and he was willing to ‘become even more undignified’ to the point of humiliation to praise his God for all that He has done.
David understood that people would not look at him strange, or considering him weird (well not those who understood). Instead they would look up to him for praising God so freely. And I think that as you step into passionate praise that you unknowingly give those around you permission to do the same.
Artist Spotlight: The Glorious Unseen
Feb 18th
I am always on the lookout for fresh worship music and emerging artists and today I would like to stoplight one of my favourite worship bands – The Glorious Unseen.
Who Is ‘The Glorious Unseen’?
The Glorious Unseen began with a Sunday night Bible study… Disillusioned by the local church scene, a few former youth leaders and friends gathered on a spring Sunday night outside Nashville, TN. What took place ignited their hearts together… They came together to express their desire for God. They came together because they desired community. Their style of ministry was different… Not ever knowing what was going to happen, they continued to meet every Sunday night to pursue God – and to have Him pursue them. The worship that emerged from this group was simple, introspective, and vulnerable. When worship leader Ben Crist wrote his first song – he didn’t consider it a worship song… “I just wrote this cool song, but never thought it would be something we would play in worship. I thought maybe I’d have a side project where I’d play some of my own songs from time to time.” But when a few friends persuaded him to use the song during a worship set – the people were touched, and as he wrote more and more songs, the group gathered around them. The songs became their soundtrack. They became songs that brought them closer to God, and God closer to them… (From The Glourius Unseen Myspace)
The Glorious Unseen – Tonight The Stars Speak
Tonight The Stars Speak
In 2006 Ben landed a recording contract with Tooth and Nail records after his 5song worship cd caught their attention. He started recording, with his debut album being released in 2007 titled ‘Tonight the Stars Speak
“.
This recording is one of the rawest worship albums that I have ever listened too, which is quite refreshing. I love how Ben doesn’t shy away from being real – instead he has just written what was on his heart.
I am a massive fan of great lyrics. I won’t go as far as saying lyrics are more important than music, because they both play such important roles in a worship song, but I love lyrics that a real, that I can grasp and make my own – and Ben does this with this able. Let me share some of my favourite sections from a few of his songs. More >
Love Is All We Need!
Feb 17th
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - – Romans 13:8-10
God had given the Israelite 10 commandments after coming out of Egypt. These were given as basic “lowest acceptable level” type rules that God put in place to esure a happy and blessed life for His people.
As you continue to read through the Old Testament and into the New Testament you start to realise that these laws are constantly being broken by God’s people – and even continue to be today.
So Paul decided to try and make things a little simpler when he said, “The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus put it this way in Mark 12:28:
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
So what Jesus and Paul are both trying to say is, “All we need is love.”
To follow God’s commandments, we need to: More >
Life Is Short – Enjoy The Dance!
Feb 17th
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask: How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done,
do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say, “Hi”?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance too fast.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower.
Hear the music.
Before the song is over.
~ David L. Weatherford