I’m so excited that I have the chance to send a taste of True Woman ’12 worship home with one of my readers. It’s still 2 weeks until the official release date of Keith & Kristyn Getty’s new album, Hymns for the Christian Life, but I get to give away a copy today!
According to Random.org, the winning comment was…
Comment #8 which was posted by Veronica Warden.
Congratulations, Veronica! You’ll soon have 12 new Keith & Kristyn Getty songs to add to your list of favorites.
For the rest of us, October 9th will be here soon. Don’t forget to get a copy of the album then.If you order through Amazon, you’ll get an even better deal than the price offered at True Woman!
Two of many things I hope to pass on to Evangelle are a love for books and a love for music. Thanks to author Sally Lloyd-Jones, I think Evangelle and I have gotten off to a pretty good start in both areas.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been enjoying Lloyd-Jones’s Bible storybook for itsy-bitsy children like Evangelle, Baby’s Hug-a-Bible. You may already be familiar with Sally Lloyd-Jones because of another more well-known book she wrote for little ones, The Jesus Storybook Bible. Since I love The Jesus Storybook Bible, I quickly ordered a copy of Baby’s Hug-a-Bible when I found out that Lloyd-Jones had written it as well.
A board book wrapped in a soft fleece cover, the Hug-a-Bible is just right for Evangelle’s size. Like The Jesus Storybook Bible, in Baby’s Hug-a-Bible, Lloyd-Jones focuses on God as the hero of every story instead of drawing attention primarily to the courage of David, the faithfulness of Daniel, or the obedience of Noah, for example, as many children’s Bible storybooks do.
The 10 Bible stories included in the Hug-a-Bible are told in simple rhyme form that is much easier for younger audiences to follow.
The colorful illustrations by Claudine Gévry capture Evangelle’s attention in a way that no other book has. When we read a story together before bedtime, her eyes stay riveted on the page while her little hand traces over the different elements of each picture.
The book is great, but I also mentioned music, didn’t I?
Recently, a group of various artists, including Sandra McCracken, recorded a children’s album using the text of the Hug-a-Bible for lyrics. Rain for Roots: Big Stories for Little Ones is a collection of folk music that both Evangelle and I are greatly enjoying.
You can download a free sample to get an idea of why I find myself singing these songs throughout the day. They’re very catchy, but not in a “This is the Song that Never Ends” kind of way. The music is truly enjoyable for children and parents alike.
It’s not often that you find a Christian kids album with good lyrics and good music, but Rain for Roots is one of the best. You can purchase the entire album for $8.99.
“Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11
Throughout my life, I didn’t have to come up with my own plan for memorizing Scripture since it was part of my educational requirements all the way from kindergarten through college. Looking back now, I see what an incredible blessing that was.
As an adult, however, my attempts at hiding Scripture in my heart have been inconsistent at best, and I know I’m missing out because of it. I’ve recently started working on memorizing the book of Titus the old-fashioned way—with repetition, but I also thought I’d try committing other Scriptures to memory the easy way—with music. I purchased an album by Seeds Family Worship to help me, and I’ve not been disappointed.
Over these last couple of weeks when the delays in our adoption have weighed me down, it seems that the Seeds Family version of Psalm 55:22 from the album “The Power of Encouragement” has been playing on repeat in my heart. Needless to say, it’s been a great help to be constantly reminded of reassuring truths like these…
The Seeds Family has six albums so far, and I plan to add all of them to our music library. Evangelle and I are going to have fun singing and hiding God’s Word in our hearts together.
I tried to get the word out on Facebook and Twitter, and I hope some of you were able to watch the live-streamed version of The Story Tour online Saturday night. Even though my husband and I had the chance to see the concert in person two weeks ago during its stop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I still enjoyed watching it for a second time online!
From Genesis through Revelation, The Story retells a number of the well-known stories of Scripture, showing how God’s theme of redemption is woven throughout them all. Nichole Nordeman penned the album’s 18 songs, and I was deeply moved by her powerful lyrics as well as by the vocal talents of Francesca Battistelli, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant and the other artists involved in the tour.
You can get a taste of both the album and the concert tour with the following video featuring Francesca Battistelli’s beautiful performance of the story of Mary, “Be Born in Me.”
Be Born in Me
Everything inside me cries for order Everything inside me wants to hide Is this shadow an angel or a warrior? If God is pleased with me, why I am I so terrified? Someone tell me I am only dreaming Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes And before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees Holy is He. Blessed am I.
Be born in me, be born in me Trembling heart, somehow I believe that You chose me I’ll hold you in the beginning, You will hold me in the end Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem Be born in me
All this time we’ve waited for the promise All this time You’ve waited for my arms Did You wrap yourself inside the unexpected So we might know that Love would go that far?
Be born in me, be born in me Trembling heart, somehow I believe that You chose me I’ll hold you in the beginning, You will hold me in the end Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem Be born in me
I am not brave I’ll never be The only thing my heart can offer is a vacancy I’m just a girl Nothing more But I am willing, I am Yours
Be born in me, be born in me I’ll hold you in the beginning, You will hold me in the end Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem Be born in me
Lyrics: Nichole Nordeman
Video: Creative Media Group
“For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired
of life itself…But that was to make us rely not on ourselves
but on God who raises the dead.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
Great video for a great song from a great album by Matthew West…
It doesn’t seem possible that a decade could have passed since the day when my friend rushed into the classroom where I was teaching an art class to tell me that two planes had just crashed into the Twin Towers. I can still vividly remember the look on her face and the gestures she used to try to describe to me the severity of what was taking place. Even after hurrying back to my dorm room to watch the news for myself, I struggled to believe that the horrific images I saw on the screen could actually be real.
10 years later it is still hard to believe.
This weekend, I’m praying that many will seek the Lord as we look back on the day we’ll never forget…
“‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him,
‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.’”
Matthew 18:21-22
Over the past few months, it seems I’ve heard Chris August’s popular song “7×70″ on the radio probably somewhere close to that same number of times, but I never understood the story it told until watching this video.
There is a powerful message of hope in these lyrics for those familiar with the pain of living in a broken family…
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
Where do you find security when your world seems to be falling apart around you? Matt Hammitt explains the comforting truth that steadied him during a time of suffering and inspired him to write the song “You Are My Treasure”…
“O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness
and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth
who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?”
Deuteronomy 3:24
Over the past several years, God has used both the process of studying and the experience of suffering to stretch my understanding of who He is. Yet even though I know Him better now than ever before, I can relate well to the feelings expressed in the latest song from Downhere, “How can I say I know you, When what I know is still so small?”
Your spirit hovers over my waters
Your love burns longer than the sun
The skies of thunder echo you wonder
Your praises can’t be over-sung
The whole Universe is witness
To only a part of what you’ve done
So let me rediscover you
And breathe in me your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
Oh, let me rediscover you
You see my weakness, my pride, my blindness
You wield your power through them all
Of all the mysteries, still, the greatest to me
Is that you’re faithful when I fall
How can I say I know you
When what I know is still so small?
Let me rediscover you and breathe in me your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
Oh, let me rediscover you
Let me cry “holy, holy, holy”
Let me awaken to your majesty
And see a glimmer of your glory
Let me abide in you
Let me rediscover you
And by your grace I’ll follow through
Reveal to me the God I thought I knew
Let me rediscover you
And breathe in me your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
And let me rediscover you
Oh, let me rediscover you
Tell me of the God I never knew
Jesus, let me rediscover you.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
I love the message of this new song by Steven Curtis Chapman…
Steven’s new album Re·Creation will be available July 9th.
Do Everything
You’re picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today Matching up socks and sweeping up lost Cheerios that got away You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips and head out the door And while I may not know you I bet I know you Wonder sometimes does it matter at all We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you Cause He made you to do Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of grace With every move that you make And every little thing you do
OOoh ooooh oooooh
Maybe you’re that guy with the suit and tie Maybe your shirt says your name You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers But at the end of the day
Little stuff big stuff in between stuff God sees it all the same And while I may not know you I bet I know you Wonder sometimes does it matter at all We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you Cause He made you To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of grace with every move that you make And every little thing that you do
Well maybe you’re sitting in math class Maybe anekatips on a mission in the Congo Maybe you’re working at the office Singing along with the radio Maybe you’re dining at a five star Or feeding orphans in Myanmar Anywhere and everywhere you are Whatever you do it all matters So do what you do and don’t ever forget to do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you Cause He made you to do Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of grace as you do Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you Cause He made you to do Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of grace with every move that you make And every little thing that you do
The music is truly enjoyable for children and parents alike.
