Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel by Matt Maher

Today’s strong worship song is Matt Maher’s Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel which was released on this year’s WOW Christmas album. Matt is gifted with depth and variety of musical style including writing fresh new melodies to traditional hymns. He keeps the integrity of the original hymn yet adds a powerful chorus that is easy to sing. This is a great Advent and Christmas song.

Scripture references include Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 2:40, Romans 11:23, and 1 Corinthians 2:24.

Oh Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou wisdom from on high
Who orderest all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go

Rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

Rejoice, again, I say, rejoice
For unto us is born the Savior of the world
Take heart, oh weary soul, take heart
For help is on its way
And Holy is His name

Rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

Holy is His name
Holy is His name

December 8, 2013 | Categories: Advent, Christmas, Emmanuel, God's transendence, Holy, Jesus Redeemer, Jesus Savior, Jesus' birth, ransom, Son of God, Worship | 3 Comments

My God by Jeremy Camp

Today’s strong worship song is “My God” by Jeremy Camp from his album Reckless, released in February 2013. The song rocks which is Jeremy’s style. The lyrics are also strong and emphasize God’s grace and power to reach us wounded sinners with the gospel. Our lives are forever changed by God’s unchanging love and victory over our sin. This song is strongly personal as the title suggests. It is a personal tribute to the exclusive Creator and Savior God of mankind.

“My God”

All of who You are reaches the darkest parts
Lifting the weight and erasing the scars that had a hold on me
Here I am bearing all, tearing down every wall
So amazed by Your grace and the way You’re still holding me
Whoa whoa, whoa whoa

My God, You are the unchanging love
My God, Your heart sends hope from above
The great Creator, beautiful Savior
I’ve been redeemed
There is life now from Your victory
You are my God
You are my God

There is no other one, who’s given a greater love
Laying aside His own life on the cross
Reaching out to us
Whoa whoa, whoa whoa

My God, You are the unchanging love
My God, Your heart sends hope from above
The great Creator, beautiful Savior
I’ve been redeemed
There is life now from Your victory
You are my God
You are my God

When my hope starts fading out
You are where my strength is found
I know I won’t be alone

My God, You are a beautiful love
My God, You are a beautiful love
My God, You are a beautiful love
My God, You are a beautiful love

My God, You are the unchanging love
My God, Your heart sends hope from above
The great Creator, beautiful Savior
I’ve been redeemed
There is life now from Your victory
There is victory
You are my God
You are my God
You are my God
You are my God

June 8, 2013 | Categories: adoration, assurance/ security/ confidence, depravity of man, Eternal, Forgiveness, God is love, God's grace, God's immanence, God's love, God's transendence, Hope, hope, Imputed righteousness, Jeremy Camp, Jesus Redeemer, Jesus Savior, redemption | Leave a comment

Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by Chris Tomlin and Ed Cash

Today’s Strong Worship Song is Whom Shall I Fear also known as God Of Angel Armies by Chris Tomlin and Ed Cash. This song was written as the album Burning Lights was being produced and wasn’t part of the original selection for the album. Chris Tomlin felt so strongly about this song that the album was delayed until the song could be added. It was well worth the wait.

I like the lyrics of this song because they read like many of the Psalms and vividly remind us of the strength and power of our Savior God in the midst of the battles and challenges of life. National tragedies like the Sandy Hook shooting remind us of the deadly forces of evil in this world which seem to be growing stronger each day. As we begin a new year of uncertainty in an evil world every believer needs reminders of God’s power, protection, and promises. This song delivers them.

There is no direct mention of Jesus name in the song. Jesus however is the Light that shines in the darkness, the faithful One, the One for whom angels sing and defend, the One who forever reigns, our friend who defends us, the One who is with us always, our Deliverer, and the only who can save us.

Scripture references include Psalm 50:15, Psalm 2, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 27, Psalm 40:17, Psalm 70:5, Psalm 140:7, Psalm 144:2, Psalm 110, 2 King 6:8-23, Psalm 143, Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 148, Deuteronomy 31:8, Luke 1:33, Matthew 2:21-23, Luke 20:43, John 1:9, Acts 2:35, Hebrews 1:13, Ephesians 6:10-18, and Colossians 1:17.

God of Angel Armies

You hear me when I call
You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light
Whom shall I fear

Verse 2:
You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my Sword and Shield
Though trouble lingers still
Whom shall I fear

Chorus:
I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always on my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a Friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

Verse 3:
My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory

Chorus:
I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always on my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a Friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear

Bridge:
And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I’m holding onto Your promises
You are faithful
You are faithful
You are faithful

Chorus:
I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always on my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a Friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

January 9, 2013 | Categories: assurance/ security/ confidence, Chris Tomlin, Epiphany, Faithfulness of God, God's Sovereignty, God's transendence, His Name, Jesus Deliverer, Jesus friend, Promises of God, Trust | 1 Comment

Day After Day by Kristian Stanfill

This week’s strong worship song is Day After Day by Kristian Stanfill from the album Mountains Move which came out in 2010. The lyrics are strong and the style of this song is very suited for worship and congregation participation. Scripture references include Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 2, Psalm 71:22, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 3:6, John 19:11, and Psalm 62:5-7.

Men will try to rule the world You made
But we know power is Your’s alone to give and take
A day will come when every knee will bow
And every tongue confess that You are Lord both now and forever

Day after day our God is reigning
He’s never shaken
My hope is in the Lord
Time after time our God is faithful
Trustworthy Savior
My hope is in the Lord

The fear of man and what they plan will fade
When we know you alone are God of everyday
Like the flowers man will rise and fall
But you are everlasting, never-ending, God eternal

Let the songs of adoration rise
Our god is reigning up on high
He’s worthy to receive the praise and the glory
Oh the glory

Kristian Stanfill is interviewed on New Song Cafe.

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June 28, 2011 | Categories: adoration, assurance/ security/ confidence, Eternal, Faithfulness of God, God's power/ omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's transendence, Hope, Jesus exaltation, Jesus Savior, Jesus the King, Kristian Stanfill, Trust | Leave a comment

Revelation Song by Jennie Lee Riddle

This week’s strong worship song is Revelation Song by Jennie Lee Riddle and made popular first by the Gateway Worship Band in Fort Worth, TX. In 2009 Revelation Song became the lead single by the contemporary Christian group Phillips, Craig, and Dean. It was the longest running #1 song in any format on Christian Radio in 2009.

Revelation Song is an appropriate title since the majority of the lyrics are taken directly from Revelation 4 and 5. This is also the reason I consider it a strong worship song. In those chapters God gives us a glimpse of His throne in Heaven surrounded by a sea of glass upon which the angels are gathered to worship. Flashes of lightening and rolls of thunder are coming from the throne. Jesus appears and the angels sing their song. Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain, is worthy to be praised. The song writer correctly personalizes the song. Jesus is worthy to be praised by us since He was slain for us and is our everything. This song does a good job in depicting the mystery of God’s immanence (how He is intimately joined to all of creation) and His transcendence (how He is above and beyond all creation).

Revelation Song

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah…

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You