"I Have NOTHING!".

While we were worshipping in Hong Kong I was surprised to see that they had taken the well known love song "Unchained Melody" and turned it into a song of worship. It worked awesomely well and the Spirit of God touched it powerfully. It got me thinking how other songs that were sung in the secular music field could be easily taken and exalted and lifted to God in worship.

Take this one; "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston.



"Must I imagine You there? Don't walk away from me ... I have NOTHING if I don't have You!".

It so expresses my heart at the moment. Must we have to imagine the love of God? Must we? No we don't have to imagine it because the Holy Spirit has been POURED out upon us lavishly and the love of God has been SHED ABROAD in our hearts! That question has been answered and hence God deserves our greatest intimacy and love because He has torn the veil in two and made it possible for us to stand in the centre of His glory and worship at His very feet.

Anything less than that ... is NOTHING!!

A New Song by Julie Morris about the Holy Spirit

I got emailed this beautiful song from my friend Julie and she has kindly give permission for me to make it available here. I can't read it without tears coming to my eyes. What a wonderful Comforter is He! What a wonderful friend! Oh that I might know Him and His Companionship more!

Verse 1:

HOLY SPIRIT I WANT TO KNOW YOU
SHOW ME HOW MUCH I NEED YOU
BRING SWEET REVELATION
OPEN MY EYES TO WHO YOU ARE
COVER THIS FRAGILE FLESH WITH YOUR GLORY

BRIDGE:

JUST LIKE THE WIND, JUST LIKE THE RAIN,
JUST LIKE THE WAVE, JUST LIKE FIRE

CHORUS:

BLOW ON ME, FALL ON ME
WASH OVER ME, CONSUME ME,
CONSUME ME, CONSUME ME

VERSE 2:

HOLY SPIRIT YOU KNOW THE FATHER
TEACH ME TO LISTEN TO YOUR VOICE
YOU'RE ONE WITH JESUS
SHOW ME THE MYSTERIES OF HIS LOVE
UNTIL I AM OVERWHELMED WITH YOUR GLORY

(REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS)

TAG:

HOLY SPIRIT NOW COME
YOU ARE THE PROMISED ONE
HOLY SPIRIT PLEASE COME, COME, COME
YOU ARE THE PROMISED ONE

Jesus Has Sat Down - Hymnody and Theology!!

I was searching through a very old song book that we used to use in my home church and I found this song! It was one that we used to sing frequently and love - it's full of Restoration theology. Enjoy ...

Matt Redman - Blessed be Your Name

I must admit to bucking the trend a bit by not being a sold-out Matt Redman fan. I prefer women worship leaders! However Matt led two sessions at the "Together on a Mission 2007" conference and I fell in love with his sold-out passion for the Lord. He truly is a passionate worshipper. I've sung this song before when I was in SGM but again it was only at TOAM that the full power of it came home to me and I couldn't sing it without tears rolling down my face.

WHATEVER comes our way - whether good or bad - may the Name of the Lord be blessed!!

The Power of Music in Worship!!

I want to present and write an impassioned defence of diversity in music. I have just brought a DVD produced by the All Souls Orchestra - based at All Souls, Langham Place. I went to my first Prom Praise at the Royal Albert Hall during the difficult period when my home church was rapidly becoming functionally cessationist in doctrine and behaviour and the corporate worship was deteriorating into a hymn/prayer sandwhich. This was prior to me even hearing "that the Holy Spirit had been poured out". But at that wonderful celebration I learned that it wasn't only charismatics who could pour passion into their worship of Almighty God. I have never heard songs and hymns sung like we did there.

It has been a while since I re-acquainted myself with the All Souls Orchestra - so seeing this DVD has been a special trip down memory lane! I was especially challenged by something that the conductor - Noel Tredinnick wrote in the DVD sleeve. He said;

"I sense that if there is a risk at this time, it could be of too great a polarisation between the different approaches - to see the Christian family fall into ghettos driven merely on the basis of musical taste is distressing. We are feeling now that one of the most significant contributions that we as an orchestra can offer the church is to be a bridge ... a bridge between the traditionalist and the charismatic; a bridge between the discouraged Christian and a renewed vision of God at work; a bridge between the music-loving seeker and the Gospel".

I will never forget sharing my enthusiasm for the All Souls Orchestra and their ministry with a man I used to respect greatly at Stoneleigh Bible Week 2000 and was shocked to hear him sneer (gently) at it and suggest it wasn't worship. I believe the spirit of worship can be found wherever people's hearts are passionately set on glorifying and enjoying their God. Many of us will be familiar with the traditional "Land of Hope and Glory" set to Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. If you are not - here it is from "Last Night of the Proms".



But consider it sung by thousands of Christians with these wonderful words by Christopher Idle;
"Glory in the highest to the God of heaven!
Peace to all your people through the earth be given!
Mighty God and Father, thanks and praise we bring,
singing Alleluia to our heavenly King;
singing Alleluia to our heavenly King!

Jesus Christ is risen, God the Father's Son!
With the Holy Spirit, you are Lord alone!
Lamb once slain for sinners, all our guilt to bear,
show us now Your mercy, now receive our prayer;
show us now Your mercy, now receive our prayer!

Christ the world's true Saviour, high and holy One!
seated now and reigning from your Father's throne;
Lord and God we praise You! Highest heaven adores;
in the Father's glory, all the praise be yours;
in the Father's glory, all the praise be yours!".

Worship from Session 6 - TOAM 07!

The evening session was led by Kate Simmonds with Simon Brading and Phatfish supporting. It was a particularly anointed time where the Presence of God was heavy - continuing on from the afternoon session led by Rob Rufus.

• (new song by Matt Weedle) I stand redeemed.


• We come in Your Name (You have been lifted).


• Ancient of Days/All the heavens shout Your Name.


• A tongue was brought by Dave Holden and interpreted by Dave Fellingham. Awesome!


• The Power of the Cross.


• A prophecy was given by a man for fathers.


• A prophecy was given by John Langferman.


• Let Your rain fall down.

Worship from Session 3 - TOAM '07!

The evening session worship was led by Kate Simmonds with Simon Brading and Phatfish helping. Kate Simmonds had clearly been very impacted by Rob Rufus's urging for joy in our lives and urged us to be utterly joyful in our worship of God that evening!

• O Happy Day.


• There's no condemnation (Celebration of Your grace).


• (new song) Strength will rise.


• Lou Fellingham brought a spiritual song which was beautiful.


• My Jesus, My Saviour (Shout to the Lord).


• Prophecy by Guy Miller.


• And Can it Be?


• The Stand.


• Prophecy from Julian Adams.