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"Peace Lord Make Me an Instrument" by Dorothy Wallace: A Prayer for a Troubled World

Dorothy Wallace released a beautiful song called "Peace Lord Make Me an Instrument". The lyrics of the song are inspired by the timeless "Peace Prayer" that is attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi. Dorothy shares: "Growing up, my mother had the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi hanging on the wall in our home. It was her favorite prayer. When she went home to be with the Lord, we printed it on her funeral cards." This prayer is a favorite of Dorothy, and she brings it to life in her latest release. "I definitely think the world needs Peace more than ever," she says, and I'm confident most will agree with that.  The lyrics of the song ask God to change us, "Lord make me an instrument of Your peace // Where there is hate, let me bring love." His Peace isn't passive, and we have a part to play. "Let me bring love" is a call to action, urging us to step into the broken places around us with mercy, faith, and hope...

"Rest - Extended Version" by Olly Kiff feat. Alison Kiff: Finding Peace in God’s Timing

Here it is! The extended version of "Rest" by Olly Kiff featuring Alison Kiff. As Olly shared with me, this song came out of a time of uncertainty, when he had to lay aside his agenda and trust in God. We're probably already all too familiar with moments in life when we're trying to follow our agenda and do everything on our own. Olly reminds us that this isn't how it has to go; we don't have to do this on our own.  The lyrics reflect a tension we are probably very familiar with, a tension between knowing the right prayers to pray, like "God have full control" and "let Your kingdom come," and still struggling to fully surrender control to God. "I can sing I surrender all / I can sing God have full control," Olly sings, "But somehow I still try to do it on my own." You're not the only one who faces these struggles when walking through the unknowns and storms of life.  Rest in God, trust in His plans and His timing...

"Savior" by Thoughts And Notions: Celebrating 20 Years of Worship

Thoughts And Notions' 20th Anniversary Edition of "Savior" is a heartfelt comeback that links the past with the present with a new recording of earlier work. And… as expected with all of the experience they gained during those 20 years, their artistic maturity can be heard in this updated rendition for a new generation. Savior was their very first praise and worship song. It was initially recorded in 2004 for their first album, "In Awe of His Amazing Love," a fundraising project for their church. The lyrics are very relatable for anyone who's ever felt "shaken, broken, failing" or lost in life's chaos. "You're my answer, my lord and founder," they sing—a reminder that Jesus is the ultimate anchor and stronghold in life. The chorus, "Lord Jesus my savior / You came and became my redeemer / I was lost but you saved me," hope for anyone who feels they're drowning in confusion. As the song continues, it shifts to cele...

"Oh Praise" by Amy Hillis: Capturing the Tension and Triumph of Easter

"Oh Praise" by Amy Hillis is an intriguing song that captures both the weight and the wonder of the cross. It asks us to think about who we really are! When we read the accounts of the Crucifixion of Jesus with sober, honest eyes, do we see ourselves in the violent mob of people? Do we see ourselves in Pilate, who simply washes his hands of this tragedy? Do we find ourselves walking free after the crowd chose to kill the innocent—our Savior—over us, the guilty? Our ideal reality says that we would have come to the defense of Jesus. Deep in our heart we see ourselves in the eyes of Jesus as he says, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." He loves us, regardless of our imperfections, and this makes the collision between God's holiness and His incomparable love for us more clear. Jesus knew there was more to his death. "The blood that spilled down from His veins // Dripped with mercy and called my name," reminding us that His sacrifice is ...

"Wanna Be Like You" by One Common: Letting Go of People-Pleasing for Good

"Wanna Be Like You" by One Common is an interesting song that was born out of this duo's struggles with wanting to please people and the pressure they felt to perform. The song reminds us to stop chasing others for their approval and start chasing Jesus instead. "I'm so done tryna be someone else just to keep people's attention," they sing. It can be very exhausting to constantly pretend and perform. The song reminds us to keep our hearts and lives centered on Jesus—the only one who truly is worthy of being our role model. Not for applause. Not for attention. But because His way is the only one that brings real peace and fulfillment in our lives.  The need to please others and perform is probably a feeling that many of us know all too well — but it doesn't have to define us.  The lyrics of the song put the issue right there on the table: "Who am I tryna be, who am I tryna please? That's the question." And the answer? Ofcourse, Jesus i...

"Road of Wonder (Mary’s Song)" by Heidi Elgaard: Rediscovering Hope Through Mary’s Eyes

"Road of Wonder (Mary's Song)" by Heidi Elgaard is an invitation to walk alongside Mary Magdalene, one of the pivotal people in Christianity. Released just in time for Holy Week, this song captures Mary's change from brokenness to unwavering devotion. The song starts with the lyrics, "When I first met Him, // I was shattered and broken," Mary's initial encounter with Jesus. With "a touch and a word," her life gets an extreme makeover: "He brought back a life // I thought the demons had swallowed." Heidi beautifully describes Mary's faith journey - her decision to follow Jesus, her anguish at the cross ( "I wept by the cross but tears could not drown my sorrows" ), and her awe at His resurrection: "That's when you revealed to me your truth and your glory." This song reminds us how Jesus reaches out and meets us in our darkest moments and calls us into purpose. Mary's faith journey is so relatable beca...

"Land I’m Livin In" by Isaiah William: A Reminder of Unchanging Faithfulness

"Land I'm Livin In" by Isaiah William is a beautiful song, but the making of the song wasn't easy—it was a labor of love, with six different choruses written before they landed on the perfect one. For Isaiah William, this song is a reminder that God's goodness is always there, regardless of whether we feel it or not. The lyrics declare, "Surely I will see Your goodness // In the land I'm livin'," expressing hope that we can trust God to do for us what He has done for others so many times before. God's goodness is always there, even when we can't feel it. The lyrics are inspired by well-known Bible stories about faith and how God provided. It's lines like "Give us faith // Like Daniel in the lion's den" and "Like Elijah fed by the raven's hand" that remind us that God has always been true to His promises; He is there, even before we call out. The song calls us to have faith that His plan "is working ...