ChristianDance

“At the Cross” by Nicole Spowart is about what Jesus did for us by going to the cross, and what that means for us. The song was shaped during a time of heartache, hope, and realizing the power of God’s promises. Nicole shared that she had already begun writing this song when her little puppy became critically ill and nearly passed away — twice. Something extraordinary happened during that time, the rest of the chorus and verses came out and were filled with God’s anointing. She could literally feel God’s power as she sang the words out loud. It is amazing how life is filled with moments that can help us fine-tune our communication with God. The final result of her songwriting is amazing. The key message of the song is rooted in the promises found in Isaiah 61, the promise that God will send an anointed messenger to bring good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, and free the captive. The message may sound simple, but it has a huge impact. The song looks at the reality of the cross...

(by Jasper Tan) Hopestream Worship's song "My Safe Place," featuring Luke Wareham, is a refreshing and comforting contemporary worship song that talks about finding refuge and peace in God during our times of uncertainty and fear. It's a captivating song that makes use of catchy melodies that you can clearly feel the joy and happiness as they bear witness to God's steadying presence in our lives.  The song's theme dwells on the idea of God being our safe place. The song humanizes and acknowledges our vulnerability as spoken with the lines "fear keeps me silent, lonely and frightened" . Yet we are comforted by the biblical truth that "I'm not alone" because God is always there for us during our time of hopelessness. The chorus emphasizes that stability through life's difficult challenges can only come from God. And the chorus emphasizes that with certainty through the line "Through every joy and every sorrow, you're my cert...

(by Jasper Tan) "Come Alive" by JONATHYN is an uplifting CCM-Pop track that talks about spiritual renewal, grace, and finding purpose through our Christian faith. The song dwells on the classic darkness-to-light narrative, which is a common theme for those who are struggling with their Faith. The song begins by describing our state of being in a spiritual exhaustion, mirroring that feeling like we are breathing lead. It also speaks about our life that at times feels like it is dead, despite being alive in this world. This happens when we keep on making the wrong turn, and these frequent mistakes become our frustration. And in a twist of irony, sometimes we are being led to deeper depression, especially if we are clutching for hope, yet this is devoid of a firm foundation. And the chorus is where we are reminded that it is only through God and his gift of hope, which gives us new life and makes us feel much more alive. This is the emotional peak of the song, where the song tra...

Have you ever felt too far gone for grace? Like all of the wrongs in your life are just too many to be forgiven? If that is the case, then "Paradise" by New Life Worship has an important message for you. The song takes us back to one of the most powerful scenes in the Bible, the thief on the cross.  The song puts you right there. The thief, hanging right next to Christ on the cross. Guilty, undeserving, and despite that brave enough to be "Crying [to Christ] for mercy // Remember me." What this scene/song tells us is that it isn't about earning His mercy… It's about receiving it. The thief didn't have time to make things right again; he had no religious track record and no credentials. But he saw and accepted Jesus for who He was… and that was enough.  "You could've counted all my wrongs // Instead you counted me your own." These two lines alone are so precious. Just think about it! Instead of condemnation, Jesus offered paradise, extravag...

What if the dancefloor can point you straight to Scripture? That's exactly what Divine Vibes does with "Overcome" - a melodic house track built around one of the most powerful instructions given in the Bible: Romans 12. The message found in Romans 12 is simple and can make the world around us a much better place for all. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." In other words, don't fight fire with fire. Instead of retaliation, choose goodness. Instead of cursing those who hurt you, bless them. The lyrics deliver this message with the same clarity: "Live in harmony // Live in peace // Never pay back evil with evil // Do what is honorable." So, do we now sit back and point a finger at the governments that are causing this mess? No! This song (scripture) is a call to action, and asks you to look at what you can do here and now, and in the world around you! It challenges you to really love one another, to hang on tightly to what is ...

"The Bottom of Myself" by Mike Janzen is a spiritual journey with an Americana-pop groove. The song invites you into a space where the dark moments of life meet light.  Have you ever felt as if you were lost in a desert storm? Then you're not alone. Janzen also knows that feeling. He beautifully captures the struggle of losing your way with the following lyrics: "Fell down in the middle of the darkness // Woke up and the world had changed // Stumbling, squinting in the daylight // Wanna run but sometimes you gotta wait." But there is more, because Janzen shows that there is hope.  Instead of running away from the pain, Janzen sings: "sometimes you gotta wait." Why? Because at the end of yourself is God. Your weakness is where His strength begins. "When the clocks tickin twelve it's true // At the bottom of myself is You," this is where truth emerges. You might be trying to find your way home, but real peace comes when you stop striving...

(by Jasper Tan) "The Oldest Lie in the World" by Meagan Tubb & Shady People is a delightful Blues-Rock CCM song, soulful and gleefully blending classic blues and contemporary rock. It's quite rare for me to hear a CCM track that is produced from this type of genre. It offers a different type of reaching out to listeners by its solid foundation of blues-rock, with a groovy, mid-tempo rhythm that also sets a contemplative tone. It entertains as well as reminds us to watch out for fake self-worship, that the Gospel truth only comes from God. Meagan's vocals deliver a soulful and powerful performance. It stands out because of her rich vocal quality that is smoky and complements very well with the song's bluesy tunes. The guitar work is deftly played and impresses, with the tasty riffs and very well executed guitar solo that brings an emotional depth to the song. Coupled with the organ and steady beats of the percussion, this complements the whole song to deliver a...