ChristianDance

Cindy Clark's "I Lift My Eyes (Psalm 121)" was born during a special friendship. The backstory that Cindy shared says it all and deserves to be shared with a larger audience.  Cindy wrote:  "In 2024 I had the honour of meeting a young lady named Stephanie. This was what I would call a divine appointment, and it changed my life. Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to get to know her, as her health took a turn for the worse and she ended up in the hospital for a few weeks before passing away at the early age of 25. The time we did have together she shared a little bit of her journey with OCD/addiction and it was heartbreaking. During this season I met with her weekly, and prayed for her daily. Every time I did I would sing this old Vineyard worship song by Brian Derksen's called "I Lift my eyes up". For 4 months I sang that worship song numerous times a day, when one day I felt that inner prompting in my soul, this voice whisper "go and sin...

(By Jasper Tan) We always see people say "I love you" to someone, professing their love to that significant other. But we often see how a marriage united by love easily shreds to tatters, and we ask ourselves, "Why?" Where did it all go wrong? How did something joined together by love easily get broken and be accepted as "falling out of love"? But the biggest thought that comes to mind while listening to Seek and Surrender's latest song, "A Love Song," is: do we really understand what it feels like to love? In Seek and Surrender's song, there are countless lines in which the singer professes his love to his bride. It seeks to highlight the sincerity of his love, the magnanimity, the pureness. But in those lines, there's this line that we all should focus on —  "If Christ gave Himself for His bride, Oh, then I'll give myself for mine." Do we know how Christ gave himself for his bride (the Church)? He sacrificed himself w...

Have you ever considered Jesus’s actions as a benchmark for our own compassion? In their funky, soulful new track, John and Robert Fumo do just that. In their song, “If Jesus Could (Walk on Water)”, the brothers Fumo share how easy it is to be compassionate and loving in light of the accomplishments and miracles which Jesus performed. In other words, His incredible acts should make our own acts of kindness feel entirely achievable.  For example, “If Jesus could …walk on water,” the lyrics challenge, “then we can …love one another.” There’s more… If He could feed thousands with a few fish and loaves, surely “it shouldn’t be hard to keep the people fed.”   The song reframes Jesus’s acts into a call to action. Instead of seeing insurmountable problems, we are reminded that if Christ could “rise from the dead, // We could trade hate for love instead.” The song not only triggers a paradigm shift, but it also empowers. At its core, it reminds us of Jesus’s promise that ...

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Jensen & Company's "Holy Is Your Name" is an all-original Christian Contemporary song that features Heidi Jensen North and "Sing Gospel", a finalist in the popular talent show called Britain's Got Talent.  The song is a straight up Praise and Worship song that is in tune with modern times. Churches nowadays need to sing these types of songs and update their catalogue of Praise and Worship songs to listen to. The song puts God in front and center right away as we are encouraged to give praise and worship to him. Heidi delivers a very powerful performance of the song. You could clearly see that this isn't just a mere singing performance, but an outright Praise and Worship prayer session from Heidi. And this beautiful song is enhanced by the presence of the "Sing Gospel" choir, who delivered the supplementary vocal choir that gives this song a more church-friendly vibe. As the title suggests, the song gives Prai...

(by Jasper Tan) Feel good, light-hearted, easy listening track. That's how I find Chelsea Chaisson's new single called "Sunlight (Storge)." I was kind of curious what the word "Storge" means, so I had to look it up. According to Wikipedia, "Storge is a Greek word that refers to natural, familial affection or love, particularly the bond between parents and children, as well as among family members and close friends. It is characterized by familiarity, dependence, and loyalty, often rooted in kinship bonds and shared experiences." Sounds very familiar? Of course, it should be, because as per the description, it actually describes what Christian love is. Or should I say how God loves us as His children? Chelsea was inspired to write this song by reminiscing about her childhood, marked by simpler times spent with her cousins and their grandma.  Countless times, we always heard the saying that we all should have faith like a child. The reason for that i...

Have you ever felt God nudging you toward something more, possibly something way outside of your comfort zone? For Mikey Adebayo, that divine nudge during a ministry trip to his hometown (Birmingham) to minister at a church event also led to this song, "I Must Go (The Apostolic Song)."  Inspired by Acts 1:8, Mikey wrote this song as a prayerful response to God's call. It's not the kind of response that is asking you to listen… It's the kind of response that invites you to move and go where God sends you. That entire weekend, Mikey began to mull over the words "I must go, I must follow, I must serve my Lord, where he leads, Oh I will follow Him to the greatest ends of the earth."   It's easy to have an opinion when someone else receives such a calling, but what do you do when God is calling you? What will our response be? Will it be: "Lord, I will follow you // To the greatest ends of the earth" ?  As I ponder on the words of the chorus, I s...

Tyler Ratcliffe wrote "Bigger & More Beautiful" after a year that felt like standing at a cliff's edge - plans shifting, the future foggy, and faith tested, everything happened at once. Over and over, God showed up in ways that Tyler didn't expect. Instead of offering a tidy fix, the song is about how God met him in the uncertainty, reminding him that He was still holding everything in His hands. The One who set stars in place still knows one ordinary name. In other words, awe and intimacy belong together. The lyrics move from creation to Christ's rescue: wisdom without limits, mercy for the hurting, a Savior who crossed the gap that we couldn't cross and called us "worth the cost" . The refrain lifts our eyes to God, because life isn't balanced on our shoulders; it's held by the King. But most of all, the lyics turns confession into courage, naming our fears, doubts, and even our carefully made plans - and declaring God greater than all ...

God still whispers, “Ask…seek…knock,” but do we slow down long enough to answer? In “Come to You (Radio Edit),” Avery Stafford gives that ancient invitation a modern feel. The chorus cuts through the noise and pretense of self-reliance and says basically that you can tell God anything, “I can come to You and tell You anything…for the rest of my days, I come to You.” God’s love for you shatters the myth of “every man for himself.” Picture the opening scene. “A quiet place where I can see Your face // Not a trace of hesitation — You give me grace,” Avery encourages us to surrender as release, not a defeat! The lyrics are more like a prayer that we already know by heart and feel like second nature. “As the tide rolls away along the golden bay // I wanna stay and never go away.” Then comes the turnaround. A heart once broken now is full of life once more, “Like the mighty lion’s roar, You rock my senses to the very core.” In other words, in our vulnerability, He gives us courage! Who w...

(by Jasper Tan) I've heard of Carli Lessing and her work before, courtesy of another Christian artist that I closely follow. She once collaborated on a song with Mary Ozaraga, a fast-rising Independent Christian Artist from the Philippines. Being a huge fan of Mary's music, I'm quite familiar and fond of her work. I made mention of Mary because Carli's latest song, "You Give Me Rest" reminds me so much of Mary's songs. I guess there's a reason why both of them clicked and collaborated on a song. But this new version of the song is actually an acoustic version of an old song of Carli's. I had to go back and listen to the original version just to have a better feel of how much a three-year-old song had changed. While the original version had so much going on musically (albeit in a good way), this acoustic version totally changed the whole dynamic of the song. This features a more laid-back sound that is piano-driven, which eventually featured a more ...

"How Glorious" by Red Letter Society is a Trinity-focused song that pulls you into worship. Written by Justin Tweito and Jordan West, the song calls us to return to the heart of our faith. The opening line, "How wonderful is the cross of Christ,"  draws us into praise.  The song invites us to repentance and faith, but more importantly, the lyrics magnify the Trinity: the Father's eternal plan, the Son's sacrifice, and the Spirit's ongoing work in us. The song celebrates how every part of God is involved in redeeming us!  Have you ever wondered how a song can feel so unifying? That's the beauty of this song! It calls us, the Church, to stand together in bold praise. Instead of focusing on what divides us, it points us upwards, looking to our God who is glorious in love, power, and purpose. It encourages us to see the love of the Father, the blood of the Son, and how it is applied by the Holy Spirit.  There's no abstract theology in this song… the ...

(by Jasper Tan) John Groves' latest single, "Dwell in Me," is a beautifully written song that takes you on a journey of encountering God and getting to know him deeper as we build our relationship with him. It beautifully highlights one's yearning to get to know God and, at the same time, offers a prayer that God grants us his grace to be able to grow in his love and grace. It's a very honest song that acknowledges one's deficiencies when it comes to understanding the magnitude of God's love. And even with our own will to seek him, it will never be enough until the Holy Spirit dwells within us. And that acknowledgement fuels our hunger to get to know God more. The song is inspired by the book of Ephesians 3:14–21, which started out as a prayer but was arranged beautifully as a song that one can sing. It's a prayer of spiritual strength for believers in Jesus. The song is an acoustically driven track that starts with a calming and chill vibe, with each ...

(by Jasper Tan) I've never listened to a song thus far that feels so inviting and immersive. And I've done my share of listening to different new music releases. Action Worship's "All Praise" changed that. This is the first song I've heard this year that made me feel so immersed and feel as one with the Action Worship team. "All Praise" is one of the twelve songs that the Action Worship team has conceived, which was written and recorded during a Beach House retreat. The first six songs (which include All Praise) were conceived and recorded during Dawn. And another set of six songs will be released in February as part of the Dusk sessions. The Action Worship team, as a Church has been in a season to record some of the songs that they have been playing in their Church. And they set out to do this, holed up in a beach house where they spent writing, arranging, and recording the songs. So this isn't just any ordinary recording, as the songs in this t...

Originally, "Be Thou My Vision" is a Christian Hymn that traces its roots to Ireland and Scotland. It is one of the most popular Christian Hymns in the United Kingdom. It has been interpreted multiple times by contemporary artists, mostly retrieving the Slane tune. I've heard the different versions of the song, most notably the one interpreted by contemporary artist Audrey Assad. But Son Francisco's version is a breath of fresh air. Composed and arranged as a ballad/lullaby, it evokes a Leonard Cohen-type song (though on the softer side of rock). I mean, there are really no replacements for the solemnity and the purity of the original hymnal version. But this is the type of arrangement that you can bring out to the secular world and transform the song into a more modern version. I love the subtlety of how Francisco attacks the opening lines of the song "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my hear Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art…." It flows beautifully...

Have you ever wondered what the "ultimate victory over suffering" will look like for faithful believers? "Reign With the Risen Saviour" by Whispering HOPE answers that question, and their answer is based on Revelation 20:4–6's vision of the first resurrection.  The book of Revelations is filled with vivid scenes, and the scene set in chapter 20, verse 4–6 takes us to a moment before the final day, where the thrones are set, and those who suffered for Christ (read: those who "would not bow to lies" and held fast to His Name) are raised to reign alongside Him. In other words, the martyrs and His faithful witnesses aren't forgotten… their loyalty is fully vindicated. They are crowned as priests and (here it comes…) there is a thousand years of peace!! Can you imagine that? Look at the world around us and then try to picture full peace!  The chorus gives us a sense of the joy that will come with this victory: "Reign with the risen Saviour // Eve...

Lowen's "Thankful" isn't one of those typical feel-good gratitude songs. Life is good most of the time… and even when it hurts, there's often something quietly waiting inside the pain, like a lesson, a softening, or a deeper understanding. Lowen found inspiration for this song in what Stephen Colbert once said, "… he learned to love the thing he most wished had never happened, and that simply being here is a gift. Gratitude means holding all of it, not just the easy parts."   The lyrics open with a warm anchor: "Every day that I wake, I just feel so thankful." We're encouraged not to flinch from the messy middle. This is not about ignoring life's quakes! Lowen admits, "honesty is telling me I need space" when the world feels unsteady. In other words, the gratitude that Lowen sings about isn't about forcing a smile through pain — it's about meeting every moment (including the hard moments) with presence, care, and res...

Based on Ephesians 3:20 and Romans 8:32, Oludee's song "Much More" comes from those seasons of waiting, rebuilding, and brave new beginnings. The song opens with praise, giving "glory to the Father," then changes into a powerful declaration: God "set the table" and widened the space around a once-shaky boat. In other words, the song admits fear and limitation, but most of all, it insists God can do "bigger… than I ask or imagine."   Oludee plays with humor and hunger — see it as an "Oliver Twist" request — not to glorify greed, but to affirm your calling: you were made for extra grace, extra strength, extra provision. Do you feel behind, capped, or stuck? Oludee encourages you to keep moving with "patient haste." We may expect overflow, and when our cup runs over, don't call it waste. The overflow is a reminder that generosity isn't random; it's covenant love. Receive the overflow (abundance) with gratitude...

"One of Those People" by Voices of Judah's Song is a beautiful reminder that you are chosen! You are one of those people God loved anyway… in spite of your past, in spite of your pain. One of those people that God loved anyway, in spite of your guilt, and in spite of your shame.  This song invites you to bring it all to God, all of your past, your guilt, and your shame, and experience God's personal love answer to you. Have you ever felt unworthy of God's redemption and grace? The good news is that God's love isn't contingent on perfection! We don't have to have our life all together to be loved by Him!  No matter how messed up your life may be, there is a lifeline that leads you to hope and restoration through Christ. It is through Christ that you too can sing: "I'm one of those people… Saved by your grace," and celebrate the freedom you will find in His unconditional love.  So, next time you look in the mirror and are reminded of your ...

Inspired by the verses John 3:30, Philippians 3:7–8, and John 10:27, Rorie releases "He Must Increase", a beautiful song that reminds us of the sound of CCM from the 2000s, easily the era when the rise of CCM was at its peak. Rorie sings the song with earnestness as she opens the lines "The seasons change and we are aging, But You alone are God of the ages." You'll immediately know that this song is putting God front and center. There's a certain aspect of the song that clearly wants to remind us that God will always be bigger than us. That his glory and mercy will always shine through, and we are mere travelers in the world that he built. Everything emanates from him, and we cannot claim to be bigger than God.  It's a humbling reminder that what we have, what we attained, it all comes as a blessing that He has gifted to us. We cannot claim that it is our works that brought us the joys and triumphs. These gifts and accomplishments are nothing without Hi...

In their song, 'The Might of Heaven's King,' whispering HOPE takes us to the dramatic scene that is found in Revelation 20:1–3. The song opens with a vivid vision: "An angel coming down from heaven // The key of depths to him was given // A chain held firm within his hand // Prepared by God at His command // He seized the serpent, ancient foe // That Devil known from long ago // The dragon bound before the throne // His power checked, his rule overthrown." The song starts with God's restraint of evil and emphasizes the absolute authority of Christ, but how does this translate to our lives today?  Have you ever wondered when the noise of this world will finally fall silent? I know that I do almost every day now, when I watch/read the news! I ask myself, what chain of events will this craziness/noise trigger next? But this darkness/noise isn't the focus of this song!  The takeaway of this song is to reflect on our response to the noise. Not just the respons...

How often do we dream of Heaven? That eternal destination where everything is perfect and filled with tranquil peace? Madison Marlyn's latest single, "A Place Prepared," evokes that perfect feeling of heavenly bliss. Madison is able to encapsulate it all through the words that she sings in this song. The song is beautifully crafted, where the melody empowers the lyrics of the song, magnificently bonded together to tug at our heartstrings and stir our souls. There are no pretensions and grandstanding. Madison just straightforwardly delivers her image of the home that she long dreamed of resting in. The music beautifully brings to life the imagery she describes of what Heaven would look like. And this isn't something that she ordinarily dreams of, but rather this is an image that is deeply inspired by her Faith and in believing what God has promised us… Eternal Life. Madison was inspired by the fleeting colors of dusk, as she let the song capture a sense of longing and ...