Skip to main content

Posts

Hunter Plake, Dancing In The Courts: Joy in His Presence

'Dancing In The Courts' by Hunter Plake is about the essence of true joy and surrender. It reflects Plake's desire to choose Jesus over everything else, and rejoice in His presence and the promise of an eternal life with Him. Growing up in a family of musicians and minsters, Hunter Plake's path to his BEC Recordings debut took a few unexpected detours. As a teen, Plake led worship in his home church, even getting his GED his junior year of high school so he could attend ministry school. But it wasn't until he auditioned for NBC's The Voice that music became a possible career path. 'A friend of mine, Koryn Hawthorne, had just gone to the finale on The Voice. I thought, well, if she can do it,' Plake says with a smile. He ended up placing fifth in his season, opening doors for him to pursue music full-time. After a few years of recording pop songs, producing and trying to make a go of it in Los Angeles, Plake felt something missing in his life. In June of...

'In Your Hands' by Jeff H. Ulrich: A Soul-Stirring Journey Through Faith

Jeff H. Ulrich's song 'In Your Hands' isn't just any song, it is a peak behind the curtain of Jeff's life, his journey of ups and downs, seeking God's guidance, and trusting in His plan. Did you know that Jeff was born blind, got partial sight when he was 9 months old, was battling for his life when he was 9 years old, and endured various personal and financial crises? Jeff didn't share this in order to get a pat on the back. He lived through these trials, supported by his faith with each step, and now shares this to encourage others as they face their own challenges. 'In Your Hands' is a reflection of Jeff's journey, a journey that deserves more than a summary of few words. That is why you'll find links to a YouTube video with Jeff's backstory, and a podcast episode where we deep dive into Jeff's story and this song. Looking at the lyrics, 'When I was lost - Drifting all alone, Not sure I'd ever come to find My way,' Jef...

'For God So Loved the World' by Divine Vibes: A Melodic Techno Worship Experience

Divine Vibes’s debut single, “For God So Loved the World,” is an inspiring blend of Melodic Techno & House combined with a timeless message. The song is about John 3:16, an important reminder of God’s love for us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Melodic Techno & House vibes make this track a unique experience that quickly gets my energy flowing and puts a smile on my face, as the beats blast into the room with the repetition of the phrase “For God so loved the world” . I can appreciate how the line “For God so loved the world” is repeated like a mantra, because it actually helps to make this stick longer in mind throughout the day. The lyrics also repeats a promise that I believe can’t be repeated enough: “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is an interesting musical reminder that there is no end to God’s love, and eternal life is His gift ...

‘Goodness of God’ by Cultivation Worship: A Beautiful Acoustic Cover

Cultivation Worship's rendition of 'Goodness of God' by Bethel Music is a beautiful acoustic cover, with an intimate blend of acoustic guitar, cello, a strong female lead, and male background vocals. It's a version they made for their church services, and loved so much by the congregation that the band decided to share it with the world. For anyone who is not that familiar with the song, the main theme of the song is about God's unwavering faithfulness (dispite everything we do to counter that) and His enduring goodness that is there to enter every moment of our lives (if we let Him in), and invites us to respond with gratitude and praise.  It is because of His goodness that we can wake up each morning and lay our head down each night, fully aware that we are held in His loving hands. 'I love You, Lord // Oh, Your mercy never failed me // All my days, I've been held in Your hands,' the lyrics remind us that from dawn till dusk, we can experience His goo...

'From the Ashes' by Maria Segerholm ft. Tom Taylor: A Journey From Despair to Praise

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by life's challenges, then think of what Job went through. Maria Segerholm and Tom Taylor released an EP called 'From the Ashes', with a title song (also named 'From the Ashes') inspired by the extreme challenges that Job faced. Maria and Tom make an inspiring link between Job's ancient story and the personal struggles we all face in our lives (albeit that some seem to face more struggles than others).  The lyrics try to describe Job's anguish: 'Even though I've lost everything, barely making it through the day.' And in the pre-chorus, you can almost hear Job cry out with raw honesty: 'I breath in, breath out. Where are You, Lord? Are you there?' If there is only one thing that you take-away from this song, let it be the example of Job's unwavering faith in God.  When Maria and Tom wrote this song, Maria realized that this song had to be part of her lament EP. A song that places everything you...

'A Heart That's Empty'', Home Sweet Homies' Quest for Fulfillment

Home Sweet Homies presents a fresh and energetic sound with their song 'A Heart That's Empty.' This pop rock song is all about finding your life's true purpose and happiness. Everyone can relate to this topic, regardless of their religion or background. It's a message about those moments many of us are all too familiar with, like when you're tired of pretending, your heart is empty, and nothing feels real.  This song was written during a group jam night in 2022, and they regularly perform it live as a band. They capture the feeling of searching for something that is truly authentic, with lines like, 'How do you fill a heart that's empty?' and 'So I come back to you, seeking out the truth.' They also point you in the direction of the solution... find peace by turning to the source of life.  For anyone feeling lost and alone, the lyrics 'How do you still a mind that's running?' strike a chord. The song beautifully paints our searc...

Arcadia Worship's 'Overflows (Live)': A River of Renewal

You've got to listen to Arcadia Worship's new song, 'Overflows (Live).' It's a heartfelt plea for God to enter our life, heal the brokenness in our heart (and the world around us), and shape us. Just like rivers can shape rocks and canyons, and water can find its way through the barricades. The lyrics call for a divine restoration and witnessing the impact of God's love and justice.  The opening lines, 'This world you created, this land that you gave us,' remind us that our lives are gifts, His gifts to us, a gift with a larger plan behind it. But, as imperfect as we are, 'Our sin has made dirty' the gift that was meant for beauty. The chorus is where you really feel the heartbeat of the song: 'Let your river run deep into our soul, carve a canyon into our heart of stone.' A reminder that we really need God's redeeming love to 'flood' / saturate every part of our life and the community around us.  The live recording of ...