Artist of the Week: Jason Gray

Here is one artist I cannot recommend enough! I love Jason's music. He brings honesty and open-ness to his songs. His lyrics are amazing as well, and he's more acoustic than pop, which I like. If I had to name you my favorite songs, I'd say 'all of them' (and I only have 2 albums and a sampler!). ;) But to name some of my absolute favorites...

I love the tune of this song, the instrumental, the words, the everything. It's so true.

This is such an encouraging song...

Turn on the T.V. for the evening news
They got plenty to fear and nothing to do
Another somebody who's gone too far 
Makes you want to put up your guard
Fear is easy, love is hard

So we draw up another dividing line
We label each other and we choose a side
Peace could come at quite a cost 
So we won't build a bridge across
Fear is easy, but love is hard

Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid, do not be afraid

I'm sorry baby is what he should've said
But she wouldn't listen even if he did
They'll die without forgiveness soon
But no one wants to make a move
When fear is easy and love is hard 

Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid, do not be afraid

It's hard to bring your heart to a world that can break it
To offer love to those you're afraid will forsake it
But a well-defended heart is always looking for a fight
In a lonely war against an endless night
But love can bring a light

Fear will leave you hiding in the dark
But love will bring a light into your heart
So do not be afraid

It comes down to a simple choice
Shouting devils or a still small voice
One is spreading fear and dread
Oh but love has always said
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid

Only one more. Promise.

After all the songs are sung
And our prayers for Kingdom come
Did we bring honor to the words we sing?

Does our worship have hands?
Does it have feet?
Does it stand up in the face of injustice?
Does our worship bow down?
Does it run deep?

Is it more than a song
That fades with our voices?
Does it fade with our voices?

Lord, it's you we long to please
Make our lives a melody
That we proclaim
When we live in Jesus name

So if we raise our hands high
Let us also reach them out
And if we lift our voices up
Let it be the sound of love

Let our worship have hands
Let it have feet
Let it stand tall in the face of injustice
Let our worship bow down
Let it run deep

And be more than a song
That fades with our voices
It's more than a song
That fades with our voices
It won't fade with our voices

I could go on and on...but I won't, for your sake. So goodbye for now. :)

Christmas Songs

What are your favorite Christmas songs? Jingle Bells? Last Christmas? Silent Night? I want to tell you about a few of mine, if you don't mind...

 While You Were Sleeping

Casting Crowns

I love this song! It put things in a different perspective for me the first time I heard it, and stills impacts me now. I think it captures very well the enormity of Jesus coming to Earth, which I can often forget. It really is, just, huge that he would come to save us, to die, and, what's more, as an infant child. It reminds me of the beginning verses to Francesca Battistelli's Time In Between (not a Christmas song, but good all the same);

You were there when your Father said 'Let there be light'

You obeyed when he whispered 'Son, you have to leave tonight

to spend nine months in a mother's womb, three days in a borrowed tomb'

There are two versions of While You Were Sleeping, one on the Christmas album 'Peace On Earth' and the other on 'Lifesong'. Personally, the 'Lifesong' version is my favorite because it adds in the element of Jesus' death on the cross, while the second has a different verse. I highly recommend it to anyone who has not heard it yet.

Christmas Must Be Something More

Taylor Swift

I was surprised when I heard this song. It is one of Taylor's earlier one, and differs from her style now of music and lyrics. It's more upbeat, and happy, but the message is good to hear, especially from a secular artist! It's an original by Taylor, I believe, and I am very glad that she recorded it and that it's out for her fans. 

Joseph's Lullaby

MercyMe

This song gives us the view of baby Jesus from Joseph's eyes. We do not get it often, and this is is particularly beautiful. It's sad, too, but it's just so well put that I have to recommend it. The instruments and the lead singer's voice, fit very well together. Go listen!

The Day After Thanksgiving

Brandon Heath

Not very serious, but humorous, catchy and very unique! I also recommend his song Just A Girl, more serious, but no less unique. 

I have a playlist, not big yet, but getting bigger. It has most of the songs I listed and more I like...

The Oklahoma Playlist

Yesterday we went to Oklahoma! It was very fun, to find more details visit my main blog. But here I am posting some of the songs I listened to and recommend. You might like a few of them, you might not, but you never know until you try, right?