ChristianDance

"Forever Yes" by Nia Akins is about what it may mean to surrender your life to Christ. In Nia's case, her surrender wasn't an easy choice. She shares that her commitment to Jesus meant that she had to let go of the comfort of her former life. It was a necessary choice, and one that brought a lot of hardship instead of instant blessings. She traded her familiar life for uncertain faith and trusted that the seeds that God was sowing "in the unseen" would prove to be worth all of the struggles she was facing.  The song acknowledges that saying "yes" to God may require saying goodbye to people, places, and the dreams that you once cherished. And it is natural to wonder if your sacrifices for faith are worth it?  Nia doesn't hide her doubt. Yes, she questioned God's timing and wrestled with her unanswered prayers. Yet she answers this uncertainty with resilient hope: "evergreens'll grow where the thorns should." Even when blessin...

"My God Is Real (Psalm 145)" by Stephen M. Miller is a beautiful song with an amazing backstory! The beginnings of this song go back to a teenager's act of courage in the early 1970s. It started with a simple deal - his dad promised him a guitar if he would sing this song as his first solo in church. Can you imagine how he must have felt standing before the congregation to sing this song, "My God Is Real"? He did it, and afterwards he kept the song for himself…. until now. After more than 50 years, Stephen decided that this Easter time was the right moment to share this song with the world. The lyrics declare an unshakeable truth: Jesus is real, alive, and is actively present in our lives. Stephen sings "I've seen him at the altars of churches far and wide," reminding us that transformation happens daily when we invite Him in. Every word and every note you hear in this song is from a teenager around the turn of 1970!  Instead of letting doubt cree...

What does it feel like to stand at the edge of one of life's stormy seas, wondering if God sees you there? The seed for "Mid-Broken Sea" by Krystal Dawn Land was planted one early morning in March of 2024, somewhere between a deep sleep and waking up, when Krystal saw the words, "Mid-Broken Sea" appearing one letter at a time across white paper in an old typewriter. As she saw this title, she saw a sketch of ocean waves on each side. This picture kept coming back to mind throughout the following year. As the lyrics and melody shaped, the story danced between Biblical accounts and current ongoings of those we pray will trust God's hand and allow Him to lead them through their Broken Sea.  The message of this song isn't one of abstract theology. It's a practical lifeline for anyone who is going through one of life's storms and it places God center stage: "I'm trying to show you my hand, to lead you to the Promise Land." Notice the i...

Amanda Janson's "No Matter The Cost" came out of a season where following Jesus wasn't easy anymore and was actually costing her something. Have you ever felt, at times, that unconditional obedience simply didn't make sense? We know that true faith can ask us to release our expectations and choose to be obedient (emphasis on "choose").  The song beautifully acknowledges that God will "till the ground that's holy" and "prune the branch to bloom." It's a process that creates the necessary space for healing. Maybe the hardest part of this process is that He will ask us to lay things down. Things we love and things that cost us.  Instead of focusing on what we lose, Amanda points our eyes to the cross. Because it is on the cross that He showed that we are worth it. He "bled for me" and "rose for me" no matter the cost. So, is He worth it to you?  Decide today to say "I'm all in." Embrace the ...

“So Loved (feat. Pearl Harry)” by Le Monde Bear is a song about John 3:16. The beginnings go back to when Le Monde Bear heard Pearl Harry sing for chapel at her high school worship time, and the song came alive — the vibe and music quickly followed soon after. They recorded Pearl's vocal during a lunch break, and you can still hear kids screaming in the background of her vocal track. The song further developed during the week of the first strikes on Israel, October 7, 2023. Disco, yes. Gospel, absolutely! The lyrics start with humanity “walking in darkness,” blind and off-balance, so relevant for our world today. The song points us to new light breaks and shows us a path through the wilderness, as it retells salvation as rescue, not as a form of self-improvement. God gave His Son, and we may respond with belief. The result is everlasting life. His grace is not limited to one place or specific people. The bridge insists that there is no border, distance, or ransom is too great. ...

Michelle K.'s "Consecrate (How Beautiful)" is a beautiful song about renewing our devotion to God. The song comes from a reawakening to Jesus's "first love" . It calls us to lay everything down and rediscover that same wonder that drew us close to God the first time. It's a moment of surrender wrapped in melody.  "I consecrate my heart again," and with that line, Michelle sets the tone and draws us into a prayer, a prayer to rededicate our hearts to God. She's not just singing to God, but singing with Him, and giving voice to a heart that has been restored. These lyrics are intimate and speak of a "sacred place" where peace and trust replace our worldly striving. The chorus rises with a breath of awe, declaring, "How beautiful you are… more than I could imagine." Each time you sing along, the truth deepens: Christ's beauty and His first love surpass comprehension. A song that beautifully reminds us of 1 John 4:19:...

(by Jasper Tan) Justin Barnett with NCS Collective's live recording of their song "Nothing But the Name" is a powerful intimate worship performance that reminds us that only Jesus Christ matters. Justin's soulful and grounded vocal presence brings a sincere voice that enjoins us to sing the song with him and give worship to Jesus. Justin's vocals brings a certain grittiness to it as well as tenderness, which is evident during the opening verses where he reflects on Jesus as the "bread of life". This deeply emotional performance rises to its peak during the choruses where he is joined by the NCS Collective. This is where we get our full experience of a communal praise and worship session. The accompaniment of a full band setup and a group of backing vocals enhances that feel as we are reminded that to bring praise and worship to God is always more powerful when done as a community. The song is anchored by Barnett's acoustic guitar, which provides a st...