ChristianDance

It's so easy to meet someone with a smile plastered on and pretend everything's fine, e.g., when you walk into church. A complex mask to prevent questions and hold up appearances, both in faith and life. Presence Music Band gets it. They were seeing so many people who seemingly have everything all figured out, while they personally felt that they were often falling short. How is that possible? Is it real, or is it an act? We are under so much pressure to look perfect. Model citizens, model families, model parents, model students, model Christians… How can you keep up? This song is a beautiful invitation to drop the act. It acknowledges that we can "fool so many" with a smile while our "heart is heavy." Not everyone has the talent (or time) to see beyond our fake masks! That mask is hurting us, and it's sending the wrong message to others! This song asks the question, "But what if we removed the masks and breathed?" A question that reminds us...

Have you already heard Josh Grove's new song, "Holy Flame"? It's an upbeat worship song written and performed by Josh, and what makes this release even more intriguing is that Josh is a super talented 15-year-old singer-songwriter. He first shared this song at a youth event, and the response was so amazing that he was signed up by NRT. This release is the studio version. The song is all about the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and celebrates God's constant goodness and grace. The lyrics remind us that He is with us in every moment, day, or night, through both joy and hardship.  With lyrics like "I see You rising like a wave // I see Yo u falling like the rain," Josh emphasizes that we can see God in every situation. He's right there with us through all of our ups and downs, offering us hope and ready to guide us (if we reach out and listen). "You're by my side // Until the end of time." What I also find very exciting is that i...

Here's a song that's more or less been stuck in my head since I heard it. It's called 'Heartbeat' by Laura Leighe and is what Laura calls a "reggaeton-influenced Christian pop duet" that's all about surrendering to God's rhythm and dancing in worship, no matter what life throws your way.  The lyrics remind me of two scriptures: "Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe."  - Psalm 150:4 (NIV) and "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might."  - 2 Samuel 6:14 (NIV). Maybe I'm a bit prejudiced because the song reminds us of our own thoughts when we founded "Christian Dance" years ago and picked a name. Focusing on music that allows us to feel joy and causes us (our hearts) to dance for God, a pure form of worship that we know is pleasing to God. The lyrics are about surrendering our control and trusting in God's plan. Laura sings, "I bet you f...

I'm stoked to share this awesome track by emerging artist Martín Fredrick called 'Kingdom Things.' It's actually his first fully written song, and it's all about what really counts from a heavenly perspective. Martín wanted to capture how we, as Christians, can really zero in on what matters to God each day. Martín shared his favorite line in the song, "this is only a preview." He explains, "When we truly live following God's ways here on earth, we're going to see only a small preview of what God intends for us when we get to heaven and live alongside Him."   The song's message is crystal clear: focus on God's kingdom, live each day with purpose (His purpose), see the world through God's eyes, and passionately pursue His will and presence in everything we do.  The music combines Martín's touch together with various contributions by friends, making it a collaborative effort that feels so genuine. Ethan Sawyer played all of...

"Breath Over Me" by OCILIO is a deep house track, with lyrics that offer hope and healing for anyone who's feeling overwhelmed by life. When can feel so overwhelmed that it can literally feel hard to breathe. Look up to God, let Him breathe over you, feel that breakthrough moment when fresh air fills your lungs again.  The song reminds me of a Bible passage: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31). This is the kind of renewal that God brings to our lives!  The pulsing basslines and atmospheric tones try to reflect the renewal that God brings us, relieving us from our struggle and leading us to freedom. "I've been walking through the fire, feeling the heat // Like I'm drifting farther from who I'm meant to be." It's so relatable and real. It invites us to look to call out to God for help, "Come...

Dorothy Wallace's "The Lord's Prayer (Sister Janet Mead Cover)" breathes new life into a song originally recorded by Sister Janet Mead in 1973. I am familiar with the song released by Sister Janet Mead in 1973, and the genre of her song was already a surprise to many traditional Christians. It was listed as #4 on Billboard's pop chart on April 13th, 1974. Dorothy Wallace manages to surprise with this rendition, immediately placing a smile on my face, just like "Jesus Christ Super Star" did back in the day…  This rendition of the Lord's Prayer carries the same text as the timeless prayer that we are so familiar with and turns into a rock anthem that feels both reverent and powerful. This version uses the bold power of the electric guitar to amplify the call for us to connect with God. Dorothy reminds us, "God hears every word of this prayer, no matter the style."   The lyrics echo Jesus' own words: "Our Father, who art in heaven, ha...

From an early age, John Long has been involved in music in multiple capacities. He is a singer, songwriter, and studio producer at Arrow Point Studio in Kansas City. He is known around the world through his success on the Fiverr platform. John leads worship with Revive Music at the Revive Church in Kansas City.  The Hymn Devotional (Vol. 1) EP is the start of a new project called Gethsemane Instrumental. John shares, "Wordless melodies are often what help people connect to the Holy Spirit in their secret place. This project aims to aid that connection with songs that are made for and made by secret place encounter.  Our lives are better when we spend time with the Lord alone, not just on Sunday morning. Healing is found in that place. Comfort in grief is found there. Fulfillment like you've never known is there. I pray this project helps people connect to all of those things, but also helps deepen a real relationship with Jesus." The EP is a collection of slowed instrumen...