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"A Love Song" by Seek and Surrender: The Three-Stranded Covenant

(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...

"If Jesus Could (Walk on Water)" by John Fumo & Robert Fumo: A Funky Call to Compassion

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 ...

"Holy Is Your Name" by Jensen & Company: A Beautiful Song of Praise and Worship

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...

"Sunlight (Storge)" by Chelsea Chaisson: Reminisce the Simpler Times

(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...

"I Must Go (The Apostolic Song)" by Mikey Adebayo: Following to the Ends

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...

"Bigger & More Beautiful" by Tyler Ratcliffe: Held in the King’s Hands

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 ...

"Come To You" by Avery Stafford: Surrendering Pain to a Faithful Father

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...