Kevin Jones’ Full-Length Album, "Simple as That"
Purchase Kevin Jones first ever full-length album, “Simple as That” here.
Purchase Kevin Jones first ever full-length album, “Simple as That” here
100% of the profits & proceeds of this digital album go to the Matamoros Children’s Home
Get Charts for “Nothing Left to Prove” feat. May Angeles.
Get Charts for “I Love to Say I Love You”
Get Charts for “Never Wanna Go Back” feat. Charity Gayle.
Get Charts for “Let Revival Come” feat. Joshua Sherman
Get Charts for “Spirit of the Living God” feat. Melanie Tierce
"Walls Fall Down" feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles is now available!
Listen to “Walls Fall Down” feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles. Signed physical copies of “Walls Fall Down” are available in-store and online at A Whole World of Good.
People & Songs Presents “Walls Fall Down”
Singles from “Walls Fall Down” include, “We The People Praise,” “O Death,” “Mercy of Jesus,” “Time to Rise Up,” and “Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)”
Album Credits
Produced by: David Riddle & Mitch Schneider
Executive Producer/A&R: Jennie Lee Riddle
Mix: David Riddle
Studio: Forsbach Productions
Master: Nathan Forsbach
Features: Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, & May Angeles
Gang Vocals: The Emerging Sound
Musicians: David Riddle, Mitch Schneider,
Garret Tyler, Hannah Tyler & Thea Brown
Photography: Andrew Riddle
Album Art: Daniel Riddle
Songwriters
Time to Rise Up- May Angeles, Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, Jennie Lee Riddle,
Tobin Alford, Benjamin Gazdik, Kaden Slay, Melanie Tierce, Luke Cyrus, Laurely Taylor
We the People Praise- May Angeles, Jennie Lee Riddle, Tobin Alford
Love Like This- Jennie Lee Riddle, Jason Walker
Mercy of Jesus- Jade Lundgren, Jennie Lee Riddle
King of the Saints- Jennie Lee Riddle, Matt Boswel
Walls Fall Down- Mary Grace, Ryan Kennedy, Michele McGovern
Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)- Jennie Lee Riddl, Shane Barnard, Josh Miller, Josiah Warneking
O Death- Stephen Marti
Until That Day Comes- Sean Carter, Megan Thurman, Brandon Collins, Crystal Yates
Benediction (As You Go)- Jennie Lee Riddle, Todd Smith, Charity Gayle
Marketing Team: Daniel Riddle, Sabin Flore, Andrew Riddle,
Brynne Fritjofson, Lexi Pearson, & Charles Graves
Pre-Order WALLS FALL DOWN feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles
Walls Fall Down feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles is available for pre-order now.
New Album, “Walls Fall Down” feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles is now available for pre-order.
Enjoy the following singles from “Walls Fall Down” feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles: “We The People Praise,” “O Death,” “Mercy of Jesus,” “Time to Rise Up,” and “Psalm 46” (Lord of Hosts)”
“We The People Praise” (feat. Wesley Nilsen, May Angeles, and Mary Grace) is now available everywhere music is sold and streamed online
“We The People Praise” was written by Jennie Lee Riddle, May Angeles, and Tobin Alford. Charts are available here.
“O Death” by Stephen Marti (feat. Mary Grace, Wesley Nilsen, and May Angeles) is now available everywhere music is sold and streamed online.
“O Death” was written by Stephen Marti. Charts are available here.
“Mercy of Jesus” (feat. Mary Grace, May Angeles, and Wesley Nilsen) is now available everywhere music is sold and streamed online
“Mercy of Jesus” was written by Jade Lundgren and Jennie Lee Riddle. Charts are available here.
“Time to Rise Up” (feat. Wesley Nilsen, Mary Grace, and May Angeles) is now available everywhere music is sold and streamed online
“Time to Rise Up” was written by Jennie Lee Riddle, May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen, Mary Grace, Tobin Alford, Luke Cyrus, Kaden Slay, Melanie Tierce, Benjamin Gazdik, and L. Taylor. Charts are available here.
“Psalm 46” (Lord of Hosts) [feat. Wesley Nilsen] is now available everywhere music is sold and streamed online
“Psalm 46” (Lord of Hosts) was written by Jennie Lee Riddle, Josh Miller, Josiah Warneking, and Shane Barnard. Charts are available here.
May Angeles' Debut Album, "Never Wanna Go Back" is Available Now Everywhere Music is Sold and Streamed Online!
May Angeles’ Debut Album, “Never Wanna Go Back” is available now everywhere music is sold and streamed online!
Listen to May Angeles’ Debut Album, “Never Wanna Go Back”
A word from May Angeles regarding her debut album, “Never Wanna Go Back”
“God ordained this record even when I was still a child and its release 20 plus years later is His incredible faithfulness on display. These songs have been saturated in prayer and in faith for you to be healed, revived, reconciled, encouraged, set free, restored, forgiven, filled with Joy, and known by God. Once you’ve experienced the goodness of God, you’ll truly never want to go back to life without Him—that is, true relationship with Him. May these songs bless you, aid you, and help you see how wide, long, high and deep God’s love for you is. He is worth EVERYTHING.”
Singles from the record include “Come Through,” “Go To Live With God,”
“O Mercy,” “Never Wanna Go Back,” and “Hideaway”
Album Credits
Produced By: Jake Brueckner
Executive Producer: Jennie Lee Riddle
Recorded At: Inn Record Time
A&R: Jennie Lee Riddle
Mixed By: Jake Brueckner
Mastered By: Voyager Mastering
Features: Wesley Nilsen, Mary Grace, & Jordan Merritt
Gang Vocals: People & Songs, The Emerging Sound Musicians: Jake Brueckner, Wesley Nilsen, Tobin Alford, Sabin Flore, & Steven Vanhorn
Album Art: May Angeles & Daniel Riddle
Photography: Andrew Riddle
Additional Production: Wesley Nilsen, Sabin Flore, & Phillip Yancey
Songwriters
Divinity (Kevin Jones, May Angeles, Micah Tyler, Wesley Nilsen, The Emerging Sound)
Come Through (May Angeles, Ryan Kennedy, Jennie Lee Riddle)
You’re Making a Way (May Angeles, Sabin Flore, Jennie Lee Riddle)
O Mercy (May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen, L. Taylor, Jennie Lee Riddle)
I Breath Your Praise (May Angeles, Sabin Flore, Jennie Lee Riddle)
Go To Live with God (May Angeles, Ryan Kennedy, Paul Herman, Jennie Lee Riddle, The Emerging Sound)
Throne Room Song (May Angeles, Ryan Kennedy, Steven Musso, The Emerging Sound)
Wide Eyed Wonder (Dustin Smith, Michael Farren, Jennie Lee Riddle)
Hideaway (May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen, L. Taylor)
Lift Oh Gates (Corey Voss, May Angeles, Jennie Lee Riddle, The Emerging Sound),
Thank You Song (David Gentiles, Kevin Jones, May Angeles)
Marketing Team: Daniel Riddle, Sabin Flore, Andrew Riddle, May Angeles,
Brynne Fritjofson, Lexi Pearson, & Charles Graves
"Come Through" by May Angeles
Faith is an every day, everywhere we go kind of walk. It’s a journey God invites us to take with Him, one step at a time.
Listen to “Come Through” from “Never Wanna Go Back”
“Faith . . . learning how to walk it out”
Faith is an every day, everywhere we go kind of walk. It’s a journey God invites us to take with Him, one step at a time. We learn how to humbly depend on the grace and strength of Jesus, while holding onto God’s promise in Joshua 1:9 that He will be there no matter where we go. He will COME THROUGH for all who put their trust in Him.
“Come Through” Charts
Come Through Lyrics
Verse 1
Faith
Learning how to walk it out and obey
Trusting in Your sovereign ways
Left the hometown on my own now
On the road and getting used to it
Parts I let die parts You rewrite
It’s a journey to the grand prize
Pre-Chorus
I know You got good comin'
As I’m becomin' more and more like You
I know that You'll come
Chorus
I know that I know that
I know that You'll come through
I know that I know that
I know that You'll come through
Verse 2
Wait
Only in Your perfect time You unveil
Let Your will be over mine
So I step out You and me now
I surrender You have all of me
Be my guide stay by my side
I’m all in and I’m ready 'cause
Interlude
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Ending
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh
Oh I know that you'll come through
Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)
Listen to “Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)” from the album, “Walls Fall Down”
Psalm 46 (Lord Of Hosts)
Verse 1
O come behold
The works of God
The nations at His feet
He breaks the bow
And bends the spear
And tells the wars to cease
O Mighty One of Israel
You are on our side
We walk by faith
In God who burns
The chariots with fire
Chorus
Lord of hosts You’re with us
With us in the fire
With us as a Shelter
With us in the storm
You will lead us
Through the fiercest battle
Oh where else would we go
But with the Lord of hosts
Verse 2
O God of Jacob fierce and great
You lift Your voice to speak
The earth it bows
And all the mountains
Move into the sea
O Lord You know
The hearts of men
And still You let them live
O God who makes
The mountains melt
Come wrestle us and win
O God who makes
The mountains melt
Come wrestle us and win
Bridge
Though oceans roar
You are the Lord of all
The One who calms
The wind and waves
And makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way
The mountains move into the sea
The nations rage
I know my God is in control
May Angeles’ Debut Record “Never Wanna Go Back” is Available for Pre-Order Now!
The May Angeles album is up for Pre-Order on iTunes!
may angeles’ debut record, “never wanna go back” is available for pre-order now!
PHYSICAL COPIES OF MAY ANGELES’ DEBUT ALBUM, “NEVER WANNA GO BACK” ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF “NEVER WANNA GO BACK” ARE NOW AVAILABLE
The May Angeles album is up for Pre-Order on iTunes! We are releasing our first pop record at the timely moment when the Joy, Peace, and Hope of Jesus Christ is needed more than ever! The restless world is spinning at a rapid pace and Jesus is calling for us! Onward, forward, outward, upward! Grab hold of your faith, fill up with oil, and get ready to run! Let’s Go Church! #NeverWannaGoBack
Enjoy the following singles from May’s debut album: “Come Through,” “O Mercy,” “Hideaway,” “Never Wanna Go Back” & “Go To Live With God.”
“COME THROUGH” BY MAY ANGELES IS NOW AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE MUSIC IS SOLD OR STREAMED ONLINE
“COME THROUGH” CHARTS AVAILABLE NOW!
“Come Through” by May Angeles, Jennie Lee Riddle, and Ryan Kennedy
“O MERCY” BY MAY ANGELES (FEAT. WESLEY NILSEN) NOW AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE MUSIC IS SOLD OR STREAMED ONLINE
“O MERCY” CHARTS AVAILABLE NOW!
“O Mercy” by Jennie Lee Riddle, May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen, and L. Taylor.
“HIDEAWAY” BY MAY ANGELES (FEAT. MARY GRACE & WESLEY NILSEN) EVERYWHERE MUSIC IS SOLD OR STREAMED ONLINE
“HIDEAWAY” CHARTS AVAILABLE NOW
“Hideaway” by May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen, and L. Taylor
“NEVER WANNA GO BACK” BY MAY ANGELES (FEAT. PEOPLE & SONGS) AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE MUSIC IS SOLD AND STREAMED ONLINE
“NEVER WANNA GO BACK” CHARTS ARE AVAILABLE NOW
“Never Wanna Go Back” by Kevin Jones, May Angeles, and The Emerging Sound
“GO TO LIVE WITH GOD” FEAT. MAY ANGELES NOW AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE MUSIC IS SOLD OR STREAMED ONLINE
“GO TO LIVE WITH GOD” CHARTS NOW AVAILABLE
“Go To Live With God” by Jennie Lee Riddle, May Angeles, Paul Herman, Ryan Kennedy, & The Emerging Sound
Never Wanna Go Back
The heart of Never Wanna Go Back is in many ways the spiritual grand-child of Leslie B. Tucker’s I Have Decided to Follow Jesus….
The heart of Never Wanna Go Back is in many ways the spiritual grand-child of Leslie B. Tucker’s I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.
“The cross before me, the world behind me; no turning back, no turning back”
It’s about never wanting to go back to old crutches, unhealthy coping mechanisms, or vices. It’s about leaving things that belong in the past to finally stay in the past and, with everything in us, pressing forward in pursuit of health, hope and trust in SOLID ground—that is Jesus. I’m here as a living testimony to the wonder-working power of Jesus leading me to health, hope and solid ground. Where would I be without Him? ..ah yes, I remember. I never wanna go back to that way of living.
I remember being obsessed with trying to live a perfect life and making sure Jesus only had good things to say about me on the Final Day of Judgement. Growing up in church, I learned all the do-not things and spent my adolescent years making sure I NEVER did any of the do-not things. “Do not be unkind”, “do not dishonor your parents'', “do not be selfish”, “do not be prideful”, “do not--” this consumed my mind 24/7. I spent every moment interrogating myself and, because of my small perspective, I convicted myself guilty every time. When I did fall short (because we all have and will fall short) and mess up, those moments became confirmation bias of the lies I bought into about myself.
That was a gateway to anxiety, depression, fear, worry, bitterness, anger, self-loathing, and comparison to name a few. I might as well have run right up to the Judgment Seat, taken the gavel out of Jesus’ hand and tried to do His job better. “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!”, I would say. If you know me, I bet you’re thinking “what? no way.. sweet little joyful May?” Yes sir, yes ma’am. Sin looks ugly on everyone, and it will warp your ability to understand Grace. Looking back now, leaning on my own understanding was a big oof-and-a-half. All the while, sweet Jesus with His kind eyes (that brought me to repentance) was looking at me with care and perfect love. He was fully aware of everything I was feeling and thinking, but felt no need to give attention to what wasn’t true. He gently took the gavel back from my hand and struck the sounding block. Not Guilty! Not Guilty! Not Guilty! ...rang each hit. I couldn’t help but think about His sacrifice on the cross. He cast my sin away as far as west to east. Now that’s Grace.
I remember being on the floor on my knees when He opened my eyes. Repentance hit me like a salty wave, but washed me clean like His blood. It was like I could finally breathe for the first time and this weight I grudgingly carried all my life was lifted and placed where it belonged—not on my shoulders, but Jesus’. Perfectionism took its true and hideous form right before my eyes and I could see it for what it was. Ew. I couldn’t believe I wore that every day! Since then, I’ve resigned from trying to do God’s job. He does it so much better!
I’ve stopped searching and judging my own heart and I’ve dived head first into Psalm 139:23-24, “search me and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” I’ve found life now, and I’m leaving guilt in the past where it belongs. It’s so much better this way. Why would I ever want to go back to how I was? That chapter is sealed in Jesus’ name, and I praise the Lord for it! Now every time the enemy tries to attack me, I hang onto God’s every word of Revelation 12:11 which says, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
When we’re caught in the crossfire of anxiety and defeat, we have a third choice. And it’s a path far less traveled. One that often feels invisible when we’re blinded by our loyalty to ourselves. It’s a path that requires us to fix our eyes upward, rather than on ourselves. Who knows what treasures we’ll miss if we walk through life staring at our own feet in fear of whether the ground will hold or give way. I don’t know what you’re struggling with today, but one: it doesn’t define you. Two, there’s a better way and His name is Jesus. He leads to Life. I know that’s what you’re looking for. Three, behold, Jesus will make all things new. Journey onward with me toward this Promise:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them.
They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
It is an invitation to go forward with Jesus, and not go back. Are you in?
“He's Way Ahead of You”
In life, all kinds of crazy things are thrown at us and they sometimes even make us feel crazy. And no matter how much we want to dodge them, we just can’t. We’ve all “taken some arrows” that pierced right to the core.
He’s Way Ahead of You
In life, all kinds of crazy things are thrown at us and they sometimes even make us feel crazy. And no matter how much we want to dodge them, we just can’t. We’ve all “taken some arrows” that pierced right to the core.
It wasn’t our choice for those things to happen to us, nor are they what we ever planned for. Life just happened. It’s okay that we don’t have all of the answers when the pain hits us all at once. It’s okay that we don’t understand what has happened, because “there is One Who understands.” Before we even knew it, Jesus went ahead of us and took those arrows using His own Body as our shield.
Jesus took on all of the pain, rejection, and distress known to humankind—the same pain, rejection, and distress that every one of us would experience. When time comes for the shots to be fired at us, His covering strength literally becomes our own and suddenly we are no longer vulnerable or alone.
Although there is actually a real hurt that barrels in and tries to stop us, and worse even, make us bitter, God is in the business of taking what was meant to harm us and turn it around for good.
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 NIV)
““I know you didn’t see this coming. I know it’s not what you planned. And its okay that you don’t know what to say or to do. God knows what has happened, and He’s way ahead of you.””
Verse 1:
This world is crazy
spinning out of control
people do the wildest things
And try to rob you of hope
Verse 2:
But there is a Promise
He’ll keep you stable and sane
His Word will give You clarity
and Faith to face the day
Pre Chorus:
There’s a hurt that
tries to stop you
And make you bitter if it could
But what was meant to harm you
My God will turn it
‘round for good
Chorus:
I know you didn’t see this coming
I know it's not what you planned
And it’s okay that you don’t
Know what to say or to do
God knows what has happened
And He’s way ahead of you
Verse 3:
So you’ve taken some arrows
Pierced you right to the core
But there is one who understands
He knows what you’ve faced them for
Verse 4:
He chose you on purpose
And put you on the front lines
The devil aimed and shot to kill
But He only hit your pride
Bridge:
You were fearfully
and wonderfully made
To be fearfully and
wonderfully brave
By Denita Gibbs feat. People & Songs, written by
Jennie Lee Riddle, Denita Gibbs and Laurel Taylor.
CCLI Song # 7164437
Hallelujah My Soul Sings
Though we may not recognize it in every moment, our very deepest need is the same one as the first man and woman that walked with God in the garden. They had face to face, heart to heart communion with Him. That was all they ever needed, and all any of us need. But…
How I long to join in with Heaven
How I long to meet with You face to face
But until I see You completely
I’ll wait with eyes of faith
Though we may not recognize it in every moment, our very deepest need is the same one as the first man and woman that walked with God in the garden. They had face to face, heart to heart communion with Him. That was all they ever needed, and all any of us need. But now we live in a broken world facing the consequences of having chosen something lesser.
In Christ, we've been forgiven and made alive; we're given a new heart that yearns for the breath of God the way our bodies require oxygen.
Paul says in Romans 8 that all of creation is groaning as it longs for the day that we will be glorified with Christ as the children of God. And in 1 Corinthians 13, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” What a promise! The earth, the heavens, our very bones, aren’t crying out in vain. One day I’ll know Jesus as intimately as He knows me. For now, In His kindness, He is revealing more and more of Himself through His Word and His Spirit than I’ll ever be able to fully grasp in this lifetime.
How I long to join in with Heaven
How I long to meet with You face to face
But until I see You completely
I’ll wait with eyes of faith
A Word from Melanie Tierce on City Of God
Right there in the midst of barren ruins, joy compelled me to dance. Over and over again I decided to spin on top of and in spite of the decay that surrounded me….
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” - Hebrews 13:14
There is nothing that more thoroughly reminds me, “You are here on the map”, than when my eyes are filled with the sight of where we, as the Body of Christ, are headed! Again and again, I tell my soul of the destination toward which we are steadily running, where this race of faith finds its ultimate finish: the City of God. How often I must remind myself, “This is temporary! Look ahead! Do not forget what Jesus Himself is preparing! Don’t get too comfy! This world is not your home! Jesus is coming!” It is when I am filled with this faith that I am fueled to do what He has asked of me until He returns.
I once heard one of the most profound messages presenting the Gospel from pastor Renaut van der Riet, who spoke of our responsibility as Christ’s followers to “redeem the unredeemed spaces” by bringing the message of Christ’s redemption. This requires a willingness to go where most people do not want to go. It requires forsaking comfort and ease for the sake of loving sacrificially. We who have been redeemed can do nothing less than share Christ’s redemption to all people! We who have had our ashes traded for beauty, now, have the honor and responsibility of seeing all desolate things made beautiful.
This is why I love how the Lord orchestrated the artwork for this album, City of God. Right there in the midst of barren ruins, joy compelled me to dance. Over and over again I decided to spin on top of and in spite of the decay that surrounded me, hoping to capture in a picture the commissioning message of the Body of Christ: to live a life of redeeming the unredeemed spaces.
As the people of God, there is not a moment we wait aimlessly. As we actively and patiently anticipate God’s Kingdom, here in this in-between, we have the mandate to not grow weary in doing good. All of our sufferings, joys, tribulations, and triumphs dim in comparison to the glory in Him that is in fact being prepared for us! It is His word of promise to us,
“Let not your hearts be troubled […] I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:1-4 ESV.
We find our footing on the solid ground of the promise that faith indeed will one day be sight! Weeping will in fact only last for the night, and joy will stay for good when He brings that final morning dawn. Death will be fully swallowed up. Tears will be dried. And we will have Him—all of Him! No more seeing Him dimly as through a veil. Our hearts will finally meet what they have been longing for all this time: Our God, face to face. Jesus, the Son of God, on full display!
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. “ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”
Revelation 21:1-5
Everything will be shaken. Everything temporary will pass away. Build here on Earth with materials that will last into eternity, and stake your life on the only things that will remain: the mercy, the magnificence, and the beauty of Jesus! Forever and ever, Amen.
Melanie Tierce
Sing
Since I was saved at the age of 15, I have been utterly fascinated with the “off script” pieces of our times of corporate worship. What I mean by that is….
SING
By Melanie Tierce
Since I was saved at the age of 15, I have been utterly fascinated with the “off script” pieces of our times of corporate worship. What I mean by that is….
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:1)
“Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy” (Psalm 33:3)
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:3)
“Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones!” (Psalm 149:1)
NEW songs written right there on the spot when the people of God gathered! Faith, expressed through melody by singers and non-singers alike! My goodness, it was beautiful! And exhilarating! It was so clear what special role God had designed “new songs” of worship to be!
Now, I know that this space in worship is not one that all denominations emphasize or practice. I wrote “Sing” as an invitation and challenge for those who are used to this way of worshipping Jesus AND for those for whom it is completely new! Its aim is to leave space for the believer to practice a posture that I believe is crucial to the life of faith. Brand new, in the moment praise, and the practice of it corporately, is a skill, a muscle, and I would even say a weapon, that God has given to His saints, and that we have the joy and honor of learning how to yield.
“Sing” is a means of posing to you this question, Church. Do we as a people know only how to follow another in worship, or do we, each of us of our own accord, know how to boldly enter the throne room of God by faith with thanksgiving and praise - any time and anywhere? When discouragement rears its head, and there is no one there to encourage us to sing, will the muscle be developed in us to recount the glories of God? Do we know how to stir our hearts to thanksgiving and praise IN SPITE of how we feel on any given day?
Have we rehearsed the wonders of His character to such a degree that it is our first response when life shakes us to the core and no one is looking?
Perhaps, this powerful skill is a small piece of what it looks like for us as the Body of Christ to continue growing up into “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
It is time we practice our praise.
Is it risky? Perhaps a little. Of course it is essential we stay grounded in the Word and always only offer healthy food to the body of Christ! However, it’s not risky enough to not do it! The Holy Spirit is excellent at teaching us the ways of praise!
Is it awkward? YES, AND THAT’S THE BEST PART. It is truly a fast track of growth for the Body! It immediately requires the corporate letting down of pride, and the LEAPING right on out of our comfort zone! It allows the worshipper to declare “I care more about God being praised than I care about what others think of me”
Is He worthy? Oh, yes. And that truly is the bottom line. Jesus is simply worthy of it ALL. Worthy of 100 percent of the glory. Worthy of a joyful noise, even when we look like fools! So go ahead and fling the doors of your heart wide open. Tell Jesus how much you love Him! For His glory, for His fame, right there in your living room, right there in your car! As we make our way all the way home... (Isaiah 35:10)
SING, saints of God.... go ahead and sing a new song!
If there were no more words on the screen
Would we still know how to sing?
How to bring a true offering of our devotion
We can’t rely on building drums
To come and stir our faith up
We’ve gotta know how to come
and lead ourselves in worship
Sing, saints of God, Sing!
Make your own melody of praise
And tell Him how you love Him
Sing, saints of God, Sing!
Let your hearts now respond
To our God and give Him glory
All it takes is “You are Good”
All it takes is “Thank you, Lord”
All it takes is “Worthy is the Lamb”
Isn’t he worthy?!
Worthy of a joyful noise
Even if I look like a fool!
My Jesus is just that good
I can’t contain it!
Get the Charts and Album.
Every Day
Right from the opening “ooo’s,” you know it’s going to be good. And when that first chorus hits, you can’t help but sing along:
Every Day
New Single From PEOPLE & SONGS Releases On Leap Day, 2020
Right from the opening “ooo’s,” you know it’s going to be good. And when that first chorus hits, you can’t help but sing along:
I gotta sing out a new song
Until my heart sings along
I’m gonna lift up a true praise
‘Cause You make me glad
So I will rejoice
Every Day…
“Every Day” is the latest single from PEOPLE & SONGS, released (ironically) on February 29, a special day that only comes around once every 4 years.
Wesley Nilsen, vocalist and bassist for PEOPLE & SONGS and one of the song’s co-writers, reflects, “Psalm 96 says, ‘Oh sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name, tell of his salvation from day to day.’
“My salvation story is not always the first thing on my mind when I wake up in the morning, or even the central meditation of my heart throughout the day. But that’s to be expected; as humans, we’re all distractible and forgetful. I have to choose to obey the command to ‘sing a new song!’ My salvation isn’t a thing of the past; every day there is some new way that Jesus is working in me. He’s always leading me deeper in the new life I was born into. Like the chorus of this song says, I have to sing UNTIL my heart agrees with the truths that are being sung. That’s how I choose joy and stay thankful for what He’s done and what He’s doing!”
The third verse begins:
I tried to do life on my own
It left me empty and alone
I needed You to come and fill me...
Mary Grace, who sings lead on the third verse, says, “I love that reminder. We need Him to completely fill every space that we have tried to fill with lesser things. God longs to inhabit every part of our lives. He gives new life. He restores. He is redemption.
“It was such an honor to sing on this song with my good friends Wesley Nilsen and Kaden Slay,” continues Mary Grace. “I love the power behind the words ‘I’ve gotta sing out a new song until my heart sings along.’ Training our souls to sing in spite of what we feel is such a good skill to practice as a believer. I pray that this song helps you to lift your head no matter the circumstances and sing out your very own song to the only worthy King.”
“Every Day” was written by Wesley, Charity Gayle and Jairus Withrow, and recorded at the 3rd annual Turn Up The Lights worship festival in La Porte, Indiana last October. The purpose of Turn Up The Lights is to unite churches and entire cities in lifting up the Name of Jesus. “It’s stunning to realize that what began here in 2017 has quickly spread to various parts of the United States,” said Jennie Lee Riddle, founder of PEOPLE & SONGS and Turn Up The Lights. “This year we have seven festivals scheduled across the country.” For more information, go to turnupthelights.org.
Charts for “Every Day” are available on the People & Songs web store.
Also available on SongSelect. https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/7145985/every-day
CCLI #7145985
Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb
[SEAN]: As Melanie Tierce, David Gentiles and I co-wrote "Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb" with students at The Emerging Sound summer songwriting intensive, we were talking about the rich legacy of hymns and we wanted to use language that was reminiscent of the songs of old.
Reflections by Sean Carter and Melanie Tierce, co-writers
[SEAN] As Melanie Tierce, David Gentiles and I co-wrote "Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb" with students at The Emerging Sound summer songwriting intensive, we were talking about the rich legacy of hymns and we wanted to use language that was reminiscent of the songs of old. For years, hymn writers have used the "river" metaphor to describe how the cross of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)
In verse 1 the "crimson river" is the cross of Jesus, that Holy place where blood and water poured from His side. We lay our "burdens on the shore," that is, our sin at the foot of the cross. As we "go down a sinner," we surrender wholly to Christ, and in the power of the cross we are made new. We identify with Paul's words, for we "died with Christ" and walk in newness of life!
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
[MELANIE] The chorus of this song reminds me of Psalm 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” When you’ve been saved by the grace of Jesus, and brought from death to life, you just HAVE to let others know about it! The simple gospel truth of not being who you once were, and now belonging to God as a beloved child is worth celebrating and testifying about!
[SEAN] Verse 2 continues using "water" references to communicate mercy, grace, and new life in Jesus. Indeed, we found our “life there in that flood,” and we echo Titus 3:5:
"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."
Also, from Hebrews 9:14:
"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
Verse 3 echoes the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 and also Jesus’ words in John 7:37-38. He is our Living Water and we will never thirst again. Jesus invites us to come to Him with all the “pangs of life,” that is mental anguish, hunger, and a soul-thirst that can only truly be satisfied in knowing Him.
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Verse 4 is delivered with such tenderness and delicacy, as Melanie sings about “crossing that river.” The crossing of the river Jordan has long been used in spirituals as a metaphor of the believer passing on from this life and to our heavenly home. We will indeed “fall at His throne and forever worship Christ!”
[MELANIE] As we do this song live, I see it resonate immediately, even as the people are still learning the melody. It’s simple enough to learn quickly, and the simplicity of the message means that they can grab onto it right away and declare it as their own. It’s every believer’s story.
As we finished the recording, there was this beautiful hush that filled the room. Sean (who is so thoroughly equipped with the Word and always seems to have the perfect scripture at the perfect time) read the passage in Revelation 12: 10-11. As he was reading, I quickly heard a melody so clearly woven to the lyrics “We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” Suddenly, the whole room of students’ faith rose to the occasion! Again and again we victoriously declared it - overcoming even in that moment, singing the truth of His Word over any and every circumstance we were facing! It was indeed a triumphant sound!
Listen to “Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb” from “The Emerging Sound Volume 5”
Compelled
In August 2019, People & Songs had the holy privilege of worshipping with missionaries from all over the world in a historic, first-time gathering.
Compelled
A Beautiful Connection Between People & Songs and Assemblies Of God World Missions
By Jennie Lee Riddle
In August 2019, People & Songs had the holy privilege of worshipping with missionaries from all over the world in a historic, first-time gathering. We stood with them and watched these heroes dedicate and rededicate themselves to the high calling of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Assemblies of God World Missions, for inviting us to be a part of such a humbling moment in time. We are compelled, by the love of Jesus and His heart for people, to also recommit our lives to the only One who is worthy. We joyfully echo the cry of these missionaries, “May the Lamb of God receive the full reward of His suffering.”
“Compelled” was written by Mary Grace, Melanie Tierce and Wesley Nilsen for this gathering. It was inspired by the current missionaries that we have the honor of now serving and ones who have gone before. Here is part of their story:
The Moravian Slaves
A popular story about Christian Missions concerning Johann Leonhard Dober and David Nitschmann, describes how these two young Moravian Brethren from Herrnhut, Germany, were called in 1732 to minister to the African slaves on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix in the Danish West Indies. Allegedly, when they were told that they would not be allowed to do such a thing, Dober and Nitschmann sold themselves to a slave owner and boarded a ship bound for the West Indies. As the ship pulled away from the docks, it is said that they called out to their loved ones on shore, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!"
Music Resources for “Compelled”
Music Video
Music Video Split Track
Click Track
Audio- Full Stereo
Audio- Music Only
PTX (Practice Track)
STEMS
Lead Sheet (Music Book)
#AssembliesofGod #AssembliesofGodMissions #AGWM #Missions
My Time On The Road with PEOPLE & SONGS: Fall Tour 2019
By Paul Herman
First let me tell you how all this came about…
My name is Paul Herman. I grew up in church, helping lead worship and serving on worship teams all my life. For the past 17+ years, it was my privilege to work on the marketing team at CCLI, the company that provides licensing so churches can legally project or print copyrighted song lyrics for congregational singing. At CCLI, I was honored to become friends with a number of prominent Christian songwriters, especially Jennie Lee Riddle (writer of “Revelation Song”), along with her husband, Darrin, their family and the entire circle of writers and artists known as PEOPLE & SONGS.
I grew to dearly love these people—and their songs. I connected with them whenever my schedule would allow. So when my season at CCLI was finished, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to join PEOPLE & SONGS here in LaPorte, Indiana, as their new Marketing Director. Jennie thought that a great way to acclimate to my new position would be to join the group on their 5-week fall 2019 tour.
From Texas to Mississippi to Georgia to Florida
I love the Facebook meme that says: “Buying snacks for a road trip should always look like an unsupervised 9-year-old was given $100.”
Let’s just say we would’ve made that 9-year-old proud, mostly courtesy of Buc-ee’s, the undisputed Taj Mahal of southern truck stops. We needed every bit of them, too, because that first leg, LaPorte, Indiana, to Texarkana, Texas, was 17 hours!
This was PEOPLE & SONGS’ 2nd “Turn Up The Lights” festival in Texarkana and the continuation of the vision to unite the churches and lift high the Name of Jesus over the city. Throughout the 2-night event, God showed up in powerful ways. Many lives changed. 19 baptisms, deliverance from addictions, depression, fear, bondage. We were overwhelmed. And there was much, much more to come…
Texarkana was the first time I heard the new PEOPLE & SONGS’ anthem, ”Hell or High Water,” live. I had heard the recorded single when it was released, and I loved the song. But to hear it live—Wow! It felt like the whole room lifted. The bridge was written in an amazing call-&-response format:
Steady, constant (I have this confidence)
Mercy, goodness (I have this confidence)
Awesome, Mighty (I have this confidence)
I know Who You are
Defender, Healer (You are my confidence)
Protector, Shepherd (You are my confidence)
Jesus, Savior (You are my confidence)
I know Who You are
The sound of the crowd rose to meet the amplified singers and band. Let’s just say it was a room FULL of confidence!
Across Texas
We then drove all the way across Texas, bound for El Paso, with a wonderful respite for a few days in Dodd City, as we joined Lannius Church of God for 3 nights of Revival meetings. I loved the variety of venues on this tour—from big arenas, auditoriums and state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems to smaller, down-home churches. Same God. Same Spirit. Same Presence.
Jennie spoke about the power of community and reaching beyond the awkwardness. It was beautiful to see a group of believers reach across aisles and beyond natural boundaries to “get up in each other’s business” and really pray and minister to each other. Again, we saw many chains and bondages broken as God’s healing power swept through the room.
Lights Over El Paso
We had scheduled a “Turn Up The Lights” festival for El Paso, TX, months in advance. But 3 weeks prior to the event, we—along with the rest of the nation—were horrified to hear of the deadly mass shooting at an El Paso WalMart.
We weren’t sure what to expect, but what we found immediately upon arrival were people ready to worship and ready for a mighty move of God. So we kicked in to a new favorite opener for us (and also a growing number of worship teams across the country), “Welcome King Jesus.”
Shout all you people, dance through the town
Come celebrate because Heaven’s come down
Jesus, Welcome King Jesus
Kaden Slay, co-writer and lead vocalist, said, “God continues to use this song in such an awesome way to give everyone the opportunity to just cut loose and celebrate our King!”
One thing I love about all our events, and especially this one, is that it’s not a typical concert or night of worship. Our PEOPLE & SONGS people have the freedom at any time to come off the stage, pray with people, worship with people, and just simply minister. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful. It’s how it should be.
Night one was unbelievable. The responses from the wonderful new friends we made in El Paso lifted our spirits. It was such a privilege to interview Teresa Anekwe, the event coordinator, and hear her heart for the city.
But as we prepared for Night two, we received word of another shooting, this time in Midland/Odessa, TX, just a few hours away. As the night began, our group and the entire audience gathered and recorded a spontaneous phone video to those hurting in Midland/Odessa, extending the same comfort with which we all had been comforted.
Spontaneous Stop in Odessa
The following day, on our way to Fort Worth, we stopped at Odessa for an impromptu worship and prayer gathering with local pastors and church members in the city park.
The Lord’s presence joined us there for an anointed time of comfort and healing. I was standing next to a 12-year-old boy who looked completely shocked and numb. I prayed that comfort and peace would come over him, and as we worshipped, I saw life return to his face. The Lord was near.
Bethesda
We were so honored to join Bethesda Community Church in Fort Worth for a Friday Night of Worship (joined by their 100-voice choir), then a keynote message from Jennie at their Saturday women’s conference, and we wrapped it up with an amazing Sunday morning worship service. Once again, it was beautiful to see our singers come off the platform to pray and worship with people. On the Night of Worship, with May Angeles singing “Wide-Eyed Wonder,” the Bethesda Choir joined us in front of the stage to serve as the Prayer Team for a beautiful time of prayer with all who came forward.
We stand in wide-eyed wonder
Here in this Holy place
We humbly dare to ask for
More of Your glory
More of Your unveiled face...
Texas Football
Part of any road trip is trying to understand and appreciate the culture. Our AirBnB was in nearby Arlington and fairly close to AT&T Stadium, otherwise known as “Jerry’s World” and home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL Football team. I’d heard about Texas football, but I hadn’t really experienced it first-hand until now. On the day before the opening of the NFL season, I had to shop for a few items, and the closest WalMart was right across from the stadium. You know how WalMart always features seasonal items right up front? I’m not exaggerating—from one end of the store to the other and about 5 rows deep was nothing but Dallas Cowboys gear! And the vast majority of shoppers were already wearing Cowboys gear, but still coming in for more. These people are football crazy!
Kaden’s Home Church in Lucedale, MS,
It was wonderful to minister for 2 nights of Revival at Crossroads Church in Lucedale, Mississippi, where Kaden Slay, one of our People & Songs artists, grew up. Appropriately, the physical CD copies of The Slays debut album from Kaden and his wife, Melanie Tierce, were available for the hometown crowd (more than a month before the official album release). As you can imagine, Kaden’s father Rev. Warren Slay, lead pastor at Crossroads, and Kaden’s mother Alisha were two VERY proud parents!
The release of The Slays album was also a great moment for the entire church, since the album opens with their congregational prayer of intercession, blended and layered with intercessory prayers from the entire PEOPLE & SONGS community. Pastor Slay’s reading of the familiar Scripture passage from 2nd Chronicles 7:14, is a fitting preface to the opening song. “That opening prayer and Scripture is my favorite part of the album. It adds so much heart,” says Melanie. “And it’s the perfect lead-in to ‘Heal Our Land.’
Over the two nights of revival, it was wonderful to see the younger members of PEOPLE & SONGS step up and lead with true Kingdom authority. Kaden, Melanie, May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen and Mary Grace ushered the congregation straight into the Throne Room of God.
Onwards to Georgia
Our next stop was Azalea City Church Of God in Valdosta, GA and their “Sounds Like The Kingdom” conference. Leaders from more than 30 local churches attended, and we had an amazing time together.
It all began with a songwriting session with our PEOPLE & SONGS writers and about 60 conference attendees. This approach had worked previously, at the first “Time To Rise Up” conference at Metropolitan Church in Birmingham, AL, where “Hell Or High Water” was written. This writing session was a success as well, and “The Source Of My Song” was birthed.
The Thursday night “Worship In The Round” for conference attendees, the Friday “Night of Worship” for the entire Azalea City Church, and the extended worship time at their Sunday morning service were all glimpses of Heaven touching earth. Just astounding!
The Friday Night of Worship crescendoed with one of my favorites from PEOPLE & SONGS, that Jennie wrote with Shane Bernard - an anthem that vividly describes the unbridled power and majesty of our God. It’s called “Psalm 46 (Lord Of Hosts).”
The oceans roar, You are the Lord of all
The One Who calms the wind and waves
And makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way
The mountains move into the sea, the nations rage
I know my God is in control
I KNOW MY GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Gator Tail
I also have to mention our Southern cuisine adventure at Bubba Jax Crab Shack. I sat across from Daniel Riddle, the only one of us brave enough to order gator tail for lunch. His reasoning was sound. “I’m coming into their territory,” he said, “so I need to show ‘em who’s boss.”
The Ones You Hardly Notice
Let me pause for a moment and introduce four PEOPLE & SONGS members you don’t often see:
Daniel Riddle, (Darrin and Jennie’s oldest) runs ProPresenter and coordinates travel and event logistics for the group. Quiet, unassuming, dry sense of humor, and a razor-sharp wit. I love hanging out with Daniel!
Lexi Pearson is the Hospitality Queen at the People & Songs Headquarters in LaPorte, and just as Queenly on the road. Lexi coordinates the merch booth for People & Songs, and she makes sure all the details are covered. She is a true Godsend!
Gannon Gager is our amazing photographer. You may not notice him, but you see his dazzling work throughout this article. He’s a master at capturing PEOPLE & SONGS artists at just-the -right angles, with just-the-right lighting and with just-the-right expressions.
Andrew Riddle (Darrin and Jennie’s youngest) seemingly has boundless energy, and he puts it to good use as our primary videographer. You’ll see him on stage, camera in-hand and weaving his amazing choreography to get the perfect video angle, all while trying to stay out of the way as much as possible
I love these people!
WFX: Worship for Techs
Our final stop was the Orlando Convention Center for the WFX Conference. I had attended WFX previously, representing CCLI, so I knew what to expect. This conference is very tech-and-gear focused, and to be honest, I always thought the worship sessions took a back seat. The central hub of the conference is a mammoth exhibit hall with booth after booth displaying huge LED screens, the latest projector and video equipment, audio and post-production equipment, and every other church tech thing you can think of. The teaching and worship sessions were typically located in a ballroom or auditorium that’s a lengthy walk from the main hub, and sometimes difficult to find.
Our opening session began pretty much like I anticipated it would. The audience seemed more focused on the sound, lighting and projection systems than anything else. But midway through the session, something turned and the Spirit of God moved through the room in a mighty way. After our worship set, Renaut van der Riet, lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL, presented the Gospel story with such passion and clarity, reminding us all why we do what we do.
Beth Vinton was the primary event coordinator for WFX, and it was her vision to make the worship and teaching sessions a more prominent focus of the conference. It was truly exciting to see that unfold. One of Beth’s ideas was for us to “flash-mob” unannounced and spontaneously right in the middle of the exhibit hall aisles. That was a blast! Smiles all around…
At the end of the event, the Tech Director for the whole WFX Conference told us, “I’ve never seen church tech guys worship like that before.” This was a real breakthrough. God be praised!
Reflections
The thing I’ll remember most is the joy, contentment, and yes, relief that I saw in the faces of hosts that had scheduled us for their event. More than even their words of gratitude and affirmation, I saw in their eyes that God had accomplished what they’d hoped and prayed for—and in many cases, abundantly more!
When we left a tour stop, our hearts were overflowing, even though we’d left a piece of our hearts there! Funny how that works.
In my new role here, I’m AMAZED to see how many online friends we have! It’s wonderful to know that we’ve touched your lives in a meaningful way, and our tour stops are where we get to deepen those friendships as we spend time together with the Lord. So let me encourage you, if you haven’t yet joined us live, here is my personal invitation. We’d love to greet you, look in your eyes, pray for your needs, and rejoice with you in victories.
2020 is going to be a very busy year for PEOPLE & SONGS. Check our upcoming schedule at peopleandsongs.com/events and hopefully we’ll see you soon!
God's Gonna Get My Praise
This song was written as an authoritative roar and proclamation of our victorious King. First and foremost, Jesus is supreme…
PRAISE IS OUR WEAPON
By Kevin Jones
Psalm 21:13 — “Accept our praise, O Lord, for all your glorious power. We will write songs to celebrate your mighty acts!”
This song was written as an authoritative roar and proclamation of our victorious King. First and foremost, Jesus is supreme. He is over all and is absolutely, positively, no-doubt-about-it, in-control. No one can mess with Him. Through Jesus, we have complete deliverance and victory over sin & death.
As a member of People & Songs, I can tell you this: we have collectively decided together that praise is our weapon—no matter how we feel, no matter what surrounds us, and no matter what may come our way, God’s GONNA get our praise!
As we give God our praise, we are doing two things:
1. We are celebrating Jesus!
2. We are defying our enemy.
I think a great example of using praise as a weapon is found in Acts 16. Let me set the stage: Paul and Silas were in the city of Philippi, ministering together in the name of Jesus. To make a long story short, they cast an evil spirit out of a girl. This particular spirit was one of “divination,” or simply put, fortune telling. The girl that the evil spirit was controlling was actually a slave. Her owners had gained much profit from her fortune telling and were now enraged at Paul and Silas.
What followed was an intense public beating. In verses 22–24 it says that Paul and Silas were stripped and beaten with rods and then put in stocks in the inner chamber of the prison. This has never happened to me but if it did, you better believe that I would be crying out to God for help like I never had before. Paul and Silas certainly prayed, but here’s what is so incredibly awesome—they also praised. Verse 25 says, “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
Now, why in the world were they singing? Praying makes sense. But singing?! It was late. Midnight to be exact. I can only imagine how much pain they were in and how physically and emotionally exhausted they were. They had no idea what was going to happen to them. Will they be beaten again? When will they eat again? How long they were going to be held captive? I can only imagine that they were at a place of total devastation.
In the eyes of men, they were weaponless, but in the eyes of God, they had the greatest weapon. They had learned that singing, especially while in the face of suffering, is not merely a response to God’s grace but also a weapon of spiritual warfare. What I really love about this is that they prayed and sang together. Our enemy wants to attack us alone. Any professional zoologist will tell you that a pride of lions never attack a whole group of wildebeests. They always single out one. The Church is meant to stick together, war together, and praise together.
As you keep reading, God displays His power and mercy in response to their praise. Here’s what happens in Verse 26: “And suddenly there was a great earthquake . . . and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened.”
Isn’t that awesome?! God accepts Paul and Silas’s praise and makes it an occasion for His power! When we praise, God flexes! Here we see the truth confirmed, that God has assigned the use of spiritual songs as a powerful and advantageous weapon against His greatest enemy - the devil.
“Like” A Lion
While we were writing “God’s Gonna Get My Praise,” we rallied around 1 Peter 5. Verse 8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” I remember the moment when we realized something very profound about this particular verse. It specifically says that the devil is “like” a lion, meaning he isn’t a lion. The devil is an imposter. He is not God.
1 Peter 5 goes on to say in Verse 9 to “Resist him, firm in your faith…” I think we could all agree that it is easy to praise God when it is 75 degree weather and everything is smooth sailing. But a true test of our faith is when we praise God specifically in the midst of storms, valleys, trials, and tribulations. When we resist our enemy firm in our faith, that means we praise God in and through all seasons and walks of life. We are looking to the One (Jesus) who is for us and not against us. He gives us His strength to stand firm in our faith. Jesus is not a distant God. He is not in another room expecting you to fight all alone.
Back to that word - together. God has given us His Bride (the Church) to help us not be alone in the fight. Hallelujah! But we are also not alone in the fact that He has also given us His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is where our true power comes from. Ephesians 5:18–19 says, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord with all your heart.”
As we see here, being filled with the Holy Spirit happens when a heart is filled with praise. So if we are warring against the devil by the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit, we are weaponizing and arming ourselves with melodies. We are fighting him with song!
Honestly, Paul and Silas are just one out of many examples throughout the Bible where worship is warfare and praise is a weapon in the hands of believers. So now let us lean on each other “…knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” - 1 Peter 5:9. Let us ultimately rely on the Holy Spirit where we obtain the power to sing in the face of our enemy. May the Holy Spirit empower our obedience & praise!
Praise is our weapon as we celebrate Jesus and defy our enemy! It doesn’t matter what surrounds me, what I’m going through or how I feel about it. God’s gonna get my praise!!
- Kev
People & Songs
Listen to “God’s Gonna Get My Praise” from The Emerging Sound Volume 5
The Reason
Christmas 2018 was very special for me. I got to record and release the EP The Reason with my favorite human at the helm producing, Will Yates, my husband of 21 years….
THE REASON
By Crystal Yates, People & Songs
Christmas 2018 was very special for me. I got to record and release the EP The Reason with my favorite human at the helm producing, Will Yates, my husband of 21 years. Along with a host of excellent musicians, engineers, and friends.
I recorded a couple of my favorite classic Christmas tunes including a new southern soul version of a favorite song of mine “What A Wonderful Child”! I also LOVE that I got to write the title track, “I Want The Reason,” with a couple of my People & Songs family members Jennie Lee Riddle and Kaden Slay! It is truly a special song for me, that I so want you to hear!
I love Christmas and Christmas music so much. For me, the bright lights, the parties, the family times, traditions, decorating, cooler weather, and especially the music—it all makes me feel so vibrant and alive! But, there is an even bigger reason I really am alive, with new life giving me more than I could have ever hoped for. That is all because God sent the sweetest and most wonderful gift, even to a sinner like me. Jesus.
Whether we realize it or not, we are celebrating one of the most precious moments in history —next to Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection! We celebrate the humility and beauty of God sending His only Son to invade our darkness with His glorious love! My heart skips a beat even writing about it. When I really ponder it and imagine the holiness of that moment —our Deliverer was delivered and put into our hands, to save us all.
Available on Apple Music
Oh the wonder of it all! The beauty and favor of God to come and shine upon man in the form of a tiny baby. Majesty and power kissed the earth the night this world’s Savior was born. Angels rejoiced and made special visitations to tell people a king was born in Bethlehem, a Savior, Jesus, the Christ! A special star even appeared in the night sky. It’s just too wonderful for words! It was a miraculous and unbelievable thing. THAT night changed everything for us.
God has given us His best, His own son, Jesus Christ. May we not forget the Reason that we celebrate the season! We have every reason to hope with ALL that we are. To expect God to show up in all of life’s moments— in ways we least expect—walk with us, and be our Emmanuel, our God is with us!
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has come. So come and behold Him, look for Him, share Him, and don’t let the reason we celebrate get lost in the shuffle. Enjoy this Christmas —go to the parties, bake the cookies, sing the songs, gather with friends and family, visit neighbors, celebrate, be filled with joy, life and hope. But always remember He is the why! I pray this collection of songs brings joy and blessings to your hearts and home this Christmas as you celebrate the Reason for this season! I hope you all have the Merriest Christmas you ever had! Because…
“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.” John 3:16
Joyfully Serving,
Crystal
PEOPLE & SONGS Releases The Slays
One year of marriage. And one deeply profound worship album.
A few weeks following Kaden Slay’s and Melanie Tierce’s first wedding anniversary, PEOPLE & SONGS released the young couple’s debut album, appropriately titled The Slays on Oct 18, 2019 at the “Turn Up The Lights” worship festival in La Porte, Indiana.
One year of marriage. And one deeply profound worship album.
A few weeks following Kaden Slay’s and Melanie Tierce’s first wedding anniversary, PEOPLE & SONGS released the young couple’s debut album, appropriately titled The Slays on Oct 18, 2019 at the “Turn Up The Lights” worship festival in La Porte, Indiana.
Sometimes gritty, sometimes tender but always genuine, heartfelt, Americana-infused worship songs from two artists totally in love with Jesus, His Church—and each other.
“It was all a seamless stream of events, from the wedding to the honeymoon to the first few months of marriage to working on the album,” says Kaden.
Kaden’s first album as a solo artist, The Mercy Of Jesus, was released in 2018 and debuted at #2 on iTunes Christian/Gospel category. It featured the title track, along with “One Thing I’ve Learned” and “There Is A Lamb,” sung with Melanie Tierce. In 2017, Melanie released a very personal single, “One More Step.” They were both prominently featured in PEOPLE & SONGS’ The Emerging Sound projects, including “Touched By A Fire,” “Give Us Your Heart,” “Redeemed By The Blood Of The Lamb” and “Welcome King Jesus.” Melanie’s stunning American Idol audition in 2016 earned a unanimous Golden Ticket from the judges and brought Keith Urban to tears.
The PEOPLE & SONGS label head, executive producer and A&R for The Slays, Jennie Lee Riddle, chose Old Bear Records, with Chris Hoisington of Brothers McClurg to co-produce. It was a perfect fit for the Slays’ natural leaning toward Americana and that down-home Southern sound. “We’d hung out with them a year prior,” remembers Kaden, “And we just loved their vibe and their taste in music. So we were ecstatic for the opportunity to work with them!”
The album opens with audio from a church service at Crossroads Free Pentecostal Church in Lucedale, Mississippi, where Kaden grew up, blended and layered with intercessory prayers from the entire PEOPLE & SONGS community. The pastor is Rev. Warren Slay, Kaden’s father, reciting the familiar Scripture passage from 2nd Chronicles 7:14, a fitting preface to “Heal Our Land.”
“That opening prayer and Scripture is my favorite part of the album. It adds so much heart,” says Melanie. “And it’s the perfect lead-in to ‘Heal Our Land.’ The whole first section of that song came out of a spontaneous worship moment at our 4th Emerging Sound summer camp. From there, we crafted the song around the simple truth that healing is directly tied to repentance and a repentant people.”
“Arms Of My Beloved,” written by Kaden, Melanie and Wesley Nilsen, is a tender, deeply intimate song about the love and mercy of Jesus. It begins: I used to think that I was living when all I did was long for more...
Then the chorus turns and declares, Thank you Jesus for Your mercy that holds me steady on my way, Leaning on the arms of my Beloved, in the arms of my Beloved I’ll stay.
Kaden reflects,
“Jennie quotes this scripture a lot from Song of Solomon 8:5, ‘Who is this coming out of the wilderness leaning upon her beloved?’ I’ve always loved that. I also love the hymn, ‘Leaning On The Everlasting Arms’ so ‘Arms Of My Beloved’ is our take on all that.”
Kaden and Melanie’s version of “Hell Or High Water” infuses that down-home Americana flavor into the powerful anthem from PEOPLE & SONGS. “We wrote that song at a conference in Birmingham, Alabama, with our P&S people and about 60 attendees,” remembers Kaden. “From the get-go, this song had unbelievable punch. Every time we get to the chorus, the room erupts in praise! We were excited about how that one turned out. It went a direction we weren’t expecting, but really ended up loving.”
Melanie added,
“We deliberated for a long time about using the word ‘hell.’ We didn’t want to be divisive or offend, but we wanted to write a song that does the work of bringing peace.”
The discussion among the 60 conference attendees included a number of pastors who felt that this was an honest heart cry that they would want their congregations to sing, Come hell or high water, You’re still on the throne…
Jennie points out “In a day when all music has gone to the cloud, this one is worth holding in your hands, so you can fix your eyes on every word. The lyrical content alone is worth the 8-panel beautiful album cover. Worth the vinyl. It’s a forever keepsake, filled with some of the strongest songs and most anointed voices I’ve ever encountered. This album has become a part of me. Kaden and Melanie are loved-filled, creative, and inspiring servants of the Lord. The Slays have won my heart.”
Reflecting on the project as a whole, Kaden says,
“Our heart for this album is for people to experience the full-range of everything Jesus has to offer, These songs cover the different aspects of all that God has for us and displays our full walk with Jesus.” Melanie sums it up simply, “I want them to see Jesus, and have those moments of just being with Him.”
New Name Written Down In Glory
Four years ago, my wife Emily and I began a journey to grow our family through foster care and adoption….
Reflections from David Gentiles, co-writer
Four years ago, my wife Emily and I began a journey to grow our family through foster care and adoption. We had been wrestling with infertility for many years and felt affirmed by the Holy Spirit that we would walk through the Texas foster care system to build our forever family. Little did we know that our lives would be eternally altered when an 8-month-old little boy and a newborn baby girl were placed in our home. We fell in love at first sight. We didn’t know what the next days, months, or even years would look like, but we had a sense that the Lord would make us a forever family one day. Many who have walked similar roads like ours would tell you that days like these can be filled with joy, fear, anxiety, excitement, tension, release, defeat, and victory.
David, Bethel, Royal and Emily Gentiles
On July 26, 2018, something miraculous happened. Something legal happened. Something only God could do happened. We officially and legally welcomed Royal David Gentiles and Bethel Joy Gentiles into our family through the miracle of adoption.
With family and friends, we stood before a District Judge and covenanted before God and the State of Texas that we would receive these two children as our own for all of our lives. We would receive them “as if” we had born them ourselves. We would accept them fully and intentionally to forever love, care for, and affirm as “ours”!
Then we gave them our name! Gentiles. The Gentiles Family name. Such a powerful thought that the name that gave me identity, history, heritage, holiday memories, family vacations, and a place to belong to, is now their name. Even more than that, I gave Royal my name, David, as his middle name.
Royal - David - Gentiles. Our children have our name. My son has my name.
Your New Name
If you have given your life to Jesus and decided to follow him as Lord and Savior, you also have a new name. You’ve been given the family name of the most high God! He is the Alpha & Omega, The Lord of Lords, The Creator and Sustainer of all things. He holds your very breathe in his hands and has welcomed you in as a son and daughter!
We know this because the apostle John shared with us in the first chapter of his gospel that: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name..” (John 1:12).
What’s more incredible than that revelation is the reality that if you are in Christ, God will also give you a new name that only you and He will share in eternity. He simply says, “To him who overcomes, .. I will give a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’ (Revelation 2:17)
This picture of the white stone is so powerful! In the ancient law courts, white and black stones were used for registering the verdicts of juries—black for guilty, white for not guilty. You and I are found guilty under the penalty of sin without the work of Jesus breaking sin’s power and applying the perfection of Jesus’ sacrifice upon our sin to redeem us from death and liberate us to eternal life! But if Jesus is your Savior and Lord you can be confident that you have a white stone with your new name waiting for you in eternity. “There is a New Name Written Down in Glory” and it’s yours!
Thoughts On The Song
A few days ago I was tagged on Twitter by a worship director who was posting a video of his church singing this song in The United Kingdom. The United Kingdom! I was so excited to see God send this truth all over the world! I was humbled that He would allow me to be a part of writing this powerful song to remind all of us about who we are in Christ!
In the writing session with Charity Gayle, Denita Gibbs and students at The Emerging Sound summer songwriting intensive, I remember so vividly the moment these words and melody came:
“I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am…”
We were in the middle of talking about how our identities were changed from enslaved to free, broken to whole, orphan to adopted, and abandoned to son and daughter of our loving God. It was like a truth train came storming down the tracks of my mind. I could see the electricity in these truths in the flow of the melody and lyrics. It just came out of my mouth like a tidal wave! The whole room just went crazy. We knew the Lord had given us something special to share with the world.
And then just a few days ago I saw this video.. The world is singing those same truths that came out like a fountain of resurrection from the heart of the Father.
Birmingham City Church, Birmingham, UK, courtesy of Kevin Thomas Levingston, Worship Director
I’ve got a new name!
You have a new name!
And it’s written down in glory!
Charts for New Name Written Down In Glory are available at the People & Songs Store
Also on CCLI SongSelect