Notes From My Church Bonus Edition-Energy Off Da Chain!!
The opening song, “Everywhere I Go”
Lakewood’s live recording of their upcoming worship album was the place to be in Houston last Wednesday night! Around 5,300 people packed the sanctuary in anticipation of the long awaited CD. The atmosphere was sizzling with energy. The audience was hyped from the start, ready to praise God and be a part of history. The choir stand was packed, the band was all warmed up and Cindy, Steve, Da’dra and Israel were ready for action.
My family’s road to get there was a bit rocky, but the the family mini-drama was all forgotten once the lights went down and the music kicked in. The drama started when I realized that my phone was not charged up and we had to turn around and get the charger. Houston’s traffic is not forgiving of such oversights. My husband is in the choir and had to be there early, the kids had choir rehearsal and we were stuck in slow moving traffic. The hubby tells me it’s all my fault, and if he’s not singing we’re all leaving. He was not a happy camper!
His choir buddies were calling him on the phone to see where he was, and I was praying frantically for traffic to ease up and for us to make it on time. The tension in our Chevy Silverado was as thick as the traffic! To make a long story short, the kids were indeed late for choir rehearsal, but hubby made it just in time. Just in the the nick of time! Thank God, all is well in our household. That was a close one!
I’m glad we persevered because the concert was absolutely awesome! Once they turned the lights down it was on! The audience were on their feet in anticipation well before the first note was struck. I just have to make mention of the band. They were off the hook on every song! I’m sure Greg at FaithBasedBlog.com took special notice of the fancy guitar work. The drummers particularly caught the attention of my little ones. The “light show” was great also.
The songs sung were:
1. Everywhere That I Go
2. I’m Still Standing - All right!! I think they did this one just for me!!
3. Free to Worship-Led by Da’dra, the only words for this is just awesome!! I love to hear Da’dra sing and her intro was great. The song was inspired by Lisa Comes and Ephesians 2:13.4. Always Welcome-Led by Steve and Da’dra. The talented brother & sister duo at their best. They sat down in chairs for this one, which made for a wonderful atmosphere.
5. It Is Well With My Soul
6. At the Cross
7. Mighty to Save-My favorite part of the entire concert was when they turned up the lights on the part of the song that said, “shine your light and let the whole world sing, we’re singing for the glory of the Risen King”. When they turned up the lights it was awesome to look around and see so many faces just glowing with God’s love.
8. We Have Overcome
9. Turn It Around
10. Love So Amazing-Aah, Cindy’s voice is both soothing and reverent.
11. Your Love-Led by Cindy. Loved the part of this song, that said, “there’s no limit to Your love”. God’s love is limitless and unconditional. That statement has the power to change everything!!
12. Say So-Seeing 5,000 hands pumping in the air to the words “let the redeemed of the Lord say so!”, was a lot of fun! Everyone got in on the act, even my now very tired little ones. 13. Favor of the Lord-What a great way to officially end (well almost) the recording.
It’s my season,
It’s my time,
For the favor of the Lord.
When everything was over, the audience just kind of stood there not wanting to leave. The worship team sensed that and announced they would sing one last song, which was “You Are Good”. The audience loved it! Steve and Israel had a great time jumping around the stage and riffing off each other. They both have that energy that makes you want to jump on the stage with them! They seem to have such a great time.
There was just something special about the night. The atmosphere was set for worship and God was glorified. The CD will be available along with Joel’s new book in October.
Notes From My Church-Let It Be, Let It Go, Lay It Down
PLACE: Lakewood Church-Houston, Tx
Joel Osteen, Pastor
DATE: Saturday, August 18, 2007
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
THE MUSIC:
Worship Team: Cindy Ratcliff, Steve Crawford, Da’dra Crawford Greathouse, Israel Houghton, Choir & Band
Songs: Great In Power, For All You’ve Done, Turn It Around, Free To Worship, Draw Me Nearer, Draw Me Close, I Will Love, Worthy Is The Lamb, Right Now
What a great worship service this week! It seems that I don’t talk a lot about the choir, but their energy and enthusiasm is catching. It is great to look up and see the joy and happiness on their faces. My husband is in the choir and he is always talking about the relationships he’s formed and how much he enjoys being a member. He is really excited about the Lakewood Live Worship Recording next week. The project will be available for purchase in November. I hope they record one of my favorites, “I’m Still Standing”.
A lot of the worship songs are very catchy and I find myself singing them throughout the day. When I walk around the house singing, “all things are possible for you/nothing’s too difficult for you/nothing’s too difficult” from Turn It Around, I’m encouraging myself to believe that God desires me to excel and prosper. When I sing, “I’m free to worship You, Lord/with all my soul/and everything within me/I’m free to worship you here/casting out fear/Your love draws me near to worship”, from Free To Worship, I’m thanking God for the gift of Jesus Christ that enables me to lay my heart and soul before him in worship and adoration.
When my children hear me sing, “turn it around/open the windows of heaven/pour out a blessing, overflow/turn it around/open the windows of heaven/pour out a blessing we cannot contain”, they are learning that I trust God to bless our family in abundance. When I sing………..well, you get the picture. These songs have become a part of me, not just when I sing them during worship service. They are on my lips all the time and they are my help during tough times and my songs of praise during my worship time. Read more
Search Tags:cindy ratcliff dadra greathouse israel houghton jackie velasquez Joel Osteen Lakewood Church smokie norful Steve CrawfordGospel Music News-”C.I.A.”-Christ is Alive
,which is available for preorder.
1. Big names in gospel music head for East London~Story
2. Many ways to praise God~Story
3. ‘Holy hip-hop’ challenges Christian tradition~Story
I know Grits, LeCrae and D.A. Truth gets played a lot in my house.
4. Enjoy a night of worship with Martha Munizzi and Mary Alessi
Sisters Soaring to Success-October 20-23, 2007
5. Wintley Phipps, the U.S. Dream Academy, & the famous spiritual “Amazing Grace”~Story
Notes From My Church-It’s My Season, It’s My Time
PLACE: Lakewood Church-Houston, Tx
Joel Osteen, Pastor
DATE: Saturday, August 11, 2007
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
THE MUSIC:
Worship Team: Cindy Ratcliff, Steve Crawford, Da’dra Crawford Greathouse, Special Guest Jaci Velasquez, Choir & Band
Songs: Glorious, Favor, We Have Overcome, I Will Search, Glorify Your Name, So We Lift, Say So
The worship service was lively and full of energy this week. How can it not be with such inspiring and encouraging songs as Favor, We Have Overcome and Say So? I love the chorus on Favor that says, “I have a promise, a promise from heaven, it’s my season, it’s my time/for the favor of the Lord.” Then the audience participation really increases, complete with hand gestures, on ”pressed down, shaken together/running over/in the favor of God.” On We Have Overcome we sung, “we’ve got the victory, we’re on the winning side.” Great message, we win every time with God!
A pregnant Jaci Velasquez (congratulations!), who is a part of the Lakewood Summer Concert Series, joined Cindy, Steve and Da’dra on stage on Glorify Your Name. You can peep that video here. I love to hear Cindy sing this song in Spanish, so it was a bonus for me to hear Jaci’s beautiful voice sing in Spanish also. Jaci sung “Lay it Down” from the On My Knees album and it ministered on so many levels to me. Loved this part of the song:
So I’m gonna lay it down,
I’m gonna learn to trust You now,
What else can I do,
Everything I am depends on You.
And if the sun don’t come back up,
I know Your love will be enough,
I’m gonna let it be, I’m gonna let it go,
I’m gonna lay it down.
