Based on Isaiah's declaration from Isaiah 6:8, this is a response song in which we commit ourselves to God, offering to be sent out to seek the lost.
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I've always loved the carol 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' but there was a lot in there that I never really understood until adulthood. After following the United Adoration creative Advent guide I was inspired to rewrite it keeping in mind young people, teenagers and those who might be coming to Christmas services as guests. I've aimed to keep the message, story and vibe of the song whilst making it a little easier for people who aren't familiar with the language and history to understand and connect with God through it, touch on things relevant to today and leave enough room for questions to arise.
I'm very thankful to the Resound Worship 12 Song Challenge community who helped me shape and finish this song.
Ineke Marsman-Polhuijs, Henk Pool
Based on words someone said when explaining Isaiah 61. There is nothing that God considers garbage in our life or throws away. He fulfills His plans with us, makes beautiful things out of brokenness. A song to express hope in difficult situations and to praise God no matter what.
We sang the song Oceans in church, a few months after our daughter was stillborn. I used to love that song. I always longed to walk in faith wherever God would lead me. But now I found myself not being able to sing it. What if going wherever He leads would mean I lose another child? I suddenly realized I didn’t trust God anymore. I was shocked.
Some months later I went to a songwriters retreat. In a workshop the leader invited us to write down what bothers us and to give it over to God. After that we asked God what He wanted to show us. I ‘see’ a man on the water. The sea is calm and the sun breaks through, right above the man. We told each other what we received. Then we prayed again and I ‘heared’ a song line from the band Live: ‘Run to the water. I find you there’. I thought it was funny. I’ve always loved Live and God knows that of course. I didn’t know what to do with it, though. ‘Isn’t that man Jesus?’ someone said. I was startled and immediately thought of the song Oceans again. I realised Jesus was inviting me to walk on the water, in the light. I wrestled with what this means exactly. I listened to Oceans again and then the last line hits me: ‘in the presence of my Saviour’. That’s what someone said as well: ‘But Ineke, you don’t walk alone on that water. God is always there.’ It is true. If I honestly look back, I can’t recall a moment I was completely left alone. I was always in the presence of my Saviour. I kneeled down and told God that I don’t dare, but somewhere deep-down want to trust Him. I just didn’t know how. Then I described what I saw in this song. In the months following, I sang it again and again.
This one was written on a baritone ukulele and features Rachel Wilhelm on backing vocals and George Cook on drums.
Mike Jariyaphruttipong, Toto Jariyaphruttipong
This song puts us in the place of looking ahead at Heaven and the joy ahead. Using the image from the parable of the prodigal son, where the father runs to his son from afar, welcoming him home. In that place there will be eternal worship. A song like this may not be seen often, and I hope that this comforts and blesses you.
Lux Eternal, Anna Dufek
For many people, Christmas can be a difficult season instead of a joyful one. It can make us feel alone in a crowd as we carry our secret heartbreak and grief. Gatherings only seem to highlight the empty chairs and the broken dreams–the absence of the people we love or the things we desire that we’ve lost or never had. While everyone else is having a great time in the presence of family and friends, we can feel isolated. Alone. Numb. Empty.
At Christmastime the air is full of songs of hope that say things like “the weary world rejoices”. How can our weary hearts, exhausted by a long season of waiting, sorrow, and pain, find the strength to endure?
This song is for everyone who is experiencing the weight of that loss and grief. Jesus meets you there. The incarnation shows us a God who is not distant, but willing to take on human flesh and experience every moment of our grief and sadness. Even knowing he was about to resurrect his friend Lazarus, Jesus wept at the ugliness of death and the pain he saw in Mary and Martha’s eyes.
He is Emmanuel: God with us. Jesus meets all of us in the darkness and weeps with us too.
~Anna Dufek & Luke Lengl
Stream "Jesus Prince of Peace" wherever you find music:
https://l.lxtr.nl/jpop
Ineke Marsman-Polhuijs, Henk Pool
Reading the story of the Prodigal Son, I was struck by how the father hugged his son and gave him a coat, a robe. He restored his status, clothed him. Suddenly I was reminded of the soldiers who took away the robe of Jesus, God’s Son, when He was crucified. They cast lots to decide whose it would be. Jesus laid down His robe, His authority, His dignity, His status, for me to be clothed with garments of salvation and wrapped in a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). I was so amazed that I wrote this song.
This was written at a United Adoration creative day in Durham at the beginning of 2024. The wonderful Elise Massa, who ran the day, chose Isaiah 55 as her theme scripture. She also helped me hone the lyrics. It's basically about us being so attractive that God's glory shines through us to attract others to God. It is therefore a challenge as well as a promise.