“I lift my hands to believe again…”
So writes, so sings Chris Tomlin in the song “I Lift My Hands” from his latest musical compilation, And If Our God Is For Us, due for release on November 16th. A seven word statement of faith that sums up my feelings about the eleven songs included on this recording.
Lifting my hands to believe again.
I love the depth of what that means, of how my heart resonates with that single chord. In doing so, I’m given permission to re-issue a personal statement of faith out loud to the world and back to my Father. It doesn’t mean that I’ve forgotten to believe, that somehow in the mess called “cancer” that has invaded my life, I’ve lost touch with my belief system. No, what it means is that sometimes I need a catalyst to aid me in my remembering of God and his faithfulness and to serve as a vehicle toward my doing what should come naturally for me to do as a believer in Jesus Christ.
To experience pure and untainted worship before the throne of God.
Chris’s music never fails to take me there. He’s one of the few artists I trust. You know what I mean by that statement… that there are those artists whose work you so admire that no matter the “press” up front you’d almost assuredly stand in line to get a front row seat for the unveiling. Why? Because the artist behind the work can be trusted with the gifting—with the obedience to yield a product in keeping with the talent given to him/her by God.
Whether it be a writer like Alicia Chole or a photographer like Shirley; a jewelry designer like Lisa Leonard, or a potter like Robert Alewine. Regardless of the artistic bent, when these artists create, I’m “all in” regarding their work because their creations remind me of something that we often forget. That each one of us carries an eternal pulse within us, and with that pulse comes a channel of creativity linking us all back to the Master Creator. When we recognize that—when we use our giftings to further magnify the truth of our sacred bloodlines—then we honor our King. We give back to him, in part, what he has initially seeded within us. And that, my friends, is an unveiling of sacred proportion.
To acknowledge the heartbeat of creation within another human being is to validate the breadth and depth of God’s handiwork (see Psalm 139). I recognize that pulse within the heart of Chris Tomlin and his work therein.
- Not because of his number one radio singles. He’s had nine.
- Not because of his Grammy nominations. He’s had three.
- Not because of his Dove awards. He’s had sixteen.
- Not because of his sold-out concerts.
- Not because of his connection to well-known artists and speakers.
- And not even because of his Texas roots; who doesn’t love a cowboy?
No, none of these prestigious accomplishments amount to much of anything in my mind. What matters most to me is the way that Chris allows our Father to push his heart and pen along to create some of the most worshipful music I’ve ever encountered. He is a modern-day psalmist, never failing to bridge the gap between the human condition and the heart of Father God. And if ever there has been a season in my journey when I needed that bridge to be steady and secure, it’s this one.
There have been many days in my recent history when the nights have exceeded their parameters. When hope has teetered on the edge of destruction. When flesh has failed and faith has wavered between two varying opinions. When tears have wept their portion, and when temporal thoughts have crowded out eternal truth. It is in those times, when I need a song or two to speak to the witness and faithfulness of God.Chris has given that to me with his new release. And as these eleven songs cycle through my iPod while walking outdoors, it’s very easy for me to look up at the sky and to remember my God. To find his eyes and to feel his pulse. To lift my hands to believe again and to say back to him some words of faith that need saying.
Not because God has forgotten who he IS, but rather because I am prone to my forgetting therein.
Accordingly, I am thankful to hold Chris’s offering as my own in this season and to sing alongside him a praise or two to the heavenlies believing that my Father bends low for a listen. Pure and untainted worship before the throne… it serves us both, God and me, and I am grateful for the single obedience from a single heart that has yielded such beauty for such a time as this.
Indeed, if our God is for us then who can stand against us? God is for you, friends, and so am I, and I’d like nothing more than to gift a couple of you with Chris’s newest work. If interested, please leave a comment along those lines, and I’ll draw the winners with my next post. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Chris’s music, give it a listen, and hear from his heart, visit his website by following this link. Also, be watching over the next couple of weeks for another giveaway of his Christmas CD, Glory in the Highest.
Thank you, Chris, for penning these songs and for helping me to lift my hands to believe again. You have given me a very good gift, and you have strengthened the faith that anchors deep within my heart. As always…
Peace for the journey,
I'd love to be included in this drawing. Often at my church I'm the only one lifting my hands but I lift anyway. I want to remember that all He asks from us is obedience and praise. Lifting my hands helps me to do that. blessings, marlene
What a beautiful review on a musician that we all love. His music brings such a time of worship to me too. Each song is special.
I love the picture of you and Amelia… honestly Elaine, you are so cute in that scarf! You just look precious!
Have a blessed week, praying for you my friend!
Count me in! Chris Tomlin is a favorite of mine.
What a sweet pic of you and Amelia…give each other a hug from me!
Love you
Well I'd feel greedy if I won your give-away since I just was blessed by winning a Thanksgiving give-away over at Jackie's place (www.freshoiltoday.blogspot.com).
But if you insist…count me IN! I too love Chris Tomlin's worship songs. Just this past Friday I stood with my hands lifted up, joining a couple hundred multi-racial believers as we belted out "How Great Is Our God" … in celebration of what God has done to transform the lives of former prostitutes & drug addicts through a street ministry.
I loved your statement "…the artist behind the work can be trusted with the gifting" ~~ that speaks volumes. And that's the kind of person I want to be!
what a beautiful testimony to Chris Tomblin. I think he would be honored to read this! I would love his new CD..my 10 year old son absolutely loves Chris Tomblin and wants to be like him. I agree that Chris Tomblin is one who appears to be the "real deal" with a passionate heart…which is a good example for my son to follow, in a world full of false heros!!
Sounds like a wonderful CD. I'll have to add it to my collection as I do love Chris Tomlin's music.
So glad you found encouragement in it. God does know how and when we need that encouragement and is faithful to send it in full measure. Praying for you!
Leah
I absolutely love Chris Tomlin. He is the best and a true believer of the word. So yes count me in on your drawing.
Great to see a picture of you and Amelia. Both beautiful "girls". Love you my friend!
Wow, what a wonderful review–and yes, Chris is one of my favorites. Please include me in the draw(:
Elaine, I love how you glorify Him in all circumstances…
wifeforthejourney:
The one time I saw Chris Tomlin in "concert" I remember feeling strongly that he was much more of a worship leader than an entertainer. Lets face it: when it comes to contemporary Christian music, the variety and quality to be found on the airways is as great as the styles. I believe that what sets Chris Tomlin apart from so many others is less his talent (which is nevertheless considerable) and more his strong, biblically grounded songwriting.
Though my own musical tastes have lately swung to the big gospel choirs of artists like Fred Hammond, Kurt Carr, Byron Cage and Donnie McClurkin – its hard not to like Chris Tomlin.
Chris Tomlin's music is both deep and wide. Since some of the best worship time many of us have during the day happens in the car, I'm happy that Elaine has added "And If Our God is for Us" to our collection.
Thanks for the chance to weigh in on this latest review!
Love,
Billy
Count me in. Love Chris and would love to add this to my nice little collection of music I like to listen to at work!
Love the picture of you and your baby!!!! P.S. Got my books on Saturday!!
Much love!! Lori B. from Brewster!!
This was such a good review of a very favorite musician of mine. Everything you said about him is just soo true. I would love to be included in your giveaway drawing. Good music can just do soo much for us sometimes when we are just at the ends of ourselves. Lifting our spirits and hearts towards Him and helping to remind us of His presence in just every little circumstance. Have a wonderful day. Oh, and I loved the pic. HUGS, Debbie
Elaine, you are so right — sometimes we need a song or two. Music can minister to our spirits in such a deep way. So thankful God is blessing you through Chris's music.
Love & Prayers!
Elaine – I just loved your review. It's funny because I just posted one also. I LOVED this CD. I love how he draws us into worship with our Savior. So amazing.
I actually am going to Jackson in December to see him! So excited!
Praying for you my friend. You are a beautiful woman of faith and an awesome testimony of His goodness.
Remembering God's faithfulness with you, Elaine! Great through-provoking post [as always]!!
Love Chris Tomlin too and this past Sunday my son led worship at our church and this was the last song we sang before departing!
Praising with you,
Stephanie
Elaine,
I'm thankful the LORD encouraged your heart through Chris Tomlin's music.
Beautiful photo of you and your daughter Elaine.
Praying for you…
Elaine,
How the pure words penned and then sung from a heart that is annointed by the Holy Spirit to bring us all the the throne of of Jesus is truly a gift. I, too, love Chris Tomlin. He is a true example of a worship leader sold out for Christ. Walking the walk and singing the talk.
How thankful I am that God has used him to minister to your heart in your times of need. How worship quickly changes the posture of our hearts to focus on our creator and all else dims in comparison. He is worthy.
I pray your days have been sweet and your chemo effects minimal. I pray that you are strengthened and encouraged daily by the hand of our Father.
Walking alongside of you, thinking of you daily. Call anytime. I'm here.
Much love in Christ,
Stacy
Praying the days and nights adjust themselves accordingly!! I know what it's like to always need to carry a flashlight. You are in my 0prayers.
Gentle hugs and prayers,
lisa
Ah Elaine, I would love to be included in this drawing. I haven't had the opportunity to hear anything from this album yet, but it definitely sounds worth the visit to his site… heading there as soon as I finish this comment!
Love you and may God continue to bless you and lift you up. May the Holy Spirit encourage and strengthen you on this journey!
Heather
Dear Elaine,
How well I understand the ministry of praise and worship music while going through the season of breast cancer! For me, it was mainly Jaci Velasquez and "Lay It Down". I listened to that song multiple times a day and hung on to the words: "And if the sun don't come back up I know Your love will be enough". I also grew to love and pray Sarah Kelly's "Living Hallelujah". Thanks for the heads up that Chris Tomlin's new release is great – would love to be a winner! Take care; praying bunches for you!
Elaine, thank you so much for your kind words of support to me of recent. Blessings to you dear one.
LOVE Chris! I first saw him at a camp, before he was famous. We were living in Texas and he was the worship leader for our camp. I remember telling my hubby that his heart in song would go places, and it certainly has.
The new cd is on my Christmas list.
Continuing to pray for you.
love chris tomlin! got his song "I Will Rise" on my tongue a lot lately.
and i love the picture of you and amelia! (did i ever tell you my rhema's middle name is amelia? named after my husband's great grandmother who prayed for decades that her children and grandchildren would come to know Jesus).
please include me in the drawing. love you. praying your strength. lifting my hands with you.
I agree, Chris Tomlin is an awesome singer and writer of Praise and Worship. He is unique in drawing you into deep worship with his music. Love him! Count me in! Love you too, dear one. Be humble this week.
This morning I found my faith teetering….just wanting to know that He had not forgotten about us. And yes, my head knows He has not forgotten….and yet sometimes my heart is overwhelmed by emotions brought on by what my earthly eyes can see.
A friend reminded me of Hebrews 4 which I read in NL…14-16Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
The last two sentences just wrapped themselves around me this morning.
Yes Lord….thank you for the mercy and I will accept the help…in your time. 🙂
Remembering you and praying…thank you for the testimony of your walk….it encourages the hearts of the believers. Kind of like Paul talking about all the huge things he was going through. 🙂
Hi –
You sound like a lady who truly loves our Lord.
I found you on TRUTH SHARER'S blog.
It has been a pleasure to visit your blog.
Thank you for standing fast in the Lord!
You are always giving Elaine…of yourself…of your pocessions. Thank you! It is always so fun!!
Still praying for you daily!!
Believing Him~Pamela
Beatuiful tribute!!
I would love to be a part of this. I love to praise God and so many times my body (hands, feet, etc) join in on the praise.
I can't wait for the big praise service in heaven.
Sheryl
Although I have heard this song multiple times, we sang it at church today for the first time. It is a precious song.
Sorry, I have been delinquent. Hubby is home now from Ethiopia and Israel and it is like I have new life.