Chelsea DeVries's Blog, page 31

#MusicLove: Passion’s Newest will have all eyes and ears on Jesus

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of straight worship music. Yet, with Hillsong United and Hillsong Young and Free going mainstream on Christian radio stations worldwide, worship music has really stepped up it’s game and nowadays, it’s basically a more focal version of contemporary Christian pop, rock, and even rap.

The songs were recorded LIVE at Passion Conference earlier this year as more than 55,000 students gathered in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Students in attendance united in sponsoring more than 7,000 children (the most to ever be sponsored at one event) through Compassion International fulfilling all sponsorships in El Salvador, Rwanda, Tanzaniaand Indonesia as well as hundreds in Bolivia.

Passion’s previous release Salvation’s Tide Is Rising debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Digital Albums Chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Albums Chart.

A dome filled with hands lifted in praise. Thousands of poverty-stricken children receiving life-altering sponsorships. A mission to see the world changed for the better. This is Passion.

The newest live album Worthy Of Your Name, will deliver songs from top-selling artists Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill and more, featuring songs recorded at the 2017 Passion Conference in Atlanta. Join Passion in this heart cry as they proclaim God’s love and declare that He is indeed worthy of His name.

Song By Song Review

Glorious Day: A melodic guitar strumming keeps the rhythm with male vocals as this song starts in until the singer shouts, “You called my name and I ran out of that grave; out of the darkness into your glorious day.” Lyrically, this praise song causes those that listen and sing along to put their faith in the resurrection power that lives in every believer.

Worthy of Your Name: The title track features soft vocals alongside an acoustic guitar causing the listener to put their faith in the name of Jesus.

How Great Is Your Love: Musically what stands out to me about this track is the piano accompaniment throughout while the focus is on God’s love in this praise song according (1 John 4:19).

Build My Life: This is such a pure heart seeking after God type worship song. The chorus really speaks to the daily life mission of any believer in Christ:

Holy, there is no one like You

There is none beside You

Open up my eyes in wonder

Show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love to those around me

Holy Ground: This song reminds me of a contemporary worship song with the intro instrumental sounding like a Steven Curtis Chapman song. The lead singer sounds vocally like Kari Jobe while singing:

Show us Your glory

Show us Your glory

In wonder and surrender we fall down

Show us Your glory

Show us Your glory

Let every burning heart be holy ground

Heart Abandoned: soft vocals make this song come off like a David Psalm.

Forgiven: Featuring Christian rock band Crowder has the listener putting their faith in Isaiah 43:25 which states,

“I, even I, am he who blots out

your transgressions, for my own sake,

and remembers your sins no more.”

Your Cross Changes Everything: Featuring Matt Redman, this track has a focal point on the redemption found at the foot of the cross.

A cross that changes everything

And a love that sets the captives free

A hope that ressurected me

And the power of God

For all who believe

This We Know: Christian Rock musicality accompany lyrics with themes of verses James 4:7 and 1 John 5:4.

This we know

We will see the enemy run

This we know

We will see the victory come

We hold on to every promise You ever made

Jesus, You are unfailing

Rule: Featuring both Crowder and Hillsong United, this is my favorite song on the entire album because it’s both catchy and lyrically will have you running around the sanctuary in praise to our King.

God of Calvary: Featuring Chris Tomlin, this concludes the live songs off the album by calling out our victory in Christ while praising Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice.

By His wounds I am set free

By His blood I’ve been redeemed

The great divide He crossed for me

Oh, praise the God of Calvary.

Interested of getting a copy to worship Jesus anytime, anywhere?

Digital copies are available beginning February 17 while physical copies will be in stores March 24.

[image error]

Buy Passion’s first album on Amazon now for 9.49 digitally

The Most Lit #Superbowl America Has Ever Seen #SB51

I’ll admit. I’m not a big football fan but I watch the superbowl every year since I graduated college because the ads are some of the best you will see all year!

This year, I felt that overall, the ads fell short.

What follows below are my favorite ads throughout the Superbowl:

I liked the simplicity of this ad. How it was all about the sound that happened when he cracked that beer. How he was just a woodsy-flannel wearing all around burly guy.

By far MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE because Hello, Bieber.

I liked how Justin was dressed like a nerd in a tux, and it was football related but incorporated T-Mobile’s new #UnlimitedMoves campaign.

Who doesn’t like Melissa McCarthy? Other than that, it gave me a genuine laugh for the first time all night (so much seriousness; no one knows how to laugh anymore).

Plus, it was a Kia commercial advertising their new crossover car, and after all,

“Kia is the car God himself would drive.”

Thank you! Finally someone made a UNITED statement instead of a DIVISIVE one.

So simple but very powerful because after all, Football is an All-American sport.

[image error] sale ends February 13.

#BookReview: Prosperity is God’s Will For You; God’s Will is Prosperity by Gloria Copeland

It’s not a surprise that this book spoke to me. I’ve grown up looking to Gloria and her husband Kenneth Copeland as my spiritual parents. I’ve learned so much knowledge from them about God, how to use my faith, the power of using your mouth supernaturally to confess what you believe, etc.

This book surprised me because although some of the principles I’ve grown up on, it always seems like because they are simple that I seem to forget to apply them to my everyday life.

Some principles you will learn about in this book are:

1. God’s Will Is Prosperity

2. Priorities

3. Divine Prosperity

4. The Hundredfold Return

5. How To Receive From God

6. Our Angels At Work!

7. Yes, You Can Stand!

8. Defeat Satan’s Attacks

[image error]

Happy One Year, The Smart Cookie!

#BookReview: Anonymous Letter from a Stranger saved my life; Love Junkies by Christy Johnson

Dang. This book was sent to me by a friend who knows the author, and I cannot thank her enough for sending this to me. It read like a letter from an anonymous friend who had compassionate concern for me as a woman and wanted to offer biblical advice on how to be better in the area of love, and how a woman’s love life trickles into all other areas of her life.

Plus, I found a whole list of books I want to read that this book recommended. And that’s a win-win in the life of a Smart Cookie and Bibliophile.

Love The Smart Cookie? Donate now.

[image error]

#BookReview: ‘Pour Me A Life’ left me Drunk In Love With It’s Prose

Since venturing into writing my own memoir, I’ve fallen deep for the genre itself. Now it’s one of my favorites. I don’t know what ever made me accept this book for reading but I am so glad that it ended up in my TBR pile.

 

[image error] Click here to buy a copy of Pour Me, A Life

 

Pour Me A Life

A.A Gill

Rating: Five Out of Five Cookies

Hailing from England comes the author in his own words telling the tale of his life thus far.

At it’s worst, I didn’t agree with everything the author said throughout the book but he made me understand where he was coming from and how he felt through many a defining experiences, and I found myself making sure I was still breathing because his words stole the wind right out of my lungs in the best way.

His prolific vocabulary made me feel like I was back in college active reading a textbook that I actually wanted to read instead of active skimming.

One of my favorite lines that I personally related to as an artist I will share:

[image error]

I’ve read many memoirs but this one left me addictively waiting for more.

#MusicReview: Martin’s In The Blink of A Life brings something new to the table.

Growing up, I was drawn to the song “Crazy” by Patsy Cline. I didn’t know why then (now I’m aware that her vocals on that piece were raw, honest, and carried you on an emotional journey despite the track being less than two minutes in length), my dad and I would just bond over how much that song spoke to us.

In much the same way, April Martin’s music speaks in a similar way: her vocals carry you on an emotional journey of where her heart has been, and her music reminds all who listen to it of greats like Loretta Lynn, Rosanne Cash, and Gillian Welch.

Click the image below to hear In The Blink of Life in it’s entirety.

[image error]

April Martin started her professional life as a Ph.D. in clinical

psychology and maintains a successful practice in New York City. Though

she made up songs in her head from as far back as she can remember, she

didn’t begin writing them down until later in life.

Her first album, Pennies in a Jar, was released in 2010, and garnered

more than 10,000 fans worldwide on Internet radio. This album, In the

Blink of a Life, takes her exploration of the human heart – which is

done with tenderness, humor, and passion, to greater depths of

reflection and maturity.

[image error]

On her work on this album and as a musician as a whole, April explains:

“When I was a child in the 1950’s you could

get a song sheet for 5 cents at the corner candy store with the lyrics

to tunes on the Hit Parade. My dad, whose natural tenor voice was always

bursting into song,  would give me a nickel each week when the new ones

came out. Together we learned songs like “Secret Love”,  “How Much Is

That Doggie in the Window?”, and “Oh My Pa-Pa.” These were some of the

happiest moments of my childhood.

Those songs were my constant companions. I overheard my first grade

teacher complaining, “If that child doesn’t stop humming I will go

crazy.” I hummed the tunes and memorized the words, which spoke life’s

truths to my little heart. I knew for a fact that love is a many

splendored thing, that Davey Crockett was king of the wild frontier, and

that when you load sixteen tons all you get is another day older and

deeper in debt. My musical tastes may have broadened, but to this day

I’m drawn to the simplicity of a song that makes me laugh or cry or

wonder about something that rings deeply true.

Songwriting came to me half a lifetime later, after spending decades

immersed in the human condition as a psychologist and a parent of three

children. To my surprise I found myself humming tunes I’d never heard

before and giving voice to things that welled up in me.

With every song I write I’m grateful to the people who trust me with

their vulnerabilities and joys, to my children who made me understand

love as never before, and to my dad who brought those wonderful songs

into my young world.”[image error]

Song By Song review:

One Breath: This song speaks volumes about something we all forget and we need a major reminder of in today’s world. We only have now. We must take life one breath at a time. Favorite line “It’s all about now, the why, and the how. It’s all about love.”

Heart Break Doesn’t Come: My favorite song off the album solely because of it’s musicality about all hell breaking lose but the speaker saying blatantly “heart break doesn’t come from loving me.” The guitar breakdown adds a nice musicality to the track.

My Rock and My Rain: This song boasts lyrics that are practically songwriter perfection. A perfect to dedicate to your upcoming valentine.

While I’m Waiting: This song could have stayed an instrumental for it’s suspenseful musicality through the use of a rain-stick and various other percussion instruments.

Looking Back: Perfect song to play at someone’s memorial, it’s a perfect combination of soft music, lyrics that are tears of memory, and soft vocals.

Everday I Love You More: A beautiful love song with nice percussive musicality

Would You Let Me In: The flute adds a great musicality to this song about falling in love with someone who is grieving.

Sara’s Lullaby: Taking on the sound of Spanish folk music, this is a both a pleasure to listen to and a little bit of a style change for the artist.

All I’ve Got: Vocally, Martin reminds me of Karen Carpenter a little bit on this track folky love song.

One Part Truth, The Party’s In Full Swing, Life is Good, and Praise The Morning all boast of Martin’s country style as a singer-songwriter, both lyrically and musically.

In The Blink of A Life

April Martin

Rating: Four out of five cookies

[image error]

Try Amazon Music Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial [image error]

Wolves, Love, and Adventure: The Makings of a Great Novel #BookReview

Lately, I’ve noticed I really enjoy historical fiction. Even though, it’s no surprise that this novel grabbed me by the shirt collar from the first page. It reminded me of the amazing books I couldn’t get enough of as a child, Little House On The Prairie books.

Buy it now on Kindle for only 0.99.[image error][image error]

 

Title: Maggie Elizabeth Harrington Vol. 1

Author: DJ Swykert

Rating: 4 cookies

This book had all I love in a novel. A strong female lead, a girl trying to make sense of her surroundings, and a love story. Maggie Elizabeth may be 13 but because she questions everything, she’s incredibly intuitive. Did I mention that she lives in 1893? Despite that huge gap in centuries, the issues discussed throughout this novel are still relevant in 2017.

Some issues discussed thematically are animal cruelty, religious sects, the Bible, life, death, and the in-between.

For The Struggling Writer, #BookReview

1,001 Tips for Writers: Words of Wisdom About Writing, Getting Published, and Living the Literary Life by William Gordon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely amazing. It made me laugh, smile, and reminded me of how important it is that I make it a priority to write every day, while ridding my mind of all critical thing anyone has ever written or said about my writing. After all, writing only gets better with practice.

Interested in getting a copy of this book? Click below.

[image error][image error]

A Giant Page Turner: Proof by Ted D. Berner #BookReview and #Giveaway

I am a huge fan of science fiction. I have been since I was young. I couldn’t get enough of those “My Teacher Is An Alien” books. Now that I am older, I am intrigued by historical fiction just as much. The key to great fiction is to create tension within each temperature. This is done by allowing to know the reader certain things the characters don’t yet know.

Title: Proof 

Author: Ted D. Berner

Rating: 5 cookies

Proof is an excellent example of this concept. I was hooked from the beginning but found some familiarity in the content. I was intrigued by how a story could be weaved from a simple Bible verse in Genesis 6:4:

[image error]

Then, the story became even more intriguing because of the actual historical research Berner uses to weave a mystical tale of whether giants do exist.

Some questions that may come up may be:

Do giants exist?
How were the pyramids built?
Who was Edward Cayce?
How was the Coral Castle built?

From the first page until the very last, Proof will have you fervently reading and wondering whether these theories are true. Given the chance, you should venture toward the mystical adventure ahead.

U.S. Entrants only have a chance to be one of two winners of a signed copy of Proof! To enter, you have two options:

For Those who use Twitter: Follow these instructions!

Do you believe giants exist even today in 2017? See for yourself.#Giveaway#USEntrantsOnlypic.twitter.com/USvzFpMulx

— The Smart Cookie (@TSCPhiles) January 2, 2017

For those who use Facebook: Follow these instructions!

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTSCPhiles%2Fposts%2F1771693416381543%3A0&width=500

Giveaway ends Tuesday January 10 at midnight EST!

#BookReview: Food Triggers by Rhonda Epstein, Phd.

Food Triggers: End Your Cravings, Eat Well and Live Better by Rhona Epstein

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though I bought this book for only 0.99 on Christianbook.com, it well exceeded the price paid. It covers the psychology of why you binge eat, and goes over the strongholds that cause you to trigger into a binge. It also utilizes God’s word to help people take control over any abuse they suffer from and helps you take the proper steps toward recovery.

View all my reviews