Luke 61:22-23
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

​I think this is probably my second or third earliest ‘favourite’ song (behind My Jesus, My Saviour and the riff from Touching Heaven, Changing Earth) and is certainly one that stuck with me for ages. 
At uni, I heard about a Christian festival called Greenbelt that was based at Cheltenham racecourse.  When I went, there’d recently been some quite bad flooding nearby that had affected the local area.  We were worshipping at the main stage where Matt Redman (the author) was signing the song, and as we get to the second verse where it says ‘when the sun’s shining down on me’ for the first time that weekend the sun comes out from the clouds and lights up the whole area.  We all sang that verse a couple of times in response to God. 
No matter whether you’re going through a desert place (like Jesus was), or the world’s all as it should be – take the time to praise God today for who He is.

Romans 6 vv8-11(ERV)
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

​Heather writes, this is my favourite Easter hymn as it contrasts the sadness of Good Friday and Christ’s death (in the sad or minor key for the verse) and the happiness of Easter Sunday and the resurrection (in the happy or major key for the chorus).

This recording of it is especially good at contrasting the two and that’s why I’ve chosen it.

The verse that I’ve chosen to go with it also details how Christ died and defeated death and how we too should live as being dead to sin but alive for God.

Yes we are sad because of our human nature being prone to sinning, but we are happy that he forgives our sin and enables us to look forward to the future with hope.

Exodus 13:22
Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Mike selected this hymn as it reminds him of his youth and him playing school rugby in the Rhondda Valley (after which the tune is named). 
It is one of the few Welsh songs (after a bit of translation) to have become popular in English and as such was used as an informal ‘anthem’ during the Welsh section of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.  It will probably be sung today as part of the final games of the Six Nations.
The song takes us on the journey of Christian faith, reminding us of our weakness, His strength and provision, His guidance, leading and comfort.  It then tells us what our response should be to all of that:

“Songs of praises songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee
I will ever give to Thee”

John 1:4,5
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Colin writes: This beautiful worship song reminds us of Jesus, the light of the world, coming into this dark place. We tend to sing it in the run up to Christmas but there are important messages to be heard in all seasons!
Our world is a dark place in many ways, not least because so many people live without the light of God in their lives. Jesus brings that light into our lives. And yet that light reflected in us can so easily grow dim.
Let us invite Him to burn brightly in us once again.

Mark 4:35-41
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

​Albert chose this one as his favourite for its links to a dangerous and arduous life. 
This song reminds us of the times that Jesus controlled the uncontrollable – He calmed a storm with His words, and He was able to walk on stormy waters. 
What storms are there in your life at the moment?  How is God dealing with them with you?  Is He calming them with His voice?  Is He just walking right on through them to rescue you?  Or is He calling you out into the storm and waves like He did with Peter? 
Use the song as a reminder to pray for the Trinity’s protection over you whilst you and those you know go through the many different storms of life we face.  

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

​I was ‘suggested’ this song by YouTube because of my like of Rend Collective, and it is one that I like a lot.  It pulls to mind the images in Psalm 23, where we’re given the picture of God leading us by a relaxing stream to refresh us.  Even when we wander, or are facing those dark times, our King of Love is still there to guide and comfort us. 
The section that really speaks to me writing this is the chorus –
“Never failing, ruler of my heart, Everlasting, lover of my soul”
We’ve got a God who never fails. 
We’ve got a God who is everlasting.
We’ve got a God who loves our soul (enough to die for it)
So what is our response?  Can we make him the ruler of our hearts?  

1 Peter 2:6-7
For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

​Sandra writes: It is a song about hope, because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. When he seems far away, we can rely on his unchanging grace and trust him with our lives. He will be with us through all the storms of life.

When Jesus returns with sounds of trumpets, I want to be ready and be found in him, dressed in the right clothes (his righteousness), and standing faultless before him, because of his grace. He is my cornerstone. In my weakness, he makes me strong.

Psalm 119:175
Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.

​At school we used to have to sing hymns, and this must have been one of the Head’s favourites as this one stuck in my mind from how often we sung it (it was number 56 in our school hymn book). 
It is funny what we remember sometimes, but the songs that we learn early on tend to stick with us and help us when we’re struggling, or they come to mind when we need to convey something to God. 
Just taking the first line of this song, there’s so much we can gain from it. 
I’ve got to Praise – thank and adore, bow down and worship
With all My soul – with everything that I’ve got, anything I’ve got
Who?  The King – my ruler, my guide, my leader, my saviour
Where?  Up to Heaven – my final destination, where everything is perfect, beyond my wildest dreams and imagination. 
Today, let ALL of you, praise ALL of your Heavenly King contributing your little bit to the chorus of worship in Heaven.  

John 20: 24-28 - www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A+24-28&version=NIV

John 21: 15-19 - www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A+15-19&version=NIV

Luke 24, particularly 44-53 - www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24&version=NIV

​John writes: This has been a long-time favourite since I first heard it at the Mission years ago. It doesn't have a fascinating rhythm or stunning key changes, and it's a very simple melody.

But the words .... "Because He lives I can face tomorrow" – oh yes.

Because He lives: doubting Thomas found his faith again (John 20: 24-28).

Because He lives: Peter, who betrayed Jesus and was utterly bereft, was rehabilitated and became the leader of the Apostles (John 21, 15-19).

Because He lives: a group of completely defeated disciples were totally re-energised and against overwhelming odds started the Christian movement that has grown ever after (e.g. Luke 24).

Because He lives... 

Matthew 14:22-33
V25 – Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

​I couldn’t let you go through 40 days of worship without one Rend Collective song in the mix! 
I admit that whilst in the Bible we’re told to use all of our bodies in our worship to God, dancing and actions don’t come at all naturally to me!  I’d much rather be at the back out of the way. 
But there’s something incredibly joyous that I’ve missed over the past 2 years, which is the kids at Messy Church worshipping God through the actions of songs like Lighthouse.  And you know what, I wonder whether when Jesus said we needed to become like little children, there’s something about their worship through action songs that we can learn from.  They put their all into it (well, maybe not the ‘cool’ kids!), not caring how undignified they look, because it is about enjoying being with God. 
Today – could you be brave?  Have a go at worshipping God with all of you.  Maybe not the jumping up and down (but that can be fun too!), but remember you have all of your body to worship God with.  Could you worship Him through helping someone, through speaking to someone – take action!