Tag Archives: faith

Albums, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, prayer, Video, worship

Hope of the World (Redux)

So much has been written about mankind’s need for hope, and there’s never been a time when we didn’t need it. Scripture says, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.’ (Romans 15:13 ESV) ~ E.M.

Hope of the World ushers in a radiant light, instills hope, and leaves you with a smile that lingers

The Further

I was asked recently about the journey of this song, as in how did it get to this version, and on this album? It’s no doubt the oldest song on the project. It was written twenty years ago and has gone through quite a few differing arrangements over that time. I was never really happy with it, in fact I had no intentions of including it on an album back in 2011 called The Twelve. It took some prodding from a voice on my accountability team. And yes, I have a real accountability team that keeps me on the straight and narrow, or at least it attempts too. I included it back then because it was always an engaging song during times of worship. What made me uncomfortable was not the message, I love the message, but the musical setting never quite felt right. I always struggled to find a nice little niche to sing it from …where it didn’t feel awkward.

The Chapel Songs project was created as a collection of easy to access worship songs for the small church, not that they couldn’t be embellished and sung in larger communities, but so many of todays popular recordings can be intimidating for musicians who aren’t professionals, and I wanted to provide an album of songs a single guitarist or pianist could lead with.

So I revisited this song and toyed with some sparse arrangements, and eventually found one that made me smile, and that was it. The lyric video is an unplugged version of the album track and presents an even simpler approach. The message is still intact, and is certainly still relevant. God’s messages always are!

Hope of the world
Shine on us
You are the Answer

Fill up our hearts, fill up our souls
Lure us away from all that’s wrong
Fill up our hearts, fill up our souls
Give us the strength to carry on

Here we stand, blessed with each new day
Here we stand, humbled works of clay

© 2003 Eddy Mann
CCLI #6123488
Hissongs / ASCAP

You can listen/stream the album version here on my website

I’d love to hear your thoughts
Pray on,
Eddy

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Albums, Evensong, Mannerism, music, new album, new release, Podcast, prayer, worship

Rubberneckers: Repent or Rejoice?

This past week my wife and I traveled south to warm up before the holidays. While being on the road I found my mind wandering in and out of all sorts of thoughts and prayers. I don’t think I’m alone in discovering that my mind operates differently when I’m not being disrupted by the noise of the world. Open road driving seems to provide a time and space for me to ponder, and to plan, but like life in general there are always unexpected wrinkles along the way, and this trip was no different in that respect.

Our first day was littered with accidents, none prayerfully that were life ending, but none the less they were there in numbers that seemed greater than usual, and which made me very aware of the rubberneckers. It was in that state that I started to think about, and pray about, the need to be curious…

Continue reading…

Pray on,
Eddy

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Mannerism, music

Tall, Strong and Lovingly

I’ve met many people in my life. Some that thought they were better than me because they had more education. Some thought they were better because they had more money. And then there were some that thought they were better than me because they knew the Bible better.

Life is ultimately filled with all different kinds of people that are all struggling to find their way. Because the road is fraught with failures, some individuals create an image of themselves that quite possibly isn’t true.

Now the reasoning for such created images are probably seeded in some kind of personal insecurity. The doubts and fears can cause the best of us to want to invent a better us, a stronger us, a more secure us.

The problem is that the new self, underneath the invented one, still retains the same shortcomings.

The imagined persona is just a created character that acts one way in front of others, but still falters when no one is looking.

The desire to share this dilemma is that you and I are sometimes innocently attacked by the lie. Over the years I’ve detected such instances early on and have been able to protect myself. But as a youngling I often felt prey to the demeaning words and uppity actions of others.

In retrospect I’ve discovered that the well educated were often very disappointed in their standing in life, the affluent were often living in fear of losing all that they had acquired, and all the Bible knowledge in the world did no good if it couldn’t be applied to a life.

When we strive to please God instead of the broken world we live in, we are bound to feel good at the end of the day.

Knowing that you did all that you could to make this world a more loving place lifts our spirits and more importantly make our God smile.

So walk tall today and tomorrow, walk strong today and tomorrow, and walk lovingly today, tomorrow and everyday we’re blessed with.

Pray on,
Eddy

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Art, Art Work, Mannerism, music, Poetry

Today

Last Sunday was a crisp, fresh day that was filled with worship, fellowship, and wonderfully creative and nourishing meals. Last Sunday I offered my gifts and my love to others. Last Sunday was the day that the Lord had made, and I rejoiced in it!

Each day contains unimaginable joy. We wake each morning to endless opportunities to serve. What we make of those opportunities creates the amount of joy we, and others, will experience. You see the joy is in the giving. The joy is in making others smile. The joy is in making others feel loved.

Last Sunday is today! It’s everyday!

“This (today) is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 ESV)

Pray on,
Eddy

Originally posted July 19, 2015

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Albums, Art, Art Work, music, Photography, Poetry, Video, worship

A Light is Shining

‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ – John 1:5 ESV. In our world of every challenging moments, it’s comforting to know that the gloom that often descends on us has never blackened out the light. Hope is in the faith that a spiritual presence is always working behind the scenes for the good of ALL people.

In a land where death casts its shadow
A light is shining bright
Through the darkest despair there’s a promise
Where tomorrow will be alright
Come and sit by the well of assurance
Come where hope is still alive
A light is shining with love and with calmness
And that light is shining bright
~ E.M.

The Light Shines in the Darkness

canvasprint #framedprint #artprint #acrylicprint #metalprint #woodprint #tapestry #greetingcard #throwpillow #duvetcover #totebag #showercurtain #phonecase and more…

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Mannerism, music, Photography, Video

Bridging the Gap (with More Love)

The ever widening chasms between each of us seem to grow daily as we continue to establish barriers between what we call acceptable, and what we deem objectionable. In doing so I’m afraid we’re dismissing an important narrative to our happiness. The moment we start to discount our differences, is the moment we start to cheat ourselves out of the things that can make our lives richer. Our ingenuity illustrates our individuality. We’ve got it all messed up. In our quest to get on with each other, we’ve told many people to get out. Instead of drawing the world a little closer we are drawing divisional lines in the sand. We’re not closing gaps, we’re creating gaps.

Discounting our differences, devalues our dignity.

When we close our ears and eyes we are missing the beauty of an extremely diverse world. A world that was created for our benefit. It was created out of love for us. All of it’s beauty and splendor was designed by our Creator, for good! So what does it say when we turn from His ideals, from what He deems good for us, from His loving vision of our lives (Ephesians 2:10)?

Diversity does not demand division.

We bridge the gaps by putting aside our differences, by opening our eyes and ears to new and different sounds and sights. When we open our mind to new ideas evolution can occur. The natural flow to a united and loving world begins with a judgement free view of life (Romans 12:16). Thankfully we don’t all lookalike, and soundalike. That would be pretty boring don’t you think? Well thinking everyone should think alike is the same thing. It’s a very narrow view of a very panoramic creation.

So I spend my days first trying to identify, and then trying to bridge these gaps. The inspiration comes from my never ending idealistic dream of a loving united world. One that cares for others more than themselves. One that truly finds more satisfaction in the act of giving than in receiving (2 Corinthians 9:7). A world that differs a great deal from the one I currently seem to live in.

My platform for such change has always been music. I find enormous joy in touching the hearts of others through poetry and song. A tough message can be much easier on the ear when it’s riding the the crest of a memorable melody. or being propelled along by an irresistible rhythm.

Come, let us walk together
Come. let us walk hand in hand
Cone, let speak with one voice
Come, let us walk in the light of love
~ E.M. (‘Come. Let Us Walk’)

My plea is one of compassion. If we start with a loving approach to our differences I believe that we would see and hear things with a new found appreciation. I invite you to join me in opening up a new world of inspiration. Pray for a cleansing view of the world. Ask God for new ears and eyes that would lovingly see and hear the beauty of diversity. That fresh mindset will bridge gaps both small and large over a period of time. A period of time when we can draw closer as friends and families… as our Creator intended.

Pray on,
Eddy

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Mannerism, Poetry, prayer

The Letter

Me, a madcap of foolish impropriety

To my anchor in this untamed ocean

To my calm in this season of storms

I bring all of my love and devotion

I stand thankful in my garden of glimmer

In sure heartedness that one day we’ll find

A place where we can mix as one

As is confectionately in my mind

My prayer is in a shared abounding love

Sincere and blameless and pure

Filled with the fruit of contentment

And built on all that is sure

~ E.M.

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Albums, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

Home Again

What do you love about where you live?

I love that I have been blessed to settle into two very creative settings. One in Bucks County, PA, and another on a barrier island in Brevard County, FL. Both homesteads are remote without being out-of-touch with society, and offer a personal connection to nature. What I love the most is that I’ve found them both to be spiritually inspiring places to call home.

When my path is straight
And love replaces hate
Don’t you know
I’m home again
~ E.M.

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