Tag: Music Review

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RHW 2021 PREVIEW

In 2021 Reaching Hurting Women continues our magazine format which offers four different themes for study and contemplation every month for the year. Each of the four power-packed themes will be a 12 month series assigned to a specific Friday of every month. In months with five Fridays we’ll be offering a special column reviewing touching inspirational music.

Happy New Year! I’m so excited to give you an overview of the upcoming weekly Reaching Hurting Women columns for 2021.  We’ll be continuing our magazine format which offers four powerful themes for study each Friday of the month. The schedule will be as follows:

1st Friday of Each Month: Psalm 91 

The first Friday of each month we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be breaking down this powerful psalm one phrase at a time and applying its phenomenal protection promises to our life today.

2nd Friday of Each Month: The Holy Spirit

On the second Friday of each month we’ll be going through an in-depth study of The Holy Spirit. We will be learning about who The Holy Spirit is, what are the gifts and fruits of the Spirit and how we can walk them out in our daily life.

3rd Friday of Each Month: Life Recovery Gifts

Continuing our ongoing recovery work, this year we’ll be studying the 12 Gifts of Life Recovery. We will learn about the hidden blessings that come as an added benefit with our journey into wholeness and health.

4th Friday of Each Month: The Do It Afraid Book Study 

Our book study for 2021 is Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage in the Face of Fear by Joyce Meyer. We will learn how to understand fear, recognize how it works in our life, confront the fears that hold us back and achieve lasting freedom from those fears. Join me as we dig into Joyce’s awesome and timely released new book.

5th Friday Months: Music Reviews 

I’m really happy to be continuing the special column that I premiered in 2020. On the last Friday in each of the months that have five Fridays (January, April, July, October and December) I’ll be bringing you reviews of Christian music that has particularly touched my heart and spirit.

I’m so looking forward to a wonderful year of writing and study together in the Lord. I hope you’ll join me and bring along a friend when you can.

I pray God’s many Blessings upon you and your family for this coming year and always… Tamara

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MUSIC REVIEW :: STILL by MICHAEL W. SMITH

FOR MY 2020 REVIEWS I’M CHOOSING CHRISTIAN ALBUM PROJECTS THAT HAVE TOUCHED MY SPIRIT DEEPLY. THIS IS THE LAST REVIEW IN THE SERIES.

One of the most prolific, talented and award-winning artists of all time, singer and songwriter, Michael W. Smith truly needs no introduction. If you’ve been listening to Christian music over the last 40 years, there’s no doubt you’ve heard much of his incredible music. Along with a handful of other amazing artists, Michael W. Smith, helped pioneer what we know today as Contemporary Christian music.

STILL Vol. 1  by Michael W. Smith

Release Date: October 9, 2020

Album Length: 10 tracks: 55 minutes 

Since 1985 Michael W. Smith’s projects have spanned across the Christian music genre from pop to gospel, patriotic orchestral instrumental, live and studio worship albums. Then just when you think he can’t top those Michael releases what I consider one of his best works to date.

STILL is an exquisitely orchestrated, etherial expression of sight and sound. The touching improvisational music with random hints of familiar hymns is paired with the everlasting hope of God’s Word so beautifully read by Michael.

A healing balm for these troubled times in which we live.

For those of us who’ve been unable to be outdoors or travel these last few months, the magnificent visuals offered to us from STILL are life-giving. These breathtaking visuals have you soaring like an eagle high above lush forests, flowing rivers and blue ocean waves… rich farmlands and what looks like could be the smokey mountains in Michael’s own backyard of Tennessee.

A stunning synthesis of scripture and scenery that will soothe your soul.

The applications of this album are many. What a wonderful way to end your day. The perfect music to play in a child’s bedroom at night. Or just as background for your personal meditation time with God.

From the album cover…

“My prayer is that this work helps you find some moments of STILLNESS, whether in the meditations and scriptures that I read in the first five tracks or in the moments of prayer that you have over the last five.  May it wash over you!”

– Michael W. Smith 

I highly recommend this amazingly anointed album! I’ve had it on repeat for days while preparing this review. My heart is full and my spirit is inspired. STILL by Michael W. Smith is a must have for any Christian music collection.

Be still.

Be inspired.

Be blessed.

Below is the full album playlist from YouTube. I pray you will set aside time to soak in, watch or pray this incredibly anointed work of art by Michael W. Smith.