“Prepare The Way” makes a way for God but also prepares us to respond to Him. And what better way to respond to God than the word “Hallelujah”? Ever wonder what it meant? It’s an exclamation of praise!

As in “Praise God!”, “Praise the Lord!”, “Thanks be to God!”… made up of “Halle-“, which in its Hebrew form is like the word “praise”, and “jah”, which is short for “Yahweh”. Hallelujah!

Scriptures mention of this phrase: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” It’s not because the Lord dislikes winding roads. They’re saying, make way for Him, clear the path, make sure there’s room! We clear out the hindrances and obstacles that block us from accepting God to do His will. I can’t think of a better way to respond to this than putting our focus on Him, centering on His Truth, and singing out “Hallelujah”!

Prepare The Way
Words & Music by Andy Lee

Prepare the way for God and see
How marvelous, how great is He
No ear has heard, no eye has seen
A beauty like our God and King
A beauty like our God and King

Make way and make His presence known
Lift up His name so we may know
That He is God and He is good
A God so strong, a God so true
A God so strong, a God so true

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Our hearts are filled with Jesus Christ
The spring of life that won’t run dry
A love so deep, a love so high
All that we need, He will provide
All that we need, He will provide

All glory and all majesty
Be lifted to the King of kings
Unrivaled love, unending grace
The name above all other names
The name above all other names

We worship a Triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One. Our song “Here Today” focuses on His qualities and characteristics as we embrace His presence and worship not inward, but God-ward.

We say that God welcomes us but we forget that we’re welcoming God, wherever we’re at, too! He’s near every heart, bound to do amazing things, and we ought to welcome Him with anticipation and expectation… today.

This song focuses on the here and now. So “Here Today” says who God is, what He’s doing, and what we’re doing as He’s here with us today. We call on Him and sing in truth and confidence in who He is:

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)

Here Today
Words & Music by Andy Lee

His love is intimate, His power is infinite
All that He is remains the same
Son of God from above, sign of God’s perfect love
We know His Spirit’s here today

He shall reign now and forever

Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty
Worthy, worthy, is the King of glory

He spoke for us to be, all creation made to be
All for His glory and His name
It’s all for His renown, there’s none that hold Him down
We know He’s on the move today

Savior Jesus, we lift You up
Who was and is, and is to come

I think everyone has their own list of priorities. Maybe at the top you place your career, your education, your family… maybe at the top is something less significant like clothes, technology, or your car.

No matter how important those things may be, and don’t get me wrong because I’m sure they are important but, our God is greater. Whether or not we place Him at the top, God is greater than anything else. Why let something else take control?

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)

God is the author of our lives and He sent down His one & only son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Truly none compare to Him.

You Are Greater
Words & Music by Andy Lee

Exalt His name, lift it high
The name of Jesus be glorified
Raise His anthem, let it ring
Come and hail to the King of Kings – The King of Kings

You are greater, great I Am
You are author of all I am
Come be awesome in this place
You are great, You are great

Every knee bow and tongue confess
Jesus Christ is Lord of us
How great the kindness He has shown
None can match Him, He stands alone – He stands alone

Hallelujah, none compare
Hallelujah, we declare
You are greater, exalted and lifted high
You are great

Over the years, this song has gone through so many transformations. And then more transformations. For those who may have known it from the past, it may sound a little different now but at the heart of it, it’s still from Ezekiel 34:16 – “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…”

Our Shepherd provides so much for us… even the air that we breathe is a gift from Him! This song “All To You” is a song of gratitude and opportunity to give breath back to God in worship, for nothing is greater than our Shepherd, our Lord, our Savior!

Later in Ezekiel 34:31 it says, “You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God…” How awesome it is that we get to know a God like this. What else can we do but give all that we have back to Him?

All To You
Words & Music by Andy Lee

Once like sheep who were astray
You took back those who turned away
We were broken, You gave us strength
Now we praise Your Holy Name

For nothing is greater than our Shepherd, our Savior
Forever we will sing
All blessing and honor, wisdom and power
To the King of kings

When we’re weak You make us strong
In Your presence we belong
Our salvation by Your grace
Now we’ve come to seek Your face

Give it all to You

We will sing and lift up Your glorious Name
We will shout and give You the highest of praise
For nothing is greater than our Shepherd, our Savior
Forever we will sing

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

‘Nothing But The Blood’ is such a powerful hymn. Blood normally isn’t something to celebrate over – but the blood of Jesus is salvation, healing, and eternal life. How precious!

Nothing But The Blood
Words & Music by Robert Lowry
Additional chorus & music by Andy Lee

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my pardon this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh, precious flow
Oh, I’m white as snow
This I know

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Glory! Glory! This I sing
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
All my praise for this I bring
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh, precious is the flow,
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

We had a lot of fun recording “Unending Praise”. It’s a song you can move to – a song that invites others to join in praising the one who has a reason to be praised. Psalm 44:8 says, “In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” There’s that word again: “boast”!

I hope that even as we’re living for the Lord, we’ll be able to praise His name forever and boast in Him too! Let’s give Him unending praise!

Unending Praise
Words & Music by Andy Lee

Find me here in this place,
I come near all my days,
We have come to Your throne
All our lives are Yours alone
Yours alone

Lord I live for You, Lord I give to You
Unending praise, unending praise
More than anything, be my everything
We give You praise, unending praise

For all You are, all You do
Every breath I give to You
We fall in love, more and more
With You alone, with You, oh Lord
With You, oh Lord

My heart, it cries to You
We give our lives to You
We sing, we sing
My heart cannot contain
Just how much love remains
In You, it’s You

“Only You” is a bit of an older song that we wrote, it still encompasses the idea behind “Shameless Plug”. Consider Psalm 19:14, which says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” We’ve probably heard this passage many times before, but remember: everything that we do, inside and out, is for the glory of God.

We often lose track of what we say, what we do, or even what we think. So this song is a reminder to us all that we ought to long for more of Jesus because it’s all for Him – in this life our shameless plug shouldn’t be about you and me… Our shameless plug is Him: only Jesus.

Only You
Words & Music by Andy Lee

May the words of my mouth
And let everything that I do
Be an act of worship to You, oh Lord

May the songs that I sing
And let everything that I am
Be an act of praise to the Lamb, Jesus

I live for only You

Let our cries now be heard
As we live by Your Word
We worship, we worship You
Let Your will now be done
As we long for Your Son
We worship, we worship You

We lift up Your Name that You would reign
So, God, we say with one voice