He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

 He's Got The Whole World In His Hands is like other folk spirituals, the exact origin of “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands” is unknown. Whether created extemporaneously by one slave or by a community of slaves, this spiritual's earliest known written reference is in “Spirituals Triumphant Old and New,” compiled by Edward Boatner in 1927. 

The song was first published in the paperbound hymnal Spirituals Triumphant, Old and New in 1927. In 1933, it was collected by Frank Warner from the singing of Sue Thomas in North Carolina. It was also recorded by other collectors such as Robert Sonkin of the Library of Congress, who recorded it in Gee's Bend, Alabama in 1941. That version is still available at the Library's American Folklife Center.

Frank Warner performed the song during the 1940s and 1950s, and introduced it to the American folk scene. Warner recorded it on the Elektra album American Folk Songs and Ballads in 1952. It was quickly picked up by both American gospel singers and British skiffle and pop musicians.

To download the alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

1. He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got the whole wide world in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

2. He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

3. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands.

He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands.

He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands. 

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

4. He’s got you and me sister in his hands.

He’s got you and me sister in his hands.

He’s got you and me sister in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

5. He’s got ev’rybody in his hands.

He’s got ev’rybody in his hands.

He’s got ev’rybody in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands.

They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love

 They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love is composed by Peter Scholtes,  is a Christian hymn written in the 1960. by then-Catholic priest, the late Fr. Peter Scholtes. It is inspired by John 13:35. The title of the hymn They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe Christians believers of early Church: "Behold, how they love one another."

It was released on an LP of the same name featuring the congregation of Fr. Scholtes' church, St. Brendan's on the South Side of Chicago singing this hymn and others.

The song has been covered by a variety of Christian recording artists, including Jars of Clay, Rebecca St. James, Lydia Walker, and For King & Country, which covered the song for the show "A.D, the Bible Continues." The song was also featured in the opening of the Christian movie “A Distant Thunder.”

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

The New 23rd (Psalms)

 The New 23rd song is based on Psalm 23 written by Ralph Carmichael/arrangged by John Purifoy. This is a pivotal song in the development of Contemporary Christian Music is re-visited in this loving homage. Wildly popular during the late sixties and early seventies, this choral piece inspired many young composers of the day. The message is universal, and the arrangement is well-crafted, filled with expressive opportunities. The piano writing is very effective and covers this setting of the 23rd Psalm with classic keyboard poetry. A standard!

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics

Because the LORD is my Shepherd, 

I have everything I need!
He lets me rest in the meadow grass 

and leads me beside the quiet streams. 

He restores my failing health. 

He helps me do what honors him the most.
Even when walking through the dark valley of death 

I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, 

guarding, guiding all the way.
You provide delicious food for me 

in the presence of my enemies. 

You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow!
Your goodness and unfailing kindness 

shall be with me all of my life, 

and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.

The Joy Of The Lord

 This gospel chorus song is written by Vale, Alliene G.  This song is based on Nehemiah 8:10, . . . for the joy of the LORD is your strength. This is a chorus enjoyed by all age groups. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

The Joy Of The LORD Is My Strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength

He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more
He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more
He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He gives me living water and I thirst no more
He gives me living water and I thirst no more
He gives me living water and I thirst no more
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He fills my soul with laughter
Ha, ha, ha … ha, ha (ha ha)
He fills my soul with laughter
Ha, ha, ha … ha, ha (ha ha)
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

If you want joy you must ask for it
If you want joy you must ask for it
If you want joy you must ask for it
The joy of the LORD is my strength!

Put Your Hand In The Hand

 "Put Your Hand in the Hand" is a gospel pop song composed by Gene MacLellan and first recorded by Canadian singer Anne Murray from her third studio album Honey, Wheat and Laughter.

It became a hit single for the Canadian band Ocean, released as the title track to their debut album. The single peaked at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, kept from No. 1 by "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night. The song also reached No. 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single version omitted the instrumental, that occurs between the second chorus and the second verse, as well as the repeat of the chorus and the final instrumentalist chorus, that ends without the fade. It went on to become 22nd best-seller of 1971.

After MacLellan's suicide in 1995, his friend and fellow Atlantic Canadian musician Ron Hynes wrote the song "Godspeed" as a tribute, the lyrics for which reference the title of this song.

The song was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.

The song was covered in the 1970s by a number of other performers, including Elvis Presley (who also covered MacLellan's "Snowbird"), Randy Stonehill, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Frankie Laine, Donny Hathaway, Joan Baez, Dutch group Himalaya, the Les Humphries Singers, a German-language version ("Ich fand eine Hand") [I Found a Hand] by Cindy & Bert, a French-language version ("Prends ma main") by Canadian singer Renée Martel, and recorded by Bing Crosby for his 1972 album Bing 'n' Basie. It was also covered, and often sung in concert, by Anita Bryant.

Evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong rendered his take on the song in a January 1976 episode of Hee Haw. Country acts Sandy Posey, Lynn Anderson, Loretta Lynn, and The Oak Ridge Boys also recorded the song.

South African singer Ray Dylan recorded it on his 2009 album Goeie Ou Country - Op Aanvraag. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics: 

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee

My momma taught me how to pray before I reached the age of 7
When I'm down on my knees that's when I'm closest to heaven
Daddy lived his life, 2 kids and a wife
Well you do what you must do
But he showed me enough of what it takes to get me through, oh yeh!

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
Oh yeh!

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
Oh yeh!

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
Oh yeh!
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee, Oh yeh!

He Is Lord

 "He is Lord" the composer for this popular chorus is unknown at the writing of this blog. 

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord!
Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord. 

God Is So Wonderful

"God Is So Wonderful" is a contemporary Christian song is written by Virginia Marshall in 1964 but was published in 1971.  At present, I could not find much information on the composer and the background of this song.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics: 

God Is So Wonderful,
I Can’t Explain,
But I Can Say, Glory Hallelujah!
Praise His Holy Name!

Oh, God Is So Wonderful,
I Can’t Explain,
But I Can Say, Glory Hallelujah!
Praise His Holy Name!

It’s Wonderful Because He Saved Me,
It’s Wonderful That He Forgave Me.
It’s Wonderful, Wonderful,
So Very Wonderful,
Wonderful That He Is Mine.

I Cast On Him My Every Burden,
Lay At His Feet My Every Care.
It’s Wonderful, Wonderful,
So Very Wonderful,
Wonderful That He Is Mine.

Oh, God Is So Wonderful,
I Can’t Explain,
But I Can Say, Glory Hallelujah!
Praise His Holy Name!

Oh, God Is So Wonderful,
I Can’t Explain,
But I Can Say, Glory Hallelujah!
Praise His Holy Name!

For Those Tears I Died (Come To The Water)

For Those Tears I Died was written by Marsha Stevens-Pino (born Marsha Carter August 20, 1952) is a singer, musician, songwriter and recording artist of Christian songs. 

Shortly after professing to become a Christian in 1969 at sixteen years of age, Stevens-Pino wrote "For Those Tears I Died (Come to the Water)", a song that was to become widely known and sung in Charismatic Christian churches and youth-groups across the United States. Utilizing her songwriting and singing talents with sister Wendy Carter and friends Peter Jacobs and Russ Stevens, the contemporary Christian music group known as "Children of the Day" was formed. The band's first album, Come to the Water, was recorded with money borrowed from Calvary Chapel, whose minister Chuck Smith supported Stevens-Pino's career. However, her later memoir accounts that he enforced female subordination, including appointing a male bandmate as leader of the band. Smith's mentoring ended when she came out and Smith suggested that she hadn't "married the right man." 

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music states that Stevens should be recognized as the mother of the genre.

To download the easy alphanotes and chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics 

You said You'd come and share all my sorrows,
You said You'd be there for all my tomorrows;
I came so close to sending You away,
But just like You promised You came there to stay;
I just had to pray!
And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;
I felt ev'ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died."

Your goodness so great I can't understand,
And, dear Lord, I know that all this was planned;
I know You're here now, and always will be,
Your love loosed my chains and in You I'm free;
But Jesus, why me?

And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;
I felt ev'ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died."
Jesus, I give You my heart and my soul,
I know that without God I'd never be whole;
Savior, You opened all the right doors,
And I thank You and praise You from earth's humble shores;
Take me, I'm Yours.

And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;
I felt ev'ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died."

                                   

Cover Me In Sunshine

 "Cover Me in Sunshine" is a song by American singer and songwriter Pink and her daughter Willow Sage Hart. It was written by Amy Allen and Mozella with production by A Strut (Ludwig Söderberg). The song debuted via video-sharing social media platform TikTok on February 8, while the full version was released on February 12, 2021, as a single through RCA Records. The track was met with positive reviews, with critics calling it "adorable" and praising both performers' vocals. The accompanying music video was published alongside the single release, featuring Pink and Hart on their family ranch and winery in California. The song achieved moderate success, charting in the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland, and in the top 40 of Croatia, Flanders, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia and Russia. 

On February 8, 2021, Hart debuted an a cappella performance of the "Cover Me in Sunshine" chorus on Pink's TikTok account. Two days later, Pink announced through her social media that the full version of the song would be released on February 12. Pink released a video attached to this announcement, where she emphasized her collaboration with daughter:

I love singing with my daughter and my son. (...) But we have this song called "Cover Me in Sunshine" that we recorded at home because it made us feel happy and so we're going to put it out for no other reason than that we hope that the song makes you feel happy. We thought we'd put it out around Valentine's Day as a big ol' hug and a kiss from us to all ya'll. 

To download the easy alphanotes with chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

 Lyrics

I've been dreaming of friendly faces
I've got so much time to kill
Just imagine people laughing
I know some day we will
And even if it's far away
Get me through another day

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world's been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright
Cover me in sunshine

From a distance all these mountains
Are just some tiny hills
Wildflowers, they keep living
While they're just standing still
I've been missing yesterday
But what if there's a better place?

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world's been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world's been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright
Cover me in sunshine

Cover me in sunshine
Shower me with good times
Tell me that the world's been spinning since the beginning
And everything will be alright
Cover me in sunshine

Our God

 "Our God" is a song written by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Jonas Myrin, and Matt Redman. The track was originally included on Passion: Awakening, a live record from Passion 10, the 2010 gathering of the Passion Conferences. It was released as a single and spent 10 weeks as No. 1 on Billboard Christian charts. The song is also the opening track on Tomlin's album And If Our God Is For Us... (2010) by CCM. In 2011, Chris Tomlin recorded a remake with the famous Christian rapper, Lecrae.

One of Tomlin's co-writers Matt Redman recorded a version of the song on his 2012 compilation album, Sing Like Never Before: The Essential Collection. 

At the 2011 Dove Awards, Tomlin was nominated for Song of the Year, and won Worship Song of the Year for "Our God". Tomlin also performed the song at the awards ceremony.

That same year, And If Our God Is For Us... containing the song as its major hit was nominated in the category of Top Christian Album, the song won the title of Top Christian Song, and Tomlin won Top Christian Artist at the Billboard Music Awards.

"Our God" is the No. 5 song on CCLI's Top 25 Songs. 

To download the easy alphanotes with chords sheet music, look here. Enjoy! 

Lyrics 

Water You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like you
None like you
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's No one like you
None like you

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
No one like you
None like you

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?