prayer minstrel: Michael Card

 I am going to be straight-up honest: I don't have much inspiration for blogging or any form of social media lately. I am in an indescribable season of emptiness at the moment. So, I lack quite a bit of motivation. However, I wanted to share another prayer minstrel post for my series and this one is another special artist close to my heart because I grew up listening to his music: Michael Card. I cannot remember a time in my life where his music wasn't present. Most would recognize him as being a well-known name during the late 1980s and early 90's. El Shaddai, Love Crucified Arose, God Will Provide a Lamb are just a few of his originals that are most familiar. His discography spans over 25 albums, most of which are all original songs. Not being a fan of the vast majority of Christian music from the 80s and 90s, I firmly believe that Michael was ahead of his time. He never allowed his songwriting to be boxed in by the industry standards (or lack thereof, ha!). Upon listening to his album, although some of the instrumentation or arrangements might sound "dated" and "old", one can immediately sense the deep connection between Michael Card and his creations. Each song is special and stands out as a unique masterpiece. 

Honestly, it has been many years since I have sat down and listened to an entire album by Card. Time has flown by, but I have always remembered his tunes fondly. Each and every song by him made up my child. His tunes painted my days with colors and, I believe, nurtured my tender faith in Christ at a very young age. When I listen to his music, images and memories come to mind of every home I lived in from ages 4 through 14. I remember moments in solitude, with family, vacations, and daily activities that were accompanied by his albums. While my parents introduce me to Christ early on, I believe the music of Michael Card nurtured a deep love for the Lord and His Word in me. When I think on this, I am truly grateful that my parents brought his music into our home. His thought-provoking, Scripture-filled lyrics encouraged me to dwell upon spirituality and life in Christ at a very early age. I have no doubt the Spirit was at work in little-Erika through Card's songs. Recently, I have begun listening to his songs again. Why? Life has become hard. My parents' divorced last year and I've wanted to hold the pieces of my childhood again. If you have read any of my previous posts, I think I've stated how it has felt that I have lost a certain aspect of my childhood with the recent divorce of my parents. Yes, I have been an adult for quite some years now, but the foundation that was laid has been shaken and the innocence that I once knew as my family history has now been lost. So, I am looking back into the past, trying to find traces of the Lord's hand in the history of my life with my family that manifest His faithfulness to us even when sin abounded underneath the surface. Listening to Michael Card this entire past month has been a confirmation to me of God's work in my imperfect family and my imperfect life.

Again, as with most of my prayer minstrel posts, I feel at a lost for words in describing this music that has played such a significant role in my life. Michael Card's songs are a sweeping epic! He is a storyteller, a preacher, an artist, and a counselor through all that he composes. His Ancient Faith 2-disc album is literally a soundtrack of the Old Testament. I've yet to see anyone arrange a collection so skillfully. His album, The Unveiled Hope, arranges a score for the book of Revelation that captures the terrifying, buy redemptive nature of that time to come. The Life albums encompass the life of Jesus Christ. The Promises celebrates the birth of Christ. Present in Reality puts words to this journey of the Christian life. He utilized choral and orchestral arrangements quite often throughout his albums, which added to the epic nature of his songs. The fact that he covers nearly every well-known Biblical story or topic on the Christian life is impressive! I feel that he could deliver a thorough presentation of the Gospel through song to anyone who has not known Christ or anyone who hasn't understood the basis for the Christian Faith/Life. And I believe any true musician and songwriter would appreciate Card's mastery of song. Whether or not you are drawn to this particular style or subject of music, his ability to weave meaningful stories and human and heavenly themes into thickly layered and rich melodies and instrumental arrangements can be admired by everyone. His songs age very well, I think, and will live long for decades to come. In fact, his "art" of music reminds me very much of Bunyan's book, Pilgrim's Progress. Pilgrim's Progress, like many Christian allegories, lives well beyond past its time because it speak of themes so near to us who are merely pilgrims passing through this world. If Pilgrim's Progress is still alive 300 years after it was published, I predict that the songs of Michael Card will see such future days!

I am drawn to the good-natured, friendly, and humble personality of Card. While I've never had the opportunity to see him perform life, I have watched videos of him preaching and I have been struck by his down-to-earth nature. He has a humor that I "get" and he seems so approachable and understanding. I love getting to see bits of the "person" behind the masterpiece. It makes me appreciate their work all the more! The songs I have listed below by him are merely the tip of the iceberg of his incredible and timeless work. These particular selections have been speaking life into me lately so that is why I chose these 8 songs for this post. May any listeners who come across this page be blessed and comforted by these selections!

I will Bring You Home
Though you are homeless
Though you're alone
I will be your home
Whatever's the matter
Whatever's been done
I will be your home
I will be your home
I will be your home
In this fearful fallen place
I will be your home
When time reaches fullness
When I move my hand
I will bring you home
Home to your own place
In a beautiful land
I will bring you home
I will bring you home
I will bring you home
From this fearful fallen place
I will bring you home
I will bring you home

Job Suite
(lyrics on video)

Song of Gomer
 Don't know what he sees in me
He is spirit, he is free
And I the wife of adultery
Gomer is my name
Simply more than I can see
How he keeps on forgiving me
How he keeps his sanity
Hosea, you're a fool
A fool to love someone like me
A fool to suffer silently
Though sometimes through your eyes I see
I'd rather be a fool
The fondness of a father
The passion of a child
The tenderness of a loving friend
An understanding smile
All of this and so much more
You've lavished on a faithless whore
I've never known love like this before
Hosea, you're a fool
A fool to love someone like me
A fool to suffer silently
Though sometimes through your eyes I see
I'd rather be a fool
This God of yours would not have told
To lift a love that you couldn't hold
And though time and time again I flee
I'm always glad to see you coming after me
Simply more than I can see
How he keeps on forgiving me
The wife of adultery
Gomer is my name

Why

Why did it have to be a friend
Who chose to betray the Lord
Why did he use a kiss to show them
That's not what a kiss is for

Only a friend can betray a friend
A stranger has nothing to gain
And only a friend comes close enough
To ever cause so much pain

And why did there have to be thorny
Crown pressed upon His head
It should have been the royal one
Made of jewels and gold instead

It had to be a crown of thorns
Because in this life that we live
For all who seek to love
A thorn is all the world has to give

And why did it have to be
A heavy cross He was made to bare
And why did they nail His feet and hands
His love would have held Him there

It was a cross for on a cross
A thief was supposed to pay
And Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away

Yes, Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away

Immanuel

A sign shall be given a virgin will conceive
A human baby bearing undiminished deity
The glory of the nations a light for all to see
That hope for all who will embrace His warm reality

Immanuel our God is with us
And if God is with us who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come

Immanuel our God is with us
And if God is with us who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

So what will be Your answer? Will You hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son but gave Him for us all
On earth there is no power there is no depth or height
That could ever separate us from the love of God in Christ

Immanuel our God is with us
And if God is with us who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

Immanuel our God is with us
And if God is with us who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

Then They Will Know
 I will speak
I will wait
I will send prophets among them
That they might hear
That they might see
And understand how much I love
them
Then they will know that I am Father
They they will know I am Lord
They'll walk with Me
And be My people
I'll walk with them as their God
as their God
I will strike
I will scourge
And carry out vengeance upon them
But I will heal the woun
ds I make
And tenderly take them back to me
Then they will know that I am Father
They they will know I am Lord
They'll walk with Me
And be My people
I'll walk with them as their God
This is heaven
This is salvation
This is their great hope and M
ine
He will come
My own Son
A Word faithful hearts can't help hearing
And by His death
With His last breath
A Father's forgiveness comes flowing
Then they will know
That I am Savior
I am Redeemer and Friend
Immanuel
The God who is with them
The God who gives all He can
He is salvation
He is the kingdom
To know Him is paradise
Then they will know that I am Father
They they will know I am Lord
I am Lord

Stillness and Simplicity
(lyrics during video)

The New Jerusalem

I saw the Holy City 
Descending from the sky 
So brilliant with the light of God 
The city is His bride 
There is no temple in this town 
No sun, no moon, no lamp 
For God's own glory is it's light 
Illuminated by the Lamb 
And God Himself will wipe the tears 
From every weeping eye 
No death, no pain, no mourning cry 
And every tear made dry 

And now our God will dwell with them 
The new Jerusalem 
And He Himself will walk with them 
The new Jerusalem 

And so let all of those who thirst 
Come now and drink for free 
And to the one who overcomes 
Come now and you will see 
Behold the old has passed away 
Now everything is new 
The Alpha and Omega's words 
Are trustworthy and so true 
And God Himself will wipe the tears 
From every weeping eye 
No death, no pain, no mourning cry 
And every tear made dry