Enjoy Jami singing "Faith in You", the title track of her most recent cd on this hospital commercial, St. Anthony Hospital in OKC. The ads will run in the metro OKC area through the Christmas season. Did you know "Faith in You" was recognized by Christianity Today as one of the top 12 worship albums for '08? Congratulations Jami!
Enjoy Jami singing "Faith in You" the title track of her latest cd in this hospital commercial. This will run through the Christmas season in metro OKC. Did you know "Faith in You" was recognized as one of the top 12 worship albums for '08 according to Christianity Today? Congratulations Jami!
Christianity Today gives Faith in You 4 1/2 stars!
At a glance … it's not your typical worship album, but Jami Smith strikes a brilliant balance of grief, praise, and thanksgiving through the understated folk-pop of Faith in You.
Jami Smith has always gravitated toward acoustic flavored pop, rightfully earning comparisons to Jennifer Knapp and Rita Springer. But for her thirteenth album, Faith in You, the production is strikingly more folksy and scaled back with occasional steel guitar, upright bass, banjo, and mandolin. It's definitely a more rootsy sound for the worship artist, and not the sort of thing you'd expect in today's modern worship climate, but producers Will Hunt (Shane & Shane) and Don Chaffer (Waterdeep) apply it beautifully with skillful musicianship.
This understated approach also suits the overall mood and themes of Smith's songs. Theological songwriters like Michael Card and Brian Doerksen have previously noted the lack of lamentations in modern worship music, whereas the Bible is chock full of grief alongside praise and thanksgiving. Smith recently lost a close friend to breast cancer, and in connecting that personal loss with the other tragedies and hurts people face every day, she felt compelled to create an album that is as mournful as it is hopeful.
The tone and balance feels exactly right throughout, with songs that contain surprisingly more depth than some of the more generic titles let on. "Faith in You," for example, considers what it means to keep the faith even when we sometimes feel we can't, and "We Praise You" is actually a prayer to become more grateful for all God has done, even when we're experiencing spiritual doubt and drought. "Let the Light" doesn't simply ask for God's grace to shine on us, but recognizes our need for it, while "Your Grace Is Sufficient" meditates on its title as a mantra carrying us through times of brokenness: "When my soul is heavy, you will lift me up.
"Let Your Kingdom Come" best illustrates Smith's brilliant fusion of uncertainty with worship: "In a world filled with pain, oh what can we pray?/We pray, Jesus, be our strength/In a world filled with strife, oh what can we pray?/We pray to forgive and be forgiven alike." Dennis Jernigan's "Sit with You Awhile," the album's only cover song, fits perfectly here with its sorrowful lyrics and haunting guitars. And you're unlikely to find a more stripped down, raw expression of worship this year than "It's Not Fair," as Smith wrestles with life's pain and injustice before the Lord, accompanying her emotional vocal with only acoustic guitar—brave and beautiful, yet never overwrought.
Does this album sound like a downer? It's not. Faith in You is the perfect worship album for anyone already grieving, while encouraging those who aren't to mourn with those who are and bring hope to them. Though probably not the sort of worship album that will generate popular church standards alongside favorites by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman, it is a worship album that still uniquely and meaningfully serves the church.
Even as prayers seem unanswered, faithful turn to God
By Jami Smith Keeping the Faith
As printed in The Oklahoman
Last month, I sang at a funeral for a 4-month-old baby girl. I had never seen a casket so small. My heart ached. I wouldn't let myself even look at the family. I knew I would lose it and not be able to sing.
The family had asked if I would sing "Faith in You," the title track of my new CD and the song featured on a St.AnthonyHospital commercial about the power of prayer.
It would seem to me that their prayers had not been heard, that God had misplaced their request for the life of their little one that had died.
From the beginning of her short life, she had health problems beyond repair, and I know they begged God to heal her and to let them raise her. And yet, four months later, we stood in front of a baby in a casket. It seemed so painful and wrong.
Still, they wanted me to sing about their belief in prayer and their faith in God.
I was astounded, moved by their faith, which stirred my own disbelief. I was humbled and willingly accepted the request to share my words written out of my own experiences, where sometimes my prayers are not answered in the way I want them to be; nonetheless, I am strangely full of faith and hope even amid hopelessness and despair.
I learned in early adulthood that I did not have the world by the tail. I learned that life was unfair. I learned that hearts break and often do not get repaired.
I learned that people are broken, and they may break their "well meaning" promises. I learned about death, divorce, betrayal, rejection, loneliness and suicide.
I learned that God is silent about a lot of things that need an answer. I learned that evil is real and that I have an enemy that hates it when I worship God.
While I've learned these hard truths, I have also learned that God is near to me.
He hears me. I can be myself with Him: angry, sad and frustrated with questions. I can be lonely and needy and know through my experiences that
He is good and trustworthy, taking away my shame and guilt, forgiving me and giving me a new mindset.
He is my Savior even when it may appear that He did not rescue me. In trusting Him for these many years now, I have learned that, in the words of Christ, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world…," and so I maintain that I would rather have trouble with God than just have trouble.
I would rather have faith that the One I know will carry me through all of this grief than just have grief.
As we approach the 13th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing on Saturday, let's remember that while we are a city well-acquainted with grief, we are also acquainted with the goodness of God and the goodness of people.
"For every mile we walk, for every sorrow that seems to break our hearts, would You give us strength to face each day, in your grace? ... I have faith
OKLAHOMA CITY – Christian recording artist/worship leader Jami Smith will release her next CD, entitled Faith In You, this upcoming April.Faith in You, her 13th release, will reveal Jami's lyrical and musical tribute to God's faithfulness for those who follow Him, even in their most challenging times of life.Faith in You will kick off with a concert event in Oklahoma City on April 18.
Borne out of the tragic loss of a friend to breast cancer, Jami Smith has produced a collection of music and lyrics which reflects her sustaining faith and confidence in a mighty and loving God – one who meets our needs and stands by our side even in our darkest hours.
"I believe in a God who has not forgotten us," said Smith."Even when all our circumstances are seemingly saying otherwise, for that very moment of desperation these songs exist, in hope that they will help us choose faith in an intangible sovereign God who we know by faith, is as close as our breathing."
"I hope and believe the music on Faith in You will present that message of hope in every season of our lives," she concluded.
Faith in You will launch with a concert at CrossingsCommunityChurch in Oklahoma City on the evening of April 18, 2008.Video vignettes of personal stories of tragedy and triumph amidst God's faithfulness will be shared by a variety of people including Steve Saint, son of martyred missionary Nate Saint, at the concert. Other special guests will be included in the evening including Crystal Woodman Miller, Columbine survivor and author of "Marked for Life."More details will follow.
This is a week of faith and remembrance in the Oklahoma City area, as the 13th anniversary of the MurrahFederalBuilding bombing will be commemorated the day following the concert."The memory of this tragedy is still raw in many ways for those of us who lived it personally," said Smith."I hope our concert and release can help continue the healing and recovery that those families who lost loved ones and others who survived the bombing are still experiencing, and that God's love will continue to heal those wounds."
Can God turn our gift of troublesome years into benefit and beauty? I say it all depends on if you are willing to admit you are in trouble.
"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world."
The Christian who boasts and professes a life "trouble free" is selling you something. He must have been a used car salesmen before and thinks that Christianity must be treated with the same doctor of embellishment and shine. Shine on the outside, but don't focus on the mileage, and of course it is the mileage that matters. I once had a wise lady tell me, "Let God get all the mileage out of you that he can." When will we choose to believe the first part of this verse as much as we enjoy the back part? True, we have the overcomer right by us, within us, we are not left alone, and heaven help us all if we didn't have the Holy Spirit as our counselor. But, I am ready for all people but especially professing Christians to admit that they have troubles. I think it would do all believers a world of good to sit down and sing the blues for about a year. Maybe it would finally begin to sink in that we are depraved, helpless, and full of pain, inflictors of pain, in need of a savior and having trouble, lots of it in fact.
My story in no different, the background may be different from yours, but the result is the same.trouble. My older brother hit puberty and rebellion seemed to awaken from its sinful hibernation. I am not cursing my dear brother. He (just like me and all of us) lives in a fallen world with a sin-sick heart. For reasons I still do not completely understand he could not submit to any authority. He dropped out of the 10th grade. He intentionally got his girlfriend pregnant and at 15 years old, he left home. It all happened so fast that we, the rest of my family, (mom, dad, me and little brother), literally thought it was a bad dream that we'd would wake-up from. A shot-gun wedding ensued and two teen-agers gave their childhood away.
And so, I followed this trouble with an inner vow to be no trouble. I had seen my parents fight, cry and literally breakdown. I was, of course, encouraged by the Christian culture in both good and bad ways to overcome this family tragedy, and I, unbeknownst to me, began to live a life of legalism and perfection in an effort to undo the family shame. This is too much for a 13 year-old to take on. I became an excellent hider and denier of trouble, especially my own. Didn't my family have enough shame? Couldn't I at least do better? No, I had to exceed all expectations in order to erase the previous damnations committed by my lineage. So, I became no trouble. I was not perfect but I tried to be, and became good at following the rules, especially the rules of Christianity. Don't drink. Don't smoke. Don't do drugs. Don't have sex (I'd seen what that can do). And then there was a 'Do-list'. Go to church (NEVER miss). Have Christian friends. Read the bible. Immerse yourself in Christian culture and most importantly, don't get into trouble!
This was a time-bomb waiting to go off, and it did in college. Keeping all the rules all the time for the sake of being good lost its luster and instead I wanted to do what I wanted to do. This desire appeared at the time that I was not really in a relationship with the Savior but in a relationship with religion, "no romance just rules," would have been my slogan if I were advertising my brand of Christianity. Thankfully, my God, not the God of legalism I had served so faithfully with my countless dos and don'ts, but the God of mercy and grace and forgiveness beyond measure was there to rescue me. I discovered Him to be a Faithful forgiver and a realist. He turned out to be someone who knew I was sick, full of hidden sin, and prone to trouble. He knew that I was in trouble because of my choices and that I needed help out of trouble. And what is more, my troubles were not shocking to Him. He did not gasp at my depraved nature or my sinful patterns of coping with life. Instead, He began to teach me to admit my trouble to Him and to others, to ask for help, to be weak, and in need. As this began I found a treasure. This treasure was so valuable to me that I would sell everything I own to have Him. A Savior, an overcomer, a healer, and a friend who helps me in the trouble that He promised me I'd have. So, if we take Him at His word, we receive two promises. Trouble and the Overcomer are ours to take us through this life. In the Bible there is a passage in Psalm 73 that says, "You hold me by my right hand, you guide me with your council, and afterwards you take me to glory," seems like a pretty sweet progression to me.
THE OTHER NIGHT I PARTICIPATED IN A UNIQUE AND powerful worship experience with a group of college students at Oklahoma State University. The Tuesday night service, called Overflow, is student-led and has been for the last nine years. The service is held in the dark. No joking—pitch black. The only light in the room shines from the screen with song lyrics, a few candles and my drummer's laptop. It's dark and we start the fi rst song. I am so glad that no one can see me. I discover that I am completely comfortable. In the dark, I am not in charge; I am just me, as always, before God. I don't know much more today than I did yesterday, only a few things about Him and about life that cause me to cry out to Him for help and rescue; to beg Him to remind me that He, the most high God, is all I need; to recognize Him as Lover of the unlovely, Savior of the world, Redeemer for the nations and a Friend like no other, no matter how elusive He sometimes may seem to me. I have been leading worship for 12 years, and it seems the longer I do, the more I feel as if I have no idea what I am doing. How do I, a mere human—broken, self-centered and insecure— show anyone God? He is still so mysterious to me, even after all these years of talking to Him, listening for Him, hoping in Him, believing in Him. I often feel like I am at square one when it comes to really knowing God. You might think this would be embarrassing for me after all these years. I've led worship for festivals, conferences, retreats, churches and events that, if I said their names, you would likely respond, "Oh, I've heard of that," or "I went to that." In 1992 I had the honor and responsibility to lead worship for high-school students for 10 weeks in a row. I felt very overwhelmed. The girl I roomed with that summer handed me a quote on a small piece of paper that read, "We are all worshippers by nature, built that way by God and for God, but what remains to be seen is to whom or to what we will give our worship." This quote, as well as that summer, and the years to follow, stretched my concepts of worship to include more than just music and songs. All of these experiences have forced me to take a look at my life, as well as the reality that living for God and with God means struggling for Him and with Him. These experiences also reveal to me that I am an idol worshipper and always will be. Psalm 16 confi rms that with God "we are safe." Yet the very next words warn, "Apart from You I have no good thing." So, my nature is to wander in my worship, to shift loyalty based on the moment. Yes, I know it sounds bad, but we are worshippers of many things. I worship, and tend to worship, anything that seems attractive at the moment. Depending on the moment, that may be myself and my ideas, or you and your ideas. Regardless, I will worship something; I am designed for it. One thing I do know: the times I have worshipped God in all His glory, I come away stunned, humbled, stirred and very aware that I know very little about this powerful God of love and glory. Maybe that's why I'm so disconcerted at a pervading mindset that seems to have relegated worship to a few catchphrases, particular songs and, God forbid, people. It occurred to me recently that this generation has grown up with mostly contemporary music in the Church. It is not a new idea anymore. Although contemporary worship is not as common in some churches as the organ and the piano are, we are reaching a time in our Christian culture where it is more commonplace. Have we become guilty of worshipping worship songs or musical styles or popular worship leaders or churches? I hope that we teach ourselves to hold on to God and not the methods or the people He has given us. Satan loves that these are even issues we need to discuss, because these things take our eyes off Jesus. Maybe that's why I was so struck by a group of college students turning off the lights. In a culture that is driven by media and fame and popularity and celebrity-itis, maybe this generation is sending a message that we should wake up and listen to. Maybe they are tired of the show that churches have been putting on. Maybe they have caught enough of life's hard blows to know that a Savior is all we are dying for. No more lights and show. No more fl ash and dash. Just give us something that matters or, better yet, Someone who is faithful, not faddish. So, with the lights out, maybe you and I can remember that we are not the point. Our beloved methods can be so distracting from Jesus, though He alone is the Prize we seek and need. I remember singing at a funeral when I was in high school. I sang behind a wall because it was not about me. We were there to honor that person and his life. I don't remember thinking that it was weird; I didn't need to be seen. And maybe these college students get it: glorifying God is not about getting seen, because we cannot change anyone's life. But to see Jesus is to see everything we really need. My prayer for us all is to do whatever we can to show off Jesus, even if it means turning out the lights.
Maybe you’ve had one of these moments: a moment so strong, so sacred you feel fully awakened. Your senses become sharper, your mind more alert to what matters most. The fog lifts, and for a time you remember and relish God and all He is and all He has done for you. And then, unfortunately, somehow you slip back to your world of “me” obsessive-ness. I was in a shopping trance one day a few years ago at Dillards or somewhere like that, flipping through shirts or dresses or some Ralph Lauren outfit that was way too expensive, yet all the while I was supposed to be shopping for Christmas presents for my family and friends. As usual, I had drifted to my sizes.
That is when a moment happened. Drifting over the department store speakers, I heard, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel’s voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born.”
I clenched a dress in my hand as I stared off in the distance, not really seeing what was in front of me anymore. My eyes filled with tears and my heart swelled with gratitude. I wanted to shout, “Do you know that this is real? Do you know that He is Christmas? Did you just hear those words?” Jesus! He is my thrill of hope. I am not left to this world, or stuck to fend for myself. I have HOPE! He is hope. I am not alone! He is here! Emmanuel, God with us!
No, I didn’t shout in the mall that day, but I did get a renewed reason to sing Christmas songs. I began listening and hoping to write songs about the birth of Christ, about our rescue by Him, and about Him being with us. I wanted to feel that sense of gratefulness and hope every Christmas. I longed to sing about God interrupting time and becoming a man for us, becoming the “Hope of all the Earth.” And so the dream began of making a Christmas cd with songs that make me feel the way I did that day in the mall.
As I think of the songs now, I feel full of hope because He is the Hope; I feel full of wonder over a holy God becoming man; I feel full of fear to draw near, and yet I can’t stay away. I am excited to be accepted, thankful to be forgiven, joyful for redemption from a sin-filled exile, for Emmanuel has come to us. I sing the song of our Savior at the top of my lungs, and join with the angels who say, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill towards man.” Jesus is the peace offering, He is the goodwill to man. He is the “Hope of all the Earth.” I hope this season we will not be lost in all the consumerism but instead be consumed by Him, then what a glorious season it will be for us all.
Some Thoughts on Worship
Current mood: contemplative
NEWS - Fall 2005
Some Thoughts on Worship From Jami…
Worship has become such a buzz word in our Christian culture that I wonder what kind of response we would get if we polled the average Christian. What is it? Where does it happen? What makes it possible? What kind of environment do people worship best in? My thoughts on this subject were radically fashioned just the other day when I attended a University of Oklahoma football game. I was reminded of the power of a stadium filled with very passionate people. If you have forgotten what worship looks like and sounds like, go to a college football game and wait. Wait and you'll hear and see worship. I listened as 83,000 voices joined to sing the OU fight song; I marveled as 83,000 fans worshipped in unison at just the appearance of the Sooners as they ran out of the tunnel below us. And truly, I was not surprised, because all of us worship something; in fact, it is easy to do. We are designed for it. What remains to be seen is to whom or what we give our worship. I guess this is why in Psalm 16 God urges us to remember that apart from Him we have no good thing. All earthly things are temporal and fleeting and fighting for our attention and affection. He goes on in this passage to tell us that He keeps us safe, and in His presence there are eternal pleasures at His right hand. I love football. I love the Sooners. I love a great game on a brisk fall afternoon, but I love God more, and what is more, He loves me, and returns to me mercy and affection far, far beyond my love for Him.
hey everyone, What's up? Just wanting you all to know about the new Christmas cd that we just released. It is full of Christmas standards and some new songs we wrote just for this cd. Some friends of mine(Shane Barnard, Robbie Seay, K.C. Clifford, Brennin Hunt and Ryan Smith,my brother.) joined in for some duets to make it really diverse. I hope you all will check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks to everyone who writes in and shares your thoughts. I am honored that you take the time to listen to the music and share it with your friends, and thanks for adding me as a friend.
Because I'm on the road so much (hopefully running into some of you), I don't always respond quickly when you write but I want you to know that I'll come back as often as I can. There are some great people at jamismith.com that are keeping up with you on a daily basis and keeping me posted. So, I'll see you soon. Keep posting!
jami
p.s. As of today, you can hear a little bit of all of the songs and buy the cd at jamismith.com.
contemplative
happy