As I type this, Elevation Worship's newest album "Nothing is Wasted" is sitting at #5 on the overall, most-downloaded iTunes Albums charts.

Yep. There it is. Smooshed in-between Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake.

Seriously. What an accomplishment!

It is amazing to see worship music make a national impact on the music world. Songs that are lifted up to our God for His glory, His honor, His fame. Songs that bring us into His presence and on our knees to worship. Songs that give us a glimpse of what heaven will be like one day.

But let's be honest, not all churches have welcomed this style of music with open arms. For some, the electric guitar riffs are too piercing. The drums too loud. The words too repetitive.

But for the rest of us who have fully embraced Psalm 96:1, "Sing a new song to the Lord!" You can be filled with anticipation that many of these songs will be making their way into your church rotation very soon.

After listening through the entire album (both live and recorded versions), I have chosen the Top 5 songs that I would like to see added to my church rotation (no pressure, Jimmy).

1. Nothing is Wasted

Goodness, this title track is powerful. Worship leaders, this is the number one song I would recommend adding to your rotation. It doesn't get more true than this.

You are loving You are wise There is nothing in my life You cannot revive

Nothing is wasted You work all things for good Nothing is wasted Your promise remains Forever You reign

2. Great in Us

The opening track sets the tone of the album perfectly. Love the extended instrumental intro. I could get really detailed with how much I enjoyed the build of this song, down to the piano-only instrumental and the layering of drum beats over the bridge. But the lyrics are really what make this song one of my top choices for corporate worship.

Greater than our sin A greater love begins Through the power of Your cross Your love is great in us You've taken all our shame You've washed it all away Through the power of Your cross Your love is great in us

3. Be Lifted High

This song is simple. And sometimes simple makes the best worship song. This embodies everything that a worship song should be - exalting God and showing our need for Him. And I absolutely LOVE the catchy chorus, in fact I think I'll probably have it in my head for the rest of this post.

You be lifted high You be lifted higher I belong to You I am nothing without You

4. Open Up Our Eyes

I like that we were able to hear two different versions of this song on the album. I like them both, in different ways. But the acoustic-intro in the live version really won me over. It has a great melody. And again, great lyrics. I am so thankful that Elevation does a great job at incorporating scripture in their songs.

For Your love endures forever Oh Your love endures forever Open up our eyes, surround us with Your light Your love endures forever

Our God is fighting for us always Our God is fighting for us all Our God is fighting for us always We are not alone, we are not alone

5. In Your Presence

It was hard for me to choose just one more song for my Top 5. There are several others that I really love (including Greater & Unchanging God). But the bridge really makes this song come alive for me. And there is nothing greater I ask of a worship song than to be in His presence.

You will be our guide To the end, to the end The Lord is with me He will not forsake me

There you have it! My Top 5 recommendations.

Hope you enjoy worshiping to these new songs. I know God is blessed by our praises!

Hello friends!! This week I have a special treat for you (well, it was a special treat for ME at least) because I am doing a duet with our good friend, Nick Carter! (Not the one from the Backstreet Boys... even better.)

This Nick is a 20 year old worship leader, ministry intern and engaged to marry a beautiful and sweet girl in May!

He decided to surprise his lady-gal with a visit to spend some time with us this weekend (how sweet is that?! we're blessed with some great friends!) and we took advantage of the time to record a song together (it's been almost 2 years since our last video).

We decided on this song randomly, while Nick was playing around on my guitar. And since I am such a HUGE Taylor fan and a NEW Ed Sheeran fan, this made complete sense!

I wish I could tell you how many takes we did to make it completely through this song... let's just say we starved our significant others by putting off dinner a couple minutes hours. ;)

But they love us, so it was okay.

Oh, and this song is dedicated to them (because they both have freckles we love them too)

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful Monday!

Everything Has Changed

All I knew this morning when I woke Is I know something now, know something now I didn't before And all I've seen since eighteen hours ago Is green eyes and freckles and your smile In the back of my mind making me feel like

I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you know you know you

'Cause all I know is we said "Hello" And your eyes look like coming home All I know is a simple name Everything has changed All I know is you held the door You'll be mine and I'll be yours All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

And all my walls stood tall painted blue And I'll take them down, take them down and open up the door for you And all I feel in my stomach is butterflies The beautiful kind, making up for lost time, Taking flight, making me feel like

I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you know you know you

'Cause all I know is we said "Hello" And your eyes look like coming home All I know is a simple name Everything has changed All I know is you held the door You'll be mine and I'll be yours All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

Come back and tell me why I'm feeling like I've missed you all this time, oh, oh, oh And meet me there tonight And let me know that it's not all in my mind

I just wanna know you better know you better know you better now I just wanna know you know you know you

'Cause all I know is we said "Hello" And your eyes look like coming home All I know is a simple name Everything has changed All I know is you held the door You'll be mine and I'll be yours All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

All I know is we said "Hello" So dust off your highest hopes All I know is pouring rain and everything has changed All I know is the new found grace All my days I know your face All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

Download our acoustic version of "Everything Has Changed."

// Click here to read more posts from this series.

I decided there was no better time to finish my longest-series-ever, "Behind the Music" than this week amidst the Valentine's celebrations!

So today, I am interrupting Music Monday (by the way, did anyone notice that I skipped last week to share the exciting news about our baby?!) to bring you the story behind the final song on my New Day EP, "Right Beside You."

This will be a very, very short story because... well, I am telling it all in my "Meet the Robinson's" series!

But to give you a recap, in case you don't feel like reading the other posts (it's okay, I won't be offended)... this song was written about my relationship with my husband, Josh. The meeting, the dating, the engagement, the marriage and how I am so blessed to spend my life "right beside that boy."

Cheesy? Don't laugh. It's true. :)

We met at bible college. I was a freshman and he was the cool senior ready to graduate.

You know the feeling when you finally get that "crush?" You wake up wondering what they're doing that day and you go to sleep wondering what they did. And all you're wishing for is the chance to spend the day with them. It's giddy and beautiful all at the same time.

And then, the dating. Yes. Where the love just grows and grows. It's a fun time, because while you know you both enjoy each others company... the question is always looming, "is this the one?" And while I have my own personal feelings on "the one" theory, there is no hiding the reality that this question can take for-e-ver to be answered.

For Josh and I, this question was answered after two and half years of dating. (I'll be blogging all about the "engagement story" on Thursday - so check back in for that!)

So, not to spoil it or anything... but we got married. ;)

And then after a couple months of being married, I wrote this song (almost FIVE years ago now... woah).

I entered "Right Beside You" into a contest on yobi.tv (pretty sure it was the same night I finished the song) and won $100 for making it to the Top 5. So, thank you Josh for making it easy to write love songs! ;)

I recorded it for the EP in 2010. And it by far was the most country sounding song on the album - almost like a "bonus track" really. But I just HAD to add it.

It's the story of our love. And I am so blessed and thankful for that!

________________________________________

And THAT, my friends, sums up the Behind the Music series!

And now, have a listen to the final song on my EP (I made this video for our 3 year anniversary, so it's a little dated... but enjoy!)

**download the song here**

Right Beside You

Another day I wake up wondering, Where are you? And what are you doing?

And I wish I had the choice to spend the rest of this day right beside you, boy

Oh, this love is a growing feeling first a "hi," then a smile stealing glances, thinking

That I'm glad I had the choice to spend the rest of this day right beside you, boy

And tell me, What do you think of me? And tell me, Do I give you the color in your cheeks?

On a walk down on a beach You slip out a diamond ring And you get down on one knee And you say with a smile, "will you marry me?"

Yes, oh yes I say, yes Oh yes, yes Oh yes

There we are standing side by side you're the groom and I'm the bride

And I'm glad I made the choice to spend the rest of my life right beside you, boy the rest of my life right beside you, boy

Yes, oh yes

You're mine and I'm yours You're mine and I'm yours

Right beside you, boy