Revealing Jesus: This Is Hope
The year started with a couple of us at The Encounter asking God to reveal Himself to us. As Christians, we have always heard about the Father’s heart and even more so about who Jesus is, but are we able to embrace who He truly is to us?
We have had conversations about His greatness and how He is a good Father but how many of us are able to truly grasp that knowledge?
The Encounter Music started off the year sitting on the theme “Revealing Jesus” and even as we worked on the songs (writing, arranging, recording and producing) – we wanted to make sure that the songs reflect who God is to us and to nuance His perfect nature into lyrics and melodies. We did not want this to just be another EP production, we wanted to make sure His truths are embedded in the songs. We started curating the songs, cleaning up the lyrics and working on the story of the EP and as we were piecing the EP together, we landed on a huge revelation that more than anything, Jesus is our Hope.
Hope. What is hope?
Just as how God remembered Noah after the flood, which was as you can imagine, a depressing, devastating and rather unpredictable time in Genesis 8 (imagine being the only family to survive a flood), He is also our hope even in this present time we are living in. Sure, there would be uncertainties and even disappointments in life, but God’s embrace and presence is that very glimmer of hope – He is our very present help in times of need.
I don’t know what you are going through today but I know you did not simply chance upon this article. God remembers you and He will always be with you. With God, there will always be hope, there will always be a future. He holds them all in the palm of His hands.
Track #01: Be Magnified (Lift Your Hands)
You are worthy and faithful in every season.
This was my anthem back in 2012 and even as I was led to dig this gem of a song out to reword some portions of it, I knew that there were age-old truths in the song that would never be outdated. I especially love the bridge “You are Love, You are Life, You are Good, You are Faithful” and when the Body of Christ declares this, we breathe life into the world. This upbeat song will definitely get you on your feet but remember the truth of the lyrics even as you declare His goodness.
Track #02: Adore
You are my everything. There is none that can compare. You are always close to me.
I wrote this song back in 2018. I remember that it was just before my wedding and it was a season I had to surrender and unpack my life before Him. This was my love song to Jesus and the song I wrote as I poured my love and adoration upon Him. I pray that this song speaks to you even as you immerse yourself in the words.
Track #03: Coming Home
Even when I drift and run away, You are always calling me home.
This song was birthed from one of our songwriting retreats at The Encounter. Su Ann, Elina and Jennifer huddled and penned this song to remind us all that no matter how far we run, and yes we will run away at times, God is always there calling us home. Just as the father was waiting for his son to come home in the parable of the prodigal son, God is desiring for our homecoming. You will always be safe and secure in His embrace, come home running.
Track #04: This Is Hope
He is Hope when all seem lost and empty.
I co-wrote “This Is Hope” with Jia Hao from The Fireplace Collective back in 2020 during the peak of the Covid pandemic and the intention of the song was to bring out the truth that God is Hope and beyond the pandemic, we should be declaring this truth in our everyday life. With Christ in the vessel, we can most definitely smile at the storm.
Even as Christmas is drawing near – remember that He is not just the reason for the season, He is our hope when all seem lost.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
May these original songs bring you hope and peace. May Jesus be revealed in your precious life.
God bless you,
Clovis Tan