This song I wrote in 1993 on the guitar and was on a few Vineyard Music recordings in the mid 90′s. I recorded my own version in 1995 which was never released, until now. Recently, I received an email from someone who quoted a verse from Zephaniah in the footer. This reminded me of this song because it was the same verse that inspired me to write this song:

The Lord your God is with you;
the mighty One will save you.
He will rejoice over you.
You will rest in his love;
he will sing and be joyful about you.

I believe that there can never be enough songs about God’s love. Like many, I am wearied by the amount of contention between religious traditions regarding which beliefs and doctrines are emphasized or ignored, who is right vs. who is wrong, who is “in” vs. who is “out”. But everyone can agree on one thing: God is Love and God loves everyone. I love the message of these verses. The picture that God rejoices over us with singing is such an encouraging thing. Hope you enjoy this song as much as I still enjoy it. It is one of my favorites that I have ever written.

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Sing, Lord Sing over your people
Sing, Lord Sing over your people
Songs of joy, songs of freedom
Songs of peace, songs of love
Songs of  love

We’ll rejoice and be glad
For the Lord, our God is with us
We will sing, we will shout
For the Lord takes delight in us

Lord we come
We are Your church
Be with us now
Kiss Your bride
Kiss Your bride

Publishing: Words and Music by Kelly Carpenter
© 1996 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved.*

Recording credits: Kelly Carpenter/Vocals, keyboards, programming – Merrilyn Carpenter, Laurie Ascanio/Background vocals – Davin McLaird/Drums – Leo Song/Bass – David Kaplowitz/Acoustic guitar – Brian Thiessen/Lead electric guitar – Randy Butler/Rhythm electric Guitar . Recorded 1995 at Triad Studios and KelDen Recorders, Redmond, WA. Unauthorized duplication of recording is prohibited.

* If you are interested in recording this song, please contact the copyright administrator Music Services to obtain a mechanical license.

I recently felt inspired to write a song calling for peace and a sense of urgency to release it before Christmas. It is not a Christmas song. It is an angry song about peace, but in a good way.

The call for peace and nonviolence as opposed to violence and war is universal, so there is no political or religious agenda in this video. That said, I am challenged by the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be known as children of God”. So, I ask myself the question: What can I do to further the cause of peace?

Spread the message of peace. If you resonate with what this song says, share the video freely with your friends.

Break the silence
Confront the madness
Make the voice of reason heard

Crush the hatred
with ruthless kindness
Let your love be the last word

Peace on the Earth
Peace on the Earth

Stop the violence
of cold indifference
Too much goes on that we allow

Pierce the darkness
with fierce compassion
Beat the drum of justice NOW!

Peace on the Earth
Peace on the Earth

Publishing:Music by Kelly Carpenter. Words by Kelly Carpenter and Scott Burnett.
© 2010 KelSongs / Kelly Carpenter Music (ASCAP) / Scott A. Burnett. All rights reserved.

Recording credits: Kelly Carpenter Vocals, programming, rhythm guitars/Scott Burnett Guitar solos/ Merrilyn CarpenterAdditional vocals/University Presbyterian Church (UPC) Gospel Choir Additional vocals./Recorded December 2010 at Avondale, except guitar solos and choir recorded at UPC. This recording Ⓟ KelSongs / Kelly Carpenter Music. All rights reserved.