Open Heaven / River Wild + My Christmas Gift to You

Taken when I went to Jervis Bay, NSW

I have always loved any kind of music that has come out from Hillsong Church. The times that the songs came out or the times that I first heard the songs all represent a different time in my walk with God, and as I've gotten older I have learned more and more what it truly means to worship God. 
With Hillsong Worship specifically, those songs have been best for me to listen to when I am worshipping with other people in church because the meaning of those songs I think are a reflection and prayer that we all have. Hillsong Worship's newest album, Open Heaven / River Wild has emphasized that more than ever for me. 
This current album is my prayer & desire for my life at the moment. Every song on this album touches my heart in a different way. I heard some of the songs live in Sydney when I visited but once I got my hands on the whole album, I was hooked! 
In the last few weeks that I've been playing the album on my phone, I have been cycling through the songs over and over again and still have not gotten tired of them. Of course, the top tracks & the singles off the album are "O Praise the Name," "Open Heaven (River Wild)," "Transfiguration," "Love on the Line," and "One Thing." However, I also recommend listening to all of the songs if you get the chance. 
There are certain songs that I like more than others of course, but for whatever reason I love the bridge of pretty much every song on the album. There are 12 songs on the album. Some of my favorites: 
"Remember love,  Remember mercy,  Christ before me,  Christ behind me
Your love & kindness Has never failed me Christ before me,  Christ behind me"  - Jesus I Need You
"There'll be a season For joy & weeping In everything our God is faithful
His arms are open I will come running Now & always our God is faithful" - Faithfulness
"I'm covered by your love, In searching in my heart Forever I am found in You, my God
My feet have wandered far, But now I'm where you are Forever I am found in You, my God" - Never Forsaken
I could honestly go into detail about each song and talk specifically about why I love it so much. Musically, the songs are not very complicated, but they are also not stripped down by any means. Lyrically, they are beautiful. If they're not a prayer, they are a really great reminder of God's power and place in our lives. I have gone through a couple times where I was driving and sobbing to these songs as I cried out to God in desperation for some peace and praying what these songs are praying for myself. 
And now, I want to share the blessing of these songs of worship with you this Christmas!  I have partnered with Hillsong Worship and Capitol Christian Music Group to give away a copy of this album to share with you in the hopes & prayers that you would be just as blessed by this music as I have been. 
Just enter the giveaway using the Gleam platform below and/or go to my Instagram @krisellerhiax and go to the photo just like this one to enter! Depending on when you see this post the photo may or may not already be posted so just keep an eye out for it! The giveaway will end on Christmas eve right before it hits midnight on Christmas, and I will choose a winner either right on Christmas day or the day after, depending on how busy I get with my family. 
This will most likely be my only post this week because I will be preparing for Christmas & prepping the blog for a renewal in 2016, so Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you enjoy your time with your loved ones and if you decide to enter my giveaway with Hillsong, good luck! I pray that you are as blessed as I have been by this album. 
"Open Heaven / River Wild" Christmas Giveaway

New Music with Nichole Nordeman + a Giveaway!

Something that I've been doing lately is trying to listen to more Christian artists. Now before you assume that I'm one of those Christians who think that secular music is of the devil, I don't think that. In fact, I enjoy secular music. I don't enjoy all of it, especially a lot of what is mainstream today, but I do like listening to it. 
The point is, I've been trying to be more intentional with the music I'm listening to and trying to limit listening to secular music mostly for the messages that a lot of them have. I do still listen to it, just not as much as I usually do. 

Enter: Nichole Nordeman. 
Capitol Christian Music Group, the same record label that manages artists such as Kari Jobe, Hillsong, and Jeremy Camp, reached out to me and introduced me to Nichole Nordeman.  She's a Christian artist who has been in the industry for a while and she released her first album in 10 years just recently, entitled The Unmaking. It's a relatively short album with only 6 songs so they're nice to listen to in the car for short trips. I play her songs on the way to school in the morning. 
I will say first that I'm pretty picky with Christian music that I listen to. When I listen to Christian music or partake in any kind of Christian media, it is very easy for the content to be very cheesy and stereotypical in its message. With Christian music specifically, while I love the message of pretty much all Christian songs, it is the actual melody and arrangement that makes it or breaks it for me. 
With Nichole Nordeman's songs, there were definitely a few of her songs that stood out to me. Something Out of Me, Name, & Unmaking were my two favorite songs on the whole album. 
Something Out of Me & Name both talk about our value in God's eyes and talk about different aspects of that. Unmaking is about being broken down spiritually and finding God through that. These songs were the most catchy and upbeat to me which is why I liked them so much, and Something Out of Me is the most reminiscent of some early 2000's pop songs as well, which is something I also enjoyed, haha. 
So if you want to take a listen for yourself, I'm giving away a copy of the "Unmaking" CD to one lucky winner! Nichole's album is also available for purchase if you can't wait to listen have it for yourself: http://smarturl.it/TheUnmaking?IQid=blog
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Currently Obsessed with: Hillsong Young & Free

Note: This post was updated in April 2017. This post is not sponsored.

One of my favorite bands ever are Hillsong Young and Free. They are a band that I have loved ever since they released their first album in 2013, and since then have released an EP, another album, and tons and tons of touring.

This band is popular and a favorite among a wide variety of audiences (regardless of religious belief) for a few reasons, most of it being the music style matching music of popular music without sacrificing their faith in the lyrics. The band was even nominated for a Grammy award in 2017!

Here are a couple of their most popular songs (and my favorites):

The craziest thing is that this used to be a band that I listened to on my phone when they first came out, and now I go to church with these people! 

I recommend giving Y&F (as they are called for short) a chance regardless of your church background or the type of music you listen to. They have a sound that isn't cheesy but it reaches out to our current generation. These people have true and honest hearts and I love what they are doing!

Let me know what you think of Hillsong Young & Free!

Chau for now ♥