VIDEO Elvis Presley 18 Classic Gospel Songs

Sept 13, 2013

ELVIS PRESLEY GOSPEL CLASSICS —-HIS HEART WAS GOSPEL MUSIC

There is no question Elvis Presley’s favorite music was Gospel. He warmed up for story sessions with gospel songs, and when not on tour was repeatedly at his residence piano knocking out his favorite hymns. Elvis quite often sought-after to listen to Mahalia Jackson, the Queen of Gospel.

When Elvis was growing up, the Presley family attended the First Assembly Of God church in Tupelo and subsequently in Memphis. Elvis’s music was greatly influenced by attending these churches, but reglious music came to Elvis in many shapes and forms. Religious songs were often part of the repertoire for country stars on the Grand Ol’ Opry – a syndicated radio Nashville broadcast that the Presley’s almost always tuned into on Saturdays. As a teen, Elvis and his friends would sneak into churches in the black neighborhoods to catch the lively music of a different musical heritage. The welcoming congregation and uplifting sound opened up Elvis’s understanding of the multiple facets of reglious music.

During his celebrated career it was Gospel, and Gospel music alone, that earned him the coveted Grammy awards – 1967 winner ‘Best Sacred Performance’ for his “How Great Thou Art” album.

In the 1970’s Elvis Presley sang Gospel songs more and more in his concerts and had the “Imperials” and the “Sweet Inspirations” as well as “JD Sumner & the Stamps” as his Gospel backing group singers. Elvis also sometimes read passages from the Bible on stage during his concerts and insisted that audiences were respectfully quiet while “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” was sung by his backup group.

In 1972 the gospel album “He Touched Me” is released to favorable reviews, and wins Elvis his 2nd Grammy Award. Elvis’s live recording of “How Great Thou Art” in 1975 receives the Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance.

Elvis was a Christian and many believed that Elvis knew he was called by God to be an evangelist. In the last year of his life he sang more Gospel songs on stage, and was even known to read from the Bible on stage.

Predominantly, Elvis took gratification in listening to gospel. Elvis passionately believed that there was nothing as powerful or touching than the commendable gospel music. When traveling he would carry around a case of a hundred or so albums-most of them were gospel music.

Listening to his preferred gospel music was a means for Elvis to get in touch with his bloodline; he frequently used this music for giving praise to the Lord when feeling modest and grateful, which he constantly did. The Word of God says to sing praise and lift your voice to Him.

1- YOU NEVER WALK ALONE (IMAGE SLIDESHOW) 0:00

2- HOW GREAT THOU ART (CBS TAPES 1977) 03:17

3- LIGHTHOUSE – LEAD ME GUIDE ME (HOLLYWOOD C. A. MARCH 31, 1972) 06:15

4- 68 GOSPEL MEDLEY (68 COMEBACK SPECIAL) 09:55

5- IF I CAN DREAM (STAND UP SHOW 68 COMEBACK SPECIAL) 17:34

6- I JOHN (HOLLYWOOD C. A. MARCH 31, 1972) 21:00

7- PEACE IN THE VALLEY (ED SULLIVAN PERFORMANCES) 23:22

8- BOSON OF ABRAHAM (HOLLYWOOD C. A. MARCH 31, 1972) 25:19

9- LET US PRAY (CHANG OF HABIT) 26:06

10- SWEET DOWN SWEET CHARIOT (THE TROUBLE WITH THE GIRLS 1969) 29:13

11- SOMEBODY BIGGER THAN YOU AND I (IMAGE SLIDESHOW) 31:35

12- OH HAPPY DAY (AUGUST 7 1970 REHEARSAL SHOWROOM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL) 33:05

13- WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE (MONTGOMERY FEB 16, 1977) 34:55

14- AN AMERICAN TRILOGY (JAN, 14, 1973 ALOHA FROM HAWAII) 37:22

15- HELP ME (1974 FOOTAGE) 41:59

16- WHY ME LORD (1974 FOOTAGE) 44:43

17- HOW GREAT THOU ART & SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT (VIRGINIA APRIL 9, 1972) 47:37

18- IF I CAN DREAM (68 COMEBACK SPECIAL) 53:18

Dark Nights and God’s Light

Pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1

You wonder if it is a blessing or a curse to have a mind that never rests. But you would rather be a cynic than a hypocrite, so you continue to pray with one eye open and wonder:

about starving children

about the power of prayer

about Christians in cancer wards …

Tough questions. Throw-in-the-towel questions. Questions the disciples must have asked in the storm.

All they could see were black skies as they bounced in the battered boat.…

[Then] a figure came to them walking on the water. It wasn’t what they expected.… They almost missed seeing the answer to their prayers.

And unless we look and listen closely, we risk making the same mistake. God’s lights in our dark nights are as numerous as the stars, if only we’ll look for them.

In the Eye of the Storm

Resting in God’s Faithfulness

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

When plans are frustrated or life just seems to fall apart in some way, it’s not uncommon for people to wonder, Has God deserted me? Why hasn’t He answered my prayers? Deuteronomy 7:9 offers encouragement with assurance of the Father’s faithfulness: “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

Five attributes of God make this possible. First, He knows everything, including our needs, thoughts, frailties, and desires—past, present, and future. Next, the Lord is all-powerful, so nothing is too hard for Him (Jer. 32:17). Then, He exists everywhere at once and is never beyond reach.

In addition, our heavenly Father cannot lie. Everything that He says is true and 100 percent reliable.

Lastly, God is unchanging. The world around us and our circumstances seem to be in a constant state of flux. And the Lord may even modify the way He chooses to interact with mankind in different generations. But His character is always the same. So when Scripture tells us that God is faithful, we can rest confidently upon that promise.

Circumstances often prove painful. But even when situations seem overwhelming, believers can trust that our sovereign Lord knows all, is in control, and lovingly works everything for His children’s good. We can rest confidently, knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of us.

Glorified in the Saints

“And they glorified God in me.” (Galatians 1:24)

It is amazing to read in the Scriptures that the God of glory can actually receive yet more glory through His people. But that is what happened in Paul. When he became a Christian, his life changed completely, and those who saw the change glorified God in Paul.

Jesus prayed that this would be so, not only in Paul, but in all His followers. In the upper room before His crucifixion, He prayed: “I pray for them . . . which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them” (John 17:9-10).

He is glorified when we, like Paul, become His. But then He is further glorified as we grow in Him. Paul himself prayed for those whom he had seen come to Christ: “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him . . .” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

Finally, He shall be glorified when He comes again. “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. . . . he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe . . .” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

As we give glory to Christ in word and deed, He truly was, and is, and will be, glorified in His saints. This is a privilege greater than can be measured, which more than compensates for any opposition this generates from the world. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14). Therefore, “let your light so shine before men, that they may . . . glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). HMM

Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God

Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord that it may be well with thee.—Deuteronomy 6:17,18.

WE ought to become holy in the state in which Providence has placed us, instead of making projects of goodness in, the future; and we need the greatest faithfulness to God in the smallest things. That state of life to which God has called us is safe for us, if we fulfill all our duties therein. Accustom yourself to adore His holy will frequently, by humbly submitting your own to His orders and His Providence. Let us do what we know He requires of us, and, as soon as we know His will, let us not spare ourselves, but be very faithful to Him, Such faithfulness ought not merely to lead us to do great things for His service, but whatever our hand finds to do, and which belongs to our state of life. The smallest things become great when God requires them of us; they are small only in themselves; they are always great when they are done for God, and when they serve to unite us with Him eternally. FRANCOIS DE LA MOTHE FÉNELON.

If so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out

If so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
Joshua 14:12

He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. — I will go in the strength of the LORD GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Stand … having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. — The LORD is with thee, … Go in this thy might.

Hebrews 13:5,6. Psalm 71:16. Isaiah 32:17. Ephesians 6:14,12,13. Judges 6:12,14.

Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of Jordan

Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord. Then Lot chose him all the plain of JorDaniel Genesis 13:10,11

Just Lot … that righteous man.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. — Remember Lot’s wife.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing. — Be not ye … partakers with them.

For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

2 Peter 2:7,8. Galatians 6:7. Luke 17:32. 2 Corinthians 6:14,17. Ephesians 5:7,8,10,11.