Far Country – Ellie Holcomb
*** ½ 

Ellie Holcomb returns with her fourth full-length studio album Far Country, a solid follow-up to Canyon, one of my favorite albums of 2021. The new album features eleven new songs born from a season of profound grief and spiritual exploration. Holcomb co-wrote all of the songs. The album was produced and engineered by Cason Cooley and executive produced by Holcomb’s father Brown Bannister, and Samantha Steele.
The songs feature Holcomb’s strong and expressive vocals. The album contains themes of being made for a different place, there having to be more than this, light, love, hope, and the goodness and mercy for the Lord.

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• Song of the Week Lyrics ~ It Really Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham and Crowder

Here are a few comments about each song.

The Whole Thing – This song was written by Holcomb, Jessie Early, and Kirby Kaple. There has to be more than this, and we may be made for a different place.
Key lyric:
Something in my bones knows there’s a shore that we can’t see
We can catch a little glimpse right now
One day we’ll see the whole thing
The whole thing

Far Country – This song was written by Holcomb and Jason Ingram. Some people need to go find the far country, where the nights get dark. Some people have to go dark just to see.
Key lyric:
How spacious is the love of God?
No place I’ve been where He is not
From Heaven’s heights to hell below
I’ve found no place, where He won’t go

Oh Love – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Thad Cockrell. You can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you’re loved. There isn’t any darkness that is going to put that light out.
Key lyric:
Oh, love
Never gonna lose its strength
Never gonna lose its grip
Never gonna lose its power

Give Me Your Hand – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Taylor Leonhardt. Something came into her life from nowhere, it knocked her off her feet and took the breath from her lungs. When she was sinking down and thinking it was the end, the Lord gave her His hand.
Key lyric:
I don’t know what tomorrow’s holding
I don’t think I’ll ever understand
I’ll always have this sorrow with me
I’ll believe in the resurrection
Holding out hope for the Promised Land
I might die with this promise in me
Oh, but You give me your hand

Hope’s Gonna Find You – This song was written by Holcomb, Bear Rinehart and Cason Cooley. The song is about leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus.
Key lyric:
What if hope’s not a rope you hold on to
What if it’s the arms that have always held you (I’m leaning)
On the edge when it feels like you’re not gonna pull through
Is the place you discover that hope’s gonna find you
Hope’s gonna find you

Small Boat – This upbeat song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Kevin Scott Rhoads. It only takes your whole life to figure out just who you are.
Key lyric:
The best things in life they aren’t always free
That love is gonna cost you everything
And every single drop of water is a galaxy
But it only takes a small boat
It only takes a small boat

Made For Love – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Jon Guerra. We were made for a love story and it’s all ours.
Key lyric:
I can see Your light shining through everything
I can hear Your voice, You’re singing joy over me
I could live forever, and not hear it enough
Oh, God, help us remember
We were made for love

Wherever I Go – This song was written by Holcomb and Hank Bentley. Even if it seems hard to see, the goodness and mercy of the Lord will follow her. The song features some excellent backing vocals, and references Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Key lyric:
You are so kind to remind me
That if I am lost you’ll come find me
Even in the darkest valley
Your goodness and mercy will follow me

How I Feel About You – This love song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Kevin Scott Rhoads. Holcomb sings accompanied by piano and strings.
Key lyric:
It’s the evergreens in the cold
Or a heart that won’t grow old
It’s the spring that pulls life through
That’s how I feel about You

River – This beautiful song was written by Holcomb and Latifah Alattas. The song is a prayer based on Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
Key lyric:
Open my arms to the light above me
Bow my head low to the ground at my feet
There’s a healing that I needed taking root within my soul
Hand to heart, I breathe you in, You are here, You make me whole

Where Does The Light Go? – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Natalie Hemby. It looks at where the light goes after a candle burns out, after Jesus’ death and our death.
Key lyric:
Where does the light go
When we take our last breath?
Does it float out the window
Onto heaven’s steps?
Will the Sun say, “Welcome home. It’s like you never left”?
Favorite songs
** Give Me Your Hand
** Hope’s Gonna Find You
** Wherever I Go
** River

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• CXMMXNS and CityAlight – “Stand Firm” and “His Glory and My Good”. Enjoy the video for CXMMXNS and CityAlight performing “Stand Firm” and “His Glory and My Good”.
• Jesus Saves. Here is Chris Tomlin and the Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir performing “Jesus Saves”.
• Christ Our Hope In Life and Death|Getty Music|Worship Together Session. Watch the Worship Together session of “Christ Our Hope In Life and Death with Getty Music (Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa).
• Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven. Enjoy “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”, recorded live with thousands of voices and full orchestral accompaniment at the 2025 Sing! Getty Music Worship Conference.
• To God Be the Glory. Here is a new version of the 1875 hymn written by Fanny Crosby and William Howard Doane from the Worship Initiative, featuring Shane and Shane.
• What Is The Aim of Our Singing in Church? In this short video, Matt Boswell shares the aim of singing in Church.
• If God Is For Us. Here is “If God Is For Us” by Jordan Kauflin and Laura Story, recorded live at the 2025 Sing! Getty Worship Conference.
• He Is Making All Things Right. Here is “He Is Making All Things Right” by Stillcreek and Celtic Worship.
• The Long Surrender. Here is the video for “The Long Surrender”, the title song of NEEDTOBREATHE’s new album.
• Why Is Music Preference Such a Struggle for Churchgoers? In this video, Matt Boswell shares why music preference is a struggle for churchgoers.

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It Really Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham and Crowder

This week’s song of the week is “It Really Is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham and Crowder. It is a new take on John Newton’s classic hymn “Amazing Grace”. Watch the video for the song here.

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I’m found
Was blind but now I see
Singing Hallelujah!
There’s no chains on me
Thank you Jesus
You have set me free
You welcomed me in
Called me by name
Was dead in my sin
Now I’m dancing on that grave
Hallelujah! It really is Amazing Grace
It really is
‘Twas grace that taught
My heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did
That grace appear
The hour I first believed
Singing Hallelujah!
There’s no chains on me
Thank you Jesus
You have set me free
You welcomed me in
Called me by name
Was dead in my sin
Now I’m dancing on that grave
Hallelujah! It really is Amazing Grace
It really is, it really is
It’s Amazing Grace
I’ll testify
Of what He did
He gave me life
I’m born again
My heart is free
My soul is saved
It really is Amazing Grace
I’ll testify
Of what He did
He gave me life
I’m born again
My heart is free

My soul is saved
It really is Amazing Grace
It really is, it really is
It really is Amazing Grace
It really is, it really is
Sing Hallelujah
Hallelujah!
There’s no chains on me
Thank you Jesus
You have set me free
You welcomed me in
Called me by name
Was dead in my sin
Now I’m dancing on that grave
Hallelujah!
It really is Amazing Grace
It really is
It really is Amazing Grace
It really is, it really is
It really is Amazing Grace