Top 10 Songs by My Favorite Artist Steven Curtis Chapman

Top 10 Songs by My Favorite Artist Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman has been involved with Christian music since 1987 when he released his debut disc titled, "First Hand". From there he began scoring hits with his great messages of hope and love for Jesus. I got into his music just around his "The Great Adventure" disc released in 1992. Steven's family unfortunately made the news in May 2008 when their adopted daughter Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman was tragically hit and killed by her older brother with a Toyota Land Cruiser in their driveway. I've seen SCC in concert twice and I own almost all of his discs, his songs inspire me and speak to my heart.

Counting down from 10 to 1 are my favorite songs by Steven Curtis Chapman and why each one holds a special place in my life.

10. "Prologue [Instrumental]/"The Great Adventure", this intro and song go together seamlessly. This comes from the disc titled, "The Great Adventure released in 1992. I worked with the youth and teens at my church and we went to Tepee Bible Camp in Rifle, Colorado. We worked with kids all week and every morning we would wake up the camp to this song while the counselors dance in strange fashion. I'll never forget the looks on the kid's faces as they headed to the showers, those were great times.

9. "Heaven In The Real World" from the disc of the same name was released in 1994. This song talks about how hard it is to find Heaven in our world. We look for things that will sustain us but they always pass and we need to look for hope and peace, we need to look for Jesus. We played this disc on many long drives to camps and to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. The line that I associate with the most is, "To stand in the pouring rain and believe the sun will shine again." That's powerful stuff.

8. "The Mountain" is another track from "Heaven In The Real World". It's a song that speaks to all of us who have been in the valley of doubt after we have been on the mountain. Although we want to stay on the mountain we have to go where God leads us. When we are led to the valley God goes with us, he gives us rest on the mountain.

7. "Free" is a song from Steven's 1996 disc titled "Signs Of Life". This song is almost a testimony for me because I was going through a marriage that was breaking and I couldn't do anything to save it. Although the song is about people who are in prison but know the love of Jesus and consider themselves free I felt like I was in a marriage that bound me from even taking a step in any direction. I used to cry for hours while I drove back and forth from Wichita to Kansas City where I was planning to move. Even listening to this song while I wrote this made me tear up. One thing I know is that I'm free, I'm free indeed.

6. "Hold Onto Jesus" was the last track on "Signs Of Life" It also holds meaning because it was all I could do at times. Steven sings the song with such conviction and when I saw him in concert later that year he calmed the concert down and pulled up a stool and talked about looking out over a crowd of broken hearts and wounded souls. He played this song and I felt like it was God telling me to hang on just a little longer, some songs are so powerful that you attach all emotion to them, years later I can still remember sitting there and listening to a song that would forever change my life.

5. "Dive", this song comes from his 1999 disc "Speechless" There was a book that came out with this disc, it was a good read and well written by Steven and his pastor. I love this song because it's so upbeat and talks about diving in to God's love and letting him cover you from head to toe. It doesn't sound like any of this other tracks either, it rocks in a few spots and surprised all his fans when it hit the airwaves.

4. "No Greater Love" is from SCC's 2001 disc titled "Declaration". I love this song because it talks about how God's love gives us courage and how it heals the broken heart too. The line "To be willing to die so another might live." is a love I could never fathom because it's so sacrificial. There is no greater love I have ever known besides the one of Jesus Christ.

3. "Believe Me Now" comes from the disc titled "All Things New", it came out in 2004. This song talks about God being with and for you no matter what. He has given us his word that he will never leave us or forsake us for anything. He is same God yesterday, today and forever, believe him. He made the oceans and raised the dead, I believe, do you?

2. "Angels Wish" is from the disc "All Things New" It's a powerful song that talks about what its like to have grace and peace on earth and until I get to heaven I'll have to remember everything so I can tell the angels what I know and what they've seen. Won't it be wonderful to have all your questions answered with clarity? The first line from the song says, "Was God smiling when he spoke the words and made the world and did he cry about the flood?" Someday I'll know.

1. "Cinderella" This song is from Stevens' latest disc that was released in 2007. It's a loving song about a parent who feels the weight of the world but knows the importance of treating his daughter like Cinderella and giving her ever opportunity to be his special girl. I have a little girl and we dance to this song when I cue it up, she snuggles in close and reminds me that love may grow up and leave the house one day but until that day, I'm going to dance with her and make her feel like a princess.