Centricity Music recently released its third Christmas project, Christmas: Joy To The World, October 22. The eight-song album features Centricity Music artists Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, Unspoken, Jonny Diaz, Downhere and introduces two newly signed artists, Lauren Daigle and Carrollton.
Three singles have been released to radio, Unspoken's "Feliz Navidad," "Light of the World" by Lauren Daigle, and "Asleep in the Hay" by Jonny Diaz. The songs mark the debut Centricity Music releases from Jonny Diaz and Lauren Daigle and the first Christmas song from Unspoken.
The new Christmas project is a great chance for fans to hear songs from the newest members of the Centricity Music family, Jonny Diaz, Lauren Daigle and Carrollton, before their individual releases in 2014.
Daigle hails from Lafayette, La., where she got her start in entertainment by appearing as a camel at 3-years-old in a church play. That unique launch on stage led to Daigle becoming an American Idol contender in 2010 and 2012. Centricity Music discovered Daigle's incredible vocal talent at a Seattle artist retreat in 2012. Daigle was then asked to sing background vocals on Jason Gray's hit single, "Nothing Is Wasted." I had the chance to speak with new artist Lauren about her song "Light of the World."
Please tell me about the background message behind the song.
It is interesting how this song was written. This song was one of those moments, and I wrote it with Paul Mabury and Paul Duncan. They were together, but I was in Louisiana. It was written over Skype. That was kind of new for me, as my co-writes are typically in person. Little did I know from the circumstances, but this song is the one that we went with. We started talking about the period in which Jesus was born. There were 400 years when nothing had happened. The earth was silent, and there wasn't a voice from God. Out of that silence broke forth the Savior of all eternity. It's such a huge picture that after so much silence to see that the most salvation came at one time. The pinnacle of salvation came, Jesus. That's what the song birthed from, I would say. When it talks about "the world waits for a miracle, the heart longs for a piece of hope, we're waiting with expectation, O come Emmanuel" it brings it to "the Light of the World is here." We imagined what Mary must have heard when she heard her little baby crying not even realizing that He would save the entire world. It is such a huge image, and I wanted people to connect with that, and to sit in worship and in awe of who God is and what He has done.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Luke 2:13-14 (The Voice): "At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God. To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God! And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!"
Matthew 4:16 (NKJV): "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."
John 8:12 (NKJV): "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"
Matthew 5:14 (NKJV): "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
1 John 1:5 (NKJV): "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."
What's the takeaway message for listeners about the song?
I want all of the focus of this song to be on the Lord. All of the attention and all of the glory goes to Jesus, and not to any of the commercialism that exists in the American Christmas. Now that I'm in the Christian music industry and starting to work with a label, it's a whole new experience for me and a place I've never been before. I just led worship back home in Louisiana. God directing our attention to Him is the most honorable thing that He gives us the privilege to do. To look at Him, and worship Him and adore Him is so huge that we get to do that.
We get to step into His Throne Room when we worship. That's one of the main things God has shown me. He is the Light. I've been given the privilege to lead worship in all types of settings and God never fails to show me that although it may seem dark and it may seem like my generation is failing, and the circumstances of this world may bog you down, but don't be weary. Praises are still being lifted up in God's name. People are praising Him.
He showed me a few weeks ago when I led worship in Birmingham with Reuben Morgan, and I felt like God was giving me a glimpse of eternity. There we were with 5,000 kids and I didn't even have to sing, and their voices were rising and looking at their faces they were having rich encounters with the Lord. This is the next generation that's rising and I don't see that very often.
It was very exciting to see that the Light of the World is going to be displayed even in the midst of the darkness that we are in. God let me come and see what God gets to hear. This was one room in Birmingham. Imagine what the whole world sounds like to God when the whole world is worshipping Him.
Lyrics:
The world waits for a miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
A child prays for peace on earth
And she's calling out from a sea of hurt
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
And can you hear
The angels singing
Glory, to the Light of the World
Glory, the Light of the World is here
The drought breaks with the tear of a mother
A baby's cry is the sound of love come down
Come down Emmanuel
He is the song for the suffering
He is Messiah, The Prince of Peace
Has come, He has come, Emmanuel
Glory, to the Light of the World
For all who wait, for all who hunger
For all who've prayed, for all who wonder
Behold your King, Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
Glory, to the Light of the World
Behold your King, Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel!
The world waits for a miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Copyright 2013 CentricSongs (SESAC) Admin by Amplified Administration, Sony-ATV Timber Publishing (SESAC), Annie and Clyde Music (ASCAP) "Used by permission."
We are now in that season leading up to Christmas between Thanksgiving and Christmas when there are a lot of distractions and the stress and excitement of holiday parties, shopping, traveling, and end of the year deadlines and events. What I love about this original Christmas worship song is that it sets my mind on the Light of Christmas, Jesus. The message of the song strips away the commercialism and secular celebration of this most blessed season, and instead focuses in on the ultimate gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The name of the song, "Light of the World," and the accompanying Bible passages highlight the difference between living in the darkness of the world, and living in the Light of the Prince of Heaven, Jesus. 1st John 1:7 and Charlie Peacock's famous song "In the Light" recorded by dcTalk tells us, we can "walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
That's the message of Christmas and this song. The ultimate gift of Christmas is that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." That's cause for true community amongst God's sons and daughters and true fellowship with Him and one another as described in John's epistle. Jesus wants to give you Himself this Christmas and share in His light of life, and not walk in darkness. Now that Jesus has ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, He tells us in His Word that through the Holy Spirit living inside of us, that we are the light of the world, and a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14) This song celebrates that amazing gift. Amen to that!
(Here's an acoustic performance.)
