The multi-artist album MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST came out in
1995. Its sequel, THE COVENANT, followed
the next year (Word/Epic). The liner
notes tell us: “Oswald Chambers had depth of insight into God’s Word few people
possess. He was a young man with a heart
bent toward God and wisdom beyond his years...With the exception of the Bible,
no book has had such a profound effect on so many lives as Oswald Chamber’s
beloved classic ‘My Utmost For His Highest’”.
Producers of THE COVENANT are: Shane Keister, Tommy Sims, Brown
Bannister, and John and Dino Elefante, while executive producers are Loren
Balman and Brown Bannister.
Starting things off is a lovely vocal performance by Be Be
Winans on ‘All of Me’. Michael W. Smith
and Cindy Morgan wrote this adult contemporary ballad that includes these words
of testimony: “Blue like the sea/Tears have flowed/So deep through me/Sweet
release, precious peace/You have seen all of me.../Time leading on through the
storm/Raging strong/I am weak/But You heal and You shield/All of me”. ‘Reprise (All of Me)’ features The London
Session Orchestra and is an instrumental that sounds like a majestic movie
score.
Tommy Sims and David Mullen wrote the next song, the title
track, ‘The Covenant’. Anointed sings
this calming light R & B song that finds God lovingly speaking to us: “I
color life like a painting on your heart and soul/I made the wonder and the
mystery you dream of/And if that is not enough/I’ll never leave you/Of all the
things I’ve promised you/Remember that love is for always and I will never
change/For I have made a promise and so it will be/This is a promise
everlasting/I belong to you and you to Me”.
Michael W. Smith, seven backing vocalists, and the Kids Connection Choir
sing ‘Someday (Set the Children Free)’.
It’s a beautiful adult contemporary song of optimism: “Someday you’ll
find your place in the sun/Someday when all hearts beat as one/You’ll sing with
the heart of a child/Someday when the river runs wild/My Father comes to set
His children free/Some say it’s a vision/Some say it’s just a dream/I say it’s
a promise, a covenant, a destiny/And I will come to set My children free”.
Jerry McPherson and Dann Huff play electric guitars on
‘Through all the Years’. Greg Long and
Joanna Carlson sing this inspirational chorus: “How could I live without
You?/Through the years You have been faithful/How could I breathe without
You?/It seems so clear that even in the shadowed moments/You were there
(2X)/Through the years/All my life”.
Next up is 'Psalm 121' with Susan Ashton on lead vocals. Shane Keister plays piano, Phil Madeira the
B-3 organ, and Blair Masters the keyboards.
It’s a soft praise and worship number: “Oh, the Lord is my keeper/The Lord
is the shade on my right hand/The sun shall not hurt me by day, nor the moon by
night/The Lord is my keeper/The Lord is the shade on my right hand/Oh, the Lord
is my keeper from this time forth and forevermore/The Lord will keep me from
all evil/Oh, He will keep my life/The Lord will keep my going out and my coming
in”.
Bob Farrell and Robbie Buchanan wrote ‘Make it a
Promise’. Clay Crosse sings this
standout adult contemporary ballad of spiritual dedication: “I promise, Lord,
that I’ll seek You/I’ll promise all of my ways/I promise I’ll keep standing to
the end of my days/I’ll follow Your light and make a home close to Your
heart”. On ‘I Will Follow You’, John
Elefante and Lisa Bevill sing these beautiful words: “And we will follow
You/Knowing You’ll lead us through/From darkness to Your everlasting light/And
we will never walk alone as long as the path is not our own/Like a shadow
behind You we’ll be/And the way will be clear as long as we follow You”.
Carl Marsh wrote ‘Reprise (My Utmost for His Highest)’, a
creative, contemplative instrumental selection that runs over six minutes
long. It features The London Session
Orchestra and builds in intensity. Last
up is ‘Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee’, which here is given the upbeat pop
treatment by Michael W. Smith and Anointed, backed by The Born Again Church
Choir. These words speak of God’s
marvelous creation: “All Thy works with joy surround Thee/Earth and heaven
reflect Thy rays/Stars and angels sing around Thee/Center of unbroken
praise/Field and forest, vale and mountain/Flowery meadow, flashing
sea/Chanting bird and flowing fountain/Call us to rejoice in Thee”.
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST: THE COVENANT is mostly a soft
adult contemporary record. God’s love
and goodness towards us is a common theme, as are His faithfulness and
protection. Our fitting response to
these qualities of our Maker, as laid out in other songs, is to seek after Him
and give Him our entire lives. There are
several strong songs here and a few more forgettable ones. It’s sort of a mixed bag, which is the case
with many multi-artist projects. If you
enjoy laid back songs about the Christian life, this album’s for you. I’m rating it 85%. For more info connect with the artists on
Facebook.