Album Review: Kari Jobe's "The Garden"

Can I just tell you guys how excited I was when an opportunity came up to snag a copy of Kari Jobe's latest release "The Garden" to review? I LOVE Kari Jobe's music - her version of "Revelation Song" is one of my favorite songs to blast in the car and worship to when I'm alone. Her song "Healer" is one I first heard at a girls' youth retreat and is one that has spoken to my heart and helped me to see where God can heal even the deepest of wounds and hurts.

So when the CD arrived in the mail in that bright yellow bubble mailer, I ripped it open and the next day excitedly popped it into my car's CD player (much to the complaints of my kids who would rather be listening to an audiobook or their own worship CD). Over the following week, I listened to it several times and wanted to share some of my thoughts with you about it.

And also offer you a chance to win your own copy - but that's later.

If you haven't heard Kari Jobe before, let me just tell you that she has an absolutely hauntingly beautiful voice. You can hear her passion for singing worship in every note that she sings, hear the feelings that are coming from her heart with each lyric. Her latest songs are just as beautiful as those that have come before it; her voice carries through the peaceful music and the lyrics are incredibly reassuring. Each song is a reminder that God is with us, God wants to heal us, God loves us, God lifts us up, God is faithful. One of my favorite verses from the title track says "I can see the ivy / Growing through the wall / 'Cause you'll stop at nothing / To heal my broken soul"; the entire song is full of lyrics like that, reminding us that God wants to be there for us and help heal.

In a song that's more of a sung prayer, Jobe cries out for God's help in the third track "Heal Our Land". This is by far my favorite song on the album, I honestly cannot get enough of it. The lyrics "Spirit of God / Breathe on your church / Pour out your presence / Speak through your word / We pray in every nation / Christ be Known / Our hope and salvation / Christ alone" is a prayer that God come down on his nations and help us to heal. We are living in a time of worldwide and nationwide division, and this song is an incredibly timely prayer. I'm not saying that this would be an awesome song to sing in church - but John Emery, if you're reading this, may I put this one in for consideration for worship one day? (wink wink, nudge nudge)

From the heartfelt "Miracles" to the passionate "The Cause of Christ", this album is well worth your investment. If you don't believe me - give it a listen. You can preview and grab yourself a copy on iTunes (click here) or Amazon (click here) or listen to the album before you seek yourself out a copy on Spotify (click here). I've already added the entire album to my Worship Music playlist on Spotify because it's truly amazingly beautiful. Or - if you'd rather - enter to win a copy below!

Here's all you have to do to enter to win a copy of Kari Jobe's "The Garden". It's SUPER easy and everyone can have up to 5 entries!

1. Like the blog on Facebook (and comment here that you did/do).
2. Share this post on Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest and comment here that you did (bonus entry if you share the link to your share post).
3. Comment below with your favorite worship song - title & artist (bonus entry if it happens to be a Kari Jobe song).

That's it! Contest closes on Sunday, February 12 and winner will be announced/contacted on Monday, Feburary 13 on the blog's Facebook page and be sent a copy of "The Garden" by FlyBy Promotions soon after.

You guys - get this album. You won't regret it.

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Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.