Nelson's musical abilities were further cultivated while he was a student at the Baltimore School for the Arts and Morgan State University where he studied under the esteemed choir director Dr. Nathan Carter. Nelson was soon traveling the globe and conducting choirs his self and working in the music department at his father's church. About fifteen of his friends and he would also get together and sing at church. When Karen Clark-Sheard was coming to perform at his church, she needed some backing singers and his friends stepped in. "It wasn't a formal group," he recalls. "It was just something we did and after we did that service with Karen, we really enjoyed working together and that's when we became Purpose."
At the same time, Nelson had found a lucrative and comfortable income as an executive with a computer software company. Then, something happened to fuel Nelson's writing abilities. "Around 2001 when all of the dotcoms went down I was unemployed and that's when my passion for writing came alive," he says. "I began to write all these songs because I was living off of unemployment. That process took me through a whole thing because of my experience. The song `Healed' definitely came out of that."
Purpose had recorded the song "Healed" on their own self-financed CD in 2002. Nelson had met Grammy-nominated choir leader, Donald Lawrence, at a Washington, D.C. workshop in 2000. "When Donald heard `Healed' he said, `I'm gonna record that song.' He felt that message was what God was saying to the church at the time." Lawrence's words proved prophetic and his rousing rendition of "Healed" became a Top Ten gospel smash in 2005. The icing on the cake was that the song won Nelson the Stellar Award as Songwriter of the Year in 2006. He was presented with the award by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. "I was so shocked that I won," Nelson laughs. "That I didn't even realize that it was Aretha who gave me the award."
Perhaps, the greatest award is that Nelson's songs were now in demand. "I met Troy Sneed at a Gospel Music Workshop of America convention. He said that he had heard a song Purpose recorded called `The Right Place' and that he wanted to record it." Sneed produced the song on Pastor Rudolph McKissick and it became a Top 5 Billboard gospel hit.
It was through Sneed that Nelson would enjoy his biggest song yet. "Troy called one day and said that he was coming to Baltimore to record a group of youth," Nelson recalls. "He called me on a Tuesday and I didn't have a song that night. I wrote `The Struggle is Over' in about ten minutes. The scripture for it comes from Deuteronomy 1: 6-8 in the NIV version. In that scripture, the Lord spoke to Moses to tell the children of Israel they could now come out of the wilderness and possess the land that God promised them in Canaan. So, for them, the struggle was over. So, during the recording that night, the kids were crying and Troy said, `This will be the single.'"
Indeed, it was the single. Released in the winter of 2006, the congregational ballad became the surprise hit of the summer when it spent 12 weeks at #1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Gospel Songs chart. "I never thought it was single worthy," says Nelson. "It didn't sound commercial to me but I apologize for that because obviously the song has resonated with many, many people and touched them."
It was that spirit of touching hearts and minds that permeated Nelson's self-financed concert recording in December 2006. "I undertook that whole project without even knowing if any recording label was going to release it," Nelson confesses. "I took a risk."
Then, Troy Sneed's publicist introduced Nelson to Integrity Music consultant Stacy Merida, who then brought Nelson to the attention of executives at Integrity Music and helped fashion his recording agreement. Now, that live recording which features cameos by William Murphy, Nikki Ross and Sheri Jones-Moffett is finally making its brilliant debut. "My whole concept is dealing with success, victory and triumph," says Nelson. "I expect supernatural success. This CD was in response to the success of `The Struggle is Over' in 2006. The theme of songs like `My Name is Victory' and `Champions' are all in response to the success that God has given us."
"Most songs I get from sermons," Nelson explains. "It comes from divine inspiration. The speaker might say one word but that one word goes into a whole thing. The song `Capacity' came during a service. My father was preaching and while he was preaching, I started writing that song." There was another time when Todd Hall was prophesying in a church service and "he said to turn to your neighbor and say `my praise causes things to look bettah' and instantly every word of that song `Bettah' was written right there in the service."
The only song that Nelson and his frequent songwriting collaborator, Justin Savage, didn't write
is Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God." Nelson says, "I heard it at a worship service and it spoke to me. It's an intoxicating song. A whole church no matter what race, creed or color can sing along to it. It became an anthem at my church."
An anthem for Nelson's personal life is the title song, "Right Now Praise." He says, "I wrote that during a difficult time in my life back in 2003. I was on the verge of losing my home and my car. I was working as a substitute teacher. I was in a very low place. My car is my mediation place. I was crying down the road and started singing a melody to the Lord and that's when `Right Now Praise' came to me. I had to rush into school and get to my tape recorder and put it down before I forgot it. Everything with this project is timing. I feel like its time for whatever God has for me to do right now. This is my God ordained time for my life.
http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/artistdetail.php?artist_id=1420
Expect the Great
Jonathan Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Year of refreshing
His plan now unfolding
The time of your great blessing
Expect nothing but Victory
That's the promise of our KING
To do exceedingly, abundantly
So
Expect the great
Expect the great
Expect the great
Expect the great
Anticipate, faith activates
This is your year
Your moment is here
Expect the great blessing now
Expect the great blessing now
Expect the great blessing now
Expect the great blessing now
The blessing is on you
The blessing is on you
Jonathan Nelson's song "Expect the Great" is a powerful message of hope, faith, and expectation. The lyrics speak to the idea that this is just the beginning of a new season of grace, blessings, and opportunities. The year of refreshing refers to a time of renewal where God's plan for our lives is gradually unfolding. It's a season of hope and anticipation, where we can expect nothing but victory.
The lyrics emphasize the promise of the King, who has promised to do exceedingly, abundantly, above what we ask or think. This is a powerful message of faith and trust, reminding us of the goodness of God and his willingness to bless us beyond measure. The idea of expecting the great is a call to action, urging us to anticipate the blessings that are coming our way.
The chorus encourages us to keep the faith and activate our belief in the greatness that is yet to come. The accompanying music is powerful, uplifting and dynamic, captivating the listener and spurring them to expect the great.
In conclusion, Jonathan Nelson's "Expect the Great" is a powerful testimony of faith, hope, and perseverance. It urges us to anticipate the blessings to come with faith and expectancy, trusting in the promises of God. The song is a call to action, reminding us that we have a role to play in activating our faith and seeing the greatness that lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
This is just the beginning
The start of something new
The Year of refreshing
A time to recharge and renew
His plan now unfolding
God's purpose revealed
The time of your great blessing
A season of abundance and favor
Expect nothing but Victory
Believe that you will succeed
That's the promise of our KING
God's pledge to his people
To do exceedingly, abundantly
More than what is asked or thought
Above what you ask or think
Surpassing expectations
Expect the great
Anticipate greatness
Anticipate, faith activates
Faith brings results
This is your year
The year for your breakthrough
Your moment is here
The time for success is now
Expect the great blessing now
Prepare for abundance
The blessing is on you
Favor is upon you
Lyrics ยฉ Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DARIEN LEE DENNIS, JONATHAN NELSON, KENNETH ANTHONY SHELTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greta Jones
This is my first time hearing this song!!!! I can't let it go ๐ I keep repeating it over and over ๐
๐
zoelife1429
That's what I am saying!!! I discovered it last night. I LOVE IT!!
She invests
His backup singers are incredible ๐
Victoria Tutstone
Agreed ๐๐
pamela payne
If you ever feel discouraged, THIS IS THE SONG TO SET YOU STRAIGHT!!! ๐๐ฟ๐๐พ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Beloved Aam
Back again in November 2021 and still loving this song. Still my jam๐๐ฟ
Evangeline K254
2023 and Still love the sound of this!๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ from back in 2011at a music academy performed it on graduation day it was liiiit!
LivinForChrist90
Wat an awesome song that is by Jonathan Nelson and wish we had that type of music going on at my church cause that is some funky christian music right there and it makes u want to dance and it just makes u feel good inside and outside. I am proud to be a Jesus Freak and a Christian.
Jeremy Treadwell
WOW ! I like it - it's catchy and the harmonies were definitely unexpected !! - Love it, Keep it up Reverend Doctor Bishop Nelson ! JT
Elva R
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