Steve Green (b. August 1, 1956 in Portland, Oregon) is a Contemporary Chris… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Green (b. August 1, 1956 in Portland, Oregon) is a Contemporary Christian music singer notable for his vocal range (tenor 3) and flexible solo style. Over his twenty year career, Green has been honored as a four-time Grammy Award nominee, six-time Dove Award winner, has had 13 No. 1 songs, and has sold over three million albums.

Career

Green was born in Portland, Oregon to missionary parents, Charles and Jo Green. He is one of six siblings who spent much of his early life in Argentina. He studied Music at Grand Canyon University, graduating in 1976. He originally broke into Christian music with the Mobile, Alabama based youth worship group Truth. He also sang backup vocals and played bass with Sandi Patti, White Heart and the Gaither Vocal Band. In 1982, he joined the Christian rock band White Heart as a vocalist. But a difference in ministry vision accompanied by a confrontation with his brother, Randy, led to a spiritual renewal in Steve's life in 1983. He signed a solo contract with Sparrow Records, and his self-titled debut album appeared in 1984. In the same year, he established Steve Green Ministries.

His break out year came in 1985 with the release of He Holds The Keys. The album garnered Green a nomination and win as Male Vocalist of the Year in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) category. The following year, 1986, saw the release of two recordings, "For God And God Alone," and a high church style worship album entitled "A Mighty Fortress." The following year saw the release of his first Christmas recording, "Joy To The World." In early 1988, he released an album dedicated to his parents called "Find Us Faithful." As the 1980s came to an end, many of Green's songs became recognized standards including "People Need The Lord" and "Broken And Spilled Out." He was often considered the male version of Sandi Patti, using many of the same songwriters and styles as well as the traditional ending the song on a (literal) high note. Green also contributed background vocals to Patti's 1986 hit, "Let There Be Praise."

Green was one of the first artists to be involved with Promise Keepers, performing at their inaugural event at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado in July 1993 before 50,000 men. His song "Answer The Call" was inspired by the event and another song, "O Men of God Arise," embodies the Promise Keeper mentality.

Green recorded "The Mission" in 1989 and continued his success with "We Believe" in 1991. As the early 1990s direction of Christian music changed to a more rock oriented format, Green returned to traditional roots by releasing an album of hymns in 1992. Yet Green switched styles in 1994 on his "Where Mercy Begins" album. He also received the first of two career boosts due to outside events.

On September 9, 1994, a US Air jet crashed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. One passenger was an up and coming Christian singer named Kirk Lynn. Lynn has just recorded Green's song "As We Sail To Heaven's Shore" from the 1988 "Find Us Faithful" album. Only a rough cut played at the memorial service for the passengers, grieving family members were told where to find the original song by Green, which boosted album sales for the older recording.

Green's style change continued on his 1996 recording, "The Letter." He was also instrumental in attempting to set up an accountability group for Christian artists following the adultery scandals of Michael English, Marabeth Jordan, and Sandi Patty as well as the Mike Warnke debacle. He was helped in this endeavor by Steve Camp, Wes King, and Michael W. Smith. That year also saw the release of his second Christmas album, "The First Noel."

Green changed focus again in 1998 by declaring he would only record songs that honor the Lord - songs that he could be satisfied with should it be his last recording. That year saw the release of "The Faithful" and 2000 saw the release of a devotional song album entitled "Morning Light." Two years later Green released "Woven In Time" and again found himself receiving a career boost.

Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

Green was a personal friend of Space Shuttle Columbia commander Rick Husband, who was killed along with six others in the February 2003 disintegration during reentry. Green was interviewed by CNN and his song "God Of Wonders" got a boost from the unexpected publicity. He released another album in 2005.

Green's sister is married to Dr. Mark Bailey, president of the evangelical Dallas Theological Seminary, and he helped the seminary celebrate its eightieth anniversary in April 2004. He has also written a thirty day devotional titled, "The Power of the Cross" and has recorded numerous children's videos and songs.

His bilingual abilities have seen the release of two Spanish CDs in the United States.

He is married to Marijean Green, who has testified to her own struggle with bulimia and they have two children, Summer (b. 1984) and Josiah (b. 1986).

Green has expanded his musical ministry to include videos and James Dobson's Focus on the Family.

That's Where The Joy Comes From
Steve Green Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your life and mine are empty vessels
Waiting to be filled
God is pouring out a joy unmeasured
On those who obey His will
He is the giver, we’re the receivers
So what you see in me
Is only a gift from the Spirit of life
Who fills my heart constantly

Chorus:
Every perfect gift comes from above
From the Father of lights
From the Lord of love
This joy that I have that I’m singing of
Is from the Lord

Every perfect gift comes from the Lord
From the Father of lights
From the Lord of love
This joy that I have that I’m singing of
Is from the Lord, from the Lord
That’s where the joy comes from
That’s where the joy comes from

Thieves may try to rob my treasure
But they don’t hold the key
That leads into the sanctuary
Where God’s Spirit lives in me
He is the builder, I am the temple
So what you see in me
Is what He is making and safely protecting
Until I stand complete

Chorus

Overall Meaning

In Steve Green’s song, “That’s Where The Joy Comes From,” the lyrics reflect the idea that our lives are like empty vessels, waiting to be filled with joy from God. This joy is not something that we can create through our own efforts or possessions, but rather it is a gift from God that comes to those who obey His will. The lyrics emphasize that God is the giver and we are the receivers, and any joy that we have within us is only a gift from the Spirit of life who fills our hearts.

The chorus of the song emphasizes that every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights, and from the Lord of love. This joy that we have, which the singer is singing about, is from the Lord, and that is where the joy comes from. The lyrics also reflect the idea that even if thieves were to try to rob our treasure, they do not hold the key that leads into the sanctuary where God’s Spirit lives in us. God is the builder and we are the temple, and what others see in us is what He is making and safely protecting until we stand complete.

In conclusion, the song emphasizes the importance of recognizing that joy comes from God and obedience to His will. The lyrics remind us that any joy we have within us is a gift from God, and even if thieves were to try to rob our treasure, they cannot take away the joy that comes from the Lord.

Line by Line Meaning

Your life and mine are empty vessels
Our lives are incomplete and we crave for something or someone to fill us

Waiting to be filled
We wait eagerly for our lives to be complete and happy

God is pouring out a joy unmeasured
God is giving us an immeasurable amount of joy and happiness

On those who obey His will
This joy is given to those who follow and obey God's commandments

He is the giver, we’re the receivers
God is the one who gives us joy, we are the ones receiving it

So what you see in me
Looking at me, you can see

Is only a gift from the Spirit of life
That the joy in my heart is a gift from the Holy Spirit

Who fills my heart constantly
And this joy keeps filling my heart continuously

Every perfect gift comes from above
We receive every good thing in our lives from God

From the Father of lights
Who is the source of all light in the world

From the Lord of love
Who is the source of all love in the world