As of 2006, she has released nineteen albums. Thirty-two of her singles have reached the Number 1 position on Christian radio national airplay charts. These include "He Is Exalted", "God Is In Control", "We Bow Down" and "The Warrior Is A Child". She has received five GMA Dove Awards, and three American Songwriter Awards.
Some of Paris' songs have been included in the hymnals by a variety of churches including the United Methodist church and various Charismatic churches. In recent years, Paris has focused on recording new versions of some of her worship standards and writing new praise and worship music in contrast to contemporary Christian pop songs that she released the latter 1990s.
Her uncle, Loren Cunningham is the founder of Youth With A Mission, while her family started Ecclesia College in Elm Springs, Arkansas, where her brother Oren Paris III is president and father Oren Paris II is chancellor. Paris herself studied theology and sacred music, though she has claimed to have placed little emphasis in her formal studies on composition or songwriting. Beyond songwriting, she is the author of four books, three of which focus on contemporary Christian theology.
She and her husband Jack Wright have one child, Jack Paris Wright, born April 29, 2001.
Although widely associated for much of her career with Star Song Records, EMI switched her over to the Sparrow label in 1996, before her contract ended after 2003. In 2005, she switched to Michael Coleman's INO label.
Jewels
Twila Paris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.
Like the stars of the morning
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom,
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.
Like the stars of the morning
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.
Like the stars of the morning
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.
The lyrics of Twila Paris's song "Jewels" exalt the beauty of believers who are described as "precious jewels" in the eyes of Christ. The song reflects on the biblical metaphor of Jesus Christ as the owner of a great treasure, which consists of those who have accepted His love and are awaiting His return. The opening stanza portrays the long-awaited arrival of Jesus Christ, who will gather His precious jewels to ensure their safekeeping in His heavenly kingdom. Moreover, it suggests that believers are unique treasures that Christ will protect and cherish as His own.
The second and third stanzas emphasize the splendor of the gems that will be gathered by Christ. They will shine brighter than the morning stars and adorn His crown. The allusion to star-like qualities of the redeemed suggests both their beauty and their rarity. Moreover, the fourth stanza stresses that little children who love their Redeemer are among the most precious of jewels. They are treasured by Jesus Christ, who loves them deeply.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to the splendor of the faithful in the eyes of their Savior. It echoes the Good News of the Gospel, which tells us that no one is too small, too unworthy, or too far-gone to be loved by Christ. He will gather all those who put their trust in Him and keep them as His very own, where they will shine in their beauty as precious jewels in His heavenly kingdom.
Line by Line Meaning
When He cometh, when He cometh
When Jesus returns
To make up His jewels,
To gather his holy followers
All His jewels, precious jewels,
All of his beloved followers
His loved and His own.
Those dear to him
Like the stars of the morning
As radiant as the dawn
His bright crown adorning,
Wearing a crown which radiates his glory
They shall shine in their beauty,
They will gleam with their inner beauty
Bright gems for His crown.
Precious possessions to be cherished
He will gather, He will gather
He will gather his loyal followers
The gems for His kingdom,
The followers for his kingdom
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
Those who have remained true and loyal to Jesus, and who shine brightly in his eyes
His loved and His own.
His cherished ones
Little children, little children,
Young people who have pledged their loyalty to Jesus
Who love their Redeemer,
Who have special affection for Jesus, their Redeemer
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
Are of great value to Jesus
His loved and His own.
His special ones
Like the stars of the morning
As brilliant as the dawn
His bright crown adorning,
Wearing a bejewelled crown that shines with his glory
They shall shine in their beauty,
They will radiate their inner beauty
Bright gems for His crown.
Precious jewels that will adorn his crown
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.