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The Singing God: Feel the Passion God Has for You...Just the Way You Are
God Delights in You
God loves us. With all our faults and failures, with all the secret sins no one else knows about. In fact, He rejoices over us so much that He breaks out in inexpressible joy and song as He thinks about us.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” --Zephaniah 3:17
That’s how God feels about you! He looks at you, He thinks of you...and He sings for joy!
In The Singing God Sam Storms explores God's immeasurable love for His children. You don’t need to be different; you don’t need to be better. You just need to know that God loves you just the way you are now...today. When you truly believe this, you will find the strength and incentive to fight sin, experience freedom from shame, and walk in the fullness of all that God desires for you.
God loves us. With all our faults and failures, with all the secret sins no one else knows about. In fact, He rejoices over us so much that He breaks out in inexpressible joy and song as He thinks about us.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” --Zephaniah 3:17
That’s how God feels about you! He looks at you, He thinks of you...and He sings for joy!
In The Singing God Sam Storms explores God's immeasurable love for His children. You don’t need to be different; you don’t need to be better. You just need to know that God loves you just the way you are now...today. When you truly believe this, you will find the strength and incentive to fight sin, experience freedom from shame, and walk in the fullness of all that God desires for you.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
50 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Sam Storms
81 books138 followers(Some early works written as C. Samuel Storms)
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 5, 2023
A refreshing reflection on God's love for his children in Christ. A theologically solid view of God's love
March 8, 2015
This is one of the best books I've read on God's love! Growing up with an abusive father, I've struggled, and continue to struggle, with knowing and experiencing God's love for me especially since God is best describe as Father. There is nothing particularly new or "cutting edge" in this book, but it was enjoyable to read nonetheless! The author does a great job of reminding us of God's deep and infinite love for us through every chapter in different ways. This may get old for some readers, but I think we are people who often forget how much God loves us, therefore, it's a welcome reminder! I definitely recommend it because, let's be honest, we all struggle to know that God truly loves us!
April 26, 2016
Absolutely refreshing. If you are spiritually dry, read this book.
April 2, 2022
I wish I had a professional rhetorical analysis of Christian books written in the 90s (as opposed to the rhetoric of today). Piper and Packer--and probably a few others--excepted, they all have a similar tonal flavor, and it drives me absolutely nuts not being able to put my finger on it. Sometimes it comes across as patronizing; sometimes it comes across as apologetic. In either case I get a vague case of embarrassment reading them.
My personal theory is that in the 90s, churches were still full of people who were not actually Christians, because "going to church" was a more socially acceptable thing to do than it is now. Therefore, if you were writing to a churchgoing audience, you were writing to a wide swath of people: all the different soils from the parable, as it were. Hypocritical self-righteous types, people who went to church but did not love the Lord, people who thought they loved the Lord but actually did not, etc. I think something about trying to catch all those different groups into the audience of a book--trying to reach the non-serious churchgoer along with the serious--gave 90s Christian books the weird tone I keep catching. Here and now, if you're reading a Christian book, it is no longer necessarily the most socially acceptable thing to be a "Christian"; in fact, there is even a cultural stigma associated with Christianity (or at least being part of a local body) that you are willing to own. Thirty years ago, the stigma was reversed, at least in the Bible Belt, where I live. So these days it's a whole new ball game (and rhetoric). That's my uneducated guess.
So Sam Storms' book was a lovely meditation on God's affection, and I truly did feel a growing sense of God's affection as a result of reading this book. One section on loving others included two pages on how to think about the imprecatory psalms: very good, far more helpful than Lewis' thoughts on them. Yet (as the first two paragraphs of this review show) I was constantly fighting through the turn-off that was the rhetoric. The more it went on, the easier it got to overlook. But at the beginning, it was almost eclipsing the message for me. Weird! ...And probably a personal problem, to be that distracted by trying to figure out the rhetoric of a past decade of Christian writing.
My personal theory is that in the 90s, churches were still full of people who were not actually Christians, because "going to church" was a more socially acceptable thing to do than it is now. Therefore, if you were writing to a churchgoing audience, you were writing to a wide swath of people: all the different soils from the parable, as it were. Hypocritical self-righteous types, people who went to church but did not love the Lord, people who thought they loved the Lord but actually did not, etc. I think something about trying to catch all those different groups into the audience of a book--trying to reach the non-serious churchgoer along with the serious--gave 90s Christian books the weird tone I keep catching. Here and now, if you're reading a Christian book, it is no longer necessarily the most socially acceptable thing to be a "Christian"; in fact, there is even a cultural stigma associated with Christianity (or at least being part of a local body) that you are willing to own. Thirty years ago, the stigma was reversed, at least in the Bible Belt, where I live. So these days it's a whole new ball game (and rhetoric). That's my uneducated guess.
So Sam Storms' book was a lovely meditation on God's affection, and I truly did feel a growing sense of God's affection as a result of reading this book. One section on loving others included two pages on how to think about the imprecatory psalms: very good, far more helpful than Lewis' thoughts on them. Yet (as the first two paragraphs of this review show) I was constantly fighting through the turn-off that was the rhetoric. The more it went on, the easier it got to overlook. But at the beginning, it was almost eclipsing the message for me. Weird! ...And probably a personal problem, to be that distracted by trying to figure out the rhetoric of a past decade of Christian writing.
June 2, 2017
Wow! I really enjoyed this book! Some books stimulate your mind, others move your soul. This one did both for me.
The basic message of this book is "God Loves You!" But Mr. Storms didn't deliver it in a cheesy or mushy hallmark-card-like, let's hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" sort of way. This skilled author communicated this message in a way that arrested me. He made this old, but important message fresh and even at times more palpable to me than it has been in the past.
While each chapter offered some insights, I especially enjoyed his chapter, "The Obsenity of the Cross" where he makes the case that Jesus not only died for our sins but also took our shame upon Himself. I was surprised at how much that spoke to me.
I'd give this 4.5 stars out of 5. The only thing I didn't like was the cover.
But the more I read Sam Storms the more I like him and his contribution to the Body of Christ and I heartily recommend this one.
The basic message of this book is "God Loves You!" But Mr. Storms didn't deliver it in a cheesy or mushy hallmark-card-like, let's hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" sort of way. This skilled author communicated this message in a way that arrested me. He made this old, but important message fresh and even at times more palpable to me than it has been in the past.
While each chapter offered some insights, I especially enjoyed his chapter, "The Obsenity of the Cross" where he makes the case that Jesus not only died for our sins but also took our shame upon Himself. I was surprised at how much that spoke to me.
I'd give this 4.5 stars out of 5. The only thing I didn't like was the cover.
But the more I read Sam Storms the more I like him and his contribution to the Body of Christ and I heartily recommend this one.
July 31, 2021
This book was such an encouragement! If you are someone who struggles to believe how much God truly loved you and desires to see his love for you in a biblical way, pick yo this book. It’s full of scripture, examples, and encouragement to diving in and drinking from the well that is God’s love for his children. It was a hit repetitive at times, but Beautiful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 12, 2023
Thought-provoking
Storms does an excellent job of exploring the verse and thoughts of Zephaniah 3:17, but he does stay on that verse. He ties the idea of a God Who loves us so much that He sings over us to ideas and passages all over the Biblr.
Storms does an excellent job of exploring the verse and thoughts of Zephaniah 3:17, but he does stay on that verse. He ties the idea of a God Who loves us so much that He sings over us to ideas and passages all over the Biblr.
June 5, 2018
This book really helped me see the delight that God has in his people. It helped me to take more delight in God as well.
June 13, 2021
This book is like putting on a warm blanket. Very comforting.
August 13, 2024
Good book about the love of God and how He demonstrates His love for us, and how we should respond n love for Him.
April 26, 2013
My pastor gave me a CD with a sermon titled The Singing God a while back, so when I saw a book come up for review, I was intrigued and requested it.
I struggle a lot with believing God loves me, and that is what this book is about. It is written for people who feel unloved by God, who have a hard time believing that God loves them. I have read several books that addressed this issue, and this is one of the better ones I have read. It is easy to read and interesting, but it isn't light fluff. The author gets real and under the surface of the problem. He offers not quick fixes, but does offer real solutions and hope for we people who struggle in this area. This book has "meat".
I tried to take my time reading it, and was so impressed by the book that I intend to go through it again and try to soak up more of it. The book didn't "cure" me, but it has definitely given me a lot to think about and if I can truly digest what I read and take it to heart, I am sure it will do me a lot of good in the long run. I would recommend this book to anyone who finds them self doubting God's love for them, or to anyone who just needs a reminder and a fresh look at God's love.
I struggle a lot with believing God loves me, and that is what this book is about. It is written for people who feel unloved by God, who have a hard time believing that God loves them. I have read several books that addressed this issue, and this is one of the better ones I have read. It is easy to read and interesting, but it isn't light fluff. The author gets real and under the surface of the problem. He offers not quick fixes, but does offer real solutions and hope for we people who struggle in this area. This book has "meat".
I tried to take my time reading it, and was so impressed by the book that I intend to go through it again and try to soak up more of it. The book didn't "cure" me, but it has definitely given me a lot to think about and if I can truly digest what I read and take it to heart, I am sure it will do me a lot of good in the long run. I would recommend this book to anyone who finds them self doubting God's love for them, or to anyone who just needs a reminder and a fresh look at God's love.
February 2, 2017
The Singing God by Sam Storms is a book that has been revised and seen different covers and editions over the years (my personal copy cover looks nothing like the one shown here). However, whatever is on the cover, the content is excellent! Dr. Storms is a most engaging, yet thoughtfully theological in his many writings. This book explores the love of God for His chosen elect, using the famous verse in Zephaniah 3 about God "singing over us" as a starting point, yet Storms uses multiple passages and examples in both the Old and New Testaments to demonstrate that the love of God for His children is a theme that is strongly woven throughout Scripture. While avoiding the "hyper grace" that some more "traditional" 5-point Calvinists would read into the theme of this book, as a self-described "Amillennial Calvinistic charismatic Christian Hedonist" (re: John Piper), Storms makes a very encouraging and thoroughly biblical case for God's love for His sinful, wayward children; so that believers will break the performance bondage they feel obligated to demonstrate to the Lord that they are worthy of their salvation by engaging in works. Highly recommended!
April 5, 2016
The Singing God, by Sam Storms started off with an elegant, amazing, beautiful description of how much the God of the universe loves me. After reading through chapter 1 and starting chapter 2, I had to take a short break because I couldn’t handle the feeling of making much of me.
After chapter 2, the structure of the book took on a completely different tone. While the title and theme of the book are seen in Zephaniah 3:17, many more scriptures are brought into focus which look at God’s love for His people from many angles, in various ways, and all situations.
We all know God is love. We also know there is much more to God. This book focuses on His attribute of love in such a way to help those who are downcast and don’t feel like God really cares about them. I certainly have felt this way from time to time and am certain I will do so again. The Singing God is an excellent, concentrated remedy which leads my heart to thankfulness and praise of the Lover of my soul.
After chapter 2, the structure of the book took on a completely different tone. While the title and theme of the book are seen in Zephaniah 3:17, many more scriptures are brought into focus which look at God’s love for His people from many angles, in various ways, and all situations.
We all know God is love. We also know there is much more to God. This book focuses on His attribute of love in such a way to help those who are downcast and don’t feel like God really cares about them. I certainly have felt this way from time to time and am certain I will do so again. The Singing God is an excellent, concentrated remedy which leads my heart to thankfulness and praise of the Lover of my soul.
February 27, 2017
The Singing God is a book about God's love for his people, for you or me - a topic that many of us in the church struggle with. Based on Zeph 3:17 (he will exult over you with loud singing), Storms looks to both the Bible and personal stories (his own and from other Christians) to demonstrate God's passionate love for his people, even though we are still very weak and imperfect. Part 1 is an answer to why this book was written, part 2 is meant to show God's love to his people in what he has done for us, and part three contains helpful steps on how to draw closer to God and experience his love as well as how we show God's love to others. His section on imprecatory psalms is worth the entire book. I would highly recommend, especially to those Christians who read the parts of the Bible that talk about God's love and think "sure he loves others, but not me."
November 30, 2012
The urban ministry circles I run in tend to have a polarized view of God - more like a social justice superhero who is always victorious. So reading The Singing God was a refreshing reminder that God really, really loves us. He really, really loves me.
The book focuses around Zephaniah 3:17's concept of a God who loves us so much that He sings over us. God loves us so much that He bursts into song - perhaps this is where Tolkien found his idea of Iluvatar singing creation into being in The Silmarillion. It's striking to realize how much God delights in His creation and takes joy in us.
The book focuses around Zephaniah 3:17's concept of a God who loves us so much that He sings over us. God loves us so much that He bursts into song - perhaps this is where Tolkien found his idea of Iluvatar singing creation into being in The Silmarillion. It's striking to realize how much God delights in His creation and takes joy in us.
October 26, 2013
Sam bases his book on Zephaniah 3:17. I am a bit leery of a theology based on one verse. Sam's book has a bit of a mixed message, I think. One the one hand, God rejoices over us, yes, even in our broken condition. But on the other hand, Sam reminds us that God rages when we are unfaithful to Him, which is probably every day in some way. The subtitle of the book indicates Sam wants us to experience God's passion. Yes, but that passion is not always delight. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1ciXZYH
July 7, 2014
A friend who knew I was struggling with believing God's love for me recommended this book and I am glad I read it. I got some good nuggets out of it and God definitely ministered to my heart through it. It's not the most exciting read ever, but I love that the author tackled this topic and did so using Scripture.
September 27, 2009
Excellent book, showing the great love of God for His creation, mainly the human race. Incredible!!!
December 17, 2015
Enjoyed the first part much more than the second one but overall: really good book.
July 15, 2014
intellect meets emotion - I loved this book by sam Storms. It bridged that gap between my head and my heart.
September 30, 2015
Storms gives some amazing reminders from Scripture of how God loves us in Christ. The truth is a game changer and the personal style is engaging. Get ahold of the love of God. Let it change you!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews