Who Can Say - The History
A Note From The Author, Elizabeth Rose:
Hello, and thank you for visiting this blog! I feel so honored to be able to share this song, and the others from my album “Peace Like A River” with you. I hope that they touch your heart and soul deeply.
When I was considering the songs that I would record for this compilation, it came to mind that for many of the old hymns, worshipers may not know the history of the author or the significance of the song throughout history. This led me to the idea of writing a “History & Bible Study” to go along with each song. As a teaser, I want to share the history of the song “Who Can Say” in this blog. If you would like the entire “History & Bible Study”, you can may purchase the digital download of the album in the SHOP on this website.
I hope this is a blessing to you, your church or home group, and that you will share the wonderful depth and spiritual revelation of this song with those you care about.
With Love, Elizabeth Rose
Introduction by Elizabeth Rose
Rather than being a timeless hymn, “Who Can Say” is an original song written by yours truly, Elizabeth Rose. This song was a work in progress for several years before I finally recorded a simple version in October 2018 as a way to remember the new changes that had been made. It came to mind to share the recording with my producer, Brant Fricker, with a simple note saying, “Hey, check out the song I’ve been working on.”
I wasn’t expecting Brant’s approval or critique, however, he responded back saying, “You need to record this song on your album!” I was shocked thinking that one of my songs was good enough to include in the same compilation as hymns that have stood the test of time. Then it came to mind that the Lord gave me this song during a moment of my own wondering, praying and petitioning heaven to give me truth about the nature of God and how He interacts with His people.
Just as the Lord was with Horatio Spafford when he wrote It Is Well With My Soul and with Charlotte Elliott when she wrote Just As I Am, I felt the Lord was speaking the lyrics of Who Can Say right through me. It truly is miraculous how our spirit responds to pressing and trials and prayer. When the lyrics first started coming to mind, I was surprised how much of God’s nature and His care for the simple details of our human existence came flowing from my heart and through the words on the page.
I hope you enjoy the melodic nature of the phrasing throughout Who Can Say. It bring me great joy imagining the grandiosity of our creative God as I sing the question and answer style phrasing in the verses. The chorus and bridge declares, “Our God is a great God who holds the world in His hands. He will never let us go. His never ending love comes to our rescue.”
The Lord has His own ways of promoting His work, and I have a feeling that it brings Him joy to have the song He gave me released within the same compilation as the hymns He gave to other song writers hundreds of years ago.
“Who Can Say” Lyrics
Verse 1
Who can say, that God does not exist ... When He fashioned the sun, moon and stars
Who can say, that God is not alive ... When His Spirit lives in me
Who can say, that faith is not real ... When my God answers prayer
Chorus
Our God is a Great God who holds the world in His hands
Our God is a Great God who holds the world in His hands
BRIDGE
He will never let us go
His never ending love
(Oh it ) Comes to our rescue
Verse 2
Who can say, that God has no pow’r ... When His vict’ry conquers death
Who can say that God does not care ... When He heals the blind and the lame
Who can say that God knows no pain ... When He counts ev’ry tear that we shed
Chorus
Our God is a Great God who holds the world in His hands
Our God is a Great God who holds the world in His hands
BRIDGE
He will never let us go
His never ending love
(Oh it ) Comes to our rescue (x2)
Verse 3 (Soft & Sweetly)
Who can say that God does not speak ... When His voice whispers to me
Who can say that God does not sing ... When His melody comforts my soul
Who can say that God does not love ... When He sent Jesus to Earth
Chorus
Our God is a Great God who holds the world in His hands
Our God is a Great God who holds the world in His hands
BRIDGE x2
He will never let us go
His never ending love
(Oh it ) Comes to our rescue
Outro
Who can say, that God does not exist ... When He fashioned the sun, moon and stars
About The Author
Born July 5, 1989, Elizabeth Rose is a woman of many talents and many interests. A perfect day in the life of Elizabeth looks like camping on the side of a mountain, waking up to the sound of birds chirping and breakfast cooked over a campfire. Then add in the adventure of summiting a 14er (14,000 ft mountain), enjoying a few extra minutes overlooking the valley below, maybe singing a song or even jotting down the lyrics to a newly inspired musical creation, arriving back down at camp in time to speed home and get cleaned up. Then the transformation from mountain girl to symphony goer begins and she is later sees out on the town with friends enjoying a concert, delicious food and maybe some dancing to end the night.
Whether singing on stage or being in the audience, Elizabeth’s smile radiates and fills the room with joy. She is just one of those people who brings the party wherever she goes and if there is a stranger in the room, they sure won’t be for long. Elizabeth has a natural curiosity about people and she always seeks to bring out the gold in those around her.
Rewind a few years and imagine Elizabeth as a 9 year old girl with blonde hair, freckles, tall and lanky, always ready to get out of the house and explore. At a young age she learned that to be a leader you just have to step up and do something that others want to rally around and be part of.
Since every child needs a treehouse, she became the construction manager of the sibling’s tree house building company. Thens shortly after she took on the position of barn manager and horse whisperer. All were self appointed titles, of course. This little girl had big dreams!
At a young age, her prayers sounded something like this. “Jesus, please forgive me for being mean to my brothers today. Help me be nicer. And Jesus, I really want to write a song. Can you please tell me the lyrics. Oh, and one day I really want to travel around the world singing and making people smile when they hear my music.”
Elizabeth has indeed been chasing her dreams and partnering with the Lord to bring them to manifestation. Whether in business, in ministry, or in music, Elizabeth somehow finds a way to shine bright while serving others and sharing the love of Jesus. At age 18 she invited Jesus to be the COO of her life and businesses. “When the Chief Operation Officer of the universe is your business parter, you have instant access to classified information and a Kingdom-focused assignment”, says Elizabeth.
One day Jack Gabriel was teasing Elizabeth and said, “You must really like eating Challenge Cheerios for breakfast, don’t you!” It is true. Elizabeth doesn’t back down from a challenge, especially when the result is that others are blessed by her perseverance.
In 2008, soon after graduating from Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, CO Elizabeth joined 50 college and graduate students venturing to Rome, Italy with the OperaFestival Di Roma program. They choreographed and performed two operas in multiple locations around the city.
In the summer of 2009, between her freshman and sophomore years at Belhaven University, she worked as a counselor at a children’s camp in Mississippi for 10 weeks working with 6-14 year olds. Using her experience with horses, she assisted in managing the horse riding program, and her music experience came in handy while leading worship and bible studies.
During the weekends off from camp she would go to Hope Fellowship Church in Brandon, MS and play keyboard on the worship team as they experienced 8 weeks of daily revival services. Physical healings, heart transformations, family restoration and community outreach were key elements of what the Lord did during those weeks.
At Hope Fellowship she first experienced Treasure Hunting and also joined the prayer teams during the church’s Saturday Healing Room sessions. Her faith grew leaps and bounds for the miraculous and to see the love of God touch people in a tangible way. Then in the spring of 2011 Elizabeth attended DunamisARC in Las Vegas for a six month bible intensive training program, internship and three week ministry trip to Europe.
In the summer of 2012 Elizabeth moved back to Colorado Springs and helped friends renovate, launch and manage a coffee shop. This same place also hosted worship nights where she joined the worship team playing keyboard and singing. During one of these worship times was when she first heard angels singing in chorus with the other voices in the room.
When the instruments went silent and her hands were off the keys and foot off the sustain pedal, there were still voices other than those of the 15 or so attendees. Many in the room heard the angelic voices “singing” along with them. On the drive home Elizabeth remembered the prayer she had once said, “Jesus, I would really like to hear the angels joining in worship with your people.”
Later in 2014 Elizabeth moved to Texas, near San Antonio, and began singing with the Cornerstone Church choir. Dreaming of performing and leading worship with a small group of musicians, she gathered a few friends and together they found different events to host or join in. It was short lived due to her move from San Antonio to Kerrville, TX where she was later part of the Cross Kingdom Church founding in September of 2016.
Also in 2016, Elizabeth was ordained as a minister under Joan Hunter Ministries in Texas. She has since ministered at many Christian conferences and smaller gatherings both nationally and internationally. In September 2017 Elizabeth joined her mother Teri Secrest for a trip to Manila, Philippines. The event host, Ruth Keijdener, invited Elizabeth to sing “The Lord’s Prayer” and join a panel of international leaders who they each gave a testimony of what God is doing in their community and in government.
In February of 2018, 2019 and 2020 Elizabeth Rose, together with Julie Ottaway coordinated the Night To Shine prom event for people with special needs host by Cross Kingdom Church, and sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. This event brought Elizabeth into a greater understanding of those who have special needs and disabilities, and just how precious and loved and valued they truly are.
Elizabeth makes it a priority to participated in community groups in Kerrville, TX. She is frequently seen at chamber of commerce meetings, socials, and leadership summits. One time she even showed up to a Kerrville city planning meeting at 9am on Valentines Day! When talking to a friend about the experience later, she said, “I sat there wondering if my future husband was in the room, but then the fascination of hearing a financial report about our local municipal airport and a new Hobby Lobby coming to town and lower income housing somehow caught my attention and I stopped focusing on the fact that some amazing man out there was missing my company.”
Fascinated by entrepreneurialism, business strategy, and enhancing the local community, Elizabeth thrives on deep conversations and divine connections with big thinkers. She knows that God is at work in the earth and if society is going to progress in a moral and ethical manner, than good people must step up to be leaders and influencers. If destiny is to have it, she may just end up running for a local or state government one day.
June 2019 Elizabeth joined the Awaken The Dawn movement as the Texas State Prayer Ambassador. In October of that same year she coordinated and hosted one of the 420 tent locations for Tent America 2019. She gathered worship teams from around the Hill Country to join in leading 50 hours of non stop worship and prayer. This one historical event set in motion the collaboration of local ministries to work along side each other in more effective ways to bless the surrounding community.
What Elizabeth has learned over the years is that anything truly worth having comes with a price. In her case, it was her submission to God directing her life and being her active business partner. In her early 20’s Elizabeth said a prayer to invite Jesus to be her COO.
“For a business owner in the 21st century the concept of inviting an invisible business partner to be the Chief Operation officer of an international business may seem strange. But for me, it is one of the best decisions I have ever made”. - Elizabeth Rose
“No performance or presentation is ever easy”, says Elizabeth. “So enjoy every moment to the max and thank the Lord for the opportunity to use the gifts and talents you’ve been given. You just never know whose life you will touch along the way while pursuing your own dreams and destiny.”
Elizabeth is the founder of Healthy Traveler’s Guide, a global community of traveling families staying healthy and happy on the road. Along her health and business journey, the owners and founders of Young Living Essential Oils are people she highly respects and considers to be her adopted family.
Having traveled to several of Young Living’s farms around the world and helped with Lavender, Melissa, and Frankincense essential oils harvests and distillations, Elizabeth has gained an appreciation for God’s medicine. Since the age of 18 she has educated nationally and internationally on the power of these and other plants used for sustaining health naturally.
In her future, Elizabeth plans on writing more of her own original music, touring and collaborating with like minded musicians. She is currently not married, although she looks forward to finding “her man”, as she likes to refer to the man she will marry and start a family with one day. Her business goals are many and her life goals include owning and operating Destiny Ranch, a property functioning as a retreat center and an equipping center for people going into all 7 mountains (spheres) of society.
To follow along with Elizabeth Rose’ musical journey, visit her music artist website at www.ElizabethRoseMedia.com.
A few quotes by Elizabeth Rose:
“The world is my playground”
“Joy is our response to God’s goodness in our life”
“A well loved woman is a powerful force to be reckoned with”
“Be a forever student of life”
“Passionately and purposefully living in the moment creates a fulfilled future”
Personal Reflection on the Life of Elizabeth Rose
Can you relate to any part of Elizabeth’s life?
What about Elizabeth’s life inspires you to step out of your own comfort zone and take a risk that will in turn be a blessing to others?
Did Elizabeth’s perseverance through challenging times give you hope to continue persevering when life isn’t easy?
Do you have a song inside of you that needs to be written? Consider taking some time alone with just you and the Lord. Ask him for a song of your own. Maybe it’s a worship song, maybe it’s a love song. Maybe it’s just a song about every day life. Write what is on your heart and allow the creativity given to you by our Creator God to flow through you and onto the page and into the airwaves.
“The joy of the Lord is my strengthened my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy and with my song I will praise him.” Psalm 28:7