Review

Experiencing Rita Springer worshiping is therapeutic, it’s a healing balm. Every time I hear her I feel as if I were with her at her house, a trusted friend, as she sits at her piano and gives herself, yet again, to her best friend, her lover, her master, her savior, her God. She never ceases to go the full distance. Halfway is not in her vocabulary. Many, by now, are aware of her distinctive voice, her haunting melodies, and her serious and intelligent lyrics. She has ministered across the globe; leading worship, teaching, testifying, always with the same sold out motif. She has been so precious to so many women at so many conferences. Her life is a testimony to both the question marks, as well as the certainties of God.

With her new release, Effortless, produced by David Ruis and mixed by Jason Halbert, Rita has purposefully stretched even beyond the high standard she has set for herself on her previous albums. This time she has recorded several songs from other writers; writers she has long admired. With that, she has given God, and us, a beautiful blend of her own style coupled with the cries and joys of others. The CD begins with her own “Worth It All”. She has explained that it was written while she contemplated the fate of good friend of hers, a friend who struggled every day; struggled with health, with kids, with just living one moment after the next. “I don’t understand your ways, but I will give you my soul, I’ll give you all of my praise. You hold on to all my pain, and with it you are pulling me closer, pulling me into your ways.”

“You Still Have My Heart” is another of the six songs that she wrote. “Your majesty has my attention, your sovereignty has my devotion, and you still have my heart.” Here is another song that declares that no matter what may come, God is the object of all praise and devotion. There’s something timeless about a poetic question, especially when it’s juxtaposed against the universal answer of Jesus. On “About God”, Rita beautifully reflects man’s condition as he ponders life beyond himself.

One of my favorites on this album is Rita’s “I Want the Joy”. It is truly joyful, and I find myself dancing and smiling every time I hear it. I especially like when she sings “It’s time I started dancing on all these graves . . .” What a great word picture! Dancing on death. This song has a feel to it that makes me want to play Matt Redman’s “Let Everything That Has Breath” back to back with it. Rita interprets Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine”, and, while that is a huge radio hit for them, and Rita does a splendid job on it, this album is so much more than that song. The name recognition may draw some to buy it, but they will find themselves in love with the entire work.

I guess I want to mention my other favorite on the album. It’s Charlie Hall’s “Holy Visitation”. Her she is at her haunting, vibrant best. She is so forceful as she exhorts us to “Sound the alarm. . .” The song breaks into a drum-led war cry in the middle as she proclaims, “I was made for war, I was made for battle”. It’ll make you want to armor-up and march into the fray!

Rita also interprets two songs by David Ruis, co-wrote one with him and covers Martin Smith’s “Intimate Stranger”. As I said, all this combines for a beautiful time of praise. Get this CD and you will find it hard not to be revived. When you listen to someone who, in the vernacular of the sporting world, “leaves it all on the field”, you will be inspired to do the same.

Reviewed by: John Ausmus