a different story

This article mentions me briefly, and it also served a great purpose to get me really thinking about where my songs come from.  I'm full-fledged in the process of writing again, though I haven't completed a song for the upcoming album.  But, I'm thinking and brewing and jotting things down all the time.  And praying....lots and lots of praying!!  In the past writing has been an incredibly tedious and somewhat painful process for me.  I'll admit, I'm really hoping that things are different this time.  I really am.  

But, regardless, the article has me thinking about where my songs come from and how they (essentially) get here.  Every song has a different story -- kinda like children.  From the time we're in our mother's wombs' our stories begin and they are always, always, always different from our friends, siblings, strangers...they make us unique!  A friend of mine is giving birth today, and I'm anxiously awaiting to meet the little one.  But, we had a great conversation a few weeks ago about how her feelings and responses were different than they were with her first child.  But, it makes sense...this little tyke's story is beginning and it's already completely and totally his (or her) own.  Amazing, so that's my reflections on my songs.  They're kinda like that...

my writing assignment

I was asked to complete a writing assignment for some promotional pieces.  We're currently doing a radio promotional campaign you can check out here.  It's taken me all week, or, rather a few weeks I suppose, but I finally finished the devotional.  I'm going to post it below, it's roughly a mission statement for my ministry and music.  Enjoy.

We are called to shine! Each and every one of us has different gifts, dreams, and desires. I used to think that doing God's will meant I needed to be suffering, and if loved what I was doing then it must not be God's will. I still remember the moment my Dad sat with me in a moment of desperate confusion and told me that, more than anything, God wanted me to be happy. It was like a light bulb went off in my soul! The gifts He'd given me were how He wanted me to serve others. He wanted me to use my gift of song, and the joy I had in doing so meant I was on the right path! It may seem so simple, but it truly rocked my world. I had been set free to find my own path and follow His will for my life.

Every part’s a little different, every heart beats its own way
He has given us the freedom, use our gifts to radiate
Free to be, free to shine, free to give our entire lives
Oh nothing is by chance,
Yeah, Yeah, let’s shine our radiance

These lyrics from “Radiance” rang true at a concert recently while I was performing. It was an intimate setting, and the people present ranged in age from 3 to 83. I was so touched by God's beauty in the diversity and was aware that everyone there brought with them their own gifts, dreams, desires, hopes, concerns, and fears. The 83-year-old woman came an hour early to the concert because she was concerned if she went home she wouldn't get out again... there was a three-year-old that played my tambourine and made everyone smile... and there was a man who wept when I mentioned the economy and encouraged those struggling with unemployment to trust that God has a plan for our lives even, and maybe especially, in the midst of our pain. No matter where we are, who we are, or how old we are, God has a plan for our lives and calls us to shine His light!