Inspiration
I wanted to share the inspiration behind my songs to give you a better understanding of why I wrote them. Often hearing from the author can open new meaning to songs and help you to know the author better…
Rescue Me
I wrote this song during a time in life where it seemed like I was surrounded by pain. Somewhat in my own life with unemployment and stress within our family, but especially within the life of Paul, my pastor. Paul was diagnosed with cancer and our hearts broke for him and his family.
This song is a prayer – a cry out for help. As I thought about Paul’s situation, it seemed there was nothing left to do but pray. This song was an intercessory prayer for Paul to be rescued. Sometimes life seems so overwhelming – so painful. We can try to set ourselves free, but so often fail. I am often left wondering, ‘how did I get here?’. Yet as the last line of the song says, we can be sure that God is with us through it all. You can find the lyrics to “Rescue Me” here.
Paul is now healed. Praise God! Check out Pastor Paul’s Testimony and his continued journey with God here.
God is so far beyond our understanding – we can never understand why he chooses to rescue some, and not others. As confusing and as painful as this can be, we praise God through it all. Often, if not always, we get the opportunity to look back on painful situations and see how God has been glorified through them. We serve an incredible God who walks beside us through every situation. Surrendering ourselves to Him is the greatest thing we can do…whatever you are going through, be sure that He is with you. Watch and see how God will use you and your situation for the Kingdom!
Morning Prayer
I wrote this song while my family and I were living in Kenya during a four month assignment for the organization we were working with. Our time in Kenya was very difficult, but also one of the greatest experiences of our lives. We battled with emotions daily of wanting to come home, wanting to do more to help, and wishing we could end some of the suffering we saw around us.
This song developed on a morning where I had no responsibilities. I had some time to sit and reflect on what we were doing there and how God was using us. My prayer became a simple one; that we would honor God with everything we did. Being unsure of the future, we decided to give each new day to God as it came around. Dedicating our actions, words, and thoughts, for each new day became our morning prayer to God.
I hope this song blesses you and encourages you to give this new day to honor God.
I Will Be Still
This song was written while I was living in community (actually the same house!) with my in-laws, my brother and sister in-law, and their son. That made a total of six adults and four kids all living in the same house. For some of you that may seem normal – for others it may seem a little crazy…
As the constant busyness of the house seemed to overwhelm sometimes, I found myself in need of some quiet. Not quiet to read, study or watch TV – just quiet to be still. I longed to hear from God and feel His presense in my life.
This song was written during one of those quiet times. It is a song of meditation and reflection. It is a song that can lead us into a place to hear from God. I pray that it will encourage and lead you to go before the throne of God and just be still.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10