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How Great You Are. I started humming this song as I walked the beach in southern California during the summer of 2003. I felt so small and insignificant compared to my surroundings. Yet God reminded me of His love and the ultimate price He paid for me.
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Fall Like the Rain. A few years ago, I went for a jog along a country road in southeastern Colorado while visiting my in-laws. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, storm clouds started to roll in over the mountains. Within a few minutes, the power of God was shown in a vast display of lightning and thunder. What seemed would be a threatening storm was actually a refreshing, and much needed, rain shower. As God replenished the dry, parched earth, He brought to mind the reaction that I sometimes have toward the “storms” in my life. I was reminded that He is in control of even the things of which I am most afraid. God is so good and powerful that He can create rainbows out of the storms in our lives.
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What Do You Hear When I Praise You? Struggling with severe vocal health problems, I was unable to sing for weeks. As I sat in the midst of a worship service one Sunday morning, I began to feel sorry for myself. I prayed that God would give me back my voice. Instead, He spoke to me in silence. As I listened to the voices around me, I was reminded that no matter how lovely (or unlovely) my voice, He is more concerned with the attitude of my heart.
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I Trust In You. A friend of mine was searching for meaning in life in the midst of difficult circumstances. As I talked with her about a personal relationship with Christ and the need to place her trust in His work alone, God reminded me of my own lack of trust. Although the areas of trust she and I were struggling with were somewhat different, He still longed for us both to surrender to Him. What freedom there is when we finally come to that place of surrender! This song ends with the Glory chorus from my first album, Remember Me… a fitting response to I Trust in You.
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Matthew’s Song (I’ll Sing with the Angels). On a cold December night, my husband and I traveled to be with friends who sat in the hospital watching their eight-year-old son die. Although Matthew was born with many health problems and his little body had to constantly fight for life, God used him in mighty ways during his short lifetime. This song was actually a letter I wrote to his mother, Dena, in response to what I witnessed that evening in the hospital. I rejoice with Matthew’s family knowing that their precious little boy is in heaven praising God with the angels.
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Until the End of Time. A friend asked me to write a song for her husband in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary. As I began to write, I couldn’t help but think of the love I have for my own husband, Bill. Our desire is to be an example and to leave a legacy of lasting love to our children.
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Now I Can Sing. I was listening to a speaker at a worship conference. He brought out the fact that, so often, we pray asking God to be with us throughout the day. Instead, we should be asking God to let us be where He is. See the difference? It took me a while. Whether I am lifting my voice in song or in prayer, I want You, Lord, to have my heart. I want to be where you are!
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Blest to Be a Blessing. This song was born out of a Sunday morning sermon. The pastor challenged me to consider why God has blessed many me with freedom, family, health, finances, a growing church body — the list goes on and on — while many of my brothers and sisters across the globe have nothing. The answer is very clear: He has blessed me so that I can be a blessing to others.
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I am Not Here to Stay. I admit that I had a lot of fun writing and recording this song. This jazz tune allowed me to say what was on my heart and have a great time doing it at the same time! God constantly reminds me that this world is not my home. My prayer is that He will find me (and you) faithful throughout our journey as we are “just passing through.”
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