My Salvation (Isaiah 12)

I've not written much lately, but here's a song I wrote a while back based on Isaiah 12.
It's been running through my head recently, so I thought I'd share:

God of mercy, God I praise,
turning your anger away
Humbly bearing consequence
to pay the price for my all sins 

A fountain flowing purest light,
a spring of life that won’t run dry
Oh, my portion, God on high,
in you my soul is satisfied 

My strength, my song, You have become my salvation
My strength, my song, You have become my salvation 

God almighty, hear my praise,
You have done such glorious things
All the earth will know Your name,
the thirsty soul will proclaim 

A fountain flowing purest light,
a spring of life that won’t run dry
Oh, my portion, God on high,
in you my soul is satisfied 

My strength, my song, You have become my salvation
My strength, my song, You have become my salvation

music gives

“Music gives

a soul to the universe, 

wings to the mind, 

flight to the imagination
and life to everything.”

-Plato

a new song

I'm not Pavarotti.

But I can write a damn good song. And I'll sing the hell out of it when given a chance.

A former worshiper leader, a wonderful musician, and an amazing vocalist somehow ended up in my living room with my wife and I tonight. 

I sang out, stumbling across the strings of my guitar. Every sour chord, all my arrhythmic strumming and plucking, it seemed to fade away despite her keen ear.

The lyrics. The melody.
My voice. The meaning.
That's all she heard.

It all came together.

It meant something to her.

Just as it was. It meant something to her without being refined or reconfigured. It meant to her exactly what I meant it to mean. She found my heart. She listened and heard it, touched by it's words. She spoke to it. Comforted and encouraged it.

And a part of me was renewed.

I was made to sing a new song. And a new song. And a new song...
In fact, the songs just keep coming, one after the other.

I've kept them all under my hat as of late. Text files on the Mac, scraps of papers and scribbles in notebooks. Melodies in the safety of my car and shower. Strums on the guitar at 3:57am when the rest of the world sleeps.

But under that hat... I'm beginning to think, yet again, might not be the place for all this... whatever this is... But mostly, I'm just thankful for this evening. For the fellowship. The graceful ears. The colliding of hearts. The opportunity my wife and I shared with this fellow believer to worship God in our own home. I am grateful. And inspired.

And from it, in my heart, a new song is growing.

30 (XO, luv u 4ever)

Kimberly turned 30 today; one of those big milestone birthdays. But it's been really special for another reason, too; we were 15 when we first met, meaning that now, roughly, we've known one another half our lives. 

We've celebrated all month long, starting with just a little gift or two everyday for the past two weeks, left with small notes to her that I hand wrote on blue card-stock. Yesterday we had a great meal with our wonderful church family and today we had a small gathering with some folks Kimberly works with. 

We are truly blessed with incredible people in our lives.

I also presented Kimberly with a final note tonight, handwritten on blue card-stock like the rest of them. This time, instead of being attached to a gift, it was a note with the lyrics to a song I wrote for her, which I then sang. 

Right. In. The. Middle. Of. The. Restaurant.

Yes, there may or may not have been a jumbo margarita involved (aka liquid courage) beforehand. I popped into the restaurant about an hour early for some decorating and hid my guitar, tipping the hostess to keep an eye on it for me and to standby to turn off the radio when I was ready to sing.

I'm proud to say there weren't many dry eyes in the house! I think even some of the men may have teared up just a little had something in their eyes.

The past couple days have certainly been memorable, thanks in part to some very lovely people! Surprises, gifts, shared meals, hugs, and most importantly: lots and LOTS of LOVE!

Happy birthday, my dearest!

// XO, LUV U 4EVER // 
   video down below lyrics

August ’98, the first day back from summer break / we were fifteen, straight from a high school movie scene / You were that girl singing “Backstreet’s back, alright!” / I was that guy, trying my best to hide // Within a year we were signing letters, “XO, luv u 4ever!” / They said we were too young to make it together / but here we are now, still love you forever // Winter ’05, snow and a ring, on a carriage ride / “Will you be my wife?” / A three letter word changed my life / And you were that girl dreaming in all shades of pink / I was that guy too happy to believe // Within a year we were saying our vows / my love, my life, and my wife now / I never dreamed it could get any better / XO, still luv u 4ever // Maybe a year or two has passed / I can’t keep count, it goes so fast / There's been some bumps along the road / but they're all worth the story told // That first year, signing letters, “XO, luv u 4ever ” / They said we were too young to make it together / but here we are now / love you / Time flew by, we said our vows / my love, my life, and my wife now / I never dreamed it could get any better / XO, still luv u 4ever //

Rewind. Repeat. Re-post.

Sometimes I like to take a look back at posts I've written from the past. This blog is definitely an accurate representation of how chaotic my brain is, so I'm never quite sure what sort of mess I'll stumble across.

Today I decided I was going to find out what was going through my mind four years ago, as this is the furthest my blog goes back. So I used my handy-dandy timeline widget and found myself stepping back to September 23, 2008. 

God works in mysterious ways.

Amidst this dark spiritual valley modernly known as a depressive episode, I'm reading these words God inspired me to write exactly four years ago..

The light is dimming as I wander from Your path / I don’t know where I’m going but I know right where I’m at / I’ve been down this road before, traveling in the dark / But then you lit the way for me that led right where You are / And I lived in Your light / I shared in Your life / The blood of Jesus Christ Made me clean / Do it again. Here I am. /  Bowing down. I lift up my hands. / Do it again. I repent. / Father God. Hosanna! Amen. / Do it again. / The truth is with me when I live my life for You / Lovingly You guide me when I allow You to / God I’ve been unfaithful, my eyes have turned from Your face / Now here I am all lost again, Lord, I need Your grace / To live in Your light / To share in Your life / By the blood of Jesus Christ make me clean / Do it again. Here I am. / Bowing down. I lift up my hands. / Do it again. I repent. / Father God. Hosanna! Amen. / Do it again. / I will live in Your light / I will share in Your life / The blood of Jesus Christ makes me clean / I will live in Your light / I will share in Your life / The blood of Jesus Christ makes me clean / Do it again. Here I am. / Bowing down. I lift up my hands. / Do it again. I repent. / Father God. Hosanna! Amen. / Do it again. Here I am. / Bowing down. I lift up my hands. / Do it again. I repent. / Father God. Hosanna! Amen. / Do it again. 

recording Shine

Did a quick little recording of a new(ish) song today with Mr. Canady in Matthew Thompson's home studio (Google him! Great man, great musician. Buy his music!) All songs I've written mean a lot to me, but this particular song seems extra special. It's about deliverance and hope, and is somewhat a testimony of what God has done for me and what He's become in my life. "You're light is brighter than the dark is deep! You're might is greater than my heart is weak!" Some of the lyrics are incorporated into my blog's banner up top, and the concept of this song inspired this entire blog design. (That is, now, of course. I'm sure I'll change themes and banners many more times over the years and stumble across this post and think, "what was I even talking about?") I didn't exactly leave the studio feeling like Adam Lavigne, but I didn't leave carrying a soul-crushing disapointment with me either. It was a great time, and I was pleased with the final product! It felt good. God Shined.

Snapshot: 053012 1500 PST

* Songwriting with THIS as my muse. Incredible.

Snapshot: 011612 2200 PST

Working on a new song with Nate. Its been a while since we've worked on something completely new. Feels good...

Unblock me!

Ruminating on some lines for a song.
Well, one line, actually.

And when it finally comes to me, the whole thing is gonna fall right together.
I just know it.

And I can't wait.

let that be me

a dying hill
unseen hope
a kiss of flame
new life grows

a jagged rock
now fine sand
lifetimes in
the ocean's hand

let that be me
let that be me

Do It Again

The light is dimming as I wander from Your path
I don’t know where I’m going but I know right where I’m at
I’ve been down this road before, traveling in the dark
But then you lit the way for me that led right where You are

And I lived in Your light
I shared in Your life
The blood of Jesus Christ Made me clean

Do it again. Here I am.
Bowing down. I lift up my hands.
Do it again. I repent.
Father God. Hosanna! Amen.
Do it again.

The truth is with me when I live my life for You
Lovingly You guide me when I allow You to
God I’ve been unfaithful, my eyes have turned from Your face
Now here I am all lost again, Lord, I need Your grace

To live in Your light
To share in Your life
By the blood of Jesus Christ make me clean

Do it again. Here I am.
Bowing down. I lift up my hands.
Do it again. I repent.
Father God. Hosanna! Amen.
Do it again.

I will live in Your light
I will share in Your life
The blood of Jesus Christ makes me clean

I will live in Your light
I will share in Your life
The blood of Jesus Christ makes me clean

Do it again. Here I am.
Bowing down. I lift up my hands.
Do it again. I repent.
Father God. Hosanna! Amen.
Do it again. Here I am.
Bowing down. I lift up my hands.
Do it again. I repent.
Father God. Hosanna! Amen.
Do it again.