Lyric Sense

Hello friends,

Yesterday I had a fairly bad day that ended in me being completely and totally stressed out and worried.  I got home, went to bed, and didn't sleep well at all for all of the stress still in my body.

This morning I woke up feeling extremely tired and not sure how I was going to make it through the day.  I have a recital tonight, auditions in the after noon, classes in the morning, and practice in between.  No time to go home at any point during the day...

So as I was preparing for my auditions this afternoon for a music show that my school is putting on, I was flipping through my digital documents for a song I'd written that would be appropriate and I came across a short chorus that touched my heart.  I'd almost forgotten that I'd written it, and I never finished the rest of the song.  The document was titled "Love Song", and it was about how I want my life to be a lovesong to God.

Well, I finished writing the song today, and auditioned with it at 1:20 pm.  The audition went well, and while I was singing the lyrics, I found that I truly meant what I was singing... it was like my heart's cry to God.  And afterward, I felt much better... like everything was going to be ok after all.   So here are the lyrics... perhaps they will touch your heart and help you remember just how much He really loves you, and just how much he wants us to love Him back. :D

(Note: the lyrics are written from line to line to match the rhythm of the song.  The song is written in 3/4 time, key of C. :D)

"Love Song"

V1:
Sometimes

Life just steps in the way

And my whole world starts falling apart

But each

Day your mercies ring new

Lord, your wonders have captured my heart

And I

Keep on falling....

You keep picking me up

Life would

Feel so empty

Without your love...

And you keep saying you love me

You remind me anew every day

It's a story of love never-ending and

It's a story of untainted grace...

so...

Chorus:
Let my life be a love song that plays your heartstrings

And may each breath I take be a sweet melody

And Lord if I please you, then be harmony

To this song that I'm making my entirety

Lord, with each pulse of life, may the notes ring true

In this love song I'm living for you

V2:

Each new

Day finds all of my failures

Piled way up above my head

But your

Grace reminds me your word says

My faith can move mountains like that

I don't know why you did it

But I'm sure glad you did

Forgive me for all of my failures when

My failures were all that I had

There's no way I could ever repay you

For my love is as small as my mind

But with each day anew, may my heart sing to you,

Let my life ring of your love devine!

Lord...

Chorus:
Let my life be a love song that plays your heartstrings

And may each breath I take be a sweet melody

And Lord if I please you, then be harmony

To this song that I'm making my entirety

Lord, with each pulse of life, may the notes ring true

In this love song I'm living for you

Bridge:
Take my heart, make it new

Take my life, Lord, I'm living for you (2x)

Chorus:
Let my life be a love song that plays your heartstrings

And may each breath I take be a sweet melody

And Lord if I please you, then be harmony

To this song that I'm making my entirety

Lord, with each pulse of life, may the notes ring true

In this love song I'm living for you...

Andrew Peterson in the Peoria IL Area

Well hello again. :)  I don't usually double post in a day, but I have some exciting news.

Andrew Peterson, Christian recording artist and author of the Wingfeather Saga (On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, North! Or Be Eaten, and The Monster in the Hollows) is coming to Central IL this Sunday Evening.  So if any of you will be in the Peoria area, the concert will be held at Springfield Road Baptist Church, and it starts at 5:30pm.

But that's not the best part, friends!!

The best part is that my church's worship team is opening the night, AND I WILL BE SINGING WITH THEM!!!  ^_^  *dances around in happiness and awe*  Yep, I'm totally stoked.  First meeting Andrew Peterson this Sunday, and then a book signing by Brock Eastman in August, all within 45 minutes of my house and all within biking distance of my church. :)  God is so amazing, I'm just in total awe of how he works!!

Actually, it's really interesting because I started reading "North! Or Be Eaten" about a month ago when a friend lent me her copy of the book.  I'd heard of the series, but I couldn't find it in bookstores (for some weird reason) and I'm still a little wary of buying things off the internet.  Of course I love the song "Dancing in the Minefields" that plays on my local Christian Radio station, but I honestly didn't know that the author and the recording artist were the same person until two weeks ago.  Then I downloaded a CD, and fell in love with it (I've been singing the songs from it all week).

The fact that Mr. Peterson has done and been all of these things is totally inspiring for me for several reasons.  One -- I am a christian fantasy writer who wants to touch people with my books, and Two -- I am also a singer/songwriter looking to someday record my art.  Music and writing go hand in hand for me: I can't have one without the other, and I can't choose between them.  I'm studying for degrees in both Music and English because I can't separate my love for both arts; they've just melded together and refuse to be parted.  Some people have told me I should do one or the other, but now I know that I'm truly not alone; there are others out there who have done both and been successful, so why can't I pursuit all three of my "loves" (Music/singing/songwriting, Creative writing/English, and Painting/Drawing) and be successful at all of them?  Seriously, why  not?

Then I find out that Mr. Peterson is coming to Peoria for a concert, and then the worship leader at my church tells me that he wants me to sing with the church band this Sunday evening to open that self same concert.

I'm telling you, GOD IS SO AMAZING. :)  See how He works?  See how awesome He is?  He knows the desires of our hearts; He wants to tell us how much he loves us... and He does it in ways we never saw coming!

I can't wait until Sunday evening!!!!

My Songs!!! :D Now you can listen if you Want!!!

Ok, so I realize that this is my second post today, and usually I don't do this sort of thing, but I just found a place where I can upload songs that I've written and recorded.  Now, admittedly I only have two of my songs proffesionally recorded, and that was done several years ago... so the voices sound rather young. 

The first song is called "Good Morning My Songbirds", and the second is titled "Summer Tales".  They are sung by me and my younger sister.  Usually I sing the first verse or so and then fall into harmony while she carries on with the melody. 

I must say now, I'm not as excited with how "Summer Tales" turned out as I am with  "Good Morning My Songbirds".  I feel like "Summer Tales" is slightly under pitch, and it bothers me.  But until I can get my hands on a remix, it's all I have so... *shrug*

If you would like to listen to my songs, you can play them here.  Then please, please, please let me know what you think of them!!! :D