"He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a
firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of
praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust
in the Lord"
Psalm 40:2,3
I've always thought someday I'd record something, but I can't believe they're really finished! The main reason I sing is because of God's call on my life, and my life's verse: "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord" Psalm 40:2,3 This verse is coming true and I can only praise Him for allowing me to be a part in the Harvest! The fact that there are two finished albums in one year is a major miracle and is in great measure due to the encouragement and help of my husband and our children... all of them at one time or anther!
The second reason is that I can't help myself! I love playing the keyboard, and am trained at piano, double bass, voice and organ, so while these projects of writing, arranging, and singing them was a lot of work, it was a lot of fun, too! The picture above shows me in my most natural habitat - having fun worshipping with women!
The third reason in pretty GOD, too! We told God we'd spent all we were gonna spend after spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours, plus three days in the studio and working through all the tracks with another sound man too. He would have to give us a big sign that HE was in it, not US pushing our way through. We even asked for help from friends who believed in us, then said, 'no', it had to be God, not us! We waited a couple months - an embarrassing couple of months where God seemed to do nothing and all we could say in response to everyone's questions was... it's on hold. THEN GOD!! He provided everything we needed, beyond our expectations. We feel an incredible sense of HIS blessing on these projects and HIS desire that they edify the Body of Christ and bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people who need HOPE!
Both albums are quite different in purpose. Audience of One was originally meant to minister specifically to the women that I minister to in conferences. In 1996, Verdell Davis from Dallas, Texas spoke at a women's retreat where I led worship: Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Michigan. In 1997 she asked me to join Focus on the Family and Paraklesis Ministries in ministering at a Pastors' Wives Gathering in Port Angeles, Washington. That was the beginning of God's expansion of my ministry to women. Along with speaking and singing at women's retreats and conferences, three times a year I join the wonderful team of HB London, Jr., of Focus on the Family; a wonderfully gifted author, Gail MacDonald; Verdell (also an incredibly gifted speaker and writer, and voracious reader); and Judy DeVries of Paraklesis at a gathering that specifically ministers to pastors' wives. We have a wonderful time together in worship and as a team we just plain "have fun"! Something very unique happens at each of those gatherings. If you'd like to learn more about Focus' ministry to the pastor's home, visit www.parsonage.com
This album is a way to encourage everyone in their calling, and help you worship when the going gets tough! The title song was written under the inspiration of Gail's teaching from Galations 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." People pleasing is a plague that hinders us from doing what He's called us to do and trips us up. This song reminds me of WHO sees, and WHO really cares! I know you'll be drawn into worship with me, as you listen to these familiar and orginal inspirational songs.
Priceless Treasures is the product of a twenty year dream of recording Psalms and Hymns from the Psalter Hymnal that Ed and I grew up with. I think we accomplished something very special with the use of the Yamaha Clavinova and all its versatility. As we say in the insert, "Our goal is that these old songs with bring people together in worship of the God of the ages; those who sang them, those who rejected the ritual of them, and those who never knew them." It is so neat to see that happening. Those hymns and psalms, some used exclusively by the Christian Reformed Church, have an appeal and a message to every Christian and I feel a zeal to get them out there to build up all Christians in the faith! It's a heritage gift to our children as well! I have a journal entry during those days of recording that says, "Lord, I started working on the Psalter CD last night. So beautiful!!! Help us complete this vision - it is so powerful! It will minister healing through your Word - to young and old. You are the Author, your Word will not return void. Help me focus - focus, focus, focus." The book of Nehemiah was a great encouragement to me along the way, not to give up!
We're expecting great things for the Kingdom through this avenue of ministry. Your notes and e-mails are a continued source of encouragement that the "why" of both of these projects is MINISTRY! How grateful I am for this unique way of encouraging women and men in the faith. From the book of Nehemiah, join me in praising our faithful God: "Stand up and praise the Lord your God who is from everlasting to everlasting!"