Setting Sail For Capernaum

I am hoping this album encourages you, where ever you are in your life.

This has been a journey. I've been wanting to get a collection of songs that I have written out for a very long time. I approached a friend of mine, Josh Chilton, about the idea of creating an album and he had some amazing direction. I ran with his advice to create something stripped down, acoustic and all one consistent session so it sounds put together. 

So, after converting my bathroom into a recording studio, I started recording each of the tracks. I had a good mix of ten tracks and wanted to get some feedback so I reached out to some music talents I admire for advice. Monty Byrom, award winning songwriter who fronted bands Billy Satellite, New Frontier, and the Academy of Country Music nominated Big House. His insight to master my tracks better was helpful, just having feedback from such a recording giant was inspiration enough to go the extra mile. 

So I wrapped up the recording and mastering and Josh had some ideas about maybe throwing in some additional, not acoustic, tracks. This is where the idea of adding some piano tracks came in. The song You Are More was originally a piano melody and words were added later but I recorded the track a few years back. 

Katie was a song that was super meaningful to me. I fought the idea of adding it as a track on this album but the more I wrestled with the idea the more I felt it fit and needed to be there. I recorded this track the day my sister passed away. She was always an encouragement to my music. She is not here to listen to this album but she can be on it. 

What track was going to start the whole mix off? Originally it was going to be He Provides. Josh gave me some great advice to have the first track be more upbeat like You Are The Rock or something like that but I really liked where You Are the Rock was currently in the lineup so the only option I could think of was knocking out a new tune.

The album's theme really needed an opening track that encapsulated the fullness of what the message of this album is. I am excited for this album to speak encouragement to someone, if nothing else to help someone find their way back to the loving arms of the Father who is waiting to show He provides. 

http://tunes.jonesmarketing.co/setting-sail-for-capernaum/

You Are The Rock

God makes many promises through out scripture that we can take comfort in. The one that means the most to me personally is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise through God sending the Messiah, His son. The Messiah is the cornerstone,  the structural integrity we base our faith in, that was sacrificed so we can have a relationship with our creator (1 Peter 2:24).

What ever trouble comes in life, remember the gift we have in placing our faith in the cornerstone. This firm foundation that is for us and not against us (Matthew 7:24-27).

In Isaiah 44:8 it states there is no other Rock. In any situation His unfailing faithfulness is ever present.

Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And you are My witnesses.
Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other Rock?
I know of none.

- Isaiah 44:8

 

Lyrics:

no matter what come our way
no matter how life’s unfair
no matter how deep we are
you are right there
in the valley low
in the darkness
in the hardest times
you remind us how

You are the rock
You are the way
You are faithful through everyday
Though I may fail
Although I may fall
You made a promise
You surrendered all

No matter what time it is
No matter the ware and tare
No matter how far away
You are always there
In uncertainty
In desperation
In our deepest troubles
You remind us how

Bring You Home

You never know what life will throw at you, so I wanted to write a song about finding confidence that you can always find your way back God no matter what unexpectedly unveils in life. You can take assurance that He is there for you. The 29th chapter of Jeremiah has some great faith statements. One of which is "And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13) 

"I’ve never found the road to desperation"
No one actively searches for a way to be hopeless. Hopelessness is a symptom of depression and it sometimes just shows up. Outside of situational depression, where you know what is getting you down because of a life event that occurred, many times you don't know what is causing you to have feelings of hopelessness. Sometimes you find yourself on a given road you did not intend to be on or know how you got there but you are there. It's part of the journey of life. You may feel hopeless and not know how you got to where you are, but know that you can always call on God who loves you and if you search for Him with all your heart you will find Him every time.

"There was trouble in the air"
Even though the disciples set out to go to back to Capernaum across the sea, they were met with unforeseen circumstances. In the middle of the storm Christ was there. (Matthew 14:22-33) God is there for you in your storm, ready to be the one way to bring you back to Him. Peter, in the scriptures, was willing to step out and learn how to trust Christ. Those first few focused steps enabled him to do the impossible. Even through the storm you can find confidence that no matter what unexpectedly shows up in life, you can find your way back home to His perfect plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11).

This song hopefully at least an inspiration to fight against negativity and a reminder that God is there for you, no matter what you get caught up in from beginning to end in the journey of life.

Lyrics:

Well I’ve never found the road to desperation
and I’m not about to drown in my sorrow
I’d settle for a little bit of wonder
If there’s enough in life to go around

I’m not looking for some other kind of hero
And I’m not about to let this fire down
Well there’s two ways to look at the future
But only one way that takes you there

I don’t know ya I know know
About all the things to get caught up in the middle
I don’t know ya I know know
God’s love will bring you home on home
His love will bring you home

We set sail for the shore of Capernaum
But there was trouble in the air
We learned how to walk on the waters
And that there’s one way to take you home

I don’t know ya I know know
About all the things to get caught up in the middle
I don’t know ya I know know
God’s love will bring you home on home
His love will bring you home

I’m staring at a stone in the courtyard
Says 10 4 for now I’m on the other side
Well he sure lived his life for Jesus
And I know he’d be here singing with me

I don’t know ya I know know
About all the things to get caught up in the middle
I don’t know ya I know know
God’s love will bring you home on home
His love will bring you home

He Provides

This message is very important to me as a reminder that no matter what I am going through, what hardship I am facing, God always provides. It is so awesome to look back after a rough situation and see the influential points of where God has allowed, shaped and directed his perfect will. Personally, it seems the consistent theme time after time is God always is wanting to be a blessing in my life, how He is larger than what I am going through. 

I am reminded of a teaching Jesus made to his followers about not worrying. He explained that you have value and he will provide for your needs. I love this idea that God even cares about the little things. He is a good Father. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26) 

Lyrics:

When the road is dark and hard to find
When it seems no way to the other side
The Lord Provides
He Provides
Impossible has left you far behind
When a miracle is a prayer signified
The Lord Provides
He Provides

Why can’t we
surrender to our God
who longs to be more than a blessing of our life
When will we
be faithful to the promise
of our Father who is waiting to show
He Provides

You know when you’re faced with dismay
Tangled in obstructions and lost your way
The Lord Provides
He Provides

Constantly aware of the situation
He’s the steps before your destination
The Lord Provides
He Provides

You Are More

Personally, this is a prayer of hope and reassurance in a time of weakness. No matter what life throws at me, at the end of the day God has everything under control. It's His plan, not mine.

My prayer is that this song can be a blessing to someone going through a valley in life. Know that God is larger than any problem, struggle or circumstance. I love the imagery of the table in Psalm 23:5. Here is the picture, you are in the middle of a desert with armies all around. Each army is yelling and taunting you. Instinctually, the first reaction you have is to fight back. Through words back at them, but in front of you is a table. This table is bountifully displaying a feast (some items include hot lasagna with thick rich bolognese sauce, fresh made pumpkin pie, a variety of BBQ meats, seedless water melon). There are two chairs at this table. One, empty waiting for you to sit in and the other, the creator of the world, waiting to share a meal with you.

This prayer is with each season in life you don't forget there is a God who is waiting to be with you through all the struggles in life. Who provides in every problem, struggle and circumstance. Who makes you strong when you are weak. Who overflows you cup when you are surrounded by armies of pain in life. Don't let the pain distract you from the fullness of what God has for you. Be encouraged even when the storms in life seem impossible.




Reflection of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Lyrics:
When the sun begins to rise
Push the stars from the sky
Another day made to your perfection
Another chance rejoice

As the stars begin to sing
Feeling so much more
I long to be in your presence
everyday

You are more that I can ever fathom
and You are more each day anew
You are more that I can ever offer
You are more faithful and true

The seasons built by Your embrace
The abundance of your grace
Even though this world’s full of troubles
There is always a light
When there seems no way to breath
And resistance is on the increase
When the storm seems to much to handle
I can surrender all

You are more that I can ever fathom
and You are more each day anew
You are more that I can ever offer
You are more faithful and true