Soooo…I thought I completed “the assignment” with the release of the JUSTICE song in October of 2022. Then, there it was again…the ‘tap on the shoulder’ from God. A whisper the summer of 2023: There’s more on the JUSTICE song I want you to do.

God speaks His message through all kinds of songs. Even when we don’t realize He is. When I wrote the JUSTICE song in 2008 with AJ Masters, it was written as a song pitch for a Wild West cowboy movie. Though it did not end up landing on a movie soundtrack, over a decade later I felt the familiar ‘tap on the shoulder’ I get from God when He has an assignment for me to do. ‘It’s time to dust off the JUSTICE song…’ I heard Him say in my spirit. “Huh?” I replied, “I haven’t listened to that song in years! Why now?”

In my journal entry titled “Yesterday’s Tomorrow,” I shared a photo of the Prairie Fire country music band I sang in with my brother before moving to Nashville. Today, I’m sharing another blast from the past of my time on the road, in the hopes that it will help an important cause and special person in my music journey. His name is Jody Abbott.

The “No More” song was written in Ireland with Amanda Blankenship and Dublin native Alannah Curtis. The community where Alannah lives has suffered terrible devastation from an insidious enemy called Heroin. Alannah and many others in her community have lost loved ones to addiction — something both Amanda and I have also experienced in our families. As the three of us talked during a writing session, something rose up inside of us. The words “No More!” became an anthem for our loved ones lost, a voice for people caught in the throes of addiction, and a declaration of taking back land the devil has stolen from our family lineages.

Created for the GAMGstories July PRAYday. What is GAMGstories? When Reba McEntire recorded the God and My Girlfriends song I co-wrote, it was put on my heart to create a community that shares the song’s message of praising God and celebrating girlfriends. For the past 4 years, through the GAMGstories community it has been a joy to do just that! We have a growing community of girlfriends of all ages with faith-growing reSOURCEs and activities, one of which is our Friday PRAYdays. Join the community on Instagram and Facebook!

I love writing songs. I also love being a boutique booth-er! I recently opened a booth at a vendor marketplace selling gifts, apparel and salvaged + repurposed home decor. As I thought about what I should name my new booth, it quickly came to me: God Strong Living! Many years ago, my husband Craig and I co-wrote a song with John Lemonis called “God Strong.” Inspired by its message, in the center of our home now hangs a custom-made sign Craig gave me as a Christmas present.

I finally got around to making a lyric video for my hubby’s favorite song on my Christmas album. I love the layers of meaning in “The Lights of Christmas” — the lights of the season that light our corner of the world, how we can be lights in the world, and the ultimate Light of The World: Jesus.

Available on the Days of December Christmas album and music streaming platforms.

Ever since I began speaking “The Father’s Blessing” (Numbers 6:24-26) over our kids while tucking them in bed at night, I wanted to write a song helping others to memorize and speak it over THEIR children. During a sojourn to Ireland in September 2019 with Brave Worship, my wish came true!

“We will never surrender the fight to be free,and the right to believe,and we’ll never give up on love…God’s Still in America.”

When I wrote this song with Richie McDonald (Lonestar lead singer) and Craig Headen in the years following 9/11 and hurricane Katrina devastation, I had no idea how the lyrics would take on more layers of new meaning. Today as we remember those lost on this day in 2001, we stand in a landscape wounded by more tragedy, loss and division than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It is deep and it is wide….but so is God’s love for us.