Ebb and Flow

July 22, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

Peace be still, in ALL of life’s ebb and flow.

This week has been a whirlwind of Activity….

but not necessarily Productivity.

Do you every feel like you’re exhausted at the end of the day and yet the list has somehow gotten LONGER?

Yeah. Me too.

<SIGH>

So, when all else fails, I turn to music.

And more often than not, the music that is close at hand is a hymnal.

As I was searching for some sanity this week, I found this phrase resonating loudly with me.

Peace be still, in ALL of life’s ebb and flow.

I love the line in ALL of life’s ebb and flow.

Not just the calm quite times.

Or the crazy busy times.

ALL the time.

Even when that flow seems more like a rushing river than a babbling brook.

Scratch that….ESPECIALLY when the rushing river threatens to sweep you and your sanity right down the drain.

May your heart’s melody keep you singing this season and remind you, even in the midst of chaos, that HE is with you in ALL of life’s ebb and flow.

The Waves are Always Calmer

July 15, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

While on vacation this week I found myself on a paddle board. It was a peaceful morning on the ocean and I was looking ahead at the calmer waters thinking if I could just get there I would be set. Everything would be easier if I could just get to calmer waters.

And those calmer waters were always just ahead of where I was.

Does your life ever feel like that?

I wonder if God is waiting for us to be happy where we are. In the midst of the waves. Trusting Him to guide us through. As this week’s song lyric says, God surrounds us with love from birth, and we are always safe in the beauty of His creation.

“for the love which from our birth over and around us lies”

is God small enough

July 8, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

I often marvel at God’s awesomeness and talk about how BIG He is.

But what about when we need Him in our quiet moments of distress?

This song, Small Enough by Nichole Nordeman, is a reminder that although God is great, He is also small enough to hear our whispered prayers and silent tears.

O great God, be small enough to hear me now…

Human Brotherhood

July 1, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

The kindness of our friends and family during a tough time is lovely….

but let’s be honest….we sort of expect that, don’t we?

Sometimes the kindness of strangers can be more effective to lift us out of a depressing situation.

This week has been a tough one for several friends who experienced unexpected loss. I find myself praying for them to not only feel the support of friends and family, but that they would experience kindness in unexpected places too.

Whether you are spending today partying hard or contemplating quietly, I hope you’ll consider being the kind stranger for someone you see.

Katharine Lee Bates, author of America and Beautiful, reflected that the popularity of the song

“is clearly due to the fact that Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood.”

I couldn’t agree more.

One Small Voice

June 24, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

Ever feel like you are “too small” to make a difference in the world?

The song “One small voice” is something I sing to myself when those doubting voices start up in my head.

(You know those very serious sounding warning voices that say “Why even try” or “Your not good enough yet?”)

The song is from Sesame Street and it’s a very simple message.

But after all, didn’t we learn everything we need to know in Kindergarten?

Those voices were going in full force when I sat down to record this. Super early morning, no makeup, with a dog on my lap and coffee in my hand.

I powered through and this is the result, because

One small voice CAN teach the world a song…

And if you would like to learn how to use YOUR voice in a powerful way, sign up for emails below and get immediate access to an awesome video that will teach you how!

There are no Orphans

June 17, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

Holidays can trigger (sometimes negative) emotions and Father’s Day is no exception. Instead of dwelling on what’s wrong or imperfect I hope you’ll join me in brainstorming some great father figures in our lives we can celebrate.

Because there are no Orphans of God.

I am living proof….and so are you.

When music is your escape and also your job, how do you handle it?

Hopefully= Hoping + Fully

June 10, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

There’s a pattern in my life, maybe yours too?

1. Start something new.

2. Have fun with it.

3. Obsess over doing it “perfectly” until it isn’t fun anymore.

4. Abandon it and start something else.

Ugh….it’s exhausting.

So I started meditating. Can you tell where this is going?

I started to worry I wasn’t “doing it right” or that maybe there was a “better” meditation out there with more benefits.

I was getting stressed about meditating.

Ironic? Yes.

True? Unfortunately, also Yes.

So I’ve started something called “Singalong Switch” that helps me move from chaos to calm through the power of song.

It’s something EVERYONE can do, and I’d love to show you how! Sign up below and you’ll get immediate access!

I’m so thankful I didn’t listen…

June 3, 2016 aprilsingsalot Comments Off

The song “Reflection” from the movie Mulan is one that really resonates with me.

Especially the lyric, “if I were truly to be myself I would break my family’s heart.”

It hits very close to home because when I was heading off to college my dad said,

“Don’t major in voice, you’ll never be able to support yourself as a singer.”

Spoiler alert: I majored in voice.

And when I graduated college, I joined the Navy….as a singer. ⚓️

The people closest to us don’t want to see us fail.

So they encourage us to play it safe. Get a “real” job.

I’m so thankful that I didn’t listen.

And when I was stationed in New Orleans I took my dad out for dinner….My treat. ☺️

Category: Music