Life is a journey. There is a longing within us that beckons knowledge of the future; inquisitive senses seek answers. The journey moves on…
We are lead to discover that earth is a transient passageway to the future. Instilled within us is a desire to depart and explore what is beyond the horizon. Majesty, beauty, mystery, peace, and incessant joy is craved.
Embrace the Opportunity for hope while it exists. The desire for departure will one day be satisfied, and those who trust their Creator will have the assurance that they will live everlasting in the wonderment, magnificence, and splendor of eternity.
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Joshua states... This meaningful bedtime story has been a favorite song since childhood. It was one of the first melodies that I aspired to play at nine years of age, but I found it too difficult to learn at the time. Fourteen years later, I revisited my childhood and learned it for the recording. I play it with nostalgic passion and reminiscence over how many wonderful things that God has used the hammer dulcimer to bring into my life. |
Luke 2:10-11 - And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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Joshua states... After a period of enduring flames of refinement, I wrote this song as a heartfelt testament to God showing my desire to live in obedience to His plan for my life. I discovered that this was the key to joy. True joy is the inner peace of knowing that you’re accomplishing your purpose and living righteously before Almighty God. And that’s exactly what Jesus did and gave us the ability to do by giving us His life on earth. Because of Him, all people have the opportunity to live a life of great joy. |
Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
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Joshua states... It was my sin that put an innocent Man on the Cross. Devastation sets in after this realization, but it makes provision for a correct perspective of the magnitude of God’s grace. This song is a lament for my sin that required the Man who lived a life of innocence to be sent to his torturous death. But, how humbling it is to know that the Gospel has the power to overcome my grief and the wrong I have done. Jesus was resurrected to life and eternally lives victorious over death. He offers forgiveness to all, even to a sinner like me whose sin was responsible for the life of the Innocent. |
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Joshua states... Written for my beautiful wife on our one year anniversary. Her love for me was a never ending inspiration for this recording. She truly has the heart of an Angel. I look forward to being faithfully hers for “as long as we both shall live.” |
Mark 4:39 - And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Psalm 97:1 - The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
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Joshua states... This is one of my grandmother’s favorite hymns. It is dedicated to her as a testament for her example of unselfish love and endurance. This is a story which you must read. It is one of the greatest examples of unselfish love to be told. Lisa is my Grandma’s adopted daughter. She was born with cerebral palsy. After being horrifically physically abused and neglected by her biological parents, she was put into the foster care system. My grandmother, at the time, was a foster parent, and Lisa came to be a foster child in her home. |
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Grandma states... "She wouldn’t have lived past infancy, and the doctors didn’t think she would live past 7 years old." |
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Joshua states... During Lisa’s stay as a foster child, my grandparents felt a prompting to adopt Lisa as their own child. |
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Grandma states... “It was clearly God's direction. It made no sense that at my age, I should adopt a baby. God said, 'She's going to stay with you.' He put such a love in my heart for her that I couldn't think otherwise.” |
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Joshua states... Lisa requires 24/7 care. She is unable to talk, walk, feed herself, clean herself, or do any common duties. But she has been blessed with the ability to smile, pray, and love. And that smile is one that radiates with the genuine message of the love that is a true representation of God’s grace. Lisa is currently 34 years old, far outliving her expectations. Because of the top-notch care she has received, she has lived a full life, graduated from high school, and brings joy into so many lives. My Grandpa was a huge part of the love and care that Lisa has received. He has received many rewards in heaven for his love. But for the past 7 years Grandma has been caring for Lisa by herself, everyday. Throughout many of those years, her arthritis has severely progressed, and her back is technically broken in a few places. But, she has continued to give care to Lisa and never complains. |
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Grandma states... "It has not been easy at all, but there hasn't been one day in the last 34 years that I wouldn't do it. But it wasn't me who enabled me to do it. I'm just a sinner saved by grace. I wasn't good enough for this task. In fact, I was the last person that you would have thought would be chosen for this task. But, God instilled within me such a love that I had to do it. He's been with me every day, and if He gives you a job to do, he'll make a way to do it. It has been worth every moment. He has rewarded me in so many ways." |
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Joshua states... Today, Grandma is undergoing treatment for leukemia. She does not know her outcome, but every quote of hers in this story was communicated to me by phone while she was at the peak of her treatment. She did not know that I was writing down what she said, or that any of this would be published. |
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Grandma states... "You will be brought to a time in your life when there's nothing left but your love for your Savior. It’s here that you’ll learn that this life that we live is all about love. The Bible says in 1 John 1:3a, 'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.' It all boils down to love. That's what he created us for--God created us for a relationship with Him, and he wants us to have relationships with each other. The most precious thing in the world is relationships. It's about love for Him first, and then for each other. That's all he wants from us. “I know that no matter what the outcome of my leukemia is, He'll take care of Lisa. She belongs to Him." |
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Joshua states... And that love has so truly been represented in the God given love between my Grandma and her daughter Lisa. May this example never be forgotten. |
Joel 2:23 - Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
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Proverbs 12:10a - A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal.
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Joshua states... Annie is my pet dog. She had been neglected, was starving, and was very sickly when my wife and I rescued her. But today, she is extremely healthy, overwhelmingly happy, and beginning to get quite portly! She is going on a diet. One thing I find comical is the amount of time that she contributes to the fine art of sleeping. I couldn’t resist the sentiment to compose a lullaby to help contribute to her hobby. The clock chimes in the tune symbolize that it is always time for Annie to sleep! The song is also a testament to encourage people to care for the things God has created. |
2 Corinthians 5:1 - Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.