Oh wonderful ones who come to read my blog even when I’m so frazzled that I don’t update it very often . . . are you in for a treat tonight!

A little bit ago, my husband caught on to the very *subtle* hints I was laying down, and sent me out to a great little coffee shop here in the Springs with a good book and money for a hot chocolate. Clearly, he could see I was needing a little bit of space. While I enjoyed my book, Tim put the girls to bed–my hero!–and got out the guitar. Here’s what came out of his guitar-time that night: a very manly version of one of our favorite hymns, Be Thou My Vision. Here’s what he has to say about it:

I (Tim) love this song so much I almost want to guard it. Instead I’ve dared to rearrange it and share it with you. It’s the arrangement we made for the Reckless album, and one of our favorite tracks on the CD. It’s a favorite memory from recording–the first song I’ve ever recorded in one take. In other words, both the guitar part and my vocal are unedited on the final recording–one seamless performance. Just part of the fun of being myself and enjoying the voice I have, rather than trying to be more like someone else.

Want to hear this song in all its fully-produced wonder from our new album Reckless? Click here.

Men are fishing, babies are sleeping (and one is eating), and me and my friend Amanda Steed are singing one of our favorite songs by Karla Adolphe.

Happy Good Song Sunday everybody!

Nothing Can Stop You (Psalm 45)

Great are you Lord
I do not have words to explain
All you have done for me
Generations have come
In their wisdom they call you their God
Your love has no limits at all
so now I sing

Lord, You are perfect
In all of Your ways
Your not easily angered
You make no mistakes
No, nothing can stop You
Nothing can stand in Your way

You hear my cry
You will catch every tear from my eyes
And you watch over my life
And you’re building a city
Not made with the power of men
I know that I’m safe and sound
now i sing

Lord, You are perfect
In all of Your ways
Your not easily angered
You make no mistakes
No, nothing can stop You
Nothing can stand in Your way

Lord, You are perfect
In all of Your ways
Your not easily angered
You make no mistakes
No, nothing can stop You
Nothing can stand in Your way

This song was written by Karla Adolphe and Ben Pasley. You should buy every ounce of music you can from Karla; she is one of the most gifted songwriters out there.

HOORAY! It’s time for Good Song Sunday again! It’s 9:43 over here, but it IS Sunday!

Many of you have voiced how much you love and look forward to Good Song Sunday posts. I’ve even heard that many of you are using the videos for your own personal worship or corporately in small groups and Bible studies! What an honor that is!

We’re excited to announce that we’re widening the scope of Good Song Sunday so that we can introduce you to more of our songwriting friends and bring you more new and original worship songs. As always, videos will first be posted on peartreemommy.com and select ones will also be posted on theblackthornproject.com

So, meet Julie Presley, one of the most fabulous women I know. Julie has an enormous heart for worship and is full of love and tenderness. I wish I could point you to an album to buy, but, alas, it is still in the works and not available for purchase yet. However, you can keep up with her and her adventures in mommy-hood on her blog, and you can listen to one of her songs on this cd of worship music put out by her fellowship.

Here is what she has to say about this song:
Sometimes when I come to the Father, I feel like the only thing I have of value to offer him are my tears, because they speak of something that runs so deep within me, I can’t vocalize it. Those tears can come from so many different places, and for this song, they came out of a place where I was acting out as an abandoned, abused child, and that is contrary to who the Father says I am! This song is a journey from that place, to the cross where he uses my tears to water the soil of my life, and continually accepts me as his daughter.

You Come
Sometimes all I have
are the tears that fall
from the corner of my eyes
I turn my face to you
tell you I’ve come unglued
can you fix me one more time?

Oh you come
And you heal
And you whisper in my heart

I know you’ve never left
And that you’ll never change
But sometimes it’s hard to hear the truth
But in your words I find
it’s easier to believe
That you can make me more like you

Oh you come
and you heal
and you whisper in my heart

So I cling to you
And see that you hold
every tear I’ve cried
I watch as you pour them out
At the foot of a blood stained cross
Where my life began

Walk with me
Hold my hand
I know I’ll fall again
But now I’m trusting in your voice
So now I fight to see
The way that you see me
I’m not an orphan I’m your child

Want to know why I haven’t posted consistently for the last, like, 3 months?

Here it is . . . and you can order it.

Take a listen (click on the “play” button to play and the “i” button to find out more info about the song):

I’m SO excited! It’s our new cd and we’ve been working on it since JANUARY. Now, it’s available for digital download, and in mid-August the physical cd will be available, too. Feels good.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! And yes, I’m so thankful for our freedom and for our awesome country. But no, I didn’t sing the Star Spangled Banner for Good Song Sunday this week. I hope you are not too disappointed.

TOO PROUD
I’m too proud to ask
Too broke to eat
Too weak to bow
Too strong to bleed

Can you sing over me words of comfort
Can you satisfy me with sweet honey
Can you break through me with your strong hands
Can you undo me enough to heal me

You take the weight from my shoulders
My hands were clenched and now they’re open
I’ll take your goodness poured from the sky
Food from the ravens
Water from the dry well

This song was written by Tim Thornton, Aaron Strumpel, and Laurie Thornton