2 – Ellie’s current age in years. Ellie spends a good portion of every day singing around the house. Songs we sing at church, songs from our concerts, and songs she makes up. She also loves to read books, on someone’s lap or by herself. I think listening to her repeat the stories we’ve read to her stuffed animals is one of my favorite past times lately.
28 – The number of weeks the newest member of our family has been growing inside my belly! We are so excited to be welcoming another little girl to our family next March. Ellie is excited to be a big sister and I am so excited to have two little girls who can grow up to be close friends.
475 – The number of nursing home concerts Daniel will have done in 2012. (He’s tired). His ministry to the elderly grows every year. Every year he plays at more places, reaches more people, and travels farther. It continues to be a blessing that he can devote his time to music and ministry.
56 – The number of concerts, services, or other events we played together this year.
Infinity – The amount of love and gratitude in our hearts to all of our family and friends who love, support, and pray for us. Thanks for being a blessing to our family. We pray that you are surrounded by peace and joy this Christmas.
Daniel, Catherine, and Elisabeth Lovett
Next Concert: Feb 1st @ 7:30 in Green Bay, WI @ the Cup O’ Joy (232 S. Broadway)
Please read this amazing true story behind the song:
“Tiny Hands” was inspired by the amazing story of our sister-in-law Stacy and her little girl Ava.
Stacy had, in her younger years, suffered from a rare form of cancer of the blood that had been for many years in remission. Not long ago she had been feeling quite ill and went to see the doctor. After many thorough tests it was confirmed. The cancer was back… and with a vengeance. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the blood. A few weeks passed and Stacy learned that she was pregnant. She was advised by her doctor to abort her child in order to receive the treatment that would prolong her life. She refused and expected, for all practical purposes, to deliver her child and die soon after; leaving her husband with two young children to raise on his own.
All of her family and friends began praying for her situation and asked that the Lord would heal her. We prayed and we prayed. I can still remember the day that we received the phone call that the cancer was gone! The Lord had answered our prayers and healed her!
Stacy gave birth to a happy and healthy daughter named Ava Grace. Ava is truly the happiest baby I have ever met and has just celebrated her first birthday. What a tragic thing to think that Ava would have been killed had Stacy listened to her doctor.
We don’t live in the dark ages. We all should know by now that a baby inside the womb is still a baby. That means abortion is murder. This has been going on for far too long. Yet so many of us are silent on this issue. There is no overwhelming outcry against abortion. So what are our leaders to think? They represent us don’t they?
They represent the fact that we care more for our wealth, our individuality, and our precious freedom of choice, then we do about the rights of the unborn.
Will you help me change this? Give an unborn child the right to live?
I believe that if we all continue to stand for truth and justice that we can make a difference. Much like William Wilberforce stood against the profitable and despicable practice of the slave trade in England (watch the movie “Amazing Grace”), we must stand against the murder of children in “God blessed” America.
Please pray with me and fight with me for the unborn! Do what you can while God lends us breath to pursue justice and truth and most of all, love.
I was thinking this morning about the emotional scars that women carry the rest of their lives after an abortion. Many of us are trying to be sensitive to them and not raise such a painful issue. But future pain can be avoided, and present pain can be healed.
My wife and I recently watched a movie that “lit a candle in our heart” and spoiled us by showing us what a good movie is all about. The movie is called Bella. Make it the next one you rent and be blessed.
——
I used to live near a planned parenthood. I would drive by and be visually assaulted by these protesters who would stand out on the street with pictures of babies found in dumpsters. Like most people I hated having to be being offended day after day by these shocking photos, but then my heart changed about it. How much more shocking that murder is legal in America? How much more shocking that places exist where would-be mothers can dispose of their “inconvenient” child?
What does God think of abortion? How does it make him feel? I know that He is heartbroken. I know that He is deeply wounded that his “babies” are killing their own babies. At points during the recording of this song “tiny hands” I had to stop because of the emotion that came as God showed me his heart for the little ones. Jesus loves all his little children and we would all do well to become more like them. We have a lot to learn from the children as Jesus frequently pointed out.
This is a human rights issue. A human being has a right to live!
I honestly don’t know if we will ever be able to legally defend the life of the unborn. I don’t know if the laws will ever change. Be we can and ought to do what we can, reaching one person at a time with the message that each new life is precious, a gift from God to be cherished and loved.
This is why I am offering my song “tiny hands” as a free download. I asking you to please share this with your friends. Send them a link to this page. Just please pass it on. If even just one woman decides to keep and cherish her child. It will be worth it.
Thanks for listening,
Daniel Lovett
LYRICS:
Tiny Hands
Tiny hands, tiny feet,
She’s the cutest little girl you have ever seen
First thing she learns is how to smile
You see the joy of God, in the face of this sweet child
CHORUS:
What a precious gift, is this new life,
So full of innocence and wonder, with her eyes so wide
She takes it in, all this love you give,
How could it ever be a question that you let her live?
That you let her live…
Her first steps, her first words
The sweetest little sounds you have ever heard
You watch her grow and feel such love
And every day you spend with her, just never seems enough
BRIDGE:
“It’s time for bed, now go to sleep,”
“Just one more story mama, please read to me”
So you read to her and all the while,
You’re looking at your princess and how she makes you smile
It has been two years since the release of our album, “I Will Bring You Peace”, in 2010. We chose to release this album on September 11th as a way of reminding people that, though we live in a world at war with itself in so many ways, Jesus offers us and invites us into a peace that truly passes all understanding. The album (and title track) is themed around Jesus words found in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
To celebrate this CD release anniversary of our defining album, we are offering it for a “pay what you want” to download this album. If you like what you hear, download it and decide how much you’d like to bless our ministry. (I’ve also included an option that allows an immediate download, plus a physical CD for $10.)
I was so blessed to walk into a nursing home facility today to find a lady sitting next to a CD player humming along to “Come Thou Fount” from our Reflect Hymn album. At first I thought, “I know that song, but that doesn’t sound like us.” And then I realized it was because she was singing along with it. The nurse said that they play our Reflect Hymn CD at least once if not twice a day and that the residents really enjoy it.
It reminded me of who our main ministry is to. As many of you know, we don’t have a thriving ministry to our generation (as much as we may want to connect with and bless those in our generation). Instead God has blessed our ministry to the elderly in nursing homes.
It’s because of reminders like these that I’d like the next album we make for them. But we need your prayers. The honest truth is, we feel worn down and often uninspired. It’s been awhile since we even wrote a song or did much of anything creative. I believe we under attack from the enemy (yes, we have an enemy) and we need your prayers. If you are a Christian brother or sister, would you just say a prayer for us right now? I trust God will bless you for the love you show by lifting us up in prayer (that’s “Christianeze” for talking to God and suggesting he get us out of our funk).
We really desire to be used mightily for the growing of God’s kingdom.
Catherine and I chose Center of the Angels Songs as one of our free downloads because it is such a beautiful reflection on who Jesus is. Jesus is the perfect representation of all that God is. Why? Because Jesus is, in fact, God in the flesh.
Isaiah 9:6 prophecies about the coming Messiah, Jesus, and gives us some of his royal titles:
Surrender can be tough, but surrendering to God is precisely where our salvation and freedom are found. Surrender really is a matter of trust and it becomes so much easier when we focus on Who we are surrendering to.
When we really come to know the character of God and that this God is bursting with love and kindness toward us, it makes surrender a joyous thing. We come to count it a privilege that we get to surrender to this God of infinite unfailing love! We come to see how blessed we are that the only Sovereign God of the universe loves us desperately! When you surrender to God, you surrender to love, for God is Love! (1 John 4) Yes, we can indeed fully trust our Savior Jesus and our loving Heavenly Father. And when we keep the loving heart of our “blessed Savior” in our view we can easily say, “I surrender all.”
We hope your enjoy our updated version of “I Surrender All”. This month’s free song. Download it here.
We are busy getting ready for our summer gigs. We’ll be playing with a full band three weeks in a row. Plus at each show there will be other fabulous artists sharing their music for you to enjoy. Come out and hear some great music this summer!
Mark your calenders, bring some friends, and enjoy some inspiring events full of worship and reflection (no pun intended). We’d especially love to see you at our Cup O Joy show!
SAT June 30th @ 10 am to 10 pm – Harmony by the Bay – all day free music festival in Menominee, MI (We play at noon!)
SAT July 7th @ 7:30 – Cup O Joy – Reflect Worship full length concert with full band (Special Guest: our dear friend, Kate Marshall!)
FRI July 13th – LIFEST! – Performing twice. At 4:30 – a more intimate acoustic worship set and then later @ 7:30 sharing some of our best original songs.
Thanks for listening,
Daniel & Catherine
More about the music to this song:
We have been listening to a new band called Civil Wars recently and were musically inspired to take the music of their song “Poison & Wine” and put it to “I Surrender All”.
I wrote the song Redeemed after being comforted in my severe depression by the Psalm the song is based on. Psalm 107 describes some difficult situations people find or get themselves in and in each instance the people would cry out to God for help and God would answer them. In fact God says in his word that everyone who calls on him will be saved! That’s pretty awesome!
Do you feel unworthy to be near God? The apostle Peter sure did. When he first realized who Jesus was after a miracle, he said to Jesus, “Depart from me Lord, I am a sinful man.” As if to say, “God, you don’t want me around, I’m too sinful. You’re better off without me. I’ll just muddy things up.”
Have you ever felt that way? I sure have.
Here’s a common scenario:
You know what God wants you to do but you fail him and break his heart for the billionth time and you wonder, how in the world would he take me back again? Why would he give me another chance? Why would he ever risk his heart on me again?
And so you stay away. You keep your distance. You may even come to believe that you are beyond his grace. Beyond forgiveness.
But Jesus would say to you, “You are the reason I came. I came for you! I died that day to take away all your unworthiness and every last sin and shameful thing that you think keeps you from me. So come. Please come and just let me love you! Please come home.”
Jesus shared the story of the prodigal son to tell us something about how God feels for those who feel this way. (Read the story here). He shows us the attitude of the Father God toward all his lost children. He is waiting and watching and I believe, is doing everything possible to bring them home. Yes, he has done and is doing everything!
The cross accomplished more than we will ever know. When Jesus said, “It is finished” he meant it. On the cross God Himself bore our shame, our pain, and our every sin. Yes, even every last lustful look and judgmental attitude. He bled for every murder, every rape, every homosexual act, & every word of gossip so that we might be saved and have hope & redemption.
Redemption is yours if you want it. God respects our free will. He will never force us to come. He simply invites.
Be reconciled to God today! Stop everything and take a moment and connect with him right now! Please pray with me:
“Dear God, thank you for being the God of second chances. Thank you for always risking your heart and trusting in your love and grace to change us. May your love and grace do it’s work right now and soften our hearts towards you God. Thanks for loving us so much that you would run out to meet us and lavish us with love when we turn for home. God, we come home to you now.”
(“Please Come Home” is now part of our 5 song free sample download available on our website and is this month’s “Song of the Month”.)
Song Story & Chords:
The Original (Download) Version of this song:
Performing this song at Cup O Joy in Green Bay:
Here we are as the whole band playing this at Lifest 2012:
If this song has blessed you, please use the share buttons at the bottom of this post to share it! Join the conversation, please leave a comment!
Please Come Home
(note to Guitar players – Capo on 3 and play the following chords)
Am Fmaj7
You think I’m better off without you
You say, “Depart, for I’m a sinful soul”
But you’re the reason that I came to earth
To bleed upon a cross to give you hope
CHORUS:
C G
So please come home, please come home
Am F2
Where you will never more, have to be alone
So please come home, please come home
Where you will never more, have to be alone
Am Fmaj7
Please come home
Am Fmaj7
I know your anxious thoughts and that your mind is filled with doubt
You wonder how I’ll take you back, with all your dark clouds
And you think you’ve gone beyond, what my grace can bear
But I want you to know; your debt is paid in full
Gadd9 F2
I know you feel unworthy, and that you don’t belong
Perhaps you think you’ve sinned too much,
Your shame is just too strong
No need to worry, I will never bring it up
Am F2
Instead I will lavish you with love
Words and music by Daniel & Catherine Lovett
cop.2012 Reflect Worship Music
ps. So as I was writing this song it reminded me of Dustin Kensrue and when I checked iTunes store for songs of the same title, and who should appear in the search results but Dustin Kensrue. He wrote a song by the same title. Crazy right? His version is completely different of course.
We pray you are doing well and hope this song “Captivated” is a blessing to you in your journey with God. I have been thinking about something Jesus once said, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NLT)
The Father is looking for worshipers. Is he finding you? Is he finding me? Are we worshiping? What does it even mean to worship him?
Worship = Love
I was listening to Danen Kane’s song “Love is Waiting” the other day in my car and it ended with the line, “Love is waiting on us”. I thought, “Okay God, I receive your love.” Immediately I felt his love and affirmation fill my heart.
I am convinced that to worship God primarily means to simply allow ourselves be loved by him. This is what God wants from each one of us, a willing heart… willing, to be loved. And as we are loved, and only as we are loved, are we able to then respond in love for God and a genuine love for others, for Scripture says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 KJV)
I can imagine God searching throughout the whole earth asking, “Who will respond to my love?” I bet he gets really excited when he finds someone willing to open their heart to his love.
Jesus talked about abiding or remaining in God’s love in John 15:
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” ( John 15:9-13 NIV)
Love each other. Even as Jesus loved us, so we are commanded to love each other. This is the true test of responding to God’s love. It translates into love for others. Someone who doesn’t love others hasn’t yet reveled in the love of God. When we do revel in his love for us we then love others and come to experience the abundant life of Jesus.
I encourage you to take some time to revel in the love of God, in the unconditional love of God, and then spread that love to everyone you come into contact with!
Update on Daniel & Catherine:
We were sick for a little over a week in the month of March and I grew a beard (now gone). My joke was, “I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but it’s growing on me.” I had to cancel ten days of concerts and while I was off I did a great deal of writing and recorded several videos (a few Johnny Cash covers).
Our little girl Ellie is now almost 2 years old. We love her so much and she is so much fun. Jungle book is her favorite movie and she has even sung in her sleep “Bare nessecities… yea man”. She loves music and dancing around the house. While we were rehearsing Captivated before recording the video Ellie corrected us when we got to the chorus. Every time we would sing “Jesus you are so beautiful…” she would say, “No, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!” She has a really good memory for songs.
Nursing Home Ministry Update:
Please pray for our Nursing Home ministry. We have quite a busy month in April with about 50 concerts and I really want people to experience and respond to God’s love and the good news of Jesus. You can donate to help this ministry at our website. Your donations go toward providing large print Gospels of John to residents!
Rescue me, Lord I pray,
Please send the help I need
Lord Jesus show the way
Reveal yourself to me
CHORUS:
I went wrong, I won’t deny
I confess my sin to you
From your love I will not hide
O bring me to the light
To the light
O bring me to the light
To the light
If redemption’s to be found
I will do all that it takes
To be free, to love you God
Oh to finally know your grace
What is the goal of our salvation? What is the purpose, or intended result, of forgiveness?
In his first letter, John writes about fellowship. Fellowship with both God and other believers as we walk in the light… and only as we walk in the light. John tells us this fellowship is maintained through the forgiveness and cleansing God extends to us freely as we do our part and confess our sins to him. (John makes it clear that none of us can claim to be without sin.)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)
That is what this song of the month, Bring Me to the Light, is all about! I am so glad God has done everything to keep us in fellowship with himself. Not only does he forgive, he cleanses us as well. And just think, God is faithful and just to do so. He doesn’t have to bend a rule to do this. Because of the cross of Jesus, there are no rules to keep you or me away from God and his love.
One of my favorite lyrics is “Lord Jesus show the way, reveal yourself to me.”
Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Early believers were known as followers of the way. Jesus is the way to life abundant and victory over sin. He is the way to love and the way home to our Father. Jesus is the way.
Incidently, Jesus name in Hebrew is Yashua. “Ya” is the abrev. form of YHWH, the personal name of God which translates as “I AM” or “I AM THAT I AM”. “Shua” means salvation. Salvation is such a rich word here. It indicates complete wholeness. You are restored to all you were created and intended to be by our loving God as his image bearer.
“I AM salvation”. This is the name of Jesus.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we pray that you would bring us to the light, restore us to fellowship with yourself and all our brothers and sisters in the family of God. God, we do confess our sin to you and ask you to forgive and cleanse us right now in Jesus name. May we walk in the light of Jesus, our salvation.
