“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
+Colossians 3:16
A gift God has given me is the gift of music. I have been able to share my story of God’s grace in my life through song. I have attached some of my music here for you to listen to for free. I will also be sharing Song Stories periodically, telling the circumstances behind the songs, what inspired me to write them and lyrics and relevant Bible passages. Enjoy and be blessed!
+This song is the story of God carrying me through a dark depression my senior year of high school. His faithfulness brought me through when all I saw was great pain. He is so good! And a huge inspiration for this site. Written in 2005.
+This song is the story of my testimony of coming to faith in Jesus, turning from my sin and giving my life to Him as Savior and Lord. Written in 2003.
+Written while recovering from a broken relationship and finding true fulfillment in Jesus. God sent troubles my way but he revived me again, giving me new life in the darkness of loss. His grace is sufficient! Written in 2015.
+A recent one, celebrating the new life I have found in Christ more fully after working through pain. A refreshing upbeat one. Based on Psalm 23 and recorded by my friend Olivier at Southern Seminary! Written and recorded in 2015.
+Another upbeat song worshiping Christ who is returning to judge and reign in our world. For those of us who have repented of our sins and have believed in Jesus, we have the hope to sing “Raise it up! Raise it loud! Jesus has come down for us!” Written in 2011-12.
+After suffering a broken relationship, God reminded me that His grace was enough to get me through, and to meet my most dire needs. The deep hurt was met with satisfying grace. Written in 2015.
+During the grieving process of losing my grandmother a couple years ago, I wrote this song to help me and my family heal from our loss. It was God’s gain though as she was just passing through from our lives into eternal life. Love you Grandma!
+Working through a time of repentance from persistent sin, God reminded me from Psalm 51 to seek him alone for grace and for a “broken and contrite heart.” He alone can create a clean heart, renew a right spirit and restore the joy of His presence in me.
+The story of the beautiful marriage and parenthood of my grandma Peggy Swengel and grandpa Norman Swengel. Their undying love to one another and to their children and grandchildren left a wonderful legacy that lives on in the hearts of their family today. Grandpa suffered from Parkinson’s disease and passed away about 20 years ago and grandma passed about ten years ago. Norman and Peggy loved their family and left many Precious Memories behind for the rest of us to cherish. Song written by my Aunt, Betsy Swengel in 1995.