"The Joy of the Lord"
"The Joy of the Lord" was written back in January 2003. Josanna and I were visiting our parents, who for one year actually lived and worked at the same place! They were all four working at a children's home in Southern Virginia (as well as Josanna's brother, and my sister and her family!).

The work there, needless to say, took a lot out of a person. And I saw my parents pouring their hearts into these kids 24/7, and having their hearts broken time and again. They were told to have a more professional relationship, to not get too involved in the kids' lives. But my parents couldn't help it. I'd spent my whole life with literally countless foster kids staying with us, as well as half the neighborhood at times. That is just who my parents are; they love to live out "who would Jesus be" to those kids, and others around them.

So, one morning I joined them for coffee in their place, and remember how exhausted they were, both from the kids and from the administration, having to do everything according to State regulations, dot the i's and cross the t's... I returned to the room I was staying at, and I just started singing the words as a prayer for them. Most of the song came that morning. It is such a simple phrase, "the joy of the Lord is my strength", one we often don't give real weight to. It has become almost cliche from overuse. But when you are at the point of desperation, it is not cliche, it is truth, and often all you have to hold on to.

It was about six months later, after Josanna and I had moved to Colorado, I was up one night and pulled the song out, wanting to take it deeper. That was when I wrote the bridge (you are my song when my heart dies...). Basically, "no matter what, God, You are my all in all - you are my life."

I hope this song is also an encouragement for others as they struggle through tough times, as well as celebrate the good times.