JourneySongs - My First Album

It's done! After years and years of planning, writing and recording, we've finally made it! What a true journey in faith, hope and love it's been. Now it's my pleasure to share this with you. Many thanks go out to John Bolt who helped shape the vision of the project and created the final mix of the recording, for Rollie Mains who produced the rhythm section of the album, and Mark Pay who produced the vocals. You are all wonderful, talented, and gifted and I am humbled to be in such awesome company. I also would like to thank all of those who made prayed for this project as well as those who financially supported it. I could have never done this without your love and support. May all of you continue to be blessed as you walk in the light of Christ.

Click here to purchase my first album!

Here are the songs of my first album including a little snippet of each song!

Stand

I wrote this song as a challenge to all of us to get out of bed and follow Christ the whole way, not just 75%, 90% or even 99%, but 100% dedicated to Him.  Every new day is an opportunity to serve Him…or not, the decision is up to us.  Will we stand? Or will we go back to sleep.

“I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute. Not to these little gods that are here today and gone tomorrow, but to God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Healer of Us All

I wrote this after my world suddenly turned upside down and it felt that my life was not getting any better.  I was having a hard time in trying to believe that God truly was there and that He loved me.  Yet after reading Isaiah 43: 1-5 that says that I am precious in His sight and that I am loved by Him, I had a feeling of hope, of healing and not abandonment.  I realized then, are lives encompass many seasons.  Seasons of joy, and sorrow, of pain and healing, of struggle and contentment.  My hope is that you let go to whatever binds you in this world and hold on to God for He truly loves you.  That is my prayer for you.  

”Come to Me, all who are weary and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” – Matthew 11: 28-30

I Will Be There

I wrote this song awhile back while studying the book of Exodus and how Moses was called to lead the Israelites to the promised land.  He wasn’t considered the best and brightest of God’s people, he stuttered and stammered and was afraid of talking to large groups, yet God called him by name to lead Israel from the hands of the Egyptians.  And Moses responded, “Here I am Lord”.  This is a song of encouragement and blessing in knowing that God is on our side and we should never look back or hide in fear but rather step out on the playing field and do our very best.  Remember, with God, the victory is already ours! This song has  a “Beatles meet the Rembrandts meet That Thing You Do” flair to it and we had fun time recording it (at least the clapping was in sync…we think!)  

“Lord, help me to preach the Gospel where I go, and if I must, even through words” -St. Augustine

Watch Over Me

 

This is song is dedicated to my son Peter who ever since he was 6 years old, would always says to me in the evening before going to bed, “Papa, don’t forget to tuck me in” And I always remember to do that.   I cherish those moments because I know that in tucking my son in, he feels safe and that nothing can harm him.  I also realize that as a father how important it is to be a major part of my children’s lives.  That hopefully, through my example, they can grow up and reflect Christ in all that they do and not be afraid because I am always close by willing to tuck them in.  As I was finishing up this song, it struck me that we have a heavenly Father who continues to call us sons and daughters, who would do anything for us, who sent His son to die for us, who wants us to call on Him any time of the day, to ask for His help…and He’ll be there.  He can’t wait for us to call on Him and say,“Father, please tuck me in.”

“Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name and you are mine” Isaiah 43:1-5

Help Me to Love Like You

When writing this song, I remembered how many times I’ve fallen down on the path to holiness, and yet my Savior continues to stretch out His hand, help me up and say to me, “Tony, let’s try again”. This is a song of praise and worship to a Savior who never gives up on us and continues to count on us in building His kingdom, brick by brick, and heart by heart. I’m part of a Christian community called Cursillo and one of the things that we receive is a cross that signifies the everyday challenge we have to “walk the walk”. When receiving the cross, we are told, “Christ is counting on you”. And we respond, “And I on Him”.

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Lord I Bow

This is a song of guidance, deliverance and healing. Knowing that I am not perfect and knowing that there will be many times that I will stumble, I find comfort in God’s arms. Through His mercy and grace, I am cleansed and made whole again. I call my God, the God of many chances. He gives me many chances to reconcile with Him, to ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings, and to help me get back on track.

“I forgive you” – 1John 1:9, Romans 8:1

Jesus is the Way to Life

This song reminds me of the rat race which we all are part of, whether we choose to recognize it or not, we’re in this world and we ebb and flow. Some of us have purpose, others meander with no bearing, steering like ships lost at sea trying to find the shore. But there is hope in Christ, Jesus. He can heal, restore, and lead us home…if we let him. But most of us busy ourselves with the mundane, and forget the meaning of our existence. The question becomes how willing are we to give up the steering wheel to Christ? Can we? Will we? Only each one of us knows the answer to that question. I often ask myself, how bad do I want to get to shore?

"You can do all things in Me." - Philippians 4:13

I Will Trust You Lord

This is a song of joy, of conviction, of never giving up because we have a God on our side greater than any of our problems. He’s an awesome Father and one that will never leave us. Someone once told me that they felt so far away from God. So I asked him, why’d you move?

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.” Jeremiah 17: 7-8

The Child Jesus is Here

This is one of my favorite songs. I wrote this one December night as I was putting up our tree. I felt that I was falling into the hustle and bustle of presents and decorations and in the process loss sight of celebrating our Savior’s birth. It struck me that we sometimes become the innkeeper who said to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, “Go away, there’s no room at the inn”. It is my hope that this song brings people back to what’s truly important…Jesus’ birth. Emmanuel, God with us. That’s the best Christmas present anyone could ever have.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

The Simple Things in Life

I wrote this song after Mother Teresa had passed away. Her life was truly a wonderful testament to what God expects of us in our lives. She wasn’t president of a country. She didn’t have a lot of money. She didn’t have expensive things. She just lived a simple life. A life dedicated to serving others with charity. And in her simplicity, she truly served God. That’s all He asks us to do. It’s as simple as that!

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love” Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta MoC (Missionsaries of Charity)

I Wish You Love

Never think that you have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. God is always there. Ready to give unconditionally. Ready to bear the burden. Ready to die for us. Ready to love without ceasing. My hope for all of you is that you realize that. May you be blessed in knowing that our heavenly Father loves you. May you experience joy in your journey as you walk in the light of Christ to salvation.

"To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek Him, the greatest adventure; To find him, the greatest human achievement." St. Augustine