Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16 ESV

In a world where fear and uncertainty often seem to dominate, I’ve been reflecting on the goodness of God and the dreams He plants in our hearts. I believe the Lord gives us dreams and passions that sometimes we are fearful to pursue and it’s all too easy to get caught up in insecurities, doubts, and practical barriers like time and resources. Yet, it’s through these challenges that God invites us to trust Him and step out in faith.

Music has been a central part of my life. It’s woven into the very fabric of my being. My grandfather was a jazz pianist, my father is a gifted pianist, my mom, a singer, and my sister’s voice is truly special. Growing up surrounded by this musical talent, I was immersed in a world where music calms the soul, unites people, and evokes deep emotions. It’s been a constant source of comfort and joy for me.

Even with this deep connection to music, my journey hasn’t come without challenges. About 13 years ago, I began leading worship at my church, which felt like a clear calling from God. Yet, every time I led, I wrestled with self-doubt. To build my skills and confidence, I signed up for voice lessons. My first teacher was a blessing—she taught me to rely on God and believe in the gifts He had given me. She taught me how to have confidence! My second and current teacher helped me understand the science of music and has pushed me to grow in ways I could not have imagined.

In mid-2023, my teacher asked me about my music goals. To be honest, I hadn’t thought beyond my role on the church worship team. I remember specifically telling her I knew what I did not see myself doing, that was writing music. I actually even said that writing music wasn’t something I felt capable of. About a month later I was driving and I started to sing a melody and the words of a common prayer I pray often fit with the melody. The next day it happened again but with another melody and another 30 second clip of music. It happened several more times within the next few months so I just kept voice recording them on my phone not really knowing where that would lead.

Around November, during one of my quiet moments with the Lord, He prompted me to revisit those melody clips I had recorded. It felt like He was nudging me to share them with my son, Austin and to pursue turning them into real songs. I began to see these melodies as pieces of a bigger tapestry that God was weaving together.

Despite this, I was overwhelmed with self-doubt. I thought, “Who’s going to want to listen to these songs? People might think I’m being vain. What if no one supports this? And let’s face it, recording music costs money and I don’t have the resources right now. Plus, I’m short on time…” But deep down, I felt God telling me to involve Austin in this project, to make it part of a legacy for my family, and to create something special we could work on together. Austin, who is an exceptionally talented musician and loves music as much as, if not more than, I do, has taught himself countless instruments and has an incredible knack for creating music. So, I shared the idea with him, hoping he would help me write and record these songs and he agreed we should do it!

New Year’s Day 2024, Austin and I spent the day at the piano—an incredible “dream” gift I received in 2023, another testament to God’s timing and provision. That day, we finished “My Prayer.” A few months later, we completed “Hallelujah to the One.” Throughout this journey, doubts and fears tried to take hold, but God provided peace and built my faith at every turn.

A few months later, I shared the project with my dad, and it turned out he had just started to tune pianos at our local community college. They had recently built a brand-new recording studio and were looking to rent it out! This was a perfect opportunity for this project. Another God moment.

Over the following months, we wrapped up the songs, reached out to some incredibly talented friends and musicians to play various instruments, and scheduled the recording session. While we faced some setbacks—people initially agreed to help but then couldn’t for one reason or another— I chose not to see these as failures or closed doors. Instead, I kept praying and trusting that God would guide me to the right people, and He did! The musicians who ended up being part of this project were exactly the right ones for the job, and they were truly the people God intended to bring these songs to life.

Another big challenge was understanding music copyrighting, licensing and distribution. Just as I was grappling with this, a friend I met at a worship retreat three years earlier started offering consulting on music licensing. Her help came exactly when I needed it, a clear reminder of how God orchestrates everything for His purposes in His timing. Another God moment.

Recording day in August 2023 was a beautiful experience. Seeing the project come to life with the help of talented friends was a testament to God’s goodness. We’re still finalizing the project, but I am deeply grateful for how God has guided us through every step and while I have no idea what He plans to do through these songs I am humbled that he chose to use me.

If you have dreams that seem daunting or out of reach, remember that God is with you. Dream boldly and trust that He will open the right doors at the right time. Take each step as He leads, and be patient with the process. The journey might be long, but walking with God makes it all the more meaningful. He wants to bring your dreams to fruition and, more importantly, He wants to deepen your relationship with Him along the way. So take that leap of faith, and watch how the goodness of God transforms your dreams into something even more beautiful than you could ever imagine.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 145:5-7

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20