The Bestowing

I gave my daughter away last Saturday. Now that statement by itself sounds awful, but then we read in Genesis 3:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” And that brings me comfort, that warms my heart, because over the past few years I’ve seen my daughter, and my son-in-law act as one through some highs and some lows.

In Eph 5:33 Paul writes, “Let each one of you men, love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” All any father can hope for, pray for, is a man who puts his daughter above himself, and commits to a lifetime of loving her, and that prayer’s been answered in the affirmative.

Yes, last Saturday I gave my daughter away, but today I’m a peaceful and contented father, and father-in-law. Lord, bless them with happiness and a healthy and long journey together.

The Bestowing
As I sit by the window, coffee in hand
And the sun begins to shadow the sound
My mind drifts to memories, of a little girl
That will later be clothed in a gown
Her smile will be the same as it ever was
Reflecting on all that it greets
As later today we’ll make that walk together
Where I’ll give my daughter away for keeps

He loves her as much as I could expect
Maybe a little more
And it gives my heart solace, as a piece breaks off
To know that he’ll catch it before it hits the floor
Her smile will be the same as it ever was
Reflecting on all that it greets
As later today we’ll make that walk together
When I give my daughter away for keeps

She’s waited what seems like all of her life
To arrive at this moment in time
A moment that’ll be covered with tears of joy
And no doubt some will be mine
Her smile will be the same as it ever was
Reflecting on all that it greets
As later today we’ll make that walk together
When I give my daughter away for keeps

~ E.M.
September 14, 2024

She’s Me (Album: The Consequence)

Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

We Belong to the Day

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

There are no throw away days. There are no days that don’t count for something. There are no days where you aren’t being held accountable. There just aren’t! You see, each day is yours, It’s yours to fulfill His plan in your life. It’s yours to make a difference in the world. Each and every day is numbered and carefully planned for you to prosper. So get up, you belong to the day. Linger in His presence, and be saved! Be free! Be healed!

Pray on…
E.M.

Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

Dig Love!

If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?

Oh, without a doubt, it would say Dig Love! It’s my belief that above all, that’s what’s wanting in our world, we just don’t seem to care about each other anymore, we have discounted the value of human life.

With just one voice, love can be heard
With just one hand, love can be felt
With just one smile, love can be seen
With just one heart, change can begin
Dig love
~ E.M.

Mannerism, music, Video

Someday

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

I spend the majority of my time attempting to live in the moment. It’s an outgrowth of trying to be more mindful. I can’t change the past, and I have little to no control of the future, so it’s the minute at hand that has the most to offer me.

The future is a very fragile and unpredictable thing. We have no way of assuring how each day, let alone our week, or year, will turn out with any certainty. I was reflecting on this and the use of the word someday when I wrote this song. I was thinking about how we often refer to someday in describing our future dreams and endeavors. My parents always spoke of someday as in my future, down the road, and spiritually God also does, but life has an uncanny way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it.
Someday was oh so later
Someday was down the road
But someday just happened to me now
~ E.M.

Album: Stars Under My Feet
Video Credit: E.M.
Available at http://www.eddymann.com
© 2017 Eddy Mann
Hissongs | ASCAP

Albums, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, prayer, Video, worship

Hope of the World (Redux)

So much has been written about mankind’s need for hope, and there’s never been a time when we didn’t need it. Scripture says, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.’ (Romans 15:13 ESV) ~ E.M.

Hope of the World ushers in a radiant light, instills hope, and leaves you with a smile that lingers
The Further

I was asked recently about the journey of this song, as in how did it get to this version, and on this album? It’s no doubt the oldest song on the project. It was written twenty years ago and has gone through quite a few differing arrangements over that time. I was never really happy with it, in fact I had no intentions of including it on an album back in 2011 called The Twelve. It took some prodding from a voice on my accountability team. And yes, I have a real accountability team that keeps me on the straight and narrow, or at least it attempts too. I included it back then because it was always an engaging song during times of worship. What made me uncomfortable was not the message, I love the message, but the musical setting never quite felt right. I always struggled to find a nice little niche to sing it from …where it didn’t feel awkward.

The Chapel Songs project was created as a collection of easy to access worship songs for the small church, not that they couldn’t be embellished and sung in larger communities, but so many of todays popular recordings can be intimidating for musicians who aren’t professionals, and I wanted to provide an album of songs a single guitarist or pianist could lead with.

So I revisited this song and toyed with some sparse arrangements, and eventually found one that made me smile, and that was it. The lyric video is an unplugged version of the album track and presents an even simpler approach. The message is still intact, and is certainly still relevant. God’s messages always are!

Hope of the world
Shine on us
You are the Answer

Fill up our hearts, fill up our souls
Lure us away from all that’s wrong
Fill up our hearts, fill up our souls
Give us the strength to carry on

Here we stand, blessed with each new day
Here we stand, humbled works of clay

© 2003 Eddy Mann
CCLI #6123488
Hissongs / ASCAP

You can listen/stream the album version here on my website

I’d love to hear your thoughts
Pray on,
Eddy

Albums, Evensong, Mannerism, music, new album, new release, Podcast, prayer, worship

Rubberneckers: Repent or Rejoice?

This past week my wife and I traveled south to warm up before the holidays. While being on the road I found my mind wandering in and out of all sorts of thoughts and prayers. I don’t think I’m alone in discovering that my mind operates differently when I’m not being disrupted by the noise of the world. Open road driving seems to provide a time and space for me to ponder, and to plan, but like life in general there are always unexpected wrinkles along the way, and this trip was no different in that respect.

Our first day was littered with accidents, none prayerfully that were life ending, but none the less they were there in numbers that seemed greater than usual, and which made me very aware of the rubberneckers. It was in that state that I started to think about, and pray about, the need to be curious…

Pray on,
Eddy

Mannerism, music

Tall, Strong and Lovingly

I’ve met many people in my life. Some that thought they were better than me because they had more education. Some thought they were better because they had more money. And then there were some that thought they were better than me because they knew the Bible better.

Life is ultimately filled with all different kinds of people that are all struggling to find their way. Because the road is fraught with failures, some individuals create an image of themselves that quite possibly isn’t true.

Now the reasoning for such created images are probably seeded in some kind of personal insecurity. The doubts and fears can cause the best of us to want to invent a better us, a stronger us, a more secure us.

The problem is that the new self, underneath the invented one, still retains the same shortcomings.

The imagined persona is just a created character that acts one way in front of others, but still falters when no one is looking.

The desire to share this dilemma is that you and I are sometimes innocently attacked by the lie. Over the years I’ve detected such instances early on and have been able to protect myself. But as a youngling I often felt prey to the demeaning words and uppity actions of others.

In retrospect I’ve discovered that the well educated were often very disappointed in their standing in life, the affluent were often living in fear of losing all that they had acquired, and all the Bible knowledge in the world did no good if it couldn’t be applied to a life.

When we strive to please God instead of the broken world we live in, we are bound to feel good at the end of the day.

Knowing that you did all that you could to make this world a more loving place lifts our spirits and more importantly make our God smile.

So walk tall today and tomorrow, walk strong today and tomorrow, and walk lovingly today, tomorrow and everyday we’re blessed with.

Pray on,
Eddy

Art, Art Work, Mannerism, music, Poetry

Today

Last Sunday was a crisp, fresh day that was filled with worship, fellowship, and wonderfully creative and nourishing meals. Last Sunday I offered my gifts and my love to others. Last Sunday was the day that the Lord had made, and I rejoiced in it!

Each day contains unimaginable joy. We wake each morning to endless opportunities to serve. What we make of those opportunities creates the amount of joy we, and others, will experience. You see the joy is in the giving. The joy is in making others smile. The joy is in making others feel loved.

Last Sunday is today! It’s everyday!

“This (today) is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 ESV)

Pray on,
Eddy

Originally posted July 19, 2015

Evensong, music, Podcast, prayer, worship

Evensong – Ep120

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. ~ 1 Peter 4:19

‘Suffer Well’
1 Peter 4:12-19
Recorded: Thursday, October 12, 2023
STREAM / LISTEN!

Music: LISTEN!
1. You, You Make Me Feel (Dig Love)
2. Let Your Steadfast Love Be Upon Us (Worship)
3. Walk in Canaan (The Consequence)
4. Something beautiful & New (Something beautiful & New)
5. Doxology (Yes Indeed)