Album Prep
Launching My First Album
Friends,
I hope you’ve all been enjoying the summer! Nick and I want to update you on what I’ve been up to with music lately. Since releasing my first single “Recreated” in August 2010, I (Katie) have been spending my down time continuing to write, sort of my favorite place to be when there’s nothing else planned. Some of my favorite memories this year have been singing with college students in hotel rooms at our New Year’s Conference, scribbling down lyrics after a conversation with a student I’m meeting with at the U of M or just talking to Jesus in some discouraging moments. His love has definitely been vision casting. God’s grown our passion for serving the church (namely, college women) through my music, and we hope to bring encouragement through scripture and the truths of Jesus Christ.
A few months ago, we sent my vision for writing a full-length album under the theme of “Recreated” to a non-profit organization, called The Gaius Project, that collaborates with Christian artists in order to complete their musical projects, by administrating the funds that are raised for that purpose . After reviewing my vision, they graciously accepted my application and have opened an account for me to begin raising the funds to complete my first album! I’m humbled and nervous, too… and I really want to include you all in the beginning stages!
We have a God that came to rescue. I think a lot of these songs communicate his power to transform, his forbearance in our weaknesses, his ability to give joy and satisfy, and ultimately- His victory. These are all parts of his character we long to know more deeply, be reminded of and experience.
There are many seeking to share this message of hope in Jesus all over the world in the body of Christ; surely I am only one voice in the anthem of people with a song to sing! Jason French, founder of Crossworks Ministries, asked me to be a part of a new label made up of a community of artists that desire to work together in ministry in order to edify the Church and spread the Gospel through their music, and help publish my first record through Crossworks Ministries. It is a privilege to be part of a community of artists that love the Lord and his people, and that desire to glorify him by putting their gifts at his service to serve his church.
Would you keep me in your prayers during this process? We’re trusting that if God desires this to be completed, he’ll provide people to come alongside us in our vision. We really see this album as a “team effort,” so we’ll need your help along the way!
Our desire is to raise $6,000 to complete this project and be able to produce about 250 CD’s to give away freely. We would love to be able to bless college women, friends and family with promises and the hope we have in Jesus at no charge to them.
Would you be excited about joining us in giving this gift away? If so, would you consider giving a tax-deductible donation to our project to help fund the recording costs?
You can log on to www.katiestromwall.com and click on the partner now link to give a tax deductible donation through Gaius Project [Paypal (fully receipted)]
“Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.” (1 Chronicles 16:23-25)
With much love and gratitude,
Katie
Please Pray:
1. God would use this music for His glory.
2. Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4).
3. Pray that God would provide the musicians and funds we need to complete this project.
I’ll post some lyrics and updates along the way!
You Are For Me
I’ve been so in need to hear this. In the last few weeks, I’ve been walking through some…discouragement. Anyone relate? I think discouragement is one of the hardest and yet best things to feel. It leaves us with nowhere else to go but straight to Jesus, and a lot of good comes out of that. Feeling discouraged can be a mixture of so many things… walking through a conflict, feeling misunderstood, unheard, you’ve let someone down, someone doesn’t like you… you know…tough stuff, right? When I’m discouraged or down, it can be easy to believe lies about myself and my identity and before I know it, I’ve lost all sight of the hope, peace and freedom God desires me to know. That he adores me and delights in me. ME? I always question. Yes. ME. He made me unique, and he takes pleasure in what he’s made, personality, flaws, good days, bad days and all. I’ve been taking a few days off this week after finishing out our semester at the U (where my hub and I work in college ministry) and spending my time telling myself things that are true in different ways. Spending time with close friends who remind me of true things about who I am, riding my bike around the lakes, staying up late drinking tea and reading through Proverbs and the Psalms. Spending time confessing my discouragement and clinging to his love for me. We have a God who loves us and is for us, who does not get discouraged with us but remains patient, gracious, and constant… that is mighty reassuring to me. The other day, I sat up in my room lying on my bed and watched this video on my iphone. I found such deep sweet joy telling myself the truth that God is for me… maybe that sounds super cheesy… but there are points for me when I’m desperate to hear that God is for me. The other day, I was desperate to hear that. If you’re really struggling with discouragement, this song really communicates tenderness. patience. forbearance. All my anxiety was swept away as I let this song calm my busy heart.
You Are For Me
kari jobe
So faithful. So constant.
So loving and so true.
So powerful in all You do.
You fill me. You see me.
You know my every move
and You love for me to sing to You.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never,
forsake me in my weaknesses
I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me who You are.
So patient, So gracious,
So merciful and true…
So wonderful in all You do.
You know me. You see me.
You know my every move.
You love for me to sing to You
Lord, I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never,
forsake me in my weaknesses.
I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me that
I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never,
forsake me in my weaknesses.
I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me who You are.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never,
forsake me in my weaknesses.
I know that You will come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me of who You are.
Story Behind Recreated Graphic Art
From the Artist, Leah Bankson…
“I was really inspired by the lines, “You promised me, your light the only mirror I’ll need” and “So I take the mirror off the wall and let you win the war”. God really used this whole process to remind me of who He is. It was so incredible to realize that for the light of the sun to be reflected, instead of my own image, the mirror must be taken off the wall and laid down. When I figured that out, the result was blindingly brilliant light streaming up from the mirror!! I had to wear sunglasses while I took the pictures:). My first thought when I decided to try taking picture of a mirror, was a cracked old vintage mirror, to symbolize that it has no power anymore. But somehow that idea seemed so off. A broken mirror doesn’t communicate recreation or transformation, it communicates destruction. So this got me thinking, what is it about an image of a broken mirror that seems like taboo or a violation of sorts? I think it’s because this is not God’s heart. He didn’t come to break us but to bind up the broken hearted, His plan isn’t to destroy but to transform and recreate. Like this mirror, we ourselves do not change, however, our purpose changes completely. Instead of reflecting our own pitiful image that yields no light, we are to lay down our own image so that sun may be reflected in us. How much more glorious is that! We get to be filled with light and beauty, but only when we are laying on the ground not hung up nicely on a wall.”
- Leah Bankson (sophomore at the U of M)
(Leah is a student at the U of M that I met when she was a freshman in the dorms last year)
Thank you, Leah! This is such a powerful image!
Recreated Lyrics
Hey Friends! I am excited to share this song with you. I thought I’d post up the lyrics beforehand for those of you who have asked for them.
This song has changed and developed over the past year (with the help of the JasonHarmsBand) as I’ve wrestled with body image and my lack of belief that eternity is real. My lack of belief in eternal reality shows itself loudly through the thoughts I think, the way I strive after temporary earthly glory and the things I put my hope in, often in regard to my appearance as a woman. As I’ve sifted through the lies I have believed were true about my identity and the truth of what God tells me about my identity in Christ, these verses have been a powerful influence in this song. These promises continue to bring me deliverance from my idolatry of beauty, appearance and thinness and give me hope in sharing in the resurrection of Christ one day.
Colossians 3:20-21, Romans 8:30, Romans 6:5, Romans 8:6, Romans 7:24, 2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Cor. 3:10-11, Rev. 22:5
Dwelling on them has helped me wrestle more with what is true and what is not. I still have so far to come as a wrestler, expresser and giver in music, so I pray this song be just a small shadow of His far more surpassing glory.
Love, Katie
