Spring Rain

A soft gentle rain began and continued throughout the day. It was the kind of rain you could comfortably walk in. I wrote "Spring Rain" with the desire to draw the listener in to this gentle rain of God's love. So many people are going through challenges and need God's love to bring them safely through to the other side.

The Lord led me to this Scripture as I searched for the title to this song.

Hosea 6:3 

"Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

I was playing the piano in a hotel lobby one afternoon, when a couple walked in. It was obvious that they were having a heated argument. Moments later, the man stomped off leaving his wife weeping on the couch. I felt impressed to play Spring Rain and before it was over, the man returned in an attitude of repentance and forgiveness. They sat there quietly soaking in the gentle spring rain of God's peace as I played.

As you listen to Spring Rain, let God's peace "rain" gently upon you. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His peace is enduring and goes beyond understanding. 

Healing Waters

Healing waters is my latest CD. Having my very own Yamaha grand piano allows me to record at my leisure. Ever since hearing beautiful music that brings one to the place of peace and rest, I desired to release my own CD as well. Soaking music is what they call it. The soaking refers to being in God's presence and... it's quite an experience. 

So I set up my microphones one day, and pushed record on my recording studio, and began to improvise and play unto the Lord. 

The result is a 44 minute track of music that flows like a river. 

I first saw the title healing waters on a cover of a CD that our friend Cheryl Benoit recorded and produced. 

She has a very natural gift of playing the piano and creating new music as well.  

I designed the cover myself and had an idea what I wanted. A few years ago our family made a trip up to Indiana and we decided to go see the sand dunes on a very cloudy, cold, and windy day. 

There were a lot of seagulls flying over the water that day.  So I took out my camera and began taking pictures of whatever scenery I could find at the sand dunes in southern Michigan. 

I found several pictures that worked really well for the front and back cover.  On the front cover, I have a picture of Lake Michigan with a Seagull flying over it. I love the softness and color the cloudy sky created. It made a nice backdrop for this CD cover. 

Our oldest daughter Lisa graduated with a graphic design degree at ORU. She gave me some input on how to put the cover together, and so did a friend of mine who is also a graphic artist — Greg Mann. 

It turned out pretty well I think. I hope you will agree and get a lot of use out of it. 

Order it now, here.

Piano Music & Wild Birds Unlimited

Dear readers,

Every so often I come across people who are kind and thoughtful, that it makes one feel important and... The owners of this shop called "Wild Birds Unlimited here in the Tulsa area, have opened up their hearts to me. Their shop is located at 61st and Yale, in the Kings point Shopping Center. For their anniversary they hired me to come and play for their devoted customers and friends.  I remember well the reaction of one lady in particular. She was so excited to hear the soothing melodies that she purchased several of my CDs. 

One gentleman drove all the way from Pryor, OK. He shared with me how he practically wore my CD out. He picked up several more and I signed them for him.

This is a very unique shop indeed! They have some of the most amazing bird houses, bird feeders, bird baths, wind chimes, bird seed, and many other gift items for the yard and garden, that you need to stop in and tell them Daniel sent you. 

Thanks for your support. Remember that you are special and loved.

Follow the Leader

I think that it's good to "follow the leader." A leader that has the heart of compassion and is one that you can trust. 

Do you have a leader that's like that?

One of my favorite passages is from John 10. Here are a few paragraph's that I like;

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. (John 10:9-15 NLT)

In Thinking about how a good shepherd leads his sheep to safe pastures, I am reminded that the psalmist David was first a shepherd before he became king of Israel. 

He wrote Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalms 23:1-6 NLT)

It really makes it clear to see that The Lord is my Shepherd. Is He your Shepherd?
Ask Him to be your Shepherd, your God and Savior. Sure the journey of life may be rough at times, but His love endures forever. He gives strength to the weak. He is always with you. 
God has led me on a journey and it's been a journey that literally moved me across the country from North Dakota to California to Oklahoma. Through the twists and turns, and ups and downs, God has always been there gently leading me. His still small voice is still speaking today. Just get quiet before him and ask Him to lead you each day. His love never fails.

Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Broken-hearted is the one that has been crushed by wicked and cruel men.  

Such is the case in a movie we watched tonight. So many men thrown off the train and left for dead. Is there any hope? Is there any comfort and joy. 

Yes, there is someone that will come to our defense. His arm can bend a bow of bronze. He is a refuge to the weary, and a shelter to the oppressed. His name is Jesus and He came to seek and save those who are lost. Just like a good Shepherd that searches for a lost lamb until he finds it. 

You may not know you are lost. You may think you are on the right path. Many are blinded by their own pride and selfishness. May your blinds fall away, so that you may see...

Attend into His Word, For...

His Word is the Bread of Life, so why not fill your heart and mind with His Word, And join in confessing with me — "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Be encouraged my friend. Be renewed in His love. Be filled with the Spirit. Lift up your eyes and see that He is by your side.  And pray with me;

"Father in Heaven, you are the God above all gods. There is none like you. 

We lift up our voices to the sky, and call out to you... deliver us from evil, grant us success that we might bring glory to Your Holy Name. Heal our broken hearts and comfort our hurting souls. Set the captives free. Father, forgive us as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Thank you for hearing our prayer. In the name of Jesus, amen!!