a tribute to my favorite

If you know me at all, you are probably aware that I am a ridiculous fan of the talented Sara Groves. From the day I began listening to her, there has never been a hiatus of her music in my life. I have seen her in concert five times and I could have been to a bunch more concerts, if the time had been right. I have had the privilege to speak with her on three different occasions and even mailed her a personal letter a few years ago.

I don't remember the exact day I first heard of Sara. There are a few little memories that all bleed together in my memory. But I know I discovered the comforting and beautiful voice of Sara some time in junior high, and something in her lyrics, music, and voice stole my heart. Her music has been my extra comfort and joy lifter in difficult times.

Sara is that artist that never gets put on the shelf. I always have something of hers playing in my car or on my phone or computer. She is the one I go back and revisit and never grow tired of. No other artist speaks to me like she does and has the undeniable talent to put words and music together the unique way she does. She is a genuinely kind individual, if you ever steal a chance to meet her. Sara doesn't just put words to music; she pours her heart and soul into them and makes them sound like they were written for you personally. I love her heart for the Lord and for His kingdom. She has a remarkable talent for taking old hymns, modifying and making them new, without tarnishing them or taking away their original beauty. She is not afraid to be venerable with her lyrics or her music. She just does it, despite what the critics say about it, which I admire very much.

She is the wife of Troy Groves, the mother of Toby, Kirby, and Ruby, and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota where she and Troy run an old church called Art House North. I've listened to numerous interviews where she was the featuring artist. Through these interviews, I've learned so much about her, her faith, struggles, and life journey. Originally an English and History teacher, she came officially into the music circle in the mid 90s and released her first album, Past the Wishing, in 1998.

While she didn't start song writing for her livelihood until her  mid to late 20s, it has been said by her mother that she first started writing songs at the age of five. It was through Troy's encouragement that she decided one day to pursue a career in music. She was quite skeptical about the whole idea and thought he was crazy when he ordered 1,000 copies of her CD to sell. "Who would buy them?" she wondered. It has been nearly 20 years since those 1,000 CDs, that felt more like an obstacle than a good idea at the time, were purchased. And what's amazing, people actually bought them. Nearly thirteen records later, she has made a place for herself in the music industry as well as in the social justice sphere, fighting for the freedom of modern day slaves alongside International Justice Mission. 

Sara is that artist that not everyone you meet knows about. She doesn't do what everyone else does and that makes her just that more inspiring, unique, and special. Many years ago Christian radio removed her music from their slate. Why? She doesn't write "radio songs," according to them. But that is what makes her stand out among the crowd of artists who all sound alike. I'm happy to say that while she might not get typical radio time that others might get, she has tenfold to offer listeners and has been a steadfast member of the music industry playing her heart out and singing about the great Lord she loves and serves so well.

About a month ago she released her preorder for her upcoming hymns album Abide With Me, which is set to release officially to the public on November 17, my birthday. (Happy birthday to me! Ha!) A few weeks ago, I preordered and have sat in great expectation of today's preorder download date. So today, you can still preorder here, and you will be able to download the album immediately. I'm listening to the album as I type this and I am in awe of its unique beauty. Take it from me, the unwavering Sara fan, you won't be disappointed. She sails you through her music like a boat in the calm. It is refreshing, comforting, and soothing to a tired and weary soul. While many of the songs are not recorded in their original tunes, do not be dismayed or alarmed--that is the Sara style, so find appreciation in what she has so beautifully done with these old hymns. She is undeniably a beautiful instrument of peace from the Lord, and a blessing and sweet message to my listening ears.

**I do not own the rights to any images. All are cited from the Sara Groves Facebook page.**

The Advent season is approaching fast. I have listened to and read the text to this hymn several times, but as I read it just now, I saw the expectation of the Lord's birth in the text. I close this with the words of Henry Burton found in the hymn "There' s A Light Upon the Mountains" (or in Sara's version, "To the Dawn"):

There's a light upon the mountains 

and the day is at the spring,

When our eyes shall see the beauty

and the glory of the King;

Weary was our heart with waiting, and

the night-watch seemed so long, 

But His triumph-day is breaking, and 

we hail with a song. 

IJM Art Music Justice Tour - Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA - April 2016