Yours To Keep
My 1st official co-write with Uncle Phil. I was at a church service where we were asked to extend our arms toward the altar symbolically transferring all our cares to the Lord. It was a meaningful time of surrender. This was on my mind when Uncle Phil and I got together to co-write a song back in 2014. He with his guitar and me with my notepad, we sat in his living room and “Yours To Keep” was born. I’ve been an admirer of Phil Keaggy since I first learned of his music in high school, and it was an honor to finally write something together. I love how you can hear his musical influence in the song, and the emphasis on trusting God’s Word to do its work in our lives.
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All your problems, send to me
The loneliness, the loss, the misery
The highs, the lows, and all the in-between
I’m yours, yours to keep
All your burdens, give them up
Haven’t you held them long enough
I know it’s been so hard, all this crazy stuff
But, I’m yours, take my love
CHORUS:
Take my love
Take my healing
Trust my Word
And not your feelings
Let me wrap my love around your scars
I’m yours, please take my heart
All your reasons not to live
the shame, regret, and all the things you missed
Take hope, have heart, and let me tell you this
I’m yours, take my love …CHORUS
It Hurts to Say Goodbye To You (Psalm 116:15)
Song for those who mourn, but not as those without hope.1 Thessalonians 4:13 – This was the first song I wrote after my father graduated to his heavenly home. That night after my sister called from California to break the news that he had taken his life, I kept repeating the verse from Psalm 116:15. Somehow it comforted me. Then, in planning for his memorial service, there were certain logistics…who would read scripture, what music would we sing, what about candles and flowers, and what pictures would we include in the celebration of life slideshow. And we knew Dad would want the gospel shared. I put all those elements together and actually sang it at the service in the church I grew up in. I truly hope this song will be a comfort to those who have lost loved ones.
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Who will light the candles
Speak the words of hope
Who will read the scriptures
Remind me what I know to be true
‘Cause it hurts to say goodbye to you
Who will bring the flowers
Fragrant lily white
Who will share the memories
Of a great, imperfect life now made new
‘Cause it hurts to say goodbye to you
CHORUS:
Precious, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints
If your leaving us somehow brings joy to the Lord than I ask myself
How can I complain (Our love remains)
Who will play the music
Sing “How Great Thou Art”
Who will share the gospel
For Christ can heal our hearts, pull us through
‘Cause it hurts to say goodbye
Heaven waits for us – Save a place for us
And we’ll see that great reunion by and by
So farewell for now – All is well somehow
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
CHORUS
Who will light the candles
Speak the words of hope
Who will read the scriptures
Remind what I know
Restoration Song
1 John 4:19
Written and performed together at our wedding one joyous December day. – I wrote this song as a celebration of my second marriage after a painful divorce. My fiancé and I sat side by side on my piano bench. He even helped hash out some of the lyrics. It was especially sweet and redemptive to be able to sing it together on our special day. Many have experienced broken relationships. It is always beautiful to see God bring healing and restoration out of significant loss. He is the God of second chances and His Love can do anything. Surprisingly, out of all the songs on the album, this one makes me worship more than any other.
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This is our Restoration Song
We sing it when we’re weak and when we’re strong
A melody of life, and love, and pain
An offering to God, our sweet refrain
CHORUS:
We will love Him
The One who first loved us
We will love Him
The One who makes Himself enough
And our love will be a living testimony
Of God’s sacred covenant with us
This is our Restoration Song
The hope our hearts have longed for all along
God’s perfect love has cast out fear and shame
Turning our grief to joy again …CHORUS
This is our Restoration Song
The kind you write when healing comes along
They say good things they come to those who wait
Well, now is our time
Now is our time
Now is our time to celebrate …CHORUS
God’s holy ordinance
This love is heaven sent
God’s sacred covenant with us
Comin’ Down
Some friends allowed me to stay at their cabin in the woods for a personal writer’s retreat. How tenderly the Lord met me there. I was still raw in my grief journey and worried I would spend the whole weekend crying with nothing to show. However, upon arriving I intentionally consecrated the time to the Lord for whatever He would have, and He graciously allowed healthy doses of both crying and writing, sometimes at the same time. There was nothing I could do to change what had happened. No magic wand or scripture to make it go away. The Lord helped me realize all I could do was rest on God’s pure grace, and allow Him to carry me through these unchartered waters. Inspired by the beautiful scenery, the song’s Appalachian feel suits the mood perfectly. It felt especially redemptive to return to that same property later to do a photo shoot for the album.
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I wanted to stay here on the mountain
I wanted to breathe and take it in
To feel the rushing of the fountain
And let it soak into my skin
But, I’m comin’ down
Yes, I’m comin’ down
Again
I slip into this hallowed valley
The shadow waits beneath the hills
Been tryin’ to bend in fresh surrender
‘Cause somehow this might be Your will
So, I’m comin’ down
Lord, I’m comin’ down
Yes, I’m comin’ down, down, down
Down – like a tender reed
Down – to my deepest need
Down – to a sacred space
Down, strip it down – to God’s pure grace
Destination Home
Miss you, Dad. You always loved me well. So thankful we will see you again. – The day after I got the call from my sister about Dad, I kept saying, “You didn’t have to do that, Dad. You didn’t have to do that.” A friend stopped by, one whose oldest son had also taken his life, and she just sat with me. Then, I flew to California to be with Mom, and while Dad had left hand-written lyrics to Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” as a loving gesture toward her, it was a hard moment when it hit me that he had not left a note for my sister or myself. Still, I knew he loved us fiercely and took comfort in the fact that we would see him again one day in every believer’s final destination, our Heavenly Home. This is definitely one of the more melancholy tracks on the album, but it captures a moment in time. Few life events have impacted me more than this.
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You didn’t have to do that
To go and take and your life
I shouldn’t have ever had to take
That phone call in the night
I know that things got scary
It’s hard to lose control
But, that’s the time to let go and take hold
CHORUS:
We’re just passing through
In a foreign land
And our hearts were made for somewhere down the road
So stand fast and strong
And keep travelin’ on
‘Til we’re on our way to Destination Home
You left a note for mother
But, there was none for me
If I didn’t know how much you cared
Guess I’d still be angry
The power of a moment
You just can’t take it back
God, have mercy for the things we lack …CHORUS
Soon, we’re on our way to Destination Home
Abandonment Wound
When it was still pretty raw. Lord, redeem. – I was preparing for ministry at a leadership conference. Their theme verse was from Psalm 16. Reading the whole passage, verse ten caught me off guard…“You will not abandon me to the grave.” As I read it, I broke down in tears. It was the first time I realized I had an abandonment wound. And God was graciously allowing me yet another opportunity to write through my pain with this song. When we came to record it in the studio, it felt a little unfinished to me because it didn’t have a lyrical bridge. But, I had written several scriptures in my journal processing all of this, and it seemed the best possible remedy for both the wound and the missing lyrical content. It was powerful as I began to speak the scriptures aloud at the mic. Emotions came over me and we decided to keep that take as the final recording. Most people have suffered some sort of abandonment or rejection at one time or another. I pray this song will be healing for all who need Jesus to fill that space.
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What do I do with the abandonment wound
That you left me with
When you left me – this
Isn’t how it’s supposed to be
I needed you close to me
But, you chose to leave
Why am I so darn affected by this
I am stuck in the cold, darkened center of it
Left without needed protection
Somehow this feels like rejection
Oooo, Lord, come to me – Oooo, come, Lord, to me
Where do I go when the brokenness shows
I’ll get over it when I’m over it
Time is no healer of wounds
Like most people assume it is
It’s God’s faithfulness
Lord, see the cavernous hole in my heart
And remember Your promise
To be who You are
Tell me I won’t be forgotten
Bind up this wound I’ve been caught in
Oooo, come, Lord, to me – Oooo, come, Lord, to me
Isaiah 54:10
Send Your unfailing love….
Exodus 15:13
Psalm 13:5-6
Psalm 147:11
Psalm 16: 10a-11a
Psalm 119:76-77
False Anchor
Hebrews 6:19, Exodus 20:3 – I attended a spiritual retreat whose theme verse was Hebrews 6:19. Naturally, we talked about the things and even sometimes the people we look to for security in life, when Jesus is our One true everlasting anchor for the soul, firm and secure. During that time I had some fear around a particular relationship, and that weekend the Lord set me free. I left rejoicing and confident in my next steps. And knew I would one day write a song about it.
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It can’t be my father, it can’t be my mother
It can’t be my husband or my son
It can’t be my money or earthly comforts
Nor any vain accomplishment I’ve done
Oh, oh, oh, false anchor
Oh, oh, oh, false anchor
Oh, oh, oh, you’re heavy when you sink
It can’t be my status or reputation
It can’t be what someone thinks of me
It’s not about my car, it can only go so far
And it’s not the stuff they keep promoting
Oh, oh, oh, false anchor
Oh, oh, oh, false anchor
Oh, oh, oh, why don’t you set me free
CHORUS
I have this Hope as an anchor for my soul
It’s the truth, my very home
The Christ who lives within me
I have this Hope that holds steady in my heart
For the veil was torn apart
The Christ who lives within me / Now Christ He lives within me
It can’t be my vision or expectations
Bound to leave me disappointed
It never was my youth or my ever fading beauty
No, the inner man is what’s anointed
Oh, oh, oh, false anchor
Oh, oh, oh, false anchor
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh…
When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds, my anchor holds, He’s got me sold, the anchor holds
CHORUS
Maybe you’re relating with what I’m saying
Maybe there’s a chance I’m getting through
He Can, He Does
Isaiah 66:2b, Psalm 51:17, Romans 3:23-26, Romans 10:9 – As keynote speaker at a women’s conference in New Jersey, at one point I led the women to come to the altar. They had written down anonymous confessions to the Lord – surrendering sins, burdens, false anchors, and anything they were clinging to in this world above Christ. As they came forward they could exchange them for a small red gem symbolizing the blood of Christ and His All Sufficiency for whatever their situation. The women’s director later handed me a box full of those precious notes. That night, alone in my hotel room, I wept and prayed over each one. I was deeply moved by their contrition and humility, how much they longed to trust in the Lord and believe on His word for deliverance. That became the inspiration for the song.
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I was deeply moved by your contrition
The tenderness of heart that you displayed
When you came and placed your burden on the altar
Choosing to relent though still afraid
I see you clinging to the hope of sweet deliverance
Knowing there’s no surer place to stand
Leaning on the Christ, the All-Sufficient
Believing though you can’t, He says He can
CHORUS:
He can, He does
He lives and He still loves
Did you not see Him on the cross
He rose up from the grave
Take His blood, the Great Exchange/He is strong enough to save
He can, He still does
Take the blood
Haunted by the shadows left behind you
So ashamed of the unspeakable you’ve done
The fellow saints are here now to remind you
That the battle for your life’s already won …CHORUS
Take the Blood – see it pouring from His side
Take the Blood – He laid down His very life
Believe on the Name of Jesus Christ …CHORUS
There’s a wonder working power in the Blood
This is Love
Take the Blood
Fear
1 John 4:18, 2 Timothy 1:7 – So much of the Christian walk is a battle of faith over fear. Do we surrender to our own fears, some based in truth, but most based in the lies of the enemy, or will we choose faith and belief and walk one step at a time into the exciting adventure that is following Christ. A friend once shared a tool that helps when faced with a difficult decision. Ask yourself how you feel about it when you’re the most loved by the Father and safely immersed in His Word, then make the decision. Because perfect love casts out fear. The music has a haunting tension about, a good match for the song’s theme.
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She’s the sister of dread
That dark voice in my head
When she sounds her alarm, I come running
She sits ready to pounce
On the smallest trace of doubt
In my weakness, I’m more than willing
She’s so crafty and quick
I could make myself sick
I’m the victim who does her bidding
She steals way too much time
It’s the fruit of her crime
And she’s got no intention of quitting
FEAR…
We first met when I was young
Life had barely begun
And she set out to keep me from danger
Like be careful that’s hot
Look both ways before you cross
And remember, we don’t talk to strangers
You see, some fear is good
She looks out for my good
Who in their right mind would ever change her?
It’s the sinister kind
That takes hold of my life
Placing bets on my doom like a wager
FEAR….
With remarkable skill
She grabs hold of my will
It’s a fight just to overrun it
Start rehearsing the truth
Her tight grip starts to loosen
This time I might just overcome
See I’m onto you now
I have figured you out
What you’re selling here, I don’t want it
So get out of my life
You don’t have any right
No, mam, this time you’ve overdone it
You’ve overdone it
FEAR……
Perfect Love, flush it out
Search me now
Only your Good Love can turn this around
Take My Little, Make It Much
Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 12:41-44 – There have been many times in life and in ministry that I’ve been keenly aware of my inadequacies and shortcomings. Specifically, in approaching this record, it all just felt far too big of an assignment. And yet God delights in using us, even in all our humanness, to do His kingdom work. He goes way beyond what we ask or imagine when we step out of our comfort zone into whatever He’s calling us to. When things look impossible to us, nothing is impossible with God.
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Take my little
Make it much
Take my nothing
Won’t you meet me here with everything You are
It’s no secret that I’m not enough
Take my little
And make it much
There were five thousand people
Gettin’ hungry that day
They’d been listenin’ to Jesus
He said, “Don’t send them away.”
They said, “We’ve only got this bread
And a couple of fish.”
He said, “Bring them here to me, I’ve got this!” …CHORUS
Now, remember the widow
She gave all that she had
She came in with the wealthy
What they gave wasn’t so bad
It’s just that Jesus is honored
When we sacrifice
So if you think it’s not enough
Please stop and take my advice, and sing it…CHORUS
He’s gonna make a way – He’s gonna make a way
That’s why we live by faith – We gotta live by faith
Get down on your knees and pray
Everybody pray
That’s What Babies Bring (Oliver’s Song)
Voices & giggles: beloved daughter, Sarah, and precious grandson – I wrote and sang this song as a surprise gift at my daughter’s baby shower, expecting her first. In a room full of mothers, daughters, even a couple other expectant mothers, there was not a dry eye in the house! The lyrics now hang framed in my grandson’s bedroom. And since then we have welcomed a second grandson. What a sweet blessing in this season of life to be a Grandma. And how extra special it was to include my daughter and Oliver’s voices on the recording.
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At first you weren’t certain that you could do it
Not all are cut out for the job
But, we talked and we laughed and we prayed right through it
Trusting the timing to God
It was finally announced one night late in summer
That you’d be expecting in spring
Brace yourself for the joy of a glorious boy
That’s what babies bring
So you set about nesting like every mother
Bought him his first pair of shoes
And there’s so much for you and his Daddy to discover
How ‘bout those terrible twos
My ‘ole rocking chair quietly waits in the corner
Soon you’ll be the next one to sing
To those little boy eyes that’ll change your whole life
That’s what babies bring
Underneath the olive tree comes a peaceful offering
We are ready to receive this gift of love
Able arms are open wide, angels sing a lullaby
Sweetest little blessing from above
They say motherhood’s one of the highest callings
Raising up warrior kings
You have all that you need just stay down on your knees
And start stitching those wings
In the blink of an eye he’ll be ready to fly
It’s a brand, new world – My sweet, baby girl
That’s what babies bring
So Much More
I had copied this two stanza poem by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman in my journal and found myself sharing it from the platform on the road. For Dad’s celebration of life service we put together a wonderful slideshow of our family, his backpacking and rock climbing adventures, and extensive world travels. We concluded with these hope-filled words scrolling across the screen. I later decided to fashion it into a song, adding a third verse, channel, and chorus. I originally played it at a faster tempo on the piano, but Uncle Phil had the idea to slow it down a bit and feature his playful ukulele. The track brings a welcome lightheartedness amongst the weightier themes on the album.
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We can only see a little of the ocean
Just a few miles distant from the rocky shore
But, out there far beyond our eyes’ horizon
There’s more – so much more
We can only see a little of God’s loving
A few rich treasures from His mighty shore
But, out there far beyond our eyes’ horizon
There’s more – so much more
Can you feel it – Believe it
More Love
Than the heart could half imagine
More Life
Than all our living can behold
Just when you think you’ve seen it all
And done it all
And dreamed it all
There’s more – so much more
We can only read a little of God’s story
Sixty-six books with the gospel four
For every page we just can’t help but wonder
If there’s more – so much more
Some Hearts Don’t Mend
I actually wrote this song several years ago. I was at one of those self-serve gift wrapping stations at a home goods store preparing to head to a young couples’ bridal shower. And the song my first husband and I danced to at our wedding came over the speakers. Sometimes, even when God has already brought a great measure of healing, these unexpected grief leaks can hit you out of nowhere. I have found that to be true as well with losing Dad. The mystery of scripture proclaims, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting…sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning…” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4). The Lord has certainly taught me a lot in these seasons of lament giving me more empathy for others who grieve. As Christians, we can honor even the hard memories, acknowledging their impact on our lives, while at the same time looking forward to the complete healing that awaits us in Heaven.
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What is this
Some leftover grief
Just when I thought it was O.K. to breathe easy
I was fine just now
Doing my thing
‘Til that ‘ole song went and triggered me
And the tears rolled down my face
As if it was only yesterday
But I let them come
And I didn’t run…because
CHORUS:
There’s such a thing
As good grief that honors the weight of the
Memory when it’s done
And we’re never the same
Because all that is lost simply won’t be recovered again
Some hearts don’t mend
So, I’m here
Though I didn’t expect it
I have come to know how this thing works
Yes, there’s healing
And finally acceptance
You no longer live with the crippling hurt
When the tears roll down your face
You say that was then
But this is today
Thank God for today …CHORUS
When we pick up the pieces and glue them together
It takes a different shape
We find in the wreckage a whole new perspective
That’s God’s amazing grace…
There’s such a thing as good grief
Let it leak, let it leak, let it leak …CHORUS
On this side of heaven, some hearts don’t mend
Hold On ‘Til Harvest
John 15:2 – Inspired by Annie Johnson Flint’s “The Pruned Branch”, this is one of my favorites on the album, and a poignant message for those abiding in a season of suffering. In my own challenging times, where hope deferred made my heart sick, I’ve discovered God still works in the waiting. Even as we pray, believe, and long for the harvest to come, He is teaching us dependency and holding out to us His great and precious promises. I’m so grateful to finally be releasing new music, as I believe God is poised to bring forth much kingdom fruit.
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It is the branch that bears the fruit
That feels the knife that must be pruned
Though every budding twig be trimmed
For greater growth it is
To you whose life of joy has left
Whose aspirations lie in dust
Rejoice, though dreams and hopes may fade
It is the hand of God
Freedom from suffering
Leads to a futile life
Hold on ‘til harvest, dear
He’s picking up the vine
And all this takes time
It is the hand of Love Divine
That cuts and breaks, that holds the knife
With tender touch and patient grace
The fruit takes shape at last
Freedom from suffering
Leads to a futile life
Hold on ‘til harvest, dear
He’s picking up the vine
And all this takes time
Hold on ‘til harvest, dear – We’ll have a better year
Soon, the harvest will be here
BONUS TRACK: Hope is Believing
John 20:29 – Film producer, Douglas Maddox, asked if I would consider writing the theme song to his film, Christmas Ranch (2016). He sent me the script ahead of time, a redemptive story about the relationship between a young girl and a horse called Hope. I accepted the challenge not knowing exactly when the inspiration would hit. My now husband and I had been dating for some time and were seeking the Lord about our future, wanting only God’s will for our lives. You can hear a hopeful yearning in the lyric and vocal. I eventually performed the song at the movie premiere in Baltimore, Maryland, and we were married just a couple weeks later. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to include it on a record, and I am so pleased to share it as a bonus track.
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Every fiber of my being needs an answer
Every ounce of blood that’s running through my veins
Every hollow, broken piece
Every hidden part of me
Needs to believe
Every memory that fights to take me under
Every obstacle that stands against my way
Every heart that learns to breathe
In a hard reality
Needs to believe
Hope is believing – Hope is secure
If I dare to put one foot in front of the other
If I speak the words that I cannot yet see
Will you meet me straight ahead
Turn this fear to faith instead
I’m on my knees
So, please believe for me and I’ll believe for you
‘Cause I need this thing to happen, need to know it’s true
Hope is believing – Hope is secure
Blessed are those who have not seen yet
But, somehow still believe
Please believe for me and I’ll believe for you
I need this thing to happen, need to know it’s true
Open up the gift that’s right in front of you
And hope
Hope is believing – Hope is secure
Hope is believing – Hope stands sure
WHAT I KNOW TO BE TRUE – Album Credits & Special Thanks
Co-Produced & Arranged by Phil Keaggy & Cheri Keaggy
Recorded at Kegsworth Studio, Nashville TN; The Masters Lair, Thompson Station TN; BrewBeat Studio, Franklin TN
Mixed & Engineered by Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul Schnelle; “Hope Is Believing” by Bill Deaton
Mastered by Rex Paul Schnelle
Guitar & Bass – Phil Keaggy; except “He Can, He Does” and “Take My Little, Make it Much” – Dave Cleveland, lead guitar solo on the latter by Phil Keaggy
Ukulele – Phil Keaggy
Drums & Percussion – Steve Brewster; add’l drums – Phil Keaggy; tambourine – Rex Paul Schnelle
Piano & Vocals – Cheri Keaggy
Keyboards, Accordion, Hammond B3, Glockenspiel, Dulcimer – Blair Masters
Background Vocals – Kim Keyes, Gene Miller, Cheri Keaggy, Phil Keaggy
Cello – Matt Nelson
Violin & Fiddle – Stuart Duncan
Photography – Emily Mae Bergeron
Album Design – Caleb Faires
Special thanks to my dear mother, Donna Lou, for letting me borrow her beautiful embroidered shawl for the waterfall shoot. Once worn on a date with Dad, it felt sweetly redemptive to wear it here near the cabin in the woods where some of this music was born. Love you, Ma.
All songs written by Cheri Keaggy, copyright 2022 So I Can Tell Publishing BMI
“Yours To Keep” co-written by Cheri Keaggy & Phil Keaggy, copyright 2022 So I Can Tell Publishing BMI / copyright 2022 Sebastian Boy Music ASCAP; “Restoration Song” co-written by Cheri Keaggy & Steven Shaffer; “Hope Is Believing” featured in the movie, Christmas Ranch, DBM Films (BMI, ASCAP) / So I Can Tell Publishing (BMI) 2016; “So Much More” written by Cheri Keaggy, two stanzas taken from Springs in the Valley by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman copyright 1939, 1968 by Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com