Did you know that the amazing Nichole Nordeman has a new CD? FlyBy/Propeller Promotions very kindly sent me her newest, Every Mile Mattered, to review and even better, one to give away to a reader!
I’ve noticed that artists–whether they’re songwriters and musicians, or painters or poets–are able to put our deepest longings and thoughts into forms that we can see and hear. I’ve always thought that Nichole Nordeman is especially gifted at accomplishing this through her words and compositions. And Every Mile Mattered doesn’t disappoint; Again, Nordeman has spun songs into being that are full of words and feelings that certainly we’ve all felt, or that existed just beyond our ability to think or touch.
Have you ever looked back on your life and thought, “ugh! I wish I hadn’t made that choice!” or, “what was I thinking??” Then you’ll be especially blessed by the title track, Every Mile Mattered. You’ll be touched by Nichole’s and (I think this must be her daughter) Pepper’s redux of Slow Down, from her previous CD The Unmaking (which I highly, highly recommend). Need an encouragement to still and rebuke those unkind thoughts that tell us we can’t do it? Listen to Sound of Surviving. And whether you grew up in Tornado Alley or not, you’ll clearly picture the storms and the victory over them in Anywhere We Are.
And then there’s Dear Me, the ode to younger Nichole (and, if I might be so bold to guess, the younger all of us) from a wiser and older perspective. And the melodious and beautiful You’re Here, which reminds us that we are NEVER alone; that He is always here with us.
Here are some reasons why you’re going to love this CD:
These words from the title track:
Every road and every bend
Every bruise and bitter end
All you squandered, all you spent
It mattered, it mattered
Or what about these, from You’re Here?
You were at the altar, preacher’s hand upon my head
You were in the water, when I came up clean intead
You’re still in my story, when my tears fall upon the dirt
You’re there in the morning, wrapping grace around what hurts
Some of the sweetest words to my heart were these, from Dear Me:
Dear Me…
You did not learn this in a day or two or three
So ask a lot of questions
But Jesus loves us, this I know
And there are no exceptions
I guess I could say that really, I could write some of Nichole’s beautiful words from every single song on this album, and you would love them. But these are just a sweet taste for you of what you’ll hear in Every Mile Mattered.
Finally…
Just like Nichole’s last CD, The Unmaking was for me, I believe that her newest CD is destined to become a new favorite. I need its reminders! (Even if I do always want to ugly-cry when I listen to Slow Down. I mean ugly-sob! How did my boy get so big so fast?)
I need to remember that in the tapestry of my life, when all I can see are the knots and clumps of color on the back side, that God is making something beautiful out of every stitch on the front side. That He’s using every step I take, every decision, every word, every thought and action, to create my life that has meaning in His eyes.
And if I can do this while listening to one of my favorite artists and to beautiful music? Perfect.
And now…the giveaway!
One reader will be blessed to win a CD copy of Every Mile Mattered. Just click on the pink Enter Here! below and you’ll be able to enter to win via the Giveaway Tools entry form. Best wishes to you all!
Enter here!
Also, you can visit Nichole on social media:
Official website – http://nicholenordeman.com
Buy links – ITunes http://capcmg.me/emm?IQid=b
Spotify http://capcmg.me/emm.sp
Amazon http://capcmg.me/emm.am)
In addition, Nichole Nordeman’s book Slow Down will be available for purchase in August! You may pre-order here:
http://slowdown-book.com
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
finchnwren 