These are the stories behind the songs of Kristin Schweain’s debut album “Days of Eden”.
“This is Life”
“I remember getting the idea for this song one day while I was doing some laundry. I was pregnant with my daughter Stella, and I was thinking about how my life was suddenly about to change so drastically. How could I ever accommodate such changes when it seemed so out of control already, like I’ve been on a never ending roller coaster… up and down, winding and twisting. It’s exciting, scary, and often takes my breath away. So many times I wish that everything would just stop, just so I could catch up. I thought about how I usually handle things that come my way. I make mistakes. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I fail. I have tons of questions that never seem to be answered. But, no matter the unpredictability, I always learn something. So when it’s all said and done, this is life, and I’m very glad to be living it.” – Kristin
“Tell”
“This song is sort of complicated for me to describe. It makes perfect sense to me, but when I’m trying to explain it’s origin to people, I often feel that unless they had a bird’s eye view inside of my mind and heart, they may not grasp that it’s message is kind of two-fold. So, here goes my explanation.
To me, life isn’t just a color, its many shades of that color, layer upon layer. (I prefer to think in terms of blue.) Take the sky for example. The farther you look into it or travel into it, the deeper the color is. I think each person’s life sort of builds in this way. I have been very blessed in my own life to know three out of four of my grandparents, who thankfully at this point are still living. Over the years their stories and viewpoints have been of particular interest to me. As they would narrate events and remembrances from different points in their lives, I could momentarily feel as though I was transported through time to encounter life as it was then. Many of their stories are full of joy from their childhood and other landmarks in their life, and others are seasoned with pain, loss, and regret. Regardless, I feel that hearing their stories has helped me to see layer upon layer the progression of person that they were then to the person they are today. It’s kind of like looking at an object in three dimension as opposed to two. I think it’s extremely important that we share our stories with others, with our children and our grandchildren. To preserve the gift of living that God has given us, even when living or embracing our present circumstances, trying as they may be, is sometimes not easy. It’s important that we live our lives and be grateful for each breath. If we don’t share it with others, if we don’t live and tell what we’ve experienced, how can they see God’s glory manifest in us through the good and the bad?” – Kristin
“We Are Known”
“I wonder a lot about what is as the root of this cultural epidemic that leads so many of us to a path of self loathing and self destruction. What causes me to focus so intently on the flaws I see in myself, so much so that it’s all I see? What causes people to feel so alone and inadequate? There must be some type of validation that we are missing, something to let us know that we can in some way make our mark… that we do in fact matter. A few years ago I wrote a song called “Skin Deep,” that for me gave a voice to all that I felt I had inside that was dying to get out and be heard. I wanted to express that we are more than just our bodies, our shells that enclose our “inmost being” (Psalm 139:13-14) which God took such great care in forming. The second verse says, “It’s so hard to change when we are captive to ourselves, always thirsty for something else. But free or enslaved – we are sons, we are daughters, called out by the Father’s name.” That verse and the idea behind it has stuck with me. God knows my name. He knows your name. In this great and terrifying existence where our lives are but a vapor and so fleeting, He knows us. We are minuscule in relation to the universe, the world around us, to the millions of people we will never cross paths with, to the chaos that envelops and overwhelms us. Yet, we are known to the Creator, the Author of Life. To him, we have value beyond measure. We were worth saving, worth dying for. That makes us something special. That means we are known.” – Kristin
“Lemonade”
“I like to consider myself a pretty positive person when it comes to my outlook on life. Well, I have my moments though, like anyone else when I have trouble seeing the bright side, or trusting that things will all work out. I wrote this song a couple of years ago after hearing someone mention the phrase, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” I sat down at my keyboard with that in my mind, and I think I wrote this song in one sitting – which is rare for me. I mention in the bridge, “It’s the better man who takes his stand, and when he’s down he’ll rise again… and make lemonade.” Not to get too theological, and most certainly not to in any way dumb down or make light of what Jesus went through in dying on the cross for us, but I was thinking of Him as I wrote that. He is the ultimate example of a person faced with circumstances that were beyond difficult. Yet, He knew that was His path in life, and He willingly took it on. In fact, He took our place. That alone is reason to celebrate. Lemonade anyone?” – Kristin
“Emma Prayed”
“This song was inspired after someone I care very deeply for described to me a powerful encounter with God they experienced after praying for the first time. It was a moment that provided hope and sparked a new outlook, and it affected me very deeply.” – Kristin
“When I Break”
“I started getting the idea for this song one morning after attending my Bible Study group. It’s a small group for women with young children, and I have been so blessed to have them in my life. In our study we had been talking about finding balance in our lives, and how the idea of the perfect balance can be deceiving because it sometimes causes us to focus too much on outward “togetherness” which can really be masking inward turmoil. The Bible talks about not measuring with false scales, which in this day and age is hard to do. I know I’m so guilty of looking at what other people have and thinking how much better things must be for them. Before I know it, I’m venturing down the typical “If only…” road. Being a new mom has led me into a deeper mode of self examination. All I want is to be the best Mommy for Stella, and to raise her to become a healthy, thriving, happy person who loves God with all her heart, and I know I’ve been guilty of using false scales to weigh the job I’m doing. So many times, I find myself second guessing the way I handle certain situations. “I shouldn’t have done that, I haven’t done enough of this, it’s my fault because… ” I’ve always been this way, incredibly hard on myself, but I think now that I’m a mom I have to be careful not to let it take control. I have to trust that God is leading me as Stella’s Mom, and He has a plan for her, too, and is leading and guiding her. So, I started writing this song, and in the process re-discovered this wonderful verse.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” In this stage in my life, I have had to face more of my weaknesses, but thankfully I am learning to lean more on God’s strength rather than my own. His love betters me, and when I break and I fall apart His grace puts me back together.” – Kristin
“Men of War”
“I have always loved hymns, probably because I grew up singing them. One of my favorites has always been Onward Christian Soldiers. Growing up, there was something about that song that always made me feel better. I think because I pictured a group of people all marching together, supporting one another, united in their stance for Christ. Like anyone, I was comforted to know that I’m not “in this alone.” I guess you could say this is sort of my modern day version of that hymn. I had just been reading about putting on the armor of God in the book of Ephesians. I found it extremely relevant in the time we live in. Our country has been engaged in a war, but there is another war that rages in the hearts of all mankind. We all face battles in our lives. We are all tested and tried, pushed to our limits and beyond. Sometimes we feel as though we face that spiritual and emotional warfare on our own. The enemy of God leads a barrage that is relentless. But, I believe Jesus hears us even in our darkest hour when our battles seem hopeless, and our struggles in vain; when we’re tired and can’t march anymore. He fights with us and for us. We are Men of War, and our reward is not in this life, but in eternity.” – Kristin
“Amazed”
“This song came to me after I had been looking back over some journals I had written right after high school and during my early college years. I had been involved in some youth ministries and was so amazed at the things I witnessed God doing in other peoples’ lives. I saw such a passion and excitement for God. I was confident and secure in His love and purpose. What about now, though? The more I thought about it, I had to ask myself the question, ‘Do I still feel that way or have I since lost that fervor as the responsibilities and realities of life have divided my attention?’ If you’re a Christian, you’re probably well acquainted with Psalm 46:10: ‘Be still and know that the I am God.’ Honestly, being “still” is just not something that comes easily for me. I’m a restless and anxious person by nature. I stew and I worry… and although I say that I’ve given things over to God, the truth is, that letting go and truly trusting Him is something that I struggle with. To lay it all down at His feet freed from worry for one moment, to bask in His glory and love is my prayer through this song. To let Him open my eyes and change my heart… and in that stillness, to stand amazed in the presence of His greatness.” – Kristin
“How do You Know”
“Have you ever been given a gift by someone that was absolutely perfect? You may have thought or said, “How did you know?” That’s the feeling behind this song. I started writing this song when ZOEgirl was on the Free Experience Tour. I had been thinking about when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal. Growing up I had learned that in that moment He was bearing the weight of all sins, past and present – literally the weight of the world. The Bible tells us that God knows our names; the very hairs on our heads are numbered. He knows our every thought, whim, feeling, the deepest desires and longing of our hearts… the good and bad… things pure and sinful. That’s kind of scary, but yet, who else could love humanity so much that He would lay down His life for people that didn’t even believe or accept Him? How incredible to know that we are understood and accepted completely, that our shortcomings and flaws are made perfect in weakness, and that our sins are forgiven. So in the same manner as if someone had just given me the most beautiful and perfect gift that is perfectly made for me, I find myself saying, “Lord, how do you know?” He always knows. He sees what no one else sees, and He loves us despite ourselves.” – Kristin
“Days Of Eden”
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