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I Will Heal Him

Written by Clareann Berchtold

Isaiah 57

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;

I will lead him and restore

comfort to him and to his mourners. rpt

1. Creating the praise of the lips;

Peace, peace to him who is far

and to him who is near, says the Lord,

and I will heal him. rpt

 says the Lord.

2. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain,

I was angry and struck him; I hide my face,

he went on turning away in the way of his heart,

in the way of his heart.

  Half A Man

Written by Clareann Berchtold

 Phil..”Clareann, I have the first line of this song, can you finish it?  “Ahh, I’m not a man, but I’ll try…After all, if my songs are from the Holy Spirit, He knows what to write.”

1.  When I feel like half a man

and I know I need a hand;

You come to me and gently help me stand.

When I feel I can’t go on

I need someone who is strong, and You are there,

As I bow my knee in prayer.  God is there.

And it is all I need.

 As long as You are here I know that

I will stand

To fight the fight of faith until I rise again.

With Jesus I am stronger,

And I know I am no longer,

Half a man.

2.  When I feel no longer whole,

Just a lost and lonely soul, I drift along,

Like a bird without a song.

And I struggle in my heart

To be someone I am not then call in prayer.

And You take away my fear.  God is here.

3.  When I see You on the cross,

All alone and feeling lost as just a man,

I know You understand.

‘Cause I feel forsaken too,

I get down and feeling blue and full of fear.

Then You dry my every tear.  You are here.

And I’d rather die than live a life as half a man.

I know You understand,

You were God and yet a man.

And You and I can be united as one man.

Holding hand and hand together, we will stand!

Holding hand and hand forever,  I’M A MAN!

God Is On His Throne

Written by Clareann Berchtold

   1. The sun was up  when I went in the tunnel

Dark as night. Should I assume the sun is gone

Just because there is no light?

 And likewise, when the trials come,

And fearfully I moan,

I say, "The Truth" is still the same,

That God is "on His Throne!"**

Chorus:  

 God is on His Throne, not matter

 what I feel or what I see!

    God is on His Throne, His Word is true

And I believe!

I believe,  (I believe)  I believe!  (I believe)  

God is on His Throne,

 and I don't walk this world alone.

I believe, (I believe)  I believe!  (I believe)

God is on His Throne, and He will come

and take us home!

2. A cloud appeared and drove

away the sunny sky above,

And I no longer felt the warmth

and the sunshine of His love.

But I believe "He'll guide our feet

into the way of peace",

For He's the Sunshine of my soul,

no matter what I see!

3. "Not one of (His) good promises

has failed to come to pass."*

But everything in this old world

will wither like the grass.

So I will stand upon the Word

to meet my every need,

And Jesus gives "The Crown of Life"

 to all who will believe.

The Carpenter

Written by Clareann Berchtold

He was just a little boy in a little family

 Near the sea in a little town in Galilee

When He took the hammer and the nails

into His hands

And I wonder when He understood His destiny?

Oh, the Bible says He took my debt

And nailed it to His cross

A debt of sin that I could never pay

And then the men who hated Him

nailed Him to that tree

And He became the Lamb of God for me

 

 CHORUS

 Oh the blood of God that trickled down

On every debt of man

 Washed away my sins and set me free

 The Carpenter who held the nails

Became the nail scarred King

 Worthy is the Lamb of Calvary Rpt.

See END

When the Carpenter put away

all of His tools of trade

By the Jordan when He went in His water grave

He would have to take His hammer

in His hands again

And nail my debt of sin that I could never pay

END: Worthy is the Carpenter

Worthy is the nail scarred King

Worthy is the Lamb who set me free!

Glory, Glory Allelu

Written by Lisa Berchtold

1 Corinthians 15:42

So many questions, so many thoughts

This natural way is not for us

Your Word Lord, is the light, the rock the way,

Jesus your Blood  I ask  for each day

Glory, Glory Glory Allelu

Power, Power, Power will get me through

Thanks be to God who gives

Victory through Jesus Christ

O death where is your sting,

O death where is your victory?

--

It is sown a perishable body,

it is raised an imperishable body

It is sown in dishonor it is raised in Glory.  

In Glory  In Glory

--

Jesus You are the life giving spirit.

Uhh, You saved my life when you shed Your Blood

I understand this natural way

But thank you Lord, You will take me away

--

It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body

It is sown in weakness it is raised, in Power.

In power In power.

Lord, we give you praise from the naturals bodies…

come for us Lord…

Praise the Lord, forever and forever…

   I Fly

Written by Clareann Berchtold  Psalm 57

1.   Until destruction passes by,
I will cry to God Most High,

 To God who accomplishes all things

   for me. (for me)

O God, be gracious to me,

 For my soul takes refuge in Thee

And in the shadow of Thy wings,

 I fly, I fly, I fly, until destruction passes by,

I fly…

In the shadow of Thy wings.

2.   He'll send from heaven and save me;

 He reproaches him who tramples on me.

God will send His lovingkindness and truth. (and truth)

3.   He's coming for His own,

 To take His children home.

Come in the Clouds, Lord Jesus, for me (for me)

That’s For Me

Written by Clareann Berchtold

From Pres. Lincoln’s Journal

It's not for me  to be seeking my bliss

And building up my hopes in a region like this.

(It's not for me.... It's not for me)

I look for a City which hands have not piled;

I pant for a Country by sin undefiled.

(That's for me...That's for me.)

1. Oh, what afflictions pierced my heart!

I bless the hand that caused the smart;

It taught my tears a while to flow,

 but saved me from eternal woe.

Our hearts are fastened to this world

 by strong and endless ties;

But every sorrow cuts a string,

 and urges us to rise.

2.  My crimes, though great, do not surpass

 the power... of Thy grace (for me;)

OH!  Wash my soul from every sin,

 and make my guilty conscience clean.

Against me earth and hell combine,

 but on my side is power divine

Jesus intercedes for me, Jesus, He is mine.

 The Lord is Good

By Clareann Berchtold

Jeremiah 33:11    

For the Lord is good.

Jeremiah 33:11     

Give thanks to the Lord of Hosts

This is how we all get to heaven

Praising the name of Jesus Christ.

For the Lord is good.

(For the Lord is good)

For the Lord is good

(For the Lord is good)

 He’s good, God is good

In sun or rain or joy or pain

Will you praise Him?

(I'm gonna praise Him)

Will you thank Him?

(I'm gonna thank Him)

Cause, He’s good, God is good

In good or bad or happy or sad

Say the Lord is good

(I say the Lord is good)

Say the Lord is good

(I say the Lord is good)

FEATURED SONG FOR JANUARY  “PEACE IN THE STORM”

BY Clareann  Berchtold

John 13:31 “When therefore (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said,

 "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

 While sitting in our van this song came on as I was crying over a long trial that seemed to never end. Immediately I was enveloped with trust  and peace that this trial will bring Glory to God, just as Jesus said when about to be crucified.

 Listen and be blessed with faith and assurance that God can do the Impossible. In His Time. Clareann

FEATURED SONG FOR FEBRUARY  “THE BOOKERY”

"Thought I saw you in the bookery…"   BY Clareann  Berchtold

   She was my youngest daughter so we had a special bond. Suddenly she was gone. Not just out of my home, but out of my Country. Even 6,000 miles across the sea.  Alone.

  Sarah called me her best friend and one of our favorite places was The Bookery. It's a quaint little shop in our hometown in Placerville, California where we found precious stories from the past.

   After several years and a million prayers, I relaxed on the worries of a young woman alone in an ex-communist country. Brasov, Romania has been Sarah's home for 17 years.  We’ve been there 15 times, and been blessed to visit Sarah and reach out to the needy.  Life goes on and Jesus heals.

   So when re-visiting The Bookery and enjoying the memories, suddenly my heart stopped. I thought I saw her.  And the tears could not be constrained.  In anticipating another trip there, I wrote this song to help me remember, "But I know He's done the best for you and me, and He'll do more abundantly, if we believe."

   FEATURED SONG FOR MARCH  “MARY OF BETHANY”            Matt. 26:4                            By Lisa Berchtold

 Lisa, daughter number 6, likes to brag that she was my only “planned” child.   While that is true, all my daughters know that despite the unplanned pregnancies, they were all equally loved and cherished.  Lisa, however is the cheeriest and the one chosen by God to be the most gifted in music in our fellowship here.  And she has chosen to sing for the King.

   It was a surgeon in California that confirmed what we all knew of Lisa’s talent. She sang a song from a Broadway play whereby he exclaimed, “I travel all the way to New York for this play, but you sang that better than the star.” Recently she had a group of college students in an uproar of applause crying, “More! More!” as they were astounded at the talent in her perfect a cappella version of a popular song.  Lisa sings to share her gift, and not for accolades. And when you witness this, it’s thrilling.

   Listening to Lisa here in her own composition is like being in the streets of Jerusalem and experiencing Mary of Bethany’s time with Jesus. She did it all in her beautifully written song, sung to perfection and played with equal inspiration.  May you too be blessed with Lisa Berchtold, a woman who has chosen, like Mary of Bethany to carry on with ministering to Jesus, the Risen Savior.                                       

FEATURED SONG FOR MAY  “THEY OPPOSE ME”

Matt. 25:31-34  "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory... the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

   ""Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee...
  For Thou hast been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy."  Psalm 63

     King David said, "They oppose me because I follow what is good." Ps. 38:20  His beloved King Saul hunted him down because he was jealous of his victories. The Master warned of evil covetousness, linking it with  murder and sexual immorality. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness." Mk 7  The jealous hearted Christian who points the finger at abortionists and gays would be appalled to know that Jesus put them in the same category.  Paul also warned, "that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words..."   Eph. 5    Lord knows there's no shortage of EMPTY WORDS among the Christians these days. 

     Pilate knew, "because of envy (the Jews) delivered him up."  Matt. 27 And who on earth ever did more good than Jesus?  This is the cost of following IN HIS STEPS. Be it jealousy or any evil motive, "You will be hated by all nations on account of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."  Mk 13  Here Jesus seeks to open our eyes to the enemy and knows we are one with the GREAT MEN OF GOD who endured also.

   That's what "They Oppose Me" is all about too. It's really a song of HOPE and JOY..."At the road's end there's a Wedding Feast" (Matt. 25) when the Bride and Bridegroom enter into Eternal Bliss.

    Each Sunday Kim plays one of our songs, and "They Oppose Me" was yesterday's pick. God gave me a beautiful tune here along with Lisa’s masterful musical background. It's a top family favorite and I hope you too will find the same joy and strength as we do from hearing the Word of God.                                              

 Age 26- Mom of 5 Girls 1973

    

FEATURED SONG FOR JULY “ HE CARRIES ME”

 Romans 10:15 "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Glad Tidings of good things." 

     It was recording day in our home studio. "Lisa, you take the first and third lines, then we'll sing the fourth together."  Mom, this is a new song!  Do you know how crazy that is? We spend minutes to prepare while some people spend months!"  "Yeah, I know. Why do you think we're the One Take Wonders?"  

   I'm not looking to please the world with some high-priced perfectly produced CD that has no heart.  I sing for the King  and to build up His church, and one day we believe He’ll call us to full time ministry. A few years ago we visited a Dove Award producer in Nashville. He actually offered to travel to record us (for the Big Time?) at our Virginia home but we sensed not yet. We thought God’s timing was in 1998 with our first CD, Angel’s Smile, but He had better plans. “I know the plans I have for you.” Jer. 29:11

   Our musical success is not measured by the crowd. How can you put a price on lifting a soul to God?  A few weeks ago, a nurse at Katie's work said, "My dad and sister always fight over the Angel’s Smile CD you gave me last year.  But I want it! "  Wow, still a hit after 21 years! Heavenly music never goes out of date. Promptly Katie gave her two more and said, "Mom, she was beaming throughout the day, thanking me constantly."  What joy it is to freely give as He freely gave us Eternal Life! We don't need money or fame; the blessings of singing for Jesus far supersede what the world could ever offer. 

 

   HE CARRIES ME is really a song of appreciation for how my Bridegroom has taken care of me every single day for 46 years of knowing Him personally.  I love the first line, "HE CARRIES ME WHEN I AM TIRED,  COOLS ME DOWN WHEN I AM FIRED."  Lisa’s smooth and perfect vocals send  me to the Heavens!   Hopefully as you hear this, you too will be inspired to know and love the Bright Morning Star, and sell all to find the Pearl of Great Price, as I have done. "For the Scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." Romans 10:11

“SEE FEATURED SONG FOR AUGUST” ABOVE (WITH WEDDING PHOTO)

 

FEATURED SONG FOR JUNE “ MY FATHER IS A KING”

Psalm 74:12   " God is my King from of old, who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth."

    In 1975 I wrote this song and sang it with my girls at the famous Park Street Church, in Boston, my Home Town. We shared in their Ministry to  FOCUS:"Friendship For Overseas College and University Students.” 43 years later we visited this church still singing, "The Gospel of the Kingdom...to all the nations." 

   The first of my original songs were directed to inspire others and they remain family favorites. Later, I wrote to worship God and strengthen my faith through memorization of Scripture. I stopped counting after about 2,000 compositions.  Over the years I noted that American Christianity seemed to have lost interest in the beautiful old hymns and great tunes with a message.  Now they swayed to chants and watered-down versions of the Gospel. 

   Great music doesn't age like Grandma. It doesn't get old and dated. That's because its eternal. Recently I was in a store when an oldie but goodie came on. A woman was singing along as I was, so I quipped, "Nothing like the old songs, huh?"  She replied, "Well, they are a little silly." Silly?  This was a huge hit with deep and relatable feelings.

    It's people like her who are responsible for "The Day The Music Died."  Now it's sex and rap and stupid lyrics sung by whomever or whatever. I can't believe some of the filthy songs they blast over the airways while shopping with my little girl.  Ezekiel 21:27 explains American culture, "They exalt that which is low and abase that which is high. A ruin a ruin!  A ruin I shall make it."

   After four decades, Lisa and I finally recorded, "My Father is a King" to draw men to Himself as He drew me. Kim played it at Church and we all agreed, that's the song for June.  May Jesus bless you with this heavenly message sent from the Eternal Father to say that He loves you, and wants you too to be a King's child.

      FEATURED SONG FOR AUGUST  
“IN HIS PEACE”

  "For He Himself is our Peace." Ephesians 2:14

    Forty eight years ago, alone in my room, I got down on my knees and gave my life to Jesus. That night at age 25 with 5 daughters ages 2 to 8, He became my peace.

   Through many trials, including rejection by my Catholic family, an unfaithful husband, and numerous physical afflictions from my lone fight for survival, He remained my peace.  Upon announcing the unexpected pregnancy of my seventh daughter, the father of my children said he'd had enough and within a few years he walked out. But Jesus was there, "hiding me in the shadow of His wings," keeping me in His peace until His man, Phil, came into my life.

   That's when the critical battle for my family's survival took the turn to victory. Peace became more than a lifeboat in a raging sea; we were on land, alive and well, and home became a place of peace and harmony like I'd never known. When Phil sold his skis to buy pots and pans and pledged his life to me on Valentine’s Day 1982, I’m reminded every day, Jesus Loves Me.

   For 38 years Phil has ministered the love of Jesus to this wounded soldier and his 7, then 8 adopted daughters, bringing us all into healing and deep gratitude for each other's loyal love. We never imagined that 5 of our daughters would choose to be single and celibate, remaining in Phil's home; he raised the bar that high. Truly it’s a testimony to the purity of one Christian man.

   But no man can fill the void that God created for Himself to occupy. No man can drive out the demons of fear and wipe away the sin of our fallen flesh but the shed Blood of the Savior of the world.  No one can love like Jesus. 

   This song was composed to keep me in the bubble of His peace, "by diligent prayer" and God's grace and mercy.  May this prayer/song lead you there too, and keep your feet in the Peace of Jesus forever.

 FEATURED SONG FOR SEPTEMBER “IT IS MY DUTY”

"It is my duty to distrust in my own ability that I might rely on Him who is stronger than I."   Pilgrim’s Progress

    

    There’s a testimony on the Sharon High MA Class Reunion site called, "The Brass Ring."  It's a humble story of Phil Berchtold, my beautiful gift from God, and it fits this quote from Pilgrim's Progress perfectly.  All my songs are composed to help me as a follower of Jesus, and this is a good reminder of what matters…not to trust myself.  

We reveal our lives to the world because the Gospel of Jesus is not about man’s achievements. It's about giving glory to Jesus who, after 2,000 years, is still the central figure of the human race.  "ONE SOLITARY LIFE” expresses it well…

 "He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home.  He didn't go to college... He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth.   When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave...  

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race....all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned--put together--have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life."

   Phil's story wasn't sent to his classmates to say "Look what I've done in the last 50 years". Nor do we post this site for that reason. It is our duty to glorify God our Father for sending His Son to save us from hell and give us everlasting life. And it is our duty to follow His Word... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6  

     

FEATURED SONG FOR OCTOBER   “THE WOODSMAN”

“Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate.  Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” Prov. 31:8-9

   When Roe Vs Wade  was passed in 1973 I was like, WHAT?  I was 25 years old, with 5 children, 8 years old and under. Three of them were in my womb as a teenager. Never did I think that killing my unborn child was a means to solve my problems.  So in 1973 I gave my life to Jesus as I could not believe that my Country would legislate the termination of an unborn child.  I decided then to put my hope and trust in the next life.

   That year I wrote the song “Voice of the Unborn” to do my part to save the child, as well as the mother, who often was deceived into thinking  her child was not human.  Due to modern technology, there’s no doubt now a fetus is a baby, and the guilt so many suffer for their abortion is horrible. I have heard their testimonies, and I have witnessed their joy over Jesus who has forgiven and restored them.

   Sadly after 48 years we are still divided on the abortion issue. Now, even upon seeing the innocent child born alive, shedding their blood remains legal.  Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

 I have opened my mouth for the dumb for 48 years to sing and speak of the plight of the unwanted and unborn, and God has blessed us beyond belief.  One need only browse through this site and see what great things Jesus has done to deliver me and mine from a teenage marriage, to divorce to re-marriage to the man of my dreams. And He will do the same for anyone who gives Him their life and seeks to “defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”

 “I always loved the Woodsman,” the first line of this song, was inspired by Little Red Riding-hood. Clare, born unwanted at 1 lb. 10 oz., opens the song. This timeless story reminded me of all those heroes, or Woodsmen, who dare to enter the den of the deceiving wolves in the abortion industry trying to rescue the innocent child. May God bless them all.

FEATURED SONG FOR OCTOBER   “THAT’S FOR ME”

“I look for a city whose hands have not piled. I pant for a country by sin undefiled….Jesus intercedes for me.”  From  Lincoln’s Devotional - 1852

       When I read Lincoln’s Devotional, a book the 16th President of the United States treasured and carried everywhere, I was so moved by our mutual beliefs that I wrote this song.

      Some quotes like, “Every sorrow cuts a string and urges us to rise”  really give  strength when tempted to grumble about trials. Others remind me, as we approach another Presidential election in 2020, of his love for the Bible, “Take all this book upon reason that you can, and the balance on faith and you will live and die a better man.”  

     No doubt Abe’s Fear of God rendered him the most revered of all US Presidents. Lincoln had some 15,000 books written about him, reportedly more books penned about any other person in world history, with the exception of Jesus Christ. Parents will do well to remember that to be a success in life does not require great formal education, as Abe had little of that.

    As our Country fades into secularism, I wanted to recall in song one of the great Christian men who led my beloved America, and hope and pray there will be more heroes like him. It was Abe’s love for his fellow man that charged him to fearlessly fight to free the slaves, not money or political ambition. This humble soul who walked the talk, left his mark on the world for all men to remember the words of Jesus, "Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." Luke 14:11  THAT’S FOR ME.

 “Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”

Abraham Lincoln - Farewell Address - February 11, 1861