I trust that by the time you read this you will have already experienced that special feeling you get during the holidays.  There's just something so special about Christmas.  Whether it be spending time with family and friends or enjoying a sweet Christmas play at church, the blessings are unmatched.

So, from all of the Walden family, I'd like to extend a very warm holiday greeting to all of you.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

May is one of my favorite months of the year. I love all of the flowers, leaves, and blooms.  It sort of gives you a brand new start. I feel revitalize just by hearing the pretty birds sing.  God is faithful year after year to give us fresh seasons. 

It's also the time that a lot of SG artist go into the studios to record new music.  So I'm thrilled to be getting new cuts on songs I wrote this Winter. There's a lot that goes into recording a song for a new CD. But it all starts with matching the right song with the right artist.  That's were great labels, like Horizon & Sonlite Records - Crossroads Music, publishers, like Greg Bentley and Chris White, artist, and great producers like Jeff Collins comes in.  What comes out of Crossroads Studios is nothing less that wonderful. 

So whether you're working on your job, in your kitchen, in your yard or even while working around your home, put on a Southern Gospel CD and let the music minister to you while you work. Whether you refer to it as positive or uplifting, if it's scriptural it will brighten your day!  Let an "Ear Painting" draw you a "Portrait of Grace". It will minister to you as you work. You'll be glad you did!

I really don't know exactly how to say this but here goes.  I've never spoken about this in public nor have I given my testimony about this.  My mother forgot me.  I mean this literally.  

It started for me personally when I was around 6 years old and my Mom was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.  I didn't fully understand. I just knew that Mom was in the hospital and kind people from our church were bringing food to our house.  She came home and she was some better, but it wasn't long before she was admitted again only this time she would be completely different when she returned.

I'll never forget the little doll she made for me while hospitalized. When Mom returned this time I noticed that she was very quiet.  She would look at things I had owned for years and ask me where I got it.  She pulled my sweater out of the closet while we were getting ready for church and ask me where  it came from.  I remember telling her that her friend had made it for me. 

She looked at me differently and I felt a strangeness in her eyes.  I couldn't put my finger on it but it troubled me.  I was too young to understand the magnitude of what they had done to her in the institution but I knew Mom was not the same.

Latter in life I found out that they had given her shock treatments. How horrible it must have been for her.  My heart breaks just thinking about it.  But what's even more horrifying is that it erased part of her memory.  She no long remember her family.  Dad had to tell the mother of his three children who we were. She didn't even know Dad. 

The strangeness I felt was because I was a stranger to my own Mother.  The disconnect I felt was real.  The sad thing was that even though they erased part of her memory she was still mentally ill.  How had they helped her?  What did they accomplish? Nothing. 

My brother was 12 years old so he remembers Dad introducing him to his own Mother. It had to be done though.  My Dad was the spiritual leader in our home and raised us in church.  We leaned heavily on God's tender mercy during this time.  My Dad never let us see his pain.  He was our constant when things were so stressful. 

Being a young child I didn't fully grasp what was taking place but I knew I loved my Momma with all my heart and that she was somewhere behind those confused eyes wanting to come back.  She eventually learned to love us again and she took her place in our family.  It just took time and a lot of prayer for things to come to a new normal for the Brandon's.

I remember while she was hospitalized one Christmas I had to sing in a play at school. The teacher told us that we all had to wear a white blouse and red skirt.  Well, I didn't have one and there was no one there to tell that I needed help.  I did sing but it was in a old blue dress.  I stuck out but it wasn't for my singing voice. I remember feeling so embarrassed.  Well, the next year Momma was home.  The next December I told her what I needed to wear for that years program and she took me to the nicest store in town and bought me the prettiest puffy sleeved blouse I have ever seen.  She also got me a pretty red skirt.  I had never been so proud of my Mom in my life as I stood on that stage and sung my heart out in my new black patent leather shoes. 

Even though she struggled the rest of her life she did the best job she could possibly do to raise us and follow Dad's lead. We became very close. She was my biggest fan and supporter.  I loved my Mom so much.  She passed away of cancer when I was 30 years old. Suddenly the phone stopped ringing. I found that my birthdays didn't really mean much to anyone.  Holidays were missing someone.  Life in general had changed because Mom was gone again, but this time she wouldn't be coming back. But the story doesn't end there.

Mom knew Christ as her Savior and Lord. God's loving grace set Mom free and I'll be seeing Mom again some day in glory.  Cherish the time you have with your parents.  There is nothing like a mother's love.  Because of Jesus, Mom and I will be reunited for the last time in Heaven and she'll know me forever. I'll eternally be thankful for new love from the ashes of a Mother's forgotten love. 

I Didn't See Him Rise released by The Carolina Boys Quartet debuted at #78 on the Singing News National Charts this month! I'm super excited about this song. 

I've recently been cowriting with Phil Cross, Diane Wilkinson, Scotty Inman, Sharon Phillips, Barbara Huffman and other great writers! I'm so thankful for new opportunities
that are arising daily!

Thank you for supporting this great music.
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New releases are coming soon!

v1
Jesus called his name
On day four
Out of the grave
Lazarus come forth.
Death has no vict'ry
When the sting subsides
He got out of there alive


v2
Death's an appointment
We'll all keep
But for the elect
It's like falling asleep
We'll live again
On the winning side
We're getting out of here alive


Chorus
Death's not final for a born again saint
We'll live again since Christ was raised
No cloak of death but a crown of life
We're getting out of here alive


v3
Lord Jesus died
On a cruel tree
He rose again
To save you and me
Jesus still lives
And we live in Christ
Jesus got out of here alive


Chorus
Death's not final for a born again saint
We'll live again since Christ was raised
No cloak of death but a crown of life
We're getting out of here alive


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 I can't believe how quickly 2017 has flown by. We're expecting exciting things in 2018.  At present we are excited that "Tangled in the Middle" was the first song released from The Old Paths' comeback album "Long Run". It has been nominated for album of the year by Absolutely Gospel.  The Old Paths really came back strong with this album of great songs and smooth harmonies. 

​"Never Will I Ever Again", made number one on the Singing News Charts by Greater Vision, is now available in Choral print.

The Carolina Boys just released "I Didn't See Him Rise" to radio. Be listening for it.  With lots of co-writing dates booked, it's going to be a busy month but it's so exciting to see what songs are going to  be born. 

Keep us in your prayers as we follow God's lead in ministry.  It's all about him. God bless all!

We're so excited to see Tangled in the Middle released by The Old Paths is number 8 on the Singing News Charts for December 2017!  We're so humbled that the fans are enjoying the song. We appreciate the DJ's for playing it on their programs. Remember "Call on the Lord to solve life's riddle and you won't get tangled in the middle."

Remember when you first started writing or recording Christian music? Do you also remember saying "I'll just put it out there and let the Lord lead"?  I remember but I also remember hoping it would do well. When I say "do well", I  mean that I hoped many many people would hear it and be blessed.  As I became more involved "do well" began to mean something different to me. It began to become important that the right group received and cut the song.  It also meant the hope for a greater audience and charting status. Then there is always the aspect of royalties. After all, songwriters invest in the songs that they pitch.  Demos don't pay for themselves and every song takes a certain amount of time before it can even be finalized.  

​It didn't take long for me to learn that there isn't a huge market for Christian music. A number one hit in this business doesn't mean the same success as a number one hit in secular music.  Don't get me wrong.  I love what I do and wouldn't change it for anything, but I've learned what's truly important about providing artist with marketable material.  It's simply must be about making Jesus famous.

​Once I came full circle and returned to my original purpose I found peace in the slow turning wheel of writing, demoing, submitting, pitching, selection, cutting, promoting, and singling songs.  When I realized how small I was God showed me his hand throughout the entire process. If you find yourself getting caught up in the stress of it all, remember why you're writing in the first place. Go back to the time when you just wanted to encourage and uplift someone. I recall thinking that "If just one soul is touched by this song, it's been worth it".  Give your talent back to God freely and he'll bless you beyond measure.  

​Go back to your roots. Go back to "I'll just put it out there and let the Lord lead". 

How often have you been haunted by your past? I can tell you it's been very often for me.  I can also tell you that you and I both have been forgiven for that past.  When Satan reminds you of your sin, remind him that you're sins are covered by the precious blood of Jesus.  Remind him of this: Colossians 1:​12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

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1. I have a story I want to tell you guys that exemplifies the importance of a child like faith. I was teaching 2nd and 3rd grade boys and we were taking prayer request. A little boy requested that we pray for him because he had a wart. It was a serious problem to him so we had special prayer. I myself had about 15 planter's warts all over the bottom of my feet. They had been there for about 15 years and were often painful, so I understood him. About three weeks after we prayed he spoke up again only this time with a praise report. He gladly told us that his wart was gone. We were so happy for him. The next day I noticed that every one of my planter's warts were completely gone. This was around 2005. I have never had another one since. This child prayed in faith believing and received a healing and so did I. Guess who taught who.

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