Laura Kaczor (pronounced (ku-ZORE) is a worship-focused singer/songwriter. Teaming up with award winning producer Ian Eskelin, her fourth and most recent album Restore Me focuses on the theme of restoration as found in 1 Peter 5:10: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong,firm and steadfast."

Although originally from Pennsylvania (where she graduated from The University of Pennsylvania), today Laura is a Nashville resident alongside her husband and brand new son Samuel. Samuel underwent successful open heart surgery recently, a process that kept Laura on her knees in constant prayer. The difficult situation shaped some of the powerful songs on the new project. I had the chance to speak with Laura about "Forever."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song is about a prodigal son or daughter-- in my particular case, a daughter, who grew up in the church, but made some bad decisions in looking to the world for love and acceptance, which is certainly part of my own personal story. In my twenties after I moved to Nashville, I sort of lost my way. In some areas I certainly did. Ultimately I came to the realization of knowing that I couldn't take one step or breath without being fully committed to serving the Lord. 

This song is about that process of a prodigal realizing where she's at, the choices she's made which have brought her to one place, and then deciding to fully commit to Christ, asking Him to come back into her heart forever. Looking back on the experiences she's had and the journey she's been on, she realizes that He was with her the entire time, constantly pursuing her, chasing after her, even in those darkest places. 

The song aligns with the way David wrote in the Psalms and the way David worshipped. I spend a lot of time in the Psalms in my own personal devotional time. The song celebrates how ever-present and Omni-present God is, and His love is truly forever and ever. That's what the song is about.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV): "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Psalm 136:26 (NIV): "Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever."

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV): "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV): "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

What is the takeaway message of the song and album?

For the album, I want people to be encouraged by God's goodness and His presence, that He is a restorative God. It doesn't matter the roads you've traveled or the decisions you've made, He's always there with open arms, accepting you as you are and wanting to restore you by being in a relationship with Him. 

I wanted restoration to be an important theme throughout the album. There's a couple of songs about that. The song "We Don't Always Understand" is about how when we go through hard things that we can't wrap our minds around, we can't understand and we weren't designed to understand, but we need to know that God is good. He always loves us. He is present. He is healing and He is restoring even through the most difficult seasons of life. Personally, I wrote the song before I was even pregnant. We started that song thinking about a friend who had just lost a baby to a miscarriage, and we feel like every word of comfort is inadequate in those times. "We need to keep trusting that God is good, we need to hold on to what we know." 

Then, my son was born with a hole in his heart, and he needed surgery when he was six months old. Going through such a personal trial, I couldn't even listen to the song without sobbing, but it ministered to me. It was a reminder to me, and it felt like God was speaking to me. I don't need to understand it. I can even be angry, but I can trust that God is good, and He's going to work it together for our good. I hope the song speaks to others in the same way.

Lyrics:
I've been everywhere but in Your arms
I used to hear Your voice but I'm too far away
Tried to do this alone, thought I knew where to go
Now I know I don't

If I've ever needed You it's now
I've got to get back to Your love somehow
Starting today, I want You to stay
In my heart, always

Forever, forever, forever stay
Forever, forever, always

Every lonely valley, You were there
You carried me when I thought no one cared
Looking back I can see, You kept Your promise to me
When You said You'd never leave

Forever, forever, forever stay (forever stay)
Forever, forever, always

Thank You for Your grace, You found me in the darkest place where no one would go
Thank You for Your love, for taking me as I come
And never giving up, never giving up

Forever, forever, forever stay (Jesus)
Forever, forever, always (forever stay)
Forever, forever, stay forever in my heart (Jesus)
Forever, forever, stay forever in my heart

Thank You for Your grace, thank You for Your love, a love that lasts forever (Jesus)
Thank You for Your grace, thank You for Your love, a love that lasts forever

For me, this song reflects what's on my heart. My greatest desire as a follower of Jesus is to live out the Gospel, and the songs on this album all help me with my walk and challenge me to gain that "righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." Daily we are presented with the choices of how to use our time, lifestyle choices, pursuit of riches, living for today not knowing what tomorrow has in store for us and questioning our loneliness and looking for meaning.  You can take comfort in knowing that "nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Jesus." 

I sing along with Laura at the top of my lungs in total devotion to God. I am very moved by the lyrics "Thank You for Your grace, You found me in the darkest place where no one would go, Thank You for Your love, for taking me as I come, And never giving up, never giving up." As Paul says in Ephesians 3:18 (NIV): only "through His Spirit...may you be able to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of the Love of Christ."

A.W. Tozer said, "We should not find it miraculous that God is victorious. What else would He be? But we should find it miraculous that we can be victorious through Him." Allow the fullness of Christ's Love to indwell in your heart and proclaim the truth of this song back to Jesus, "Thank You for Your grace, thank You for Your love, a love that lasts forever." Amen to that!

(Watch Laura sing the song here.)