• "The Coming Light" sets the tone by celebrating Jesus as the Light of the world. This song not only speaks of His arrival but also encourages us to find hope and peace through His presence, and let Him guide us throughout our lives, including our darkest moments.


• "Magnify" gives us a modern take on Mary’s Magnificat. The takeaway is to celebrate God's endless mercy and faithfulness, and it encourages us to praise God's name with gratitude and in recognition of everything He has done.


• The song "Chosen to Believe" looks at Joseph’s quiet strength and unwavering faith. The song reminds us how important it is to trust and obey God's call, even when we aren't able to seek the full picture, especially when we're facing uncertainties.


• The "Heaven Rejoices" echoes with the angels' song of peace that we find in Luke’s gospel. It's a triumphant song that encourages us to join the heavenly celebration of Christ's birth, as well as the peace and mercy He brings to the world... to each of us.


• The last song on the album is called "Go Tell the World." This is an energetic call to action, taking the shepherds’ response to the good news as an example. Its joyful, beat-driven melody reminds us to spread the story of Christ’s birth, sharing the gospel with cheer during the Christmas season and after.

1. Unwavering Faith


2. Resisting Temptations


3. Personal Transformation


4. Confronting False Teachings


5. Praise

Unwavering Faith: 

• Praise His Name - "Trust the Spirit, not the men, Most these men, will never understand, That His Grace is there for everyone" 


• If You Give Your Pride - "If you give up your pride, You’ll see the reason why, He sacrificed His Son, For us to have eternal life"


• Better Days - "Oh Lord, give me words to speak, In the time of need, When they question me"


• Eternal Life - "God gave us the Spirit, So we could see, The world He created, For you and me"

Resisting Temptations: 

• I Don't Want Your Fruit - "Would you know when it’s enough? Or do you plan to spend your life, Chasing after broken dreams, Wasting time, again, it seems" 


• To The Mountains, Through The Snow - "The world in distress oh the world in distress, The world in distress do you see it by now?, Away from this mess oh away from this mess, Come join me my brother I will show you how"


• What a Beautiful Girl - "Oh, what a beautiful girl, God gave her voice, like you’ve never heard, Oh what a beautiful girl, Don’t let them drag you into their world" 

Personal Transformation (change): 

• Climbing for His Glory - uses the climbing mountains as a metaphor for overcoming challenges and striving for spiritual growth -  "Climbing up all alone, This journey’s for the one, The one who gave us this world, This beautiful world, this beautiful world"


• Saving Grace - reflecting on the Israelites' rebellion despite all of God's miracles - "Oh Lord would tell me what’s wrong with them, Why would they keep living as slaves, Oh Lord I am praying don’t turn away, I’m faithful in your saving grace"


• Better Days - "I’ll pray that one day they can see, And maybe one day they can walk away from misery, Abandon their wicked ways, For the better days, the better days" 


• Freedom - "I know you want to be with me, But you have to let me go, I’ve got too many trails to walk, And mountains to climb, and mountains to climb…" 


• Now That My Eyes Can See - "But now that my eyes can see, That that’s how I used to be (Oh yea, I was), Until my flesh has finally found, His love has always been around" (This song also contributes to the next theme.)

Confronting False Teachings: 

• Liar, Liar… - "Liar, liar, pants on fire, Why’d you have to lie, to me?, You say we come from monkeys, but there’s a missing link, Why don’t you ever tell us, there’s one for everything?"


• Now That My Eyes Can See - "I know that they told you that we are just bunch of monkeys, And we are running around somehow developing conscience"

Praise:

• Grateful to the One - expressing our gratitude for family, the ability to discern right from wrong, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ - "I am grateful to the One, For the daughter for the son, Blessings given me, I did not see, And now I see"

• "Prodigal" addresses our struggles and need for God's love. This song urges us to put aside our pride and return to His grace.


• "Reconstruct" adds an extra element. It is about coming back to embrace His love and letting Him heal the wounds of the past and lead us back to faith.

• "Something More" is our spiritual wake-up call, an awakening, urging us to stop trying to find security and peace in worldly philosophies, but return to God and build a foundation based on faith.


• "Awake, O Sleeper" is a song that encourages us to wake up, get into action, and answer His call. It's an invitation to renew our minds and hearts, see His justice and glory, and to rekindle the Spirit fire in our hearts.


• "Anthem" is a song that reminds us that God is always with us, ready to heal us and lead us to victory. It inspires us to boldly declare His holiness and to rejoice in the amazing promise of His infinite goodness.
  
   

• "Give Me Hope" is a prayer to God for strength, just like the prayer of Hannah and Sarah. God promises that He is always with. He is with us in times of joy, and in times of weakness and loneliness. He is there when we mess up our lives and is ready to guide us back & fill us with hope.


•  "Holding On" emphasizes that we're not alone, even when it feels as if you're drowning in despair or disappointment. The key message is "Don't give up!"


• "Naive" is about the fact that there always will be challenges and pain, a sober wake up call. This part of the song really nails it: "I will be not be naive to think the war is over // This is reality sometimes hearts must break // I will be not be naive to think the war is over // This is reality sometimes hearts must break to be set free" 


• "Still Waters" is a very personal song for Stephanie. A reminder of painful times. Stephanie initially intended this song as  balm for her pain, and after some encouragement by others, she is sharing the song with us. The lyrics describe a journey of hanging onto faith throughout the storms, trusting God's unseen plans, and finding peace in His grace.


• "Grace" is another song that emphasizes that we're cradled by our Savior's grace. It reminds us that there isn't a fall in our lives that is too deep for His mercy to heal and renew.

Abbie Werner shared the following backstory: 

My heart is full and deeply grateful to share that I'm releasing “If Healing Is Real,” a song that began with my inner turmoil in middle/high school and now represents the recovery journey Jesus has walked with me on for the past 14 years.



My friend, Kelsey Sharpe, was giving me guitar lessons in high school, and one day I came with this song idea. She helped me find the chords and develop the song, and in that season she taught me what a verse, chorus, and bridge were in songwriting. Without knowing it, she gave me tools and structure to express my big feelings, prayers, and questions to Jesus through art. 

Even though I was still shy to sing, singing and writing were a significant step forward after having entirely stopped singing in 7th/8th grade. Music and creativity became places where I felt safe again and felt the love, comfort, and delight of God.



It’s a blessing to finally share this song as a witness to the healing Jesus has been bringing in my life over many years and the ways He has never given up on me. There were many times when I wanted to give up, but You, Lord, nourished me with exactly what I needed and held my hand. And I know that’s how I’ll continue depending on You, through the good and hard things.

=== Press Release ===

Nashville, TN – Abbie Werner, the singer-songwriter known for her heartfelt and introspective music, just released her latest single, “If Healing Is Real,” on September 27, 2024. This deeply personal song explores the complexities of mental health, recovery, and the unwavering hope found in faith.



“If Healing Is Real” is not just a song; it’s a testimony of Abbie’s journey through mental illness, recovery, and the transformative power of professional help intertwined with her faith in Jesus. Written during her high school years, the lyrics encapsulate her struggles with anorexia, OCD, and self-harm, alongside the profound question: “If there’s a chance you can recover and be happy, healthy, and connected, don’t you want to stick around for that?”



Accompanying the single is a music video, directed and edited by Abbie as part of her master’s capstone project at Asbury University, with Sarah Hogencamp advising. The video features dancer Millie Rockman, whose movement beautifully illustrates the themes of vulnerability and resilience woven throughout the song. “I had been dreaming about collaborating with dancers for years,” Abbie shares. “Working with Millie was a beautiful experience that in itself brought a lot of healing and inspiration.”



In the song, Abbie reflects on the nonlinear path of healing, emphasizing that while the journey can be filled with setbacks, there is hope and joy to be found. “Hopelessness is a feeling, not a truth,” she states, dedicating this release to anyone who has faced deep despair. “You’re not as alone as you think. Things can and will get better.”



As September marks Suicide Prevention Month, Abbie is especially eager to share her story. “This song is a reminder that no matter the situation, God sees and knows our pain. He weeps with us and longs for us to invite Him into the mess. In my own life, I have seen how He gives me the strength and grace I need each day, and it has been through that dependency that I have gotten to experience Jesus’ love at a deeper level,” she shares.



The single was produced by Valentin Tranca, who helped shape the sound and emotional depth of the song. “I’m grateful for his vision in bringing this piece to life,” Abbie adds.



“If Healing Is Real” encapsulates the essence of Abbie’s journey—one filled with struggles but also profound moments of grace, hope, and transformation. As she continues to navigate her mental health journey, Abbie’s music serves as a beacon of hope for others who may feel lost.

Let's have a quick look at each of the songs:

1. Faith in Motion: The key message is that living faith means action. Look at how Jesus honors our faith heroes. E.g., Jesus appreciates the active faith that Matthew and Mark showed, from a man on a mat to a foreign woman. Faith changes lives.


2. Conquer All: Having faith in Christ empowers. Our faith gives us authority and boldness. Faith fuels courage.


3. Light of the Word: God's Word guides us. It's not dead, on the contrary... it is alive, discerning, and relevant for everyone. All aspects of God's Word light our path.


4. Canvas for the Divine: Our lives are canvases for God's purpose. We're called to be open and united, allowing His vision to shape us.


5. Gifts of the Spirit: A reminder of what the spiritual gifts of the Spirit are, like wisdom and healing. These gifts build the church and reflect God's love daily. Each believer has one or more gifts of the Spirit that can be used in their unique role.


6. Unseen, Yet Real: Our faith extends beyond the visible. Just because we can't see it, or see things happening, doesn't mean that it isn't there. We trust in eternal truths.


7. Unfailing Grace: God's grace changes lives. His grace is more than enough! We're given examples, such as the prodigal's return, breaking barriers with a Samaritan woman, and Paul’s transformation. God’s grace is life-changing, it's always been there, and it is there for you as well!


8. Clothed in Christ: Being “clothed in Christ” means growing in spiritual maturity. We move from milk to solid food, and becoming more like Christ each day.