GOODlife Magazine December 2016

The holidays are here and that can mean so many different things for every person. The stress of being pulled in
many different directions mixed with the joy of getting to be with the people you love. And with each passing year,
new traditions begin and old traditions continue. As Christmas grows closer, one thing is for sure…the sounds of the
holidays are here. The voices of familiar artists that have been a part of every Christmas season almost singlehandedly
remind everyone of the holidays, of years past and of the excitement of another Christmas. One such voice, that has
for so many become synonymous with the holidays, belongs to the incredibly gifted, talented, and warm-hearted Amy
Grant. Over the past thirty years, she has released music that has touched the hearts of generations worldwide. She’s not
only become an icon in Christian music, but also a constant in the lives of so many families during the holidays. And
for the first time in nearly twenty years, she has released a new Christmas album, Tennessee Christmas. By combining
original new pieces alongside classic favorites, this album captures the incredible crossroads of new and old that
embodies the holidays.
Sitting down with Amy, I learned what the holidays mean to
her, what God has been placing on her heart to share, and how
Tennessee Christmas came out of her desires to meet people where
they are at this holiday season. “I wanted the record to feel as
though it were created for an audience of one. I want this to feel
appropriate when the whole house has gone to sleep, and someone
is up late doing something alone; that the music would feel like a
companion. And in being a companion, articulate all the emotions
of life, but within a Christmas context.” She went on to talk about
how in her own life the holidays come with a mix of emotions
and memories that are characterized by one constant thing, God’s
love. As the seasons of life come and go, everyone experiences
mountaintops and valleys, but by keeping her eyes on God’s love
in the midst of it all, Amy was able to find such peace and joy in
Him.
One thing Amy prays to continually communicate not only
through her music, but also through her life, is calling people back
to the simple love of Christ. It may not always be easy, but God
has been continually bringing her back to the scripture where
Jesus summarized the entire law by saying, “Love God with all of
your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as
(continued on page 12)
by GABRIEL BLAND

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