This January 16, 2025, we are set to release a new song. A 20th Anniversary re-recording of our song called "Strength I Need". Strength I Need is one of the hidden gems from our debut album that features an upbeat melody with some funky guitars thrown in. It wasn't given much attention because back then, single releases were only limited to a couple of songs that you send to mainstream radio to help promote an album. And we settled for the songs "My Love Song" (carrier single), Earthbound Angel (a fan favorite), and A Brand New Day (which gained radio charts placement in our hometown Cagayan De Oro City). But with the advent of Digital Music Streaming, now we don't have to be limited to mainstream radio submissions for the song to be heard by a larger audience. So this accords us a much easier opportunity to give each songs a space to shine. And we believe Strength I Need is one of those songs that deserves the spotlight.
The song is one of two songs in the album that I wrote that came from one of my personal conversations with Jesus Christ wherein I visualized myself traveling to the past during the passion and death of Jesus Christ (Repentance was the other one). When I wrote the lyrics of this song, I was kind of talking to Jesus during the time of his flagellation when he was condemned to die on the cross. Back then, I visualized my self to being present in the moment that led to his eventual crucifixion and death. I needed to understand the gravity of his sacrifice so that I would have a deeper understanding of how much he loves us. Of course, there are moments in the testimonies in the Bible when Jesus himself questioned God, the Father, why he had forsaken him. And this conversation was my attempt to tell him that there was a bigger meaning for his sufferings. And that God has a greater plan for him. Hence, if you would read the lines of the song, you'd see that I was trying to give Jesus (not that he needs it) encouragement to go on.
But while the words I wrote here are clearly conversation that I had with Jesus, I also would like to emphasize that the message of the song also relates to our friends and the people at large who are carrying their own crosses. Because while some of us might be struggling in the lowest point of our lives, our personal stories and resilience can also be a source of strength to another. And just as when God redeemed Jesus in the end, when we put our complete trust and faith in Jesus, he will also carry us and redeem us through his love and the life that he gave up to save all of us. And this should be what keeps us going. That we should be able to remind ourselves that all these trials and sufferings that we are facing in our daily life is something that Jesus also once faced (albeit in much harsher conditions). And he had redeemed us all by dying on the cross. We could choose to carry our own personal crosses no matter how heavy it is, and triumph over it and make it as our testimony of God's love for us. Which can also become a source of strength and inspiration for another. But one will always wonder how? How can we redeem ourselves from the sufferings that we face?
And that's where this line comes in:
I didn't write these lines. These were late additions done by Wilbert as he was composing the music of the song. This is one of those perfect examples wherein during my shortages of words, Wilbert can be that complimentary voice who knows how and when to complement my deficiencies in songwriting. And I believe these lines was what eventually proved to be the heart and soul of the song. While it will always be human nature to rely on our own strength and capacities. And during moments when we are having our own tough times, we'd easily yield and surrender. We should only look up to Jesus and how he lived his life. To find strength and inspiration from it. And have a firm foundation of our Faith in Jesus. To truly believe that only Jesus can redeem us. And all it takes is to come and accept him as the only master of our life, then we can easily deal with our problems in stride. And utilize our personal testimonies of our encounters with God's love to help inspire our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. That the only truth that is worth believing in is that God loves us and that he has already foretold his promise of redemption.
I think that's the only goal why I decided to share this personal conversation that I had with Jesus and turn it into song form with Thoughts And Notions. Now 20 years later, we're giving it a new life by re-recording it and making the song more beautiful than the original version (though I have some personal favorites from that old version). I truly believe that this new version will bring out the best of the message that we wanted to share. So we hope you could pre-save the song and give the song a listen. And join us as we declare that only in God shall we draw our strength from. And this is one story that is worth sharing to everyone that feels all hope is lost.
Pre-save the song here: https://bfan.link/strength-i-need
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