Soli Deo Gloria

By marce linebarger
In Music
Jun 16th, 2013
16 Comments

Well, I have contemplated starting a blog for many, many years. I have read them for a long time, and I used to get jealous of people that had them. Then I had to analyze that a bit. Why was I jealous? Because I wanted to articulate things, too. I have a lot to say, or at least I have a lot going on in my mind ALL the time. But I never felt that it would be very interesting. There was also the issue of my being a very private person. I mean, very private. I don’t typically share things with people until I know they can be trusted.  But I kept getting this nagging feeling every time I thought about it. I used to journal all the time before I had the kids.  Once they were born, so many of the things I used to do just flew out the window. Now that they are 6, 5, and 2, I am just starting to enter into the things that I love. Don’t get me wrong, raising my kids is something I LOVE. But you know, I have come to realize that each mama needs to have something that is her very own. Something that no one else has, that no one else can take away, that belongs only to her.

Music is that thing for this here mama. Music: listening to it, studying it, learning more about it, experimenting with it, writing it, producing it, collaborating to make it, sharing it, moving people with it, loving it. I came to a point in my life 2 years ago where my world was drastically turned upside down. My brother Nathan died. Out of the blue. 40 years old. Shocking. And while initially I wanted nothing to do with things that made me happy, (I mean, how could I search for happiness again when my sweet brother was no more?) I realized that pursuing my dream of making music would be the exact thing that Nathan would want me to do. It was the exact thing that he did. He was a fantastic DJ for many, many years. And while it didn’t make him a millionaire, he did what he loved. Music was everything to him, and as I contemplated his life and how much I would miss him, I realized that music meant the world to me as well. What better way to pay homage to him than by pursuing something that I have loved for my entire life? Something that the good Lord above gave me a passion for. So for the past year and a half or so, I have been recording songs. Songs that mean something to me. Songs that I have put my soul into…and blood, sweat, and plenty of tears. Today I am releasing an EP called “Soli Deo Gloria.” To God Alone Be the Glory. It is a collection of 4 original songs that are available for download for free for a limited time. If you would like to donate any funds, there is a place for that as well, but it is not necessary. If you like the songs, I would ask that you share it with others.

I would like to dedicate “Soli Deo Gloria” to my big brother, Nathan Abraham Rincon, who died this day 2 years ago. I miss him terribly, but I thought of him throughout this entire process. And while it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, it was also one of the most difficult.

The name of the blog: It is what it is. My husband tells me I say this all the time. And he is right.  With the good, with the bad: it is what it is. There’s not a darn thing I can do to change things that have already happened: it is what it is. It sounds a bit dismissive and negative, but it isn’t. Part of the Serenity Prayer asks God for the wisdom to know the difference between the things you can change and the things you cannot. I’ve spend a whole lot of time thinking about how I could have done things differently in so many ways, but it is what it is. Move on. I’ve also spend time analyzing very good things in my life and diminishing or negating the good somehow. Recognize the good and rejoice in it. It is what it is.

So here I stand. Vulnerable before you, but glad to be sharing. I must not be as private of a person as I thought. And I am still not sure that it will be very interesting at all, but oh well. It is what it is.

16 Responses to “Soli Deo Gloria”

  1. Leslie says:

    My dear sister, I’m so proud of you. What a journey you’ve been on. It has not been easy but I think sometimes the most beautiful things come from the hardest journeys. What an exciting day this is, even in the midst of the heartbreak. I love you and am excited to follow you here.

    • marce linebarger says:

      Thank you sister. You have been so great in your blogging that you definitely inspired me. I think you are right about beautiful things coming from hard journeys. That is why I love the words Arthur Bennett wrote in “The Valley of Vision.” The deeper the well, the brighter the stars shine. It’s nice to have a meeting place with you here. I love you.

  2. Tia Linda says:

    Mari:

    I just heard your music; OMG, they are great songs!

    I’m so proud of you. May the good lord continue to bless you with such a beautiful voice.

    I include Nathan in my nightly prayers, love him & miss him dearly.

    Love,
    your Tia Linda

    • marce linebarger says:

      Thank you, Tia! You were there for Nathan in so many ways. Thank you for that. And thank you for your encouragement. Love you!

  3. Elizabeth says:

    Mari, your heart & your songs are so beautiful. Nathan would just beam with his huge, winsome smile! What a perfect tribute to him! I love you & am extremely proud of you for sharing your heart in this special way. Keep on, Mari!! God is so honored!

    • marce linebarger says:

      Liz! Thank you for the encouragement! It means the world to me. And thank you for reminding me of Nathan’s smile. It sure was great, wasn’t it?

  4. Noemi Gonzalez says:

    I am so proud of you, my beautiful cousin! This is an exciting journey and I am so thankful you are sharing it with the world. You know I have always been your #1 fan even going back to the summers Andrea and I used to spend in Dallas. You are a remarkable human being with such talent!

    Love,
    Mimi

  5. marce linebarger says:

    Mimi! I just saw that you wrote this a couple days ago! Thank you so much for your love and encouragement. It means the world to me. Really. And you must know that your mama was the first woman I ever saw playing guitar and piano. It had a huge impact on me and I miss her dearly. I love you, sweet cousin.

  6. elsa Rojas-rojas says:

    WOW!!! Its about time, I always wondered when you were gona do this… I knew it was in you. Believe me Im sharing you w/the world and I cant wait til it hits the radio. Its that AMAZING!!! You deserve it. Sing your heart out girlfriend. I can just do my thing at home an listen to you all day. Lov and miss you so much Elsa.
    PS I haven’t had the chance to tell you but I will now… “Thank you for everything you done for my girl, you were a big blessing for our family and I praise God for your help, I will always carry that in my heart til my dying day. God Bless you, your little familia and your music” Pls, know God sent you to help not only my girl but our entire family and you didn’t back away. Many Thank yous…

    • marce linebarger says:

      Thank you so much Elsa! Your words are so encouraging to me. I love you and miss you, too. Come back and visit sometime. And thank you for letting me be a part of your girl’s life. I was just thinking the other day about how I wished I could have done more. I am so thankful that God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick like me! Blessings to you!

  7. Carlee says:

    Marisela, this is so great! I had always hoped that you would do this someday. I remember those evenings, sitting on the porch in the DR, when we would listen to you play and sing. I could never get enough. Even when the mosquitos were relentlessly trying to upstage you, I didn’t want you to stop singing.
    And, years later, when you sang and played as I labored with each of my three babies. It was the same. I wanted you to go on forever. Your voice brought me peace and strength and courage. Your gift has blessed and encouraged me in so many ways over these years.
    As I read about the perfect timing of the release of your EP and the initiation of your blog, my eyes filled with tears. What a beautiful and thoughtful way to honor your brother. I know that he would be so proud. I love you, my dear friend. I thank God for you. Thank you for the courage to share your story. May He continue to strengthen and comfort and bless you as journey.

    • marce linebarger says:

      Carlee, you are the one making me cry! What beautiful words from my beautiful friend! It was such an honor to sing for you. And to know that it brought you peace and strength during labor is so amazing! And let me tell you, I felt comfortable singing with you because you are such a warm, accepting person. And I, my dear, thank God for YOU. Thank you for joining me on this journey and for meeting me here. I love you!

  8. Yolanda Villescaz says:

    Mari,

    AMAZING and Beautiful – Just like the lady who sings it .. I am so very proud of you and im so looking foward to more with music and blogs. Nathan is smiling down on you …

    • marce linebarger says:

      Thank you, lovely cousin! I know how much you love music, so it means the world to me that you enjoy these songs. I hope Nathan can remix these songs in heaven:)

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