"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."
Psalm 98:4
(KJV)
It is no secret that my family and I dearly love music.
We always enjoy coming across a new musical group who has the ability to draw our hearts into a closer walk with Jesus, and when that group also includes the element of good harmony and an acoustic sound, well, it isn't too long until we are hooked.
Before I go any farther, I need to tell you how I heard about today's "Inner Views" guests.
I recently got a comforting email from dear friend and fellow blogger, Bettie,
and this is a small portion of what she said,
"Today, when I heard this song, I just knew I had to stop what I was doing, and send it to you right now. It is such a beautiful rendition of this hymn, "Softly and Tenderly," one of my favorites. And, I just kept thinking of your loved ones that the Lord has called home this past year. When He calls, we can't help but go with Him! Oh may He comfort you in the missing and the longing, though!!"
Attached to the email was a video (you will find it below) of this old, beloved hymn sung by the couple I am interviewing today.
I hope you enjoy getting to know them and hearing them share their amazing musical gifts!
The
of
"Sounds Like Reign" Husband and Wife Duo,
Brackin and Lindsay Kirkland
Brackin and Lindsay Kirkland
Brackin & Lindsay: Hi. We are Brackin and Lindsay Kirkland. We have five boys. We've been married for 12 years, and we live in North Carolina. We write and record music called "Sounds Like Reign", and we have a weekly vlog (video-blog) on YouTube called "Tiny Notes From Home".
Cheryl: We would love to hear about each of your individual testimonies and spiritual journeys. When did you become a Christian? What life events led you to the cross? Were either of you raised in a Christian home?
Brackin: I was raised in a Christian home, but strayed from the faith in my teenage years. The Lord drew me to Himself in my 20's after years of wandering in the wilderness.
Lindsay: I grew up in a Unitarian Universalist home, but I knew as a young child that Jesus was the only way to the Father. I made a profession of faith in high school, and the Lord has been my guide ever since.
Cheryl: Who do you consider to be your strongest spiritual mentor(s)? Who has most helped you to draw close to Jesus throughout life? Is there a particular person who has prayed for you, individually?
Brackin & Lindsay: We look up to a number of strong, unnamed brothers. Just God-fearing, Christ-honoring folks in our church who are humble in spirit and would otherwise go unnoticed in their genuine walk with God.
Cheryl: How did the two of you meet? We'd love to hear your love story.
Brackin & Lindsay: We met at a mutual friend's house in PA in our late high school years. We were immediately drawn to each other. We dated for a couple years and were married during our college years.
Cheryl: What is your favorite part of being parents?
Brackin & Lindsay: We love working together as a team to train our children. We love having separate but equal roles in the home, which gives us freedom to explore our God-given abilities as "mom" and "dad".
Cheryl: What are some of your favorite things to do together as a family?
Brackin & Lindsay: We enjoy playing music together, and spending time outdoors. And who doesn't love a good road trip. We LOVE travelling together :)
Cheryl: Tell us about "Sounds Like Reign". What is the significance of the name?
Brackin & Lindsay: We describe "Sounds Like Reign" this way: These are the sounds of the reign of God in our hearts. These are songs born out of adversity, trials and triumphs in our walk as followers of Jesus.
Cheryl: What instruments do each of you play, and what is your history with each instrument?
Brackin & Lindsay: We both grew up in musical homes. Lindsay played the guitar from an early age, and Brackin has learned a variety of instruments over the years.
Cheryl: What are some of your favorite songs to sing together? Why?
Brackin & Lindsay: We like to sing old hymns and contemporary worship songs. Really anything that can strengthen and encourage our hearts.
Cheryl: Who has most influenced each of you, musically? Who are some of your favorite artists and musicians?
Brackin & Lindsay: Lindsay prefers acoustic folk music, like the Forbes Family. Whereas Brackin listens to a WIDE variety of instrumental music from around the world. Together these styles have become the style of "Sounds Like Reign".
Cheryl: How can we buy your music? Are there other ways we can support your ministry?
Brackin & Lindsay: Our music is available for free download (or you can purchase CDs) at our website, Sounds Like Reign.
You can also show your monthly support on our Patreon page, and join a community of over 100 people who are invested in our music and videos.
Cheryl: Please tell us about your tiny house. What led you to choose living in a tiny home?
Brackin & Lindsay: We have been living in "Tiny Houses" for about 9 years. We started out in a mini-van, and slowly moved up to the 14x40 shed that we dwell in now. Our approach to life is to only have the basic necessities to take care of our family and do the work/ministry that the Lord has placed on our hearts. Everything else must GO!
Cheryl: If you were speaking to someone who is considering downsizing their lives, what advice would you share?
Brackin & Lindsay: Just do it! It's never too late to simplify your life for the sake of the Gospel. Just keep in mind WHY you should downsize. Jesus said that we should live our lives for the sake of others. And Paul said that if we sell all we have and give to the poor, but we don't have love, then we're just making noise. Downsizing can be motivated my selfishness, but we should have love for others and live a simple life so that we can GIVE our resources to those in need.
Cheryl: What do you define as one of the darkest times of your life? How did your faith in God sustain you and give you hope?
Lindsay: Brackin's darkest time was when I tried to end my life due to anxiety and depression. This was around the age of 18. God was merciful to sustain my life and give me a second chance. So now I give every breath to Him for His service and glory!
Cheryl: We are living in the perilous times prophesied about in God's Word. It seems that the culture that surrounds us is becoming increasingly hostile towards God, His Word, and His people. How do you stay encouraged in these dark days? Are there particular Scriptures, songs, books, or other resources that you turn to in times of discouragement?
Brackin & Lindsay: Yes, we draw inspiration and encouragement from the early Christian testimonies of martyrs and those who have stood strong in the face of great evil. One story of particular interest is that of Michael Sattler from the 1500's. He was being chased across an icy pond by an assailant who plunged into the icy water. Instead of leaving his "enemy" there to drown, he heeded the words of Jesus to LOVE his enemies, and so he turned around and lifted the man from certain death. As a result he was apprehended and thrown into prison, but he lived in peace knowing that he had done what our Lord, Savior and Master would have wanted him to do. Love always prevails!
Brackin & Lindsay: Yes, we draw inspiration and encouragement from the early Christian testimonies of martyrs and those who have stood strong in the face of great evil. One story of particular interest is that of Michael Sattler from the 1500's. He was being chased across an icy pond by an assailant who plunged into the icy water. Instead of leaving his "enemy" there to drown, he heeded the words of Jesus to LOVE his enemies, and so he turned around and lifted the man from certain death. As a result he was apprehended and thrown into prison, but he lived in peace knowing that he had done what our Lord, Savior and Master would have wanted him to do. Love always prevails!
Cheryl: What advice would you give to a person reading this who has lost hope and is desperate, even to the point of considering taking their own life?
Brackin & Lindsay: Talk. Find someone to talk to. Don't hold it in. God cares, and He has provided His BODY (friends, family, even strangers) to help you. Don't give up hope. This is just a short season in what WILL BE an AWESOME life!
Cheryl: At the end of your lives, what legacy do you most hope to leave? How do you want to be remembered?
Brackin & Lindsay: Our desire is for Christ to magnified in all that we do, so that when our lives fade away, only His glory remains!
Cheryl: How can we connect with you?
Brackin & Lindsay: You can find us on
YouTube Music Channel, Tiny Notes from Home, Facebook, Instagram, and our website.
YouTube Music Channel, Tiny Notes from Home, Facebook, Instagram, and our website.
Cheryl: How can we pray for you and your family?
Brackin & Lindsay: We are always in need of prayer to discern the Lord's will for our family and ministry. It's a lot to take on, and we want to stay focused on the most important things.
Thank you, Brackin and Lindsay, for taking the time to answer our questions and share your hearts with us!
May God richly bless you and your family and ministry!
May God richly bless you and your family and ministry!
In closing, here are a couple more of my favorite "Sounds Like Reign" videos.
Enjoy, and be blessed!
"Give Me Jesus" by "Sounds Like Reign"
"To The River" by "Sounds Like Reign"
God bless each one of you, dear readers!
"To The River" by "Sounds Like Reign"
God bless each one of you, dear readers!
To read previous
click the links below.
Dearest Cheryl,
ReplyDeletetoday you're introducing such a wonderful family to us, I'd love to have them as my neighbours!
With utmost gratitude to open my eyes on a so wonderful world, I'm sending blessings across the many miles
XOXO Dany
Sending many blessings back to you, dear, sweet Dany! God bless you, my friend. :)
DeleteSuch wonderful couple, God bless your home and ministry. Amen
DeleteThank you for your visit, Amen!
DeleteI agree that this is an amazing family. The well-known secret to life is the love of Christ in us all, if we choose. This family has our Lord Jesus’ number, so to speak.
DeleteI love their music!!!!!
Hello we are zippu and rebu 13 years old and we love to hear your songs everyday hope we can meet you one day
DeleteWhat an interesting couple. I did enjoy the tour of their Tiny house.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Elizabeth, and thank you for your visit! God bless you. :)
DeleteCheryl!!! I was just listening to "Softly and Tenderly" by Sounds like Reign before I clicked onto your blog. Brackin and Lindsay are who I find myself turning too almost daily to calm my spirit before my "official" prayer time. I say official, because I pray all day, all of the time, but I try to set aside a certain time daily to talk with the Lord.
ReplyDeleteI am subscribed to their utube channel and eagerly watch each episode. My heart broke for them last year when Lindsay miscarried and rejoiced with the news of the new birth this year!
I should have known that theirs would be a channel that your heart would also be drawn too. I dream of downsizing and simplifying our lives so that we can better serve Him without the entanglements of a big home, yard and "stuff". I think that's why I love my trailer so much. I have time to spend in prayer, Bible reading and contemplation instead of endless chores of a big home.
Have a lovely blessed day my sweet sister.
Betsy
Dear Betsy! You are one of the most faithful prayer warriors I know! I am so blessed to be included in your precious prayers, and I so often pray for you and Dennis, too. Our minimizing journey is still in full swing, too...though we are getting down to where there isn't a whole lot left to minimize, praise the dear Lord! I hope to have a huge announcement to make about that subject within the next few months, God willing. :) I am so thankful you enjoyed the interview, and that is really something that you were listening to this very song before clicking over here! Sending love and hugs to you, my friend!
DeleteOh I SO enjoyed this post (and am STILL enjoying the music as I type!). What a beautiful couple and beautiful story. I really loved seeing the inside of their tiny house - what a wonderful way to raise a family. Their music is just so lovely and peaceful - what talent they have. I'll be listening to them a lot I believe! Thank you for introducing us to them!
ReplyDeleteThank you ever so much for your sweet visit and kind words, Lauren! God bless you, my friend. :)
DeleteSo delighted to see this family on your blog. We have been enjoying their music and vlogs for almost a year now. They have such a genuine, beautiful spirit in their family and in their music. My four-year-old often asks, "Mommy, can we listen to Mrs. Kirkland sing?"
ReplyDeleteOh, how sweet for your little 4-year old to ask that! So thankful for your visit and kind words, GFern. God bless you!
DeleteCheryl I found out about Brackin and Lindsey last year. That are a sweet couple and they have the most precious children.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this interview. I do need to make a correction to name of man that is mentioned. It was Dirk Wellems but both of these men of God were martyred for their faith.
Thank you for making that correction, Regina. I just went on and found an article that confirms your correction. So thankful for those who have gone before us and been found faithful by our dear Lord! May God help us to carry the torch of truth in this generation and be faithful at our post of duty, too.
DeleteThere were so many early Christians that were martyred that it would be easy to get names mixed up. It's so timely that they mentioned martyrs because our family pastor at church did a devotion on being a martyr and a devotion I read this week from Beside the Still Waters was about a young martyr from the 1500s.
DeleteMay we continue to have the faith of early Christians.
Thank you for taking the time to introduce us to Brackin and Lindsey, Cheryl. What a beautiful couple and family they are. I enjoyed their music, story, and seeing inside their home. They are a shining example of love, faith, and hope.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet words, Kitty. Praying much for you, my friend. :)
DeleteWhat an interesting couple with those adorable boys! They have so much talent and I like their philosophy about the simple life pleasures. They look so happy! May God bless them and their ministry! Love you, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you, too, sweet Mary! Love you, too. :) Praying for you every day and sending hugs your way!
DeleteWhat a wonderful family Cheryl. I enjoyed this interview very much. It's almost like you could feel the love and transparency from them by simply reading the answers. Going back now to listen. Thanks again dear lady and Happy Valentine's Day to you. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so thankful you enjoyed the interview, sweet friend! It blesses me to know you are being blessed! Happy Valentine's Day (a little late!) to you, too, and may Jesus bless you always. :) Many hugs and blessings back to you!
DeleteHi Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteWhat a courageous family to live in a tiny house! They have such a positive and cheerful outlook on life, despite challenges, that it's refreshing to see faith lived out like they are doing. Continuing to pray for you and your family, Cheryl, and that God brings clarity, grace and peace to you in the coming days! xoxo P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!
Thank you ever so much for your faithful prayers, Valerie! I am praying for you, too, every, single day, my friend! Clarity...it is what my soul craves these days and what I seek God so earnestly for. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too. :) I hope you had a wonderful day! Sending love and hugs to you!!
DeleteWhat a fun interview! I've always admired people who can make living in a tiny house work! I have a family of 10. I can't imagine downsizing our home, though sometimes I desire to simplify a little more. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into this couple's life and faith!
ReplyDeleteSo thankful for your visit and kind words, Rachel! I am so grateful you enjoyed the interview. God bless you and your family!
DeleteI found this endearing couple a while back on Youtube and have enjoyed their music videos so much. What a blessing to hear such worshipful music sung with pure hearts of love for the Lord. I love how their children are encouraged to sing with them too. Living in a tiny home is not an easy thing to do, as I know first hand, but there is joy in it, things are just much simpler! And it is easier to enjoy the simple things in life without a lot of "things" to take care of. Always enjoy your interviews, and was so glad to see a couple interviewed that I knew about. I pray for them that the Lord continues to bless them. You ask such wonderful questions that really bring out the hearts of the people you interview, and it is truly a gift you have! I pray for you daily dear friend, you are precious to me :) Hugs and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you ever so much for your dear, kind words, sweet friend! I appreciate you so very much. God bless you always!
DeleteI found the Kirklands about 6 months ago on Youtube while watching videos of tiny homes and instantly was drawn to them. They're so authentic and have such a sweet family. I think they give encouragement to many, many people through their lives. I enjoyed this interview very much. Thanks for doing this, Cheryl. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your sweet visit, my friend! So happy to see that you stopped by. Sending hugs back to you and many blessings!
DeleteWonderful post and interview my friend. What a godly young family, such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Noreen
Thank you ever so much for your kind words, my friend! I am so thankful for you and your visit. Many hugs back to you!
Deleteit really takes special people who know their God wants them to live like these folks. I mean we lived simple overseas and still do but this is radical and I loved the interview. I remember this real conservative preacher one time saying he preached way to the right because so many were way to the left in hopes he could draw a few to the middle. That is what these folks do, no many could or would live this radical but it is convicting to read their heart and not see areas in my own life that needs to change for the sake of the gospel. Thanks Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteDear Betty! You are always such an inspiration to me, as my family and I walk this minimizing journey and God continues to lead us to let go of so much! The words you shared in your interview were SO profound, and they always resonate with me when I think about them. Thank you for your Godly life and example and for all you have laid down for the sake of His Gospel!
DeleteOh Cheryl, my mouth fell open in amazement when I saw who was on your blog. You see, a week ago when I was writing my Sunday blog post I was looking for a particular hymn and when I typed it into YouTube I came across this lovely couple and their music. It was the first time I had heard of them. And then you have them on your blog! Only God! {{smiles}}
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this special and beautiful couple with us. I so enjoyed reading this post. Love and hugs to you!
Wow! There are no coincidences with God, that's for sure. So precious how He is so faithful to drive messages and truth home to us, as we seek Him with our whole hearts! That is just a very neat story, sweet friend. Much love and many hugs back to you!
DeleteI haven't heard that song in a while! Thanks for sharing it! Thanks also for sharing this interview! I've always wanted to know more about Sounds Like Reign. My mom shared their YouTube channel with me a few months ago and I've been curious about them ever since! Love this!
ReplyDeleteThat is so wonderful, Amy! I am so thankful you enjoyed the interview, and I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your relaxation video. I feel bad that I have missed the others...so much has been going on, and I just haven't had time to devote to it, but I SO appreciate all you did to provide the videos. Your precious heart for God is such a blessing and inspiration to me. Thank you for your faithfulness to your calling. Sending love and hugs to you, sweet friend.
DeleteBeautiful and inspiring interview!
ReplyDelete♡
Thank you for your visit and kind words, Shayndel! God bless you. :)
DeleteDear Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteOH, somehow I missed this post last week! I have re-subscribed now, and hope that I will not be late to respond again! Thank you so much for your sweet mention of me, dear friend. I am just so grateful that the Lord brought about these beautiful connections for you to be able to interview Brackin and Lindsay. They have such a humble and loving spirit of love for Jesus. And I believe that is the true beauty of their music and ministry! May the Lord continue to bless them. And may He continue to bless you as well, my dear friend. Your posts are always such an encouragement to keep walking with the Lord! Love and Hugs to you!
Dear Bettie! Thank you ever so much for your kind words! I am not sure what is going on with the Google subscriptions again, but I haven't been receiving all of them, either. I so appreciate you re-subscribing and trust the Lord will bless you abundantly! I am praying for you every day and hope today is a great day for you!! Much love and many hugs to you, too, my dear friend. :)
DeleteI cannot remember when I first found this couple's music on YouTube. They have an incredible sound.
ReplyDeleteOne more week of radiation.
Laura
I am so thankful that you are nearing the end of this difficult journey, Laura. Praying for you every, single day.
DeleteOh my goodness Cheryl, I LOVE this group! Thank you so much for introducing me to them. I listened to "Down to the River", and I recognized it from the soundtrack to the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". It's so beautifully done, and how fun that they included their little guy on the track too.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is just fascinated with tiny houses. Me? Not so much, but I admire the dedication to simplicity. They are truly putting that sensibility first. Awesome.
God bless you and keep you,
Ceil
You are so right..."Down To The River To Pray", was sung by Alison Krauss on that soundtrack. We find tiny houses very fascinating, too!! So thankful for your sweet visit and so sad that you won't be blogging anymore. I hope we keep in touch always...you have been such a dear blessing to me for so long! Thank you for your kind words. Please keep in touch. God bless you. :)
DeleteWhy does he takeover every post and video? When they went to their parents homes, he showed a lot of his place and only the hall and one room of her parents home. Every video is about him and w h at he is doing, and give her tiny parts in everything. She is the talent in their group and his ego takes over every time and talks about his self.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your visit and comment. I so appreciate you sharing your thoughts! I, too, would love to hear Lindsay more on the videos. I enjoyed hearing her sing with her Dad when they visited his home and would have loved to hear and see more of that and more about her home and childhood. Family harmony is so tight and such a blessing to listen to.
Deletegod bless
DeleteGod bless you, too!
DeleteDesde Mendoza, Argentina estoy descubriendolos. Son maravillosos. Sus canciones me acercan al Señor. Dios los bendiga!
ReplyDeleteGracias, Graciela! Estoy agradecido por tu visita! Dios los bendiga, también!
DeleteWhat a blessing to hear the songs that lift my spirit to the things of God. I love your life of total dependence on God and the way you're bringing up your boys in ways of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI roast coffee here in Sydney, Aust. The coffee is grown by village people in the highlands of Papua New Guinea where I come from.
If you send me your address I will send you a package as gift. God bless
I do not know if Brackin and Lindsay saw this comment or not, but I wanted to thank you for stopping by and being so kind. May the Lord bless you and your coffee business!
DeleteQue maravilha encintrei esse casal abençoado cantando Give me Jesus. Eu estava no fundo poco.
ReplyDeleteLamento saber que você estava tão deprimido e sou muito grato por Deus ter trazido você até aqui para ouvir essa música! Por favor, olhe para Jesus. Ele te ama muito e está sempre com você!
DeleteHello my dear friends in Christ. My Mom loves seeing Lindsay and Brackin and their newest addition Elijah in your Blessed Assurance video, but all of your boys are very great! God is blessing your family particularly as you are honoring the Sabbath. Please feel free to email me. I would love the Christian interaction. May God continue to use your 👪 in His Service I 🙏. Shawn PS Those Silo sessions are Heavenly with Christian 💘.
ReplyDeleteHello! My name is Cheryl, and I am the author of this blog and the one who conducted the interview. Not sure if Brackin or Lindsay read these comments, so just wanted to make you aware of the fact you may not hear back from them in response to your comment here on my blog. Also, your email address is not included here since you commented as "Unknown," so neither they nor I would have any way to directly respond to you. If you are hoping to reach them with your comment, you will need to go to their website or channels. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteI love the innocence of this good, Christ-centered family. When Christ is at your center, you are clean, pure and innocent in His Ways, His Commandments as He takes us back to the Father through His Atoning Sacrifice. I love to watch this family sing the songs of the Savior and feel of their spirit. Makes me happy and that is one of the principle reasons we are here on this earth--to be happy and I think that true happiness comes through Jesus the Christ, Son of God
ReplyDeleteBrother Wayne, thank you so much for your comment. I am so sorry I am just now getting to respond. True happiness surely does come only through Jesus, our precious Lord and Savior. May He bless you always.
DeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteI just chanced upon this and I am grateful to the Lord Jesus. God bless you more, Cheryl, for bringing this beautiful family to us. Tiny homes...I am beginning to reconsider why I would want to leave in a mansion. All glory to the Lord for this family. I pray the Lord continues to work with them.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving encouragement behind! May God bless you!
Deletepraise the lord
ReplyDeleteHas been a healing balm for my soul as life winds down and ages and many sicknesses begin with the life of aging. In regards to the music of Seems Like Reign so calming letting relax, pray and try to downsize to the simple way. From the Hymns of old, to the more modern Hymns of today’s traditional denominational church music and worship and praise music of today. This music to sooth the soul to bring closer to the Lord God of Israel the acceptance of the Lamb of God our Savior Christ Jesus with the soft but mighty power of the Holy Spirit. Much need in this world gone mad ripe for the return of the Lion of Judea. They clearly made their own Eden a truth vision of the Upside of living a simple life. Thank you and them for this gift to a slowly dying pain ridden old man longing for his home in Heaven where the soul is always at peace with no pain, no sickness, no death only an eternity of bringing Glory to God Almighty in worship and praise World With Out End Amen and Amen. Thanks to all the comfort y’all have brought me. Please pray with me Come On Down Lord Jesus Come Soon! Also I’ll gladly accept any and all prayers on my healing and comfort I can get. God Bless and Good Day.
ReplyDelete