music monday// mine

hi folks! sooooo, i returned from a local missions trip just today! it was in a community somewhere in my country, Ghana. and of course, i made lotssss of friends with the kids there. ;) more details on the trip later.

today, i'm sharing a sweet song by hollyn. it makes me dwell on how i have Jesus as mine. i know He died and rose for humanity yet i still get to have a very personal relationship with Him. isn't that just amazingggg?!!! enjoy the song!

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mine// hollyn

Nothing in this world
Nothing in this whole wide world
Could ever take me from Your hand
Even if I run away
And I don't have the strength to make it back home
I know that You will guide me

Cause You are the One who picked me up
Brushed me off and called me loved
You showed me I am Yours

You are mine
Jesus, You are mine
I know that I'm unworthy
Completely undeserving
I'm amazed, I'm amazed
That I am Yours
And You are mine
You are mine

Even when I can't feel You
Even when my soul is crying out
And it looks like I have nobody

Lord, You'll be the One to pick me up
Brush me off and call me loved
Yes, I know that I am Yours

And You are mine
Jesus, You are mine
I know that I'm unworthy
Completely undeserving
I'm amazed, I'm amazed
That I am Yours
And You are mine

I am home, I am home
I am home here with You
I am home, I am home
I am home here with You

Oh, Jesus I am home, I am home
I am home right here with You
I'm blessed to call you... mine
I'm amazed that you are... mine

I know that I'm unworthy
Completely undeserving
I'm amazed, I'm amazed
That I am Yours
Oh, I'm amazed
I'm amazed
That I am Yours
And You are mine
You are mine 

Jesus Himself says:  "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." //John 10:28-29

 "...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes."// isaiah 61:3

  i know sometimes the enemy tries to play on our minds and tries so hard to use people and circumstance to make feel unworthy and think that we are trash but thank God there is Jesus! He loves us sooo much! and absolutely nothing can take us from Him unless we choose to walk away from Him to dwell in the camp of the enemy and stubbornly refuse to go back to Him.

i love that Jesus loves me...on my good days, and especially on my bad days. and i love that when I was in the pit of depression He was there with me...crying in the pit with Me and pulled me out, brushed me off and called me loved. i love how He keeps reminding me that He is alwayssss with me and that i should keep my focus on Him. He is a tender Bestfriend and i love, love, how i can tell Him everything and anything, even when i have hard questions i need Him to explain. He is awesome!

 as you're reading this i'd like to encourage you to make your walk with Jesus very personal. He has unique ways that He communicates with all of His children. Physically talking to Him and journaling help me to get up close and personal with Him. He is mine, and i am His and i love it!

xoxo

gen delali

music monday// You don't miss a thing

Hiya! I'm sharing a song that holds such a special place in my heart. i love it so much because it's like poetry to my soul. it reminds me of how Jesus pursues me so relentlessly. no matter where i go, wherever i am, He is with me, He knows me by my name. and what even baffles my mind is how there are thousands and thousands of humans walking the face of this earth and yet He still knows me and loves me as if i'm the only person He has as a friend and co-hier of our Father.

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You don't miss a thing// bethel music

When You stand
I feel the floor of Heaven tremble
As You breathe
We live and have our being
When You speak
Oh I feel it in my chest
When You sing
All my fears are put to rest

What a wondrous thing
I can stand to sing
Cause when I fall to my knees,
You’re the one who pulls me up again

What a mystery
That You notice me
And in a crowd of ten thousand
You don’t miss a thing
You don't miss a thing

When You sigh
The wind becomes a sonnet
When You laugh
The storm around me ceases
You whisper
And all my enemies are scattered
You surround me
With angels on assignment

What a wondrous thing
I can stand to sing
Cause when I fall to my knees
You're the one who pulls me up again

What a mystery
That you notice me
And in a crowd of ten thousand
You don't miss a thing
Cause You see everything

And I am seen
And I am known
  By the King of kings
And Lord of lords

There's no place I can go
Where Your love won't find me
No place I can hide
That You don't see
  No place I can fall
Where Your love couldn't catch me
You see it all, You see it all
Through the eyes of love...oh oh oh oh oh

There's no place I can go
  Your love won't find me
No place I can hide
That You can't see
No place I can fall
  Your love wouldn't catch me
You see it all, You see it all
And You're in everything, You're all around me..yeah eehh

When I withdraw..still You pursue

There's no place I can go
Where Your love won't find me
No place I can hide
That you don't see
When I'm misunderstood
Your love understands me
You see it all, you see it all
You're in everything

There's no place I can go
That you won't find me
There's no place I can hide
That You don't see
No place I could fall
Your love wouldn't catch me
You see it all, You see it all
Through the eyes of love

i hope you have thoroughly soaked in the beautiful lyrics of this soul-stirring song. i love bethel music so much! The love of Jesus sets me free, it allows me to dance in this safe freedom, it fills my heart full to the brim to know that the most important Person ever to walk on this earth loves me! and knows me! and pursues me!whoaaaa! this is some crazy, crazy love! francis chan is absolutely right with his book.

 i bet you'd feel special if the queen of England knew your name, and was personallyyour friend, only a phone call away. how much more Jesus, the King of aaaaallllllll kings! the fact that we can't see Him wit our physical eyes does not mean that He's not real. as Christians our walk is one of faith, not by sight. He's so near. He knows you! let's seek Him by intentionally spending time with Him, the Word, by talking to Him every single day throughout the day, by listening to what He has to say about the day He has planned for us. He's incredible ad awesome!

 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’// acts 17:28

 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

^17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!

God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
    I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
    before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
    I can’t take it all in! // psalm 139:1-6 (msg)


Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!// psalm 139:13-22 (msg)

Jesus loves each human being so much! We are all unique too and no wonder we all have different thumbprints. He loves us all personally. He's able to do this because He's Jesus, our Savior. Only He can save, only He can love us this way. let's trust Him with our lives some more. He's so present and close to our hearts

xoxo,

gen delali.

music monday // still that girl

hey, hey, hey! I've been a lil MIA the past couple of weeks. my bad, folks.
so today, I'm gonna share a beautiful song of bravery by britt nicole! the song brings memories of the years when i was so wide eyed with so much hope that my plans were gonna play out. you know, when i thought there was no way God was going to deny me the scholarship i wanted with all my heart right after I completed uni. The world was before me and i couldn't wait to make a change.

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oh, but He had other plans. plans that i thought were too different from who i thought i was. plans that seemed way, way, way too good to be true to the point that they completely freaked me out.

but as the years have been passing by, I'm beginning to realize how perfectly faithful Father is. so not getting the scholarship for the program i wanted stung. buuuttt, He's so gooood. He's provided me with a scholarship to study what He wanted me to study for my masters all along! And me + God, we're still gonna make the change I always wanted. And it's gonna be waaaayyyyyy better than my dreams. some dreams must die for better things to be birthed.

so, yah, enjoy the song.

still that girl// britt nicole

Dreams, they come

Plans, they change. Yeah, we’re gonna break

Things we face make us who we are

Baby, you’re a star shining in the dark

Let’s go back to the summer,

The summer when we dreamed in love

Let’s go back again, let’s go back again

Yeah, back again, my friend to the summer when…

I’m holding a picture from 7 years back

I smile at the memory, it’s smiling right back at me, and I see

Brown hair and bright eyes, such a beautiful blue,

A heart full of laughter with nothing to lose

That’s how I remember you

You were young, you were free

And you dared to believe you could be the girl

Who could change the world

Then your life took a turn

And you fell and it hurt

But you’re still that girl

And you’re gonna change this world

Woa oo oo o o o, you’re still that girl

Sometimes life don’t go the way you planned

And we all have days when we just don’t understand

Searching for meaning, it’s not always easy

But your story’s not over, it’s still being told

Your sunrise is coming, brighter than gold

Lets go back again to the summer when

What if the picture is bigger than you see

And God has you right where He wants you to be

Just listen to your heart

He’s telling you with every beat

You’re still that girl

You were young, you were free

And you dared to believe you could be the girl

Who could change the world

Then your life took a turn

And you fell and it hurt

But you’re still that girl

And you’re gonna change this world

Woa oo oo o o o, you’re still that girl

I see it in your eyes, I see it in your smile

                                                                You’re still that girl

"In their hearts man plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."// proverbs 16:9


Remember that no matter how twisted your plans get, God has better plans for your precious life. It's gonna take some time, but things will pan out so well and fine if you truly trust in Him and never give up. no matter where your story has gotten to, you're still that girl and you're gonna change this world one person at a time. :)

and it doesn't even matter that i've blogged about this song before. ;)

xoxo, gen delali

soulful hymns// hark, the voice of Jesus calling!

heya! i'd like to introduce a new line of songs i'd be blogging about. guesssss!!!!

hymns!!! :D i grew up mostly catholic and got to learn and sing a lot of hymns plus i went to an all-girls catholic senior high school too. but well, with time i grew out of being catholic. i guess i desired something more, not to mention that i had a tad load of excuses to give not to go for mass on sundays especially during vacation times from school. a great deal of my sundays during my university life was my laundry time and watching unnecessary tv series + movies. 

lemme pause on this bit of the story and tell you about "why hymns?" considering it's 1:22 am and i awfully need me some beauty sleep.

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so the long and short of my story about hymns is that, i sang them alright in church, but i didn't ever bother to actually hunt them down, learn the lyrics and collect them on my playlist. i found them too slow and well sometimes 'boring'

but these days, i've been pondering on how Father says in His love letters to us that we need to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to encourage ourselves. actually, all the 3 worship camps at which i recently served as one of the camp ministers had ephesians 5:18-19 as the key scripture. 

and i'm being reminded how hymns actually have deep meaning to their words. and you know ya girl, she likes deep. ;) i find the words of hymns carrying so much depth, so much weight. the depth that actually moves you to think some more on eternity and Jesus and the meaning of the lives we are living on this fleeting earth. this depth obviously comes from some of the difficult personal experiences of the composers. 

and this hymn...hark the voice of Jesus calling...there's just something about it. i came across it twice last month on 1st december and the second time a few days after that. the first encounter was when after going back to facebook after 3 years of deactivating my facebook account, i saw it on a friend's facebook wall. i didn't know why then, but the words meant something more to me than mere lyrics and i read each line with intrigue. 

the second encounter with this hymn was a few days after the first encounter. when i realized it was the same hymn that intrigued me on my friend's FB wall i went like, this hymn again! i shook my head in quiet disbelief but somehow smiled too. as i sang it with some lovely humans after a much convicting message about missions and missionaries, i just knew God was talking to me. as i sang this beautiful and compelling hymn, i couldn't withhold the tears. they flowed down unhindered and i wasn't in the least ashamed. i let them flow as Jesus was tugging at my heart yet again about what He had been telling me way back in 2013 before i actually went on a missions trip to south africa and swaziland about serving Him in ministry as a missionary. i just knew encountering this soul stirring hymn on both occasions wasn't some coincidence. (i'll fill you guys in on more details about the call Jesus has on my life to be a missionary + teacher).

so as i offer this hymn to you, as i share the richness of its lines with you, i hope it somehow moves you to ask Father what He wants you to do about its message, should you go for a short term missions trip? has He called you to be a full time missionary? ask Him, talk it over with Him. in matthew 28:19 Jesus says we should GO and make disciples of all nations. every Christian is a default missionary wherever they find themselves. 

there's just something about soulful hymns. really, there is.

enjoy this lovely goodness. :)

Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling// Daniel March

Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, 

"Who will go and work today?

Fields are white and harvests waiting,

Who will bear the sheaves away?"

Loud and long the master calls you;

Rich reward He offers free.

Who will answer, gladly saying,

"Here am I. Send me, send me"?

If you cannot speak like angels,

If you cannot preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus;

You can say He died for all.

If you cannot rouse the wicked

With the judgment’s dread alarms,

You can lead the little children 

To the Savior’s waiting arms.

If you cannot be a watchman,

Standing high on Zion’s wall,

Pointing out the path to heaven,

Offering life and peace to all,

With your prayers and with your bounties

You can do what God demands;

You can be like faithful Aaron, 

Holding up the prophet’s hands.

Let none hear you idly saying,

"There is nothing I can do,"

While the multitudes are dying

And the master calls for you.

Take the task He gives you gladly;

Let His work your pleasure be.

Answer quickly when He calls you,

"Here am I. Send me, send me!"

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”// Isaiah 6:8

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." // Matthew 9: 35-38 

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. // ephesians 5:18-19

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." // colossians 3:16

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose." // acts 16:25-26

singing hymns is a very powerful tool against the enemy. it causes miracles, it helps me to dwell and ponder on Jesus some more and on things that actually matter on this side of heaven.

I hope this hymn means something deep to you after sticking it out with me, reading all my words above. i promise, i didn't mean to write so much, it just kinda happened. ;)

well, so Jesus desires for us, His children and friends to obey Him and share His gift of eternal salvation with others. you are a default missionary where you are. what is your response? 

xoxo, 

gen delali.

music monday// lovin' me

hi lovely humans!!! so  today, i was actually torn between two awesome songs by the same musician: the awesome jonathan mcreynolds. i was torn between sharing "loving me" and "the way that You love me." i wish i could share both today but I'm going with "loving me" for today.

i guess i'm torn between the two because they both talk abut the love of Jesus. and He sure has been flooding me with His love...like it's crazy, i can't begin to describe it...but i will. i certainly will try in a book someday soon. His love is endless like the ever-widening ocean of blue skies.

 

(photo from when i was on my way to Swaziland from South Africa with my fellow missionaries in 2013) 

so this song is so dear to me because it echoes my thoughts about how my Darling Jesus loves me with such a fierce passion...a relentless love. and i love how the lyrics are so personal. i love the vulnerability of it all.

here goes!

lovin' me// jonathan mcreynolds

 I'm nowhere close to a perfect man
And it takes a supernatural love to even understand
That beyond the walls behind, the mask and confident smile,
Was a broken man trying to grow up and make life worthwhile,

And I know there were times that You probably shouldn't,
But I thank You for always lovin' me
And I know anyone else they probably wouldn't,
  But I thank You for always lovin' me

Now I know there were days I looked at myself,
I felt like less of a person compared to everyone else,
What about this flaw too big too small, can I exchange?
And trying to make-up for where I fell short, I let sense slip away

  But when I look in the mirror and don't like what I see
Oh, I just thank You for always lovin' me.
And I know I get bad but You wait patiently
I wanna thank You for always lovin' me.


oh i just thank You for always lovin me
Father, i wanna thank You for always lovin me

See, You just keep lovin me,
lovin me

thank You for lovin me,
lovin me 2x

  oh Lord, i wanna thank You for always lovin' me


Though I know I don't have everything that it takes You keep lovin' me
And regardless of every mistake that I make, You keep lovin' me yeah
And it probably don't matter what I do or say, You keep lovin' me
ohhh and even with the pimples on my face, You keep lovin' me yeah

So You just keep lovin' me yeah, lovin me
  I wanna thank You for lovin' me, eeehhh lovin' me
oh so You just keep lovin me yeah

oh Lord I thank You for always lovin' me! yeah
Though i know i don't deserve it
You keep on lovin me
 and i know i didn't do nothing for it
but You keep on lovin me 
oh and when i really, really didn't love myself
Lord, You were there lovin me
ooohh, inspite of me, Lord, You just keep lovin me
Lord, I thank You for always lovin me.

don't you just love the soul with which he sings? it's coming straight from the heart.
these days i've been carving out time to dwell and ponder some more on the love Jesus says He has for me... jar of clay me. from the way i've experienced Him these past few years, i don't know how i'd ever doubt His presence in my life. like how??? 

my small frame doesn't stop Him from loving me and using me fr His purposes. not my terrible sins of kissing guys i used to like,(no worries, the last time that happened was summer 2012), not my sometimes judgemental thoughts towards others, not the insecurities that try to grab at my heart, not my doubts, fear, depression...not my huge, froggy, lazy eyes, not my huge set of teeth, not the blemishes on my face caused by my acne years. like nothing. NOTHING stops this perfect Gentleman from loving me. and i'm overwhelmed by this never-ending love.

thank You, Father for loving me. 

And its funny how it seems as if jon mcreynolds had me particularly in mind when he was writing this song. his songs are so real, so relatable. how i love them so! God bless you, mcreynolds!

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought.  You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. ⁴ You know what I am going to say before I even say it.  You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head!// psalm 139:1-5

  How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!// psalm 139:17-18

  "The Lord appeared to us in the past saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." // jeremiah 31:3

 ...But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.// romans 5:8

 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.// psalm 86:15

friend, Jesus loves you very much! i pray you get to experience this liquid love He has for you and be intentional to notice all the ways that He pours His ocean of love on you!


{so the organization i go for missions and outreaches with --Teens Aloud...well, we had a couple of camps and i'll be back to blog about them: the high school Christmas worship camp and the teen builders worship camp. i loved every bit of being a camp counselor. :) }
 

xoxo,

gen delali.

music monday//ever be

Hi, silent and faithful readers! Welcome to 2017! Though I'm a day late to wish you a joyful new year... JOYFUL NEW YEAR guys!!! :D Thanks for quietly reading and tagging along with me on my journey. You rock on so many levels. (wink wink) 😉

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Ok, so to the song. This one has been such a faithful companion of mine. Especially on days and nights when something threatens my security in Jesus. It was my companion on many days in November. The devil was trying his old pranks again and i was like naahhh, I've seen you do this before and I fell for it. Not again! 

So yours truly had this song on repeat literally like the whole day on 21st November. I could write a whole book about that particular week. I'll spare you the details for now. 

Enjoy! Oh, and i love, love, love the kids version of this song by bethel music kids!!! The first time i watched it on YouTube, which was about two weeks ago, I was like wooooooow!!! This is sooooo cooooool! So I've fixed in that video too!

 ever be // aaron shust

Your love is devoted like a ring of solid gold

Like a vow that is tested like a covenant of old

Your love is enduring through the winter rain

And beyond the horizon with mercy for today

Faithful You have been and faithful You will be

You pledge Yourself to me and it's why I sing

(chorus)

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

You Father the orphan

Your kindness makes us whole

And You shoulder our weakness

And Your strength becomes our own

Now You're making me like You

Clothing me in white

Bringing beauty from ashes

For You will have Your bride

Free of all her guilt and rid of all her shame

And known by her true name and it's why I sing

(chorus)

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

You will be praised You will be praised

With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord

You will be praised You will be praised

With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord

And it's why I sing

(chorus)

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Ever be on my lips, ever be on, ever be on my lips

the lovely version by bethel music kids. I love it soooo much it makes me wanna cry happy tears. ;) the woods, lake, mountains in the distance, lush green scenery and of course, cute, happy kids in love with Jesus around a camp fire roasting marshmallows. how can i possibly not love it?!

"I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." //psalm 34:1

"The Lord appeared to us in the past saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." // jeremiah 31:3

"But now, this is what the Lord says- He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name, you are mine.' "// isaiah 43:1

I hope I've succeeded in making you fall in love with this song! Thank me later :)
xoxo ,
gen delali.