music monday// You make me brave

hi lovely folks! of course, it's mondayyy again!!! good thing for me is that it's a holiday back here in le ghana. ;) (this is actually a scheduled post because urm, i'd be caught up on monday with a number of things...like finishing up on my new booook! sshhhh... keep it down. i'm excited too! :D)

so yeah, scheduled post or not. i'm so glad i get to be a part of your monday. :)

so this song! i so love it. aside the lovely words, you should know the other reason why i love it. guessss.

okay, okay, i love it extra because it's sang by kidssss! :D i find myself laughing and dancing around whenever i have bethel music kids singing a tune. i promise, you'd love it.

soak it in all you can.

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You make me brave// bethel music kids

I stand before You now
The greatness of your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in
I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.

  The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”// deuteronomy 31:6-8

 

whatever you're facing, you need to be brave and pray through it, sing through it, find a reason to laugh through it. the world needs you brave. :)

 

The Lord God Himself is for you.

 

be brave!

xoxo, delali. 

Waiting in hope

Hi guys! So, I’ve been a lil MIA huh. Well, I’m here now. :)

For many years, I’ve waited. Waited on the Lord for His promises to take root in my life and bloom. Sometimes it seems as if it’s going to take forever for what I pray for to show up, while other times without a beat, God faithfully answers my silent prayers. (yeah, including the ones I'm too embarrassed to say. *facepalm*)

“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.” Psalm 71:14

I’ve prayed and waited for big things. Big things like...

Healing and good health when I was particularly ill some years ago. Like, weird, serious sick when the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong, and yet I miraculously got healed. Praise Jesus.

A change of heart on a particular night when I knelt in prayer & for real laid it all at Jesus’ feet and surrendered, as hot tears trickled down. I rededicated this life of mine back to its Creator, the one who knows best. The most important decision ever I’ve made is to accept Jesus as my very own sweet Savior. This is a daily wait, a daily dying to self as God purifies me & plucks out all the weeds in my heart.

Provision for school...for mission trips.

My sanity. (The kind of crazy I deal with aint easy, people!)

Good friendships... for a heart that refuses to give up on healthy, Godly friendships despite some of the rotten ones I’ve had. Aint cool when friendships end up being one-sided and, I don’t know about you but I don’t dig being the third wheel either. Ya feel me? It’s not friendship when they try to make you beg for their attention.

Good grades.

My undergraduate studies. I’m thankful I graduated successfully after four looong years!

 

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

And I’ve waited and prayed for ‘little’ things like...

Not snoozing the alarm when it goes off and actually getting my sleepy self to rouse.

A good night’s rest.

The rain holding up on a day I forget my umbrella.

Getting a seat on the bus early, to avoid too much hassle.

Hoping the food i just ate isn't sticking in between my teeth. 

The soles of my shoes not wearing out too fast, cos God knows I do lotsss of walking lately, especially on work days. (I’m serious guys.)

And the list goes on...

As I’m thankful to God for answering most of my prayers, new prayers are making their way up to Him. And all I can do is wait. 

“But if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:24

In this season of my life, God is reminding me to wait in hope. No matter how fast I wish and pray for my one year mandatory service of work to my country to end, I’ll just have to wait. Why do I want it to end you ask? Cos what I’m doing is not really my passion, and of course, the allowance is nothing to talk of. You can barely save from it. The government aint paying well for the hours I put in and it totally drives me nuts knowing that I could be somewhere else on the globe, and making more for the same amount of hours I’m putting in. It’s like my labour isn’t valued, and that’s.not.cool. So you see, low motivation right there. But like you wait for a convenient time to give in to that bad itch in that super awkward spot, I will wait and work as though I’m working for the Lord. This too shall pass.

“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

 

I’m praying big, adult prayers...I’m trusting God, like reaaallly trusting Him to honor the prayers I pray for my Godly man. I’m waiting in hope, leaving God to write out my love story, believing that at His right and perfect time, the man He knows deserves my heart will come and really pursue me, and I wouldn’t have to compete or beg for his love. I’m trusting that wherever on this earth he may be, our paths and stories will intertwine in God’s time. Because really, in God’s time, He makes ALL things beautiful. It may seem like a fantasy or even wishful thinking to believe that a man who loves Jesus with all His heart exists and is somewhere also waiting to meet me, to love on me, but it’s oh, so real. I’m walking by faith, not by sight so...

 I will wait in hope.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

For all the dreams & plans I have for my future, I’m leaving the details to my Father, whose thoughts are higher and waayyyy better than mine. I’m in safe hands. 

“Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7,8

The wait isn’t easy. The wait is tough, it’s hard, scary even. But it’s going to be so SO worth it.

And like John Waller rightfully says,

I will serve You while I’m waiting,
I will worship while I’m waiting.

Wait on the Lord. xoxo 

Delali.

The way He speaks

A number of months ago when I was still in school, something happened that encouraged me and made me smile. It was nothing dramatic or ‘huge,’ but even in its subtle form, it was and still is a big deal to me. It was an early morning on a Sunday and I was heading to church. I was taking a long sidewalk from my school that leads to a bus stop outside the campus. I can’t really place my finger on all the thoughts I had going on but I’m pretty sure cluttered thoughts about the present and my future and how things will play out were on my mind as they often are.

 

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As I was walking with my jumbled thoughts, and likely anticipating the message which God was going to whisper to my heart in church, the chorus of a song came to me. It was an old song I hadn’t heard in a long while. You know when something happens and you go like ‘that must be God’? That’s exactly what I told myself. The chorus of the song goes like this :

I'm already there
Take a look around
I'm the sunshine in your hair
I'm the shadow on the ground
I'm the whisper in the wind
I'm your imaginary friend
And I know I'm in your prayers
Oh I'm already there 

I'm already there
Don't make a sound
I'm the beat in your heart
I'm the moonlight shining down
I'm the whisper in the wind
And I'll be there until the end
Can you feel the love that we share
Oh I'm already there.

I have no idea where the song came to me from. Like I said, I hadn’t heard it in a long, long while and from nowhere, without making any effort to remember it whatsoever, the song filled my head. I was quite surprised and yet convinced at the same time that God was trying to talk to me using these lyrics although the context of the whole song isn’t necessarily from the viewpoint of God.

I believe God speaks to us all the time. Through the Word, a friend, a movie, a song, a dream and even a complete stranger (this happened to me years ago and yeah, you guessed right. I was totally a lil freaked out. lol) Isn’t God so creative to speak to His children in such different ways?! 

There are other times He speaks to us using repetition. Like, you come across something related to a particular thing so many times you know it just can’t be coincidence. For instance, I usually take part in an online Bible study on twitter and a couple of months back, the book of study was Daniel. When I was in church that week, scriptures from Daniel were part of the main reference scriptures read (no, we don’t read Daniel every time in church), and around that time too, I heard on the radio something about the book of Daniel. If you ask me, this couldn’t have been coincidental. They occurred around the same period that I began to ask myself: what is God trying to tell me specifically in this season of my life from the book of Daniel? I thought through it and came to the wonderful understanding that I might be going through tough stuff which may look overwhelming to overcome, but with God by my side, just like He was in the midst of the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they stayed alive, just as He protected Daniel from harm by sending an angel to shut the mouths of the lions in the den, that is the same way He is going to protect me. I may go through a fiery furnace or face lions, but I will NOT be harmed. I may experience very uncomfortable situations, but that’s not going to bring me down.

I’m oh, so thankful to God that He thinks about me and cares enough to assure me that whatever brand of crazy going on in my life, He’s right there with me. He really is. And that gladdens this sometimes fretting heart of mine. I need to be attentive and listen to Him all the time so I don’t miss anything. And though I haven’t yet experienced hearing Him literally speak to me like in the Moses and the burning bush scenario, (how I can’t wait for this to happen) I appreciate all the other ways God chooses to speak to me, His beloved. :) Whenever I feel very strongly about a scripture or convicted about something, I know that’s God right there, tugging at my heart.

I don’t know which ways God speaks to you specifically aside the Bible, but I pray that He opens your heart to figure it out and be guided by His loving instructions through every season in your life. And I hope that when someone prophesies to you, you take the time to pray about it yourself to verify if what the person said was actually from God before taking it in, hook, line and sinker. :) (You need to be careful with these things.)

No matter what you’re going through, trust me, I know what pain is. What I go through may not be exactly what you’re going through but dear one, know that God is there with you in the midst of it all. Is it present struggles, uncertainties about the future that leaves you panicking and close to tears? You’ll be just fine. Keep your head up, and listen to His still, small voice. And just like He was speaking to me through that song, know that no matter what you’re facing, He is already there with you. He’s always going to be with us and we shall overcome.

Be encouraged. xoxo

Delali.

My final week in SA

Well, hello there! I know, I've stalled a bit on this post. Apparently, a bad malaria fever thought it was fun to attack me the past week, but here I am, healthy and strong again, thanks to our awesome Healer. :)

Ok, let's cut to the chase. lol.The final week in SA was bittersweet. As much as I loved my experience, I was kinda dying to get back to my warm Ghana. ;) Seriously. Missions is certainly not the most glamorous, luxurious work to do. We always slept late and woke up early dawn to pray. But that's what it's all about. Sacrifice. I made that tough decision to leave behind my comfort and go out there because I'm that concerned about the lives and souls of people I don't even know. And as I felt thankful and fulfilled to have done my assignment in SA/Swaziland those three weeks, I also looked forward to the new chapter of my life. (this lass is a fresh graduate!...I know, I don't look it. lol)

Ministering to some Oosrand senior high learners, focusing on 2 Timothy 2:22

"But flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the name of the Lord from a pure heart."

During one of the love fellowship meetings at Tembisa.

 

Celebrating Denzel's birthdayyy! (guy on the extreme right)

That's our host pastor, Pastor Wesley in the striped shirt and his wife on his right. Such sweet people!

Me with Jayden, Denzel's fiancee. :)

So, the teachers and students of Goede Hoop Primary, one of the schools we consistently ministered at, loved us so much they decided to have a lil thank you/goodbye party for us. These are some of the lovely students dancing to 'Who am I' by Casting Crowns. I  certainly was entertained and happily sang along too. *claps* Oh, they danced so beautifully!

That's one of the teachers presenting some gifts they had packaged for us. Talk about lovely hearts!

This is my precious gift from the teachers. A Bible to make teaching kids about God extra fun! Thank you Goede Hoop Primary!!!

Aquala, the school prefect & her buddy, Mickayla and I.

That's Mickayla teaching me how to play some melodies on their huge xylophones.

See, I'm a fast learner. ;)

Sweet Kayla dropped by when we were decorating placards for our very last Jesus March.

The placards all ready for the march.

I chanced on some of the kids from our host church playing in a park during the march. I miss these kids!

BBQ party at our host pastors house. The steak though. Finger lickin'!

Crystal! Miss her lots.

Before church service on the very last day.

Me with elder Celeste from Potter's House and her son after service. *Goodbye pictures*

Remember Nokwanda from Swaziland? Yurp. It was such a pleasant surprise to see her come over to fellowship with us at Potter's House and go see us off at the airport. :)

Final moments at Potter's House.

At O.R Tambo Int. airport. Leaving was getting real, but I kept my smile anyway. :)

A slice of O.R Tambo Int. airport. It's so huge and beautiful.

Grabbing a bite at Nandos after check in.

 

My almost cleared plate.

Yeah, you guessed right. I couldn't miss taking a snap with the cloth imprinted with the photo of our dear Nelson Mandela. :)

 

 A snap of one of the numerous planes at the airport.

I had a flight to catch but of course, I stopped for a snap. lol We would have been a lil late if we hadn't super hurried our tails from Nandos to get through security. Nandos is right inside the airport but I tell you, it's a long way from there to security. We skipped and ran when we could. lol I was bold to stop and take this snap cos I was done with security and I was literally about to board my flight. Plus, I needed to catch my breath and I loved the view. ;)

I totally enjoyed my 6 hr flight back home. I watched some comedy shows to while away the time, and I conked out while watching Despicable Me 1. Oh well... South African Airways has great service though. :)

Yeah, I got a middle lane seat this time around, but I thoroughly enjoyed the flight all the same. :)

And it's goodbye to SA...till some other time.

I've learned so much from this experience, seriously. Being with the kids from our host church and the schools brings me such joy and I believe God is calling my heart into children's ministry. The way the faces of the kids light up when I'm hanging with them is something of a confirmation for me.
I'm glad I got to speak with all the people I spoke with on this trip. I believe God beautifully designed it all even before I made the decision to GO. And I'm so thankful for being graced with the wisdom and strength in my beginning steps to honor Matthew 28:19,20

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

I pray that all Christ followers will see the seriousness of this scripture and put their comfort on hold for the greatness of the Kingdom.
I pray all Christ followers see themselves as default missionaries with a task to GO near and far to share the Good News, helping to save souls from the horror of hades and to encourage people in their walk with Jesus.

God needs you on board dear one. What do you say? :) xoxo,
Delali.

A Special Person Called Mom

“No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love.  It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star.”  ~Edwin Hubbell Chapin

So today’s Mother’s day! Wooot wooot! How precious mothers are! I’m so very glad for God choosing for me to have an earthly mother who cares about me a whole awful lot. I wouldn’t know where I would be without my sweet mother. Well, we have our days but I’m thankful for her life and I appreciate her a lot.

It’s a beautiful thing to have a bond with your mother or a mother figure, you know. It’s a special thing. I mean who is there whenever you are sick and bombards your phone with a thousand calls just to check up on you? Who comforts you and tells you everything will be alright when you know at that point it’s far from the truth? Who sacrifices endlessly just to make sure you are comfortable and have everything you need? Who shows you such compassion and love that draws you nearer to God? Who’s cooking tastes way better than any other?...The person who comes to mind in all these is my one and only mother! 

“Let your mother be glad, let her who bore you rejoice.” Proverbs 23:25

One thing I really admire about my mother is her ability to be strong in the most heart breaking situations. Like seriously, she’s blessed with some extra ordinary strength. I think about it sometimes and I’m like Lord, please lemme be this strong for my children one day. It was my mom who made sure all the times I got ill as a child (which was very frequent) that I got the necessary treatment to get well...she still does this in the present. It’s my mom’s love for the unlovable which softens my heart to learn how to love. It’s my mom who showers me with prayers all the time.

We’ve come on such a long roller coaster ride. It’s been hard...splashes of happy, dashes of frustrations and sorrow but still I love my mommy! She gets to deal with my moods and sees my weaknesses...she knows my secret future plans. I can be a handful sometimes but she puts up with me. It’s my mom who really understands my need for my personal space, how I’m introverted and laid back...and doesn’t impose being social on me. She knows it’s a learning process for me. And I love, love that I can act all silly with her. LOL Her sacrifices for me are too much and I thank God for that. 

“Honor your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 5:16

I’m grateful that God chose my mom to be my earthly mother, that she made the choice to keep me in her womb all those nine months, nurtured me as a Christian, and still continues to take care of me. I couldn’t be more thankful. I pray that God blesses and keep her and bless me too so that I can love on her some more for the years ahead. I pray that God uses me to bring glory to her and to bring her all the happiness she deserves to experience, the happiness we’ve both missed out on so often...

So go on ahead and show your mom you appreciate her... Her sacrifices, her delicious cooking, her hugs and kisses, her words of encouragement and comfort, her much needed scolding. (Yeah, we need that too.) Let the mother figure in your life know that you appreciate her time with you. Let nothing come between you and your mother. Is it some past hurts or a present bone you have to pick with her? Please let it all slide. Fight hard to forgive and love her. She keeping you and deciding to give birth to you is reason enough to be thankful for her life. Be thankful that you are alive because God chose her to birth you to fulfil the purposes He has for you. Let’s not wait till mother’s day before we show our mothers how much we care. Appreciating our mothers should be a daily thing, a way of life. Go celebrate your mother!

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.  ~Honoré de Balzac 

So here’s to A Happy Mother’s Day!!! All mothers out there living it up according to God's Word and who are there for your children, God bless you, O so much! :D xoxo

Delali.