music monday// storyteller

Life is a journey. Sometimes it’s such an uphill climb that leaves us bruised and hurting. It’s like a range of mountains we keep climbing. The valleys in between aint no sunshine and flowers either. most times it’s like I just can’t catch a break.

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But when I cast my mind back on the paths I’ve wandered and journeyed on, I can see that even in the heartaches, I wasn’t alone. I can see that the pain doesn’t last forever. Even though in the moment it looked like that was the end of me, I didn’t stay in the moment of hurt. God helped me through it, and it comforts me to know that He’ll keep helping me through.

It’s such a great thing to get to journal all that the Lord’s been doing in and through me, to get to write about His faithfulness. An anthology and book are sure to grow out of it someday soon. ;)

This song. I love, love, love it. loved it the first time i heard it. it reminds me of the storyteller that God has made me to be. Oh, and I like how Jamie grace echoes in the background. (if you haven’t caught on, jamie and morgan are actually sisters :) I hope you like it!

 storyteller~ morgan harper nichols

On a Sunday evening I’m looking back

over all the years and where I’ve been

Looking at old photographs

I’m remembering You were right there,

and You have been ever since

with every page that turns, I see Your faithfulness

oooh, the mountain where I climbed, the valley where I fell

You were there all along, that’s the story I’ll tell

You brought the pieces together, made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That’s the story I’ll tell

there were some nights I felt like they would last forever

but You kept me breathing,

You were with me right there (tell ‘em)

And all that You have done for me

I could never hold it in

So here’s me telling this story over and over again

You hold the broken,

You hear my every cry, my every cry

(You hear my, You hear my)

My eyes are open, I know that it is well, it is well

oooh, the mountain where I climbed, the valley where I fell

You were there all along, that’s the story I’ll tell

You brought the pieces together, made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That’s the story I’ll tell, that’s the story I’ll tell

For years and years and years I’ll tell

That’s the story I’ll te-e-e-ell

(love both the music and lyric videos)

“even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.” psalm 23:4

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 corinthians 1:9

“because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Dear friend, however twisted your story has been, the Lord is faithful to use it to bring you good and glory for Himself. I’m so not where I thought I’d be by now. You might be thinking along the same lines with your life too, but God knows what He’s up to. Let’s allow Him to write His story through us.

Remember Joseph? I bet he thought his dreams of becoming a prominent leader seemed like a distant fantasy while he was a slave + in prison. But see how the good Lord used that time to train him for leadership, and the dream actually became a reality! We may be seeing the end goal now but God knows the process through which we’ll be refined for that end goal. Let’s trust that He’s in the process with us. We are never alone.

xoxo, gen delali.

music monday// beautiful day

hi, guys!!! happy new year! i hope the new year found you rejoicing in the presence of God! :)

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so, let’s start the first monday in 2015 with an upbeat song, shall we?! i love, love this song. it reminds me that i don’t have to have all things going perfect before i know life is beautiful. the fact that i’m breathing is enough reason to praise God. and i know sometimes that seems to be not enough reason, like i must have all the things i ask God before i’m joyful. nope. i’m alive, and that means God has a purpose for me. i don’t want to take His breath in me for granted. psalm 51:1 says restore to me the joy of Your salvation.. if nothing at all, heaven waits for me, and that sure is enough reason for me to be joyful and revel in each day that God wakes me up to. 

beautiful day ~ jamie grace

Oh oh oh wake up and smile cause it’s been a while

It’s been like a whole day since I stopped so You could hold me

This child awakes strong in the faith,

Lord, You are the refuge that I can’t wait to get to

Cause I can’t let a day go, can’t let a day go by

without thanking You for the joy that You bring to my life

and oh, there’s something ‘bout the way Your sun shines on my face

it’s a love so true I can never get enough of You

this feeling can’t be wrong

I’m about to get my worship on

Take me away, it’s a beautiful day, yeah, yeah, yeah it’s a beautiful day

When trouble seems to rain on my dreams,

It’s not a big, not a big deal

Let it wash all the bugs off my windshield

Cause You’re showing me in You I’m free

And You’re still the refuge that I’ve just got to get to

So I won’t let a day go, won’t let a day go by

So put the drop-top down, turn it up, I’m ready to fly

I’ve got no need to worry, I’ve got no room for doubt

No matter what’s coming at me, You’ll always be the beautiful I sing about

There aint no limitations to Your amazing grace, Your amazing grace

And there’s something ‘bout the way Your love shine on my face

Oh no, I just could never get enough of You

This feeling can’t be wrong

I’m about to get my worship on

I’m gonna sing a brand new song

Yeah, I’m about to get my worship on

Take me away on this beautiful day.

Beautiful day, it’s a beautiful day

Such a beautiful day.

“You make known to me the path of life;  You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

“the Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

“come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” Psalm 95:1

“sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.” Psalm 96:1-2

“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalm 104:33

“the name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

“therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1

“it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand form, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

“do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

God sends down the snow for a change of season, making us to be even more thankful for spring showers and new beginnings. He shines the brilliance of the sun on us to warm our bodies and displays His creative spark all around us…lovely sunrises and sunsets leaving the skies with mesmerizing streaks of pink, purple, orange and golden hues. no matter the brand of crazy you may be facing, it’s still a beautiful day. focus on God, and you’ll see!

have a purposeful and blessed new year! :)

xoxo, gen delali.

music monday// in the light

ok, moment of truth, i am a sinner. i am not perfect and i won't pretend to be. i'm under a standard of grace, not perfection. as long as i'm in this physical body, my spirit and the carnal part of me will continue to fight to have control over me. i'm thankful for grace, truly. so because of grace[undeserved favor], i choose to intentionally walk with Jesus and not live in an unbroken pattern of sin. 

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confession. sometimes the sin nature in me takes over. and that's because i begin to focus on me, myself, leaving my heart unguarded for the enemy to throw parties in my heart of hearts. i can be really judgmental deep down, criticizing people in the chambers of my mind. and my excuse is that well, Jesus didn't say i can't acknowledge the faults of others, what He did say is that i shouldn't go fixing others when i have my own unresolved flaws. although this is true, i wonder why i'm so quick to see the flaws in others rather than the lovely in them. hm, Jesus is still working on this with me.

and when it comes to forgiveness, it can be such a struggle for me. i'm this super sensitive person who can sense the state of emotions and wrong vibes from people, but then again, i sometimes tend to read too much in between the lines. oh, and anger, i'm getting better with not letting the sun go down on it. and the love your enemies bit? urm, let's just say, not an easy one for me. more grace is needed here.

also, i'm realizing the sensitive bit of me makes me tend to withdraw from people more than i should. so i end being like an onion, all wrapped up in layers, sometimes with unnecessary walls around me. why? cause i do not want to get hurt. i do not want people to know my insecurities. and that leads me to being real picky of who i choose to hang around with. and i know all the layers and brick of walls i put around me may keep out pain, but it will keep out love too. 

it's like i would want to be sure you're not going to hurt me before i open up to you. but there's no guarantee for this, right?  and i know it's wise to be intentional in choosing godly close friends, but it doesn't mean i can't be friendly to others outside my circle of friends. oh, but how i like to only be with 'my kind of people', my kindred spirits who get me. 

and other times i don't even want to be with my kindred spirits. i just want to be with me and Jesus. i crave lotsss of 'me time'. 'me time' is good, but i know, oh, i know, my crave for it can be a lil too much. i know unlike extroverts, i recharge on 'me-time' but i have to watch it so it doesn't over exceed and turn into a selfish habit. but with the help of my sweet Jesus, the self is making room for the Spirit and i'm learning to be more like Jesus, my Light. 

this song really convicts me of the selfish me hiding, lurking in the corners of my being. i hope it convicts you too in the areas you struggle with.

in the light ~ anthem lights and jamie grace

i keep trying to find a life on my own apart from You

i am the king of excuses, i've got one for every selfish thing i do.

what's going on inside me? i despise my own behavior.

this only serves to confirm my suspicions

that i'm still a man in need of a Savior.

i wanna be in the light as You are in the light

i wanna shine like the stars in the heavens.

oh, Lord be my light and be my salvation

all i want is to be in the light

all i want is to be in the light.

the disease of self runs through my blood

it's a cancer fatal to me soul

every attempt on my behalf has failed to bring this sickness under control

honesty becomes me (there's nothing left to lose)

the secrets that did run me (in Your presence are diffused)

pride has no position (and riches have no worth)

the fame that once did cover me (has been sentenced to this earth)

"when Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' " john 8:12

"i do not understand what i do. for what i want to do i do not do, but what i hate i do. and if i do what i do not want to do, i agree that the law is good. as it is no longer i myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. for i know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. for i have the desire to do what is good, but i cannot carry it out. for i do not do the good i want to do, but the evil i do not want to do- this i keep on doing. now if i do what i do not want to do, it is no longer i who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." romans 7:15-20

"if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. if we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us." 1 john 1:8-10

"so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. they are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." galatians 5:16-17

"put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. because of these, the wrath of God is coming. you used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. but now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." colossians 3:5-8

"I[Jesus] am the vine, you are the branches. if you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." john 15:5

"do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." matthew 6:19-21

"no one can serve two masters. either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. you cannot serve both God and money." matthew 6:24

"but seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." matthew 6:33

what are the things you struggle with? how is Jesus changing your heart?

xoxo, gen delali.

music monday// the waiting

waiting. it's something most of us do not like to do. cos it's hard, it's impatience-cladded, laced with anxiety. and even though i know very well i must not be anxious about anything, my oh, so human nature finds it hard sometimes to let that sink in deep into my heart of hearts. my heads knows that, yet my heart struggles. and i'm finding this struggle is rooted in unbelief that my Father might not come through. 

the current circumstances in our limited view and small patch hinders us from seeing God's predestined plan and purpose. and as i sometimes groan and fuss, i picture God looking down from heaven from His bird's eye view saying oh, my daughter worries for nothing! I so have this covered, she needs to trust me and patiently and joyfully wait.

i've been in a season of waiting for some dreams to burst with brilliant, vibrant colors, for some promises my Father has made to me. i choose to believe, trust and wait. funny thing, i've realized most often God gives us glimpses of the final picture of the plans He's given us. i began reading the story of joseph today and it hit me all over again. he had no idea the process through which he'll have to go through before tasting the juicy parts of the dreams God gave him. his suffering+ wait was the introduction, the prologue, the backstage setting for his main, center-stage story. the hard wait prepared and refined him for the very dreams he had, yet to be fulfilled.

maybe you're waiting too...for

a Godly spouse

funds for school

money to cover your rent/mortgage

a child

healing in your body and soul

a job

a favorable time to start that business/project

a special promise God has whispered to your heart...

however the wait looks like for you, take heart cos you're in good company.

abraham was 75 years + childless when God told him he was going to be a great nation. the promised son, isaac was born when he was 100yrs old. he waited for 25 yrs for that to be fulfilled. [genesis 12:1-5; 21:1-7]

jacob waited and worked for 7 years to be able to marry rachel, his beloved. [genesis 29:20; 30] 

joseph was a teeager, 17yrs when God revealed his destiny as a great, influential leader in his dreams. he was 30yrs before he eventually became that. he waited for 13yrs. [genesis 37:2-7; 41:46]

moses was purposed to be a leader as a boy as he was an 'adopted' grandson of pharaoh, making him more like a prince. he was 40yrs old when he fled to be in the wilderness. he waited for another 40yrs in the wilderness as God molded and trained him before he got to lead God's people out of egypt when he was 80yrs. [acts 7:23- 30]

david was anointed as a mere boy to be king of all israel. but he waited till he was 23yrs to be king of the tribe of judah. and he waited for another 7yrs to finally be king of all israel when he was 30yrs. [1 samuel 16:13, 2 samuel 2:4; 5:4]

told ya you're in good company. ;) these people waited for years but God fulfilled allll His promises for them in His own time. it might take some more days, weeks, months or years but it will happen!

this song expresses some of my thoughts as i try to wait without anxiety on the Lord for His promises to me to manifest.

the waiting~jamie grace

what will it look like, what will it be like, when my world turns out like You planned?

when will i get there? feels like i'm nowhere, my dreams are like dust in my hands.

but i know this is the waiting, i anxiously wait

as i hold on to Love that will never let go

and in these times when my patience is tested

won't You remind me that i'm not alone, here in the waiting, the waiting, the waiting

all of the questions, secret confessions, Lord, You'll make sense of it all.

and i know You'll show up so i'm letting go of these thoughts that are taking control.

oh, and i know, i know this is the waiting, ooo the waiting

and in these times when my patience is tested, You are the Love that will never let go,

here in the waiting, the waiting. 

mmmhhh, so  i'll be here waiting, waiting, waiting believing You'll never let go.

"for in this hope we were saved. but hope that is seen is no hope at all. who hopes for what they already see? but if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." romans 8:24-25

and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." romans 5:2-5

"therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. let nothing move you. always give yourself ts fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain." 1 corinthians 15:58

"for the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false. though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay." habakkuk 2:3

"and so after waiting patiently, abraham received what was promised." hebrews 6:15

our Father is right there with us in the wait, cheering us on as we brave the storms. people may mock and laugh with disdain or even pity as we wait, but let's wait in His strength -His joy. He's gonna come through at the appointed time. :)

xoxo, gen delali.

music monday// come to Me

hi, guys! music time! :)

are you feeling burnt out? having so many questions gnawing at you? are you somehow carrying some guilt and shame that Jesus has long forgiven you of when you asked for forgiveness? or are you just plain tired of being tired? rest easy. there's hope. 

when He met me in the pouring rain, He assured, confirmed His word and directed. though i didn't get alll the answers i think i need now, what i clearly know is that He wants me to REST in Him and not go about frantically trying to figure life on my own, panicking. i need to be in a state of peace, calmness, and be clearheaded to do what for now He's told me. 

why don't you give your troubles and angst to Him? let's trust Him to give us peace in the middle of the raging storms. this song is one of my consistent jams. i hope you find assurance from it.

come to Me~ jamie grace

i had a dream i was standing on the shore, two feet planted in the sand, soaking up Your glory, yeah.

saw You walking from a distance, without a hint of resistance, had Your arms open and warmth in Your eyes.

You took my hand and You whispered

come to Me when you're weary 

and I'll give you hope when you're hurting, I'll give you rest from your burden.

come to Me when you're weary

and I'll give you hope when you're hurting, I'll give you rest from your burden now.

i woke up to the weight of the world,

 right back into reality and all that's going wrong.

cause in the midst of this chaotic life, i try to find peace of mind

but You've been there all along, and even now i hear You whisper

come to Me when you're weary 

and I'll give you hope when you're hurting, I'll give you rest from your burden.

come to Me when you're weary 

and I'll give you hope when you're hurting, I'll give you rest from your burden.

i feel the weight, i feel the weight is slowly lifting as You close the distance

and i know it's gonna be okay when i hear You say

come to Me when you're weary

and I'll give you hope when you're hurting, oh, I'm gonna carry your burden

come to Me when you're weary

and I'll give you hope when you're hurting, I'll give you rest from your burden now.

the weight is lifted now.

"come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." matthew 11:28-30

xoxo, delali.