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.

 via

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

music monday// lift my life up

unspoken is one of my new fav bands! There’s something about this song that pulls me in. have a listen and lemme know what you think.

via

lift my life up~ unspoken

You brought me this far so why would I question You now

You have provided so why would I start to doubt

I’ve never been stranded, abandoned or left here to fight alone

So I’m giving you control

I lift my life, lift my life up

I give it all in surrender

I lift my heart, lift my heart up

You can have it forever

All my dreams, all my plans

Lord, I leave it in Your hands

I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way in me, have Your way in me

If peace is a river, then let it sweep over me

If I’m under fire I know it’s refining me

When I hear You calling out,

I follow now wherever the road may go

I know You’re leading me Home.

Take my life and let it be all for You.

“keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’ ” Hebrews 13:5-6

“many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ but you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” Psalm 3:2-3

It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that one of man’s greatest fears is being alone. God knew way before time that we’ll be bound to feel this way sometimes, and that is why He assures us time and time again that He is with us, and will never forsake us, so we needn’t be afraid. I used to be one who heavily craved my space and wanting to be alone without feeling terrible about it. I still crave for my space but interesting enough, these days I’m yearning for intimate, meaningful friendships, a safe community of friends who welcome vulnerability and sincerity, who understand that we don’t have it all together, and that’s ok.

I guess this yearning has always been there but it’s magnified at this point of my life than years past. And thoughts of who the special someone is going to be? Those thoughts are mixed thoughts of hope and uncertainty. God knows when and how He’ll sort it out. Mine is to keep praying about it and praying for the heart of this anonymous guy, while I keep pursuing the Lord. I know being alone doesn’t mean lonely. Yet when I’m alone these days it’s like loneliness tries to find its way to me. when this happens I remind myself that I have holy spirit within me + my guardian angel right by me, though I can’t physically see him. (to think that the angel is a him is kind of awkward, considering I’m a she, right? Oh well. shrugs.)

in the moments when you’re tempted to think you’ve been left alone to figure life out or that God has forgotten about you, know that those are lies. He said He’ll never leave or forsake us. Ours is to believe. Even in the darkest valley, He is with you. He is lifting your life up.

xoxo, gen delali.

music monday// still that girl

Boy, don’t we all have dreams and goals and plans, when we’re in school, especially in college. It’s like the possibilities are endless, and you just can’t wait to take on the world after graduation. But you wake up into the future you held so close and realize it’s not all that blissful like you planned after all. 

via

The cold water of reality splashes on your face and you say to yourself, ‘wait a minute. Is this life?!’ it’s like school was this safe shelter you had and all of a sudden you actually have to go out there and make a life. Whew! And it doesn’t help either when the opportunities in the field you’re passionate about are close to none for the now, and it scares you that you’ll end up in a dead-end job or miss out on graduate school entirely.

I’m going through this kind of reality. Plans and dreams aren’t panning out like I hoped and prayed countless of times for. But God knows what He’s up to, right? Yurp. I watched a film titled ‘this is our time’, and there’s this guy named ethan. his story is so close to mine, it comforts and encourages me in a way. You should check it out, it’s a great faith based film.

I bet you have some dreams that seem so distant at this point in your life. I know it hurts. I know you get scared sometimes. I know because I’m right there in it too. But there’s hope knowing that God is able to restore our broken dreams, and perhaps we are where God intended us to be. The lyrics of this song speak so much to me.

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

“trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“to humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.” Proverbs 16:1

“in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Your heart may be broken over how things unexpectedly have taken a turn, but remember that just because you’re lost doesn’t mean you’re alone. You’re never alone. Nothing is wasted. Take heart, friend! You’ll look back someday and see that God intentionally redirected you in order to walk in the purpose He planned all along for you.

xoxo, gen delali

music monday// finish what He started

so, the year is wrapping up in a couple of days, and maybe you were hoping for certain things to happen this year, but perhaps things didn't quite turn out like you hoped. well, if the desires on your heart are the very desires of God for your life and He placed them in your heart, then surely, He has an appointed time for His plans to unfold in your life. 

via

this year has been a re-routing of my plans. Daddy stepped in and led me to His plans. i had to let go of my will and submit to His will for me. and it isn't as if my will was bad, no. but it was still not the sure, original plan He had in mind for me even before i was conceived. it's been a hard season of adjusting and waiting. He's been reminding me to make full use of certain gifts He's given me, and He's been drawing me to Himself so much more in this season, and placed some adorable lil' people in my life to love on.

i know, oh, i know that His plans are farrr better than my wildest dreams, knowing that the highest form of holiness is the release of my will to Him.(remember before the cross when Jesus prayed- 'My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. yet not as I will, but as You will'? yurp.--matthew 26:39) and i know that i will be more fulfilled in what He's leading me to. so, i'm choosing to dream the dreams of my Father.

i know that whatever good work He has started in me, He is going to see to it that every single word He has spoken to me will become a reality. He has His perfect timing which is not necessarily my timing. He is faithful and i will see His goodness, and twirl in His bliss. i'm a change in the making.

finish what He started~ mercyme

i don't have to know you to know that you will go through hard times, it's just part of life

don't let that moment blind you, and don't let it define you.

take heart, that's not who you are.

our God is able, more than capable to be faithful to the end.

He'll finish what He started.

no matter what you've done, grace comes like a flood

there's grace to carry on, He'll finish what He started.

no matter what you face, His mercy will not change.

He's with you all the way, He'll finish what He started.

remember you're forgiven, so there's no need to give in

to the lie that you're disqualified.

this work He started in you now, He's faithful to complete it,

the promise was sealed when He cried out "it is finished!"

He'll finish what He started.

"...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." philippians 1:6

"many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' but You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high." psalm 3:2-3

"...but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness...' " 2 corinthians 12:9

 "when He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'it is finished.'..." john 19:30

" 'blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil His promises to her!' " luke 1:45

"the One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." 1 thessalonians 5:24

"so is My word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." isaiah 55:11

"now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! amen." ephesians 3:20

via

His seemingly 'delay' is not His denial. no matter how cruel 2014 has been, you are still alive, breathing, with purpose thumping in your heart, and Love coursing through your veins. Daddy is a faithful Father. let His wave of hope wash over you. He will lovingly swipe away our shame and lift our heads. ask Him what He's up to in your life and be in hopeful anticipation for what He's going to do in your life this coming new year. 

to all my 'silent' readers and not-so-silent readers, thanks for tuning in this year. i'm thankful for all the lovely bloggers i came across this year. i love the way you guys show Jesus!

 2014, you and i, we've had our ups and downs but it's time to say goodbye. bye, 2014!

'see' you guys in the new year! :)

xoxo, gen delali.

sometime

via

sometime, when all life's lessons have been learned,

and sun and stars forevermore have set,

the things which our weak judgments here have spurned,

the things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet,

will flash before us out of life's dark night,

as stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;

and we shall see how all God's plans are right,

and how what seemed reproof was love most true.

then be content poor heart;

God's plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold;

we must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,-

time will reveal the chalices of gold.

and if, through patient toil, we reach the land

where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,

when we shall clearly see and understand,

i think that we will say, "God knew the best!"

--- may riley smith.

" 'for I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. you will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.' " jeremiah 29:11-13

someday~ jj heller

let's place our lives calendars at God's feet and allow Him to handle the scheduling of the details. He sure will reveal things under the right circumstances. sometime when we are in heaven, we will hopefully get more clarity on the questions God has withheld the answers to in the now. in this life we may not understand all He does, but sometime, we will possess the perspective of heaven.

xoxo, gen delali.

Looking back at 2013

In this past year, great and small things happened. And even the small things somehow seem great too. I’m taking the time to take a glimpse back at the things that challenged me, excited me, thrilled me and even scared me (in a good way). This is to remind me that this year wasn’t all pain and misery, but also filled with great stuff. So, as i’m bright-eyed, waiting eagerly for the new year (a couple of days away. ;), i take a look back at this year, not one of regret, but one of a great sense of accomplishment and fulfilment.

This year,

I moved my lil blog from wordpress to blogger. Why? Well, i was finding my voice as a personal blogger and realized blogger was more for that. Hey, in my humble opinion.

I went for my first local missions trip.

I hiked and made it to the top of the highest mountain in the country. heck yes! & went to see the wli falls for the first time. Pretty sweet.

I faced my stage fright-ness and performed one of my poems.

I discovered soul soothing songs like this one.

God made a way and took me to South Africa & Swaziland for missions. How He made this happen still blows my mind. He’s just awesome!

I attended the annual Singles' Summit my church holds.

I started serving as a steward in church.

I graduated from UG after my undergrad studies. yea, i know i don't look it. *shrugs*

I joined the ‘I Write’ video campaign. Long braids, green top. yea, that’s me.

I got baptised by immersion. The real deal, people.

I’ve been a consistent blogger. C’mon, i blogged at least once a month. That should count for something, right? Right.

I’ve learned to wait, really wait in hope, & letting the valley teach me how to sing.

via

Oh, and two of my favourite musicians of allll time tweeted me! Moriah Peters & Jason Gray. So, in honor of their total coolness, i would like to share my fav songs by them. You should totally listen to them!

Moriah Peters:

I choose Jesus

Well done

Bloom

Miracle

Waves of love

Know us by our love.

Jason Gray:

Nothing is wasted (this song has seen me through a whole awful lot!)

I am new

Remind me who i am

Good to be alive

Fear is easy, love is hard

More like falling in love.

For alllll of these things that happened to me this year, I’m thankful. For both the good and bad, I’m thankful. Cause i sure know God’s working it all together for my good.

 via

So, though i couldn’t do all the things on my vision board for the year, I’m glad i did do some, plus others that God sweetly surprised me with but wasn’t initially part of the plan. He's good like that. :)

There are many awesome adventures and challenges up ahead that’ll grow me up the more in Him in the coming year, and I can say I’m ready for it all.  Bring it on, 2014! ;)

How was this year for you, and what did you end up accomplishing? Do share!

xoxo

Delali.