thursday tunes//I am no victim

hey, hey, hey, lovely humans! :)

although its only been a couple of months i've been away from this space it feels like forever since i spilled some of the sunshiny, colorful words Father has given to my care for you here.

it's not a monday nor a tuesday but who says i can't share a song on a thursday? hihihihi

 so this evening, i came across this song and in a few seconds it got me hooked.

it spoke to me so much that i just had to share. :)

 enjoy!

I am no victim~bethel music

I am no victim

I live with a vision

I'm covered by the force of love

Covered in my Savior's blood

I am no orphan

I'm not a poor man

The Kingdom's now become my own

And with the King I've found a home

He's not just reviving, not simply restoring

greater things have yet to come

greater things have yet to come

He is my Father

I do not wonder

If His plans for me are good

If He'll come through like He should

'Çause He is provision and enough wisdom

To usher in my brightest days

To turn my mourning into praise

He's not just reviving, not simply restoring

greater things have yet to come

greater things have yet to come

I am who He says I am

He is who He says He is

I'm defined by all His promises

Shaped by every word He says

I am no victim

I live with a vision

I'm covered by the force of love

Covered in my Savior's blood

I am no orphan

I'm not a poor man

The Kingdom's now become my own

And with the King I have a home

it took a while for me to come to this powerful understanding. I AM NOT A VICTIM!

no matter what I've had to painfully endure because of other people's terrible mistakes and poor life choices, no matter how their choking words have pierced my heart, i refuse to see myself as a victim and live with a victim mentality.

why? because I believe I have my loving Father in heaven and He cares about me, He adores me, He wants me, He loves me even when people I thought were best in displaying His love for me treat me with such absurdity, cruelty and shove me aside with their unbelievably cold and hurtful words and silently loud actions.

i've had to endure some things these past months that have left me wondering and questioning and just trying to really understand how some folks who say they are Christian leaders could say and do certain things that arr so way out of line as the leaders they say they are.

and after much introspection and lots of time spent with the Lord i've finally reached that understanding that ever human walking the surface of the earth is a broken cistern. no matter how 'good' of a person they are or pose to be and no human or thing could ever fill the void in the human heart. only God through Jesus Christ His Son and the power of His Holy Spirit can do that if we believe.

 i've come to the point where i've stopped looking forward to any human loving me perfectly as my Father in heaven does. His approval of me is enough for me and His love is all i've ever needed. and sometimes He uses humans who allow themselves to be the physical extension of His love to show me His care and love like one loving and thoughtful uncle I have in australia but not even he could ever love me perfectly as my Father in heaven.

i won't deny the yearning of  enjoying being part of a loving and peaceful home. but till then, i'm thankful for the beautiful glimpses Father God gives me of His amazing promises to me on earth and in Heaven. i am grateful for the short and sweet experiences He gives me as i taste what it is like to be loved by a set of humans i can call family who make me feel like i belong. as brief as those moments are, i cherish them.

i am grateful.

 i understand my Father God better now.

i understand myself better now, 

and i understand other humans better now and why they can be so unstable and cold, and hurtful and mean and insecure and envious and how it drives them to do the unthinkable.

i understand why i love anne of green gables and akeelah and the bee so much too. :D

my Father in Heaven has promised me that He has not left me as an orphan. He is right here with me through His Holy Spirit.

as i yield myself to Him, and obey Him and deeply depend on Him, i'm good to go!

it's true, we're all searching and looking to be loved.

i've stopped my search, thank God!!!

i am now the one allowing myself to be the vessel to pour my Father's love and hope into little hearts that are hungry for love and affection. hearts that are desperate to be seen, known, loved.

so no. i am not a victim!

i am a victor through my Jesus Christ!

i am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.

i refuse to be the hurt who keeps hurting others.

i put an end to that demonic cycle.

i am not a victim.

 i am LOVED!

I don't know what you have endured in your journey till now, i don't know what you are currently enduring but what i do know is if you believe in Jesus, you are no longer an orphan left in this cold, difficult world. You are His child now, so stop striving to be loved. stop looking for love in all the wrong places. stop thinking God created you to suffer on your on in this life.

He sees you, He knows you! He wants you to stop striving. 

He wants you to accept His love (Jesus) and all that comes with Him as a gift to you.

just believe.

It's really worth it.

i have tasted and seen that He is good! :)

Psalm 68:5 says, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows, is God in his holy habitation.”

Deuteronomy 10:18 says, “He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.”

Psalm 10:14 says, “But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted. You consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”

"I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." ~ Jesus // John 14:18

"Let us acknowledge the Lord, let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear, He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. " ~ hosea 6:3

you are not a victim.

you are loved! :)

delali,

xoxo.

soulful hymns// to God be the glory

hi guysss! so today I'm sharing a hymn that has a special place in my heart. it soothes the soul so well! it's like chicken soup for the soul. 

 it amazes me how Fanny Crosby, the hymn writer was blind when she wrote her hymns. God is interesting, right?! He does wonderful things through the most unlikely of humans.

enjoy!

 

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Fanny Crosby// To God be the glory


To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

Let them give glory to the LORD And declare His praise in the coastlands.// isaiah 42:12

"For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.// hubakkuk 2:14

I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.// psalm 69:30

I would like to encourage you that no matter what you're facing, praising the Lord is the answer to unlock the door He has promised to open for you. 

giving Him the glory makes you focus on Him despite the attacks and schemes of the enemy. and worship does something wonderful. never stop worshiping. give God the glory. 

and watch and see.

thank me later. :)

xoxo, delali.

music monday//sound of the saints

hi people! i'm droppingggg innn! hope you guys had a lovely easter and spent quality time with the humans you love. i had a splendid palm sunday + easter. the picnic on easter monday was sooo good!

alright, now to today's song! i first heard it from the famous and absolutely awesome movie, "God's not dead 2." it's very calming and sweet to listen to. i particularly love the poetry weaved into the lyrics and the melodious voice of the little girl at the end of the song. enjoy!

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 sound of the saints//audio adrenaline

Oh I love to hear the song of creation
The wind and the rhythm of the rain
Oh the thunder it speaks of Your power
But there's something in the sound of the saints

I've been washed in the roar of the ocean
Found peace in the echoes of a cave
And the trees of the field they clap their hands
But there's something in the sound of the saints

From the lips of those You saved
A redemption song will rise
With a sound so full it cracks the sky

Whoa oh ooh we sing allelujah
Whoa oh ooh we sing amen
Hear the sound of the saints as we march on to Zion singing
Allelujah amen
Singing allelujah amen

I will hear the chorus of the angels
A forever symphony of praise
I long to hear the voice of my Savior
And He hears us the sound of the saints

From the lips of those You saved
A redemption song will rise
Every tongue every tribe hear the church Your bride

Whoa oh ooh we sing allelujah
Whoa oh ooh we sing amen
Hear the sound of the saints as we march on to Zion singing
Allelujah amen
Singing allelujah amen

Ohh oh, oh oh
Our hearts will rise our songs shall be
Jesus Christ our Savior King forever
Our hearts will rise the saints will sing
Of Jesus Christ our Savior King forever forever

Whoa oh ooh we sing allelujah
Whoa oh ooh we sing amen
Hear the sound of the saints as we march on to Zion singing
Allelujah amen
Singing allelujah amen
[x2]

"Shout "Hallelujah!" because God's so good, sing anthems to his beautiful name." //psalm 135:3

" Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."// psalm 150:6

 “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” //Isaiah 55:12

 “Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.” //psalm 148:7-10

 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” //psalm 19:1-4

 He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"// luke 19:40

 it's so amazing how nature points us back to our Creator. the birds praise Him as they chirp, the leaves praise Him as they dance in the breeze, the flowers praise Him as the open and bloom, the skies praise Him as they show off their beauty. and all of this is out of the creative power of Father. He has such a beautiful and intelligent mind! 

But even better, He loves it when we, the saints, the ones who have chosen to believe in Jesus, His beloved Son sing with joyful thrill!

and i will continue to sing and sing ad sing cos my Father loves it when I sing to Him. He loves it when we ope our mouths to offer Him thanksgiving of praise and sing hallelujah's to His name cos He's so bae. ;)

so regardless of how you are feeling, silence those negative feelings and get your singing on! Your eternal Love longs to hear you sing. :)

i don't now about you but i'll continue to burst forth with songs and into cheers for My Lord and Bestfriend.

xoxo. delali.

tunes tuesday// we must praise

hi people! i know, i know, it's a tuesday, not a monday.

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so to make up for yesterday, I'm sharing this lovely song by j moss. it encourages me to use every single gift that Father has blessed me with, not for myself but to praise Him and in the process draw humans to want to know Him and respond to His loving call on their lives with enthusiasm and joy. enjoy!

we must praise // J moss

If I were a drummer, I would use my cymbal
If I were a writer, I would use a pencil
I would use my voice, if I were a singer
No matter who or what we are, we must praise

If I was a doctor, I would use my research
A prolific dissertation, if I was a speaker
I would use my hands, if I were a potter
No matter who or what we are, we must praise

Let the people of God bless Him
Let it ring with love and truth
With our gifts we exalt Thee
Merciful, wonderful God
We must praise

If I were an eagle, I would use my wings
Since I'm a believer, I use everything
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
All ye people
No matter who or what we are, we must praise

Praise His Holy, Holy Name [x5]
With our gifts we exalt Thee
Merciful wonderful God

Oh Hallelujah, Oh glory, Oh holy of holies
Oh Bread of life God, Oh meat of hunger Lord
Water of thirst Lord, We magnify you
We thank You for what You've done God
What You're doing God and what You're gonna do
No matter who or what we are, we must praise.

"I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."// psalm 104:33

 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases."// psalm 103:1-3

"Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one From the hand of evildoers."// jeremiah 20:13

i love this song! it reminds me to be intentional about praising Father not only with my voice but with the gifts of writing, dancing choreography (errr, i used to do this when i was a kid then life happened and i kinda forgot about it but i'm sooo picking it up. it can't be a lost art. heheh). Father created me to create.

all this to say that Father would ask me what i spent my time doing on this fleeting earth. He will ask me how i spent my time, what i did with the gifts He gave me. did i bother to spend time asking Him what gifts He gave me in the first place? did i make time to discover them and develop them. did i use them? how did i use them...for the world or for Him? will He say well done My good and faithful servant when that Day comes?

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with all these questions rolling around in my mind i know it's wise to continue using my gift of writing especially in this season and polish up on the others. (i seriously need to get more serious with my guitar lessons. self teaching isn't so easy but with time i'll make some progress.)

"let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."// matthew 5:16

so what are the spiritual gifts and talents Father has blessed you with? are you using them wisely for the greatness of His Kingdom? are you using them in love? let's remember that it's all about God and not us at all. it's all for His glory and for others who doubt and do no believe get to experience Him through us.

 please use your gifts and talents. it could be writing, playing a instrument, singing, drawing, paiting, exceptional organizational skills, communication skills, acting, speaking....

it's awesome to walk in purpose! life makes more meaning when we find our calling and walk in it. life becomes more colorful and beautiful. :)

let go of fear and shyness. 

let's be brave and do this!

xoxo, 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.

music monday// symphony

i’m sharing a lovely video from the anima series and a song today!

seven days- a creation story

can’t get enough of josh wilson’s songs! this is upbeat and happy! like last weeks'! i am not letting anything stop me from singing to God!

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 symphony~ josh wilson

It started out in eden when He breathed in to the dust of the ground,

Creating the sound of a heartbeat like the drumbeat to a song.

It started out as a solo, a crescendo to the ends of the earth

Till everyone heard the music God is making in us all.

And now every breath we breathe is a melody

In the love song to the God who made every soul to sing,

Every life to bring out the beauty in this world.

So come on with all your heart,

lift your voice and play your part in this symphony

hear it in the laughing of an orphan, the very first time

he looks in the eyes of the family who’s here to bring him home.

Feel it in the silence, in the worship of the church underground

They’re singing without a sound, somehow.

So sing with me of His majesty, come on, just sing with me in this symphony.

“then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

“then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:22

“I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted…” exodus 15:1

“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

“do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery [promiscuity/indulgence in sensual pleasures.] 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, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20

“religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

mountain high or valley low, let’s sing to God! don’t wait till the breakthrough comes into your life before you sing. praise your way into the breakthrough! :)

xoxo, gen delali.

The Places We Walk

A couple of weeks ago a friend was kind enough to surprise me with a ticket to Glory 2013, a Christian concert presented by the Chosen Vessels’ Choir of my school, University of Ghana. Boy, was it fun! There were so many song ministrations as well as sharing of the Word. 

**Me with Nancy, my kind friend. Oh she can act! I loved her performance at the show. If you need an actress, she's the right person. :)

A number of Christian artists like Danny Nettey and PastorJoe Beecham ministered. It was my first time of going to a Christian show of that nature and it was worth my time! It felt good to fellowship with people who love Jesus, and the air was totally filled with our love for Him. 

After  the program, as I happily took pictures with friends and as I thought of the joy I experienced in that building, my mind recalled the show which Chris Brown had not too long ago in Accra. I realized the sharp contrast between Glory 2013, which uplifted Jesus and made me want to be more Godly, and Chris’ show, which was totally demoralizing, to say the least. 

"Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." "1 Corinthians 15:33

I didn’t bother making an appearance at his show. However, an acquaintance did, and later she disdainfully told me how it went and how she regretted going. Why? You see, Chris Brown made her feel ungodly and filled her mind with unpleasant thoughts with the lyrics of his songs and especially because he cussed and smoked weed on stage! Shocked? I was too. /shock I know Chris Brown is a secular artiste and all but I didn’t think he’ll go that far. This conduct of his has caused a stir here in the news and I hear talks of prosecution and all that but that’s another story.

Some days before his show, a lady who was branded in the clothing of one of the sponsors of his show knocked on my door and wanted to find out if I was going to the show. I answered in the negative. I didn’t bother to find out why she was even asking because I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. 

Years ago I liked Chris Brown himself and his music a lot! I even had his picture decorated on one of my senior high school bags. I knew almost all the lyrics of his songs. So what changed you ask? I did. I changed. As I drew nearer to God, I realized there was no space in my life to entertain such ungodliness. I didn’t want to keep feeding my mind with his songs and other similar ungodly songs that didn’t move me in any way to be righteous like Jesus. The personal life of this guy is nothing close to a Jesus follower (we all know his history and present state), so I was like why should I continue listening to him? I want to listen to people who are yearning to be more Godly, like Pastor Joe Beecham and Danny Nettey, people whose music and lyrics convict me to align my life to that of Jesus when He was on Earth. I want to be with people who passionately share their love for Jesus without being ashamed of it.

"Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16

As a Christian are you really living a life that emulates Jesus Christ? Which places do you go to? What music do you listen to? Which friends do you associate yourself with? "You will know them by their fruits..." Matthew 7:16 So what fruits are you bearing as a Christ follower? Are they godly, or otherwise?

Some few years ago I wouldn’t have missed a beat if Chris Brown was coming to town. I would have been there at his show, in some inappropriate clothing, (too short or too tight) because you see, I can’t wear church clothing to such shows. SMH But now, I can wear my church clothing to shows because those shows are to uplift the name of Jesus and those are the only shows I permit myself to attend. I’m so very grateful for the Holy Spirit which whispers to me and directs me in my journey. It makes me long for a Godly lifestyle, not just by mouth, but by actually living and walking in Godliness. I certainly don’t need someone cussing into my ears and spewing smoke from weed into my face. UGH! What I need is music that glorifies God and makes my heart sing praises to Jesus, songs that make me want to be a better and positive person and makes me want to be with people that are closely following Jesus. Godly shows like Glory 2013 are what I need, not shows that glorify sin and perversion.

"Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with belial? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." " 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

 

**Me with Joy, a friend. Her name befits her huge smile right?! LOL

So I ask, why would you, especially a Christian want to be in a gathering that promotes lust, violence, and ungodliness? Do all these ungodliness convict you to live a morally upright life? Do they encourage you to desist from lust and temptations or do they fuel your lustful desires? Do these worldly songs make you feel remorse for your sins? Can someone tell you apart from the world as a Christian? Or are just like the world? I wouldn’t trade the time I spent with other worshippers at the Accra International Conference Centre glorifying God for anything. It was just so awesome! It brought me peace, happiness and an extra boost to continue walking my path with Jesus. 

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16

**Glowing with the overwhelming love of Jesus!

"Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Strive to live a righteous life and remember that Jesus loves you and He's longing for you to come to Him! He wants all of your life to be the proof of your love for Him. xoxo

Delali.