my world in song

a love story...my days ahead await you. one of my favourite stories is jane austen's pride and prejudice and to quote the story's heroine, elizabeth bennet "i am determined that nothing but the very deepest love will induce me into matrimony". i look forward to my breath being taken away by him who's life i am to share, and he mine.

today's song is one by the talented singer josh groban. this youtube clip pulls footage from the pride and prejudice movie (2005) to accompany the truthful lyrics and beautiful melodies.

my confession - josh groban

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1stm4D3C_8

enjoy the delighting...

signed -

the life delighter

my world in song

new york calls me...one day i hope to answer. it's a place where my heart is drawn to. i look forward to getting acquainted with the statue, in all her liberty, walking down broadway and seeing a show. climb the empire state building on valentines day and see if a "tom hanks" is there waiting for me, stroll across the brooklyn bridge at sunset and gaze across the city's sky line, take in the lights of time square, row a boat in central park, have a coffee at "central perk", stand on the stage of radio city hall and hear the echos of the entertainers from years gone by (frank sinatra, ella fitzgerald, ray charles), whirl around rockefeller centre in a pair of ice skates and hail a real yellow cab with a whistle.

its a dream today but i pray it will be a reality someday. until then, i live vicariously through the experiences others have had of new york. today's song is "empire state of mind" by alicia keys.

click on link below to enjoy the song of choice for today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4IiccUjGps

stay tuned...much more to come.

signed -

the life delighter

my world in song

she inspired, she loved, she encouraged, she prayed...and so much more. i once asked her "what do you do when you are staring tragedy head on?", her reply will be one that remains with me forever. she turned to me and with complete conviction, said "you look to the cross...it is the only thing that makes sense, when the world doesn't."

as the sun rose in its beauty and glory today, this beautiful lady stood before her Heavenly Father, the Creator, the Sustainer and Giver of life, and gazed on something never to be equalled by any glorious sunrise. she has seen and experienced the fullness of what Christ did for her at the cross...she went Home. the words "well done! my good and faithful servant" were spoken about her as she entered Heaven. where pain was, freedom is. where disease was felt, complete peace and true rest now is. her faith is sight and she worships in the presence of her Lord.

today's song, a beautiful song that anchors the ache of grief in the reality of hope...and turns our heads to look to the cross.

link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmyUgsmCzB4

thank you deb...your life is a testament to God's steadfast faithfulness and a legacy of His wonderful truth.

blessed be the name of the LORD, now and always

signed...
the life delighter

my world in song

a few weeks back, i was asked to present the spiritual input content at a camp that i'm involved with in the upcoming school holidays. initially, i wasn't too fussed with the idea, as the task is slightly daunting due to the responsibility attached to it. but, after much discussion, prayer and leaning into God, i'm becoming quite excited about the opportunity He has granted me to communicate His heart to those coming on the camp, and instead of feeling daunted, i'm honoured that He chose me.

never doing anything like this before, i sought the advice and counsel of some of the key leaders involved in the camp, and God has led us to a pretty exciting concept.

as part of the prep, i was directed to andrew petersen's song "holy is the lord", and was moved to tears. here it is for you to watch, and i pray that God uses it to cement the reality of His faithfulness, eventhough we don't understand the why.

click on link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJKeQyEz7Hk

stay tuned, more to come...
signed...

the life delighter

my world in song

today's song of choice is "your faithfulness" by brian doerksen. a song dripping of the wonderful rest, comfort, peace and assurance that is offered to us when we turned COMPLETELY to the cross in those storms of life.

recently i heard two separate messages and in both, the idea of suffering and painful moments were addressed. the difference between how the two speakers addressed it was that one, as he shared his story, the utter reliance that he and his family had on God in their raging storm was clearly evident. when his world exploded from underneath him, and nothing made sense, he and his family turned to the ONLY thing that does, the cross and trusted. the other speaker however, i sensed missed this beautiful truth, as when he shared his experiences, and despite throwing out those usual christian cliches, he spoke of a very "me-focused" trust.

enjoy the song and knowing the truth that we can rest fully in HIS faithfulness, for it is truely great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP562si-d1Q

til next time...

delight much

- the life delighter

my world in song

music has, is and i believe, always will be such a dynamic part of my life. an enchanting melody, a truth-packed chorus, a bridge of inspiration...they all resonate deep within my spirit. so i embark on bringing to light the beauty and wonder of the music and songs that accompany my life...

this is the soundtrack of a life delighter.

today's song is "when i'm alone" by brandon heath:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt_d7DiJZm0

the part in this song that particularly hit a note with me were these lyrics:

"this is my dream and my gift, but sometimes I get scared. that somehow i'll cease to belong anywhere"

in the last day or two i've been contemplating many aspects of my story...my dreams, passion, call, purpose and heart desires and during this time, this song has fallen on my radar and i'm finding myself pressing the pause button on life so i can marinate in its words for a bit.

this chapter of my life is indeed "my dream and my gift". to be called into a job like mine and stand with young people in the pits of life and have the opportunity to speak hope, truth and love into their walks, is a very cherished part of my life, and it is an honour to answer this call, but like in the song "sometimes i get scared", and its on this notion that i currently find myself seeking through - seeking wisdom, understanding, clarity and truth.

i know that with my faith and complete reliance of Christ for my salvation, allows me to belong in the kingdom of the Greatest, but its the smaller pieces of my life that i seek this insight, crave to know. that is why this song has captured my current place and has articulated its position perfectly, so for today, this is my soundtrack.

stay tuned, more to come...
signed...

the life delighter

the story told in ink..."the LORD is the everlasting god"

tattoo number three i got about a month ago. its on my right ankle and is a swirly vine with the words 'el olam' on it. el olam is hebrew for GOD EVERLASTING, and in the last six months the reality of God being everlasting has become very real and very tangible.

december last year, i found myself sitting across from my doctor. i had just had an ultrasound, and she looked at the results and said "you have a tumour". according to the scan, the tumour was in my lower right abdomen. no further details could be determined, other than its size - 10x10x12cm. my doctor then went on to tell me everything from the best case scenario to the worst case scenario.

up until this moment, i had lived a pretty charmed life, but when i was listening to what my doctor was saying, my world just blew out from underneath me. i wanted and hoped for my situation to land somewhere in the 'best case scenario' range, but i couldn't help but think and dwell on the information surrounding the worst case scenarios. all of a sudden i was seeing all the dreams, hopes, ambitions and desires for my future being held to ransom and under threat. my future now had the possibility of cancer in it...and all that it entails.

my journey took a detour, and i started to walk some of the darkest days of my life as i was doing all i can to process and deal with this information and understand the impact it could have on my life. on top of my own circumstance, it seemed like everywhere i looked i was seeing people i love and adore also come under fire, and experiencing incredible trials of their own. it was here that i asked my pastor's wife, "how do you continue to endure when you are facing tragedy head on?" she is an amazing, inspiring lady who has been walking through her own cancer reality for ten years. she turned to me and without a second thought she said "you look to the cross. it is the only thing that makes sense when the world doesn't". my mind immediately went to one of my favourite worship songs written by tim hughes, clinging to the cross, and it became my anthem in the mayhem:

simply to the cross i cling

letting go of all earthly things
clinging to the cross
mercy’s found a way for me
hope is here as i am free
Jesus, You are all i need
clinging to the cross

it was at the foot of the cross where i found the peace i needed when my world was stormy and shattered. when i turned to God, He hemmed me in before and behind and enabled me with everything i needed to walk through this particular valley journey rejoicing in Him.

in a time where i was vulnerable, and my path could have turned to bitterness, anger and complete brokeness, God shielded me in His love, and instead i experienced hope, joy and restoration. a passage in the bible that was a source of truth for me throughout this was isaiah 40 vs 28-31:

do you not know?
have you not heard?
the LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

this verse was such a source of comfort for me. it comforted me as i had blood tests, was scanned and was examined to find out more about the nature of this tumour. late december i had my first appointment with the hospital to discuss the results of all these tests and to determine what needed to be done.

again i found myself sitting across from a doctor, but this time, instead of my world blowing out from underneath me, as he spoke i found myself soaring on wings like eagles. he told me that due to all my tests coming back normal, my age, and not having any history of ovarian cancer in my family, they were confident that my tumour was benign - a result that landed smack bang in the 'good case scenarios'. i still had to have surgery, due to the size of the tumour, but that would be the extent of my treatment.

so on january 20th, i had surgery to remove the tumour, and now have a 22cm scar to tell the story. i've been a christian since i was seven, and since then God has continued to draw me closer to Him, and it has been through these last few months that have i experienced His love tangibly as He walked with me through the fire.

God is everlasting...He always has been, is now and will always be. with each day i'm drawn closer to Him. i've experienced His victory tangibly in my life and i rejoice in His faithfulness to me, and because of His great love for me, i know there is more of it to come...

- signed

~ the life delighter ~