Gonna Be Worth It – Song

Ok, this is very out of character for me, but heck! You only live once, right. Tonight I got the wildest idea to record a song by Rita Springer, upload it and post it. My daughter (6 years old) recorded it, and started recording long before I was ready. Hahaha. So don’t mind the delay in starting, and me telling my son to get into the shower. Please note that I am very, but very out of practice at both singing and guitar, so bear with me.

This video is actually dedicated to my longest-standing blogging bud, Rob, from The V-Pub.

Have a wonderful weekend.

❤

Coram Deo

 

 

Coram Deo is a latin expression and means, “before the face of God”.  It implies that my entire life is constantly lived before Him. It takes away the idea of the separation of the secular and the sacred.

The word secular refers to a state that is worldly rather than spiritual and is not related either to religion, spiritual matters or to a religious body, for instance secular music or secular buildings (source).  I would like to add that secular activities would include education, work, taking a shower, eating a meal with my family, chores around the house, etc.   

Sacred means to be devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated (source).  In other words, church attendance, worship services, prayer, outward religious acts, etc.

I don’t consider myself to be religious, but someone who has a relationship with her creator that is intimate, vibrant and real.  As a Christian, I believe that the way to God is through relationship, and that we were created with that purpose – Relationship.

No one wants to have a relationship that is forced, fake, dishonest or uncommitted.  True Christianity is exactly the opposite of that.  It’s not hypocritical, nor is it a following of a set of rules.

It is living in freedom to be all that one was created to be.  It is having a way to be forgiven and restored.  It is Coram Deo.

How do you see God?  Do you believe that He values relationship or rules?  And if you like, please let me know of what you think of the song.   How does it speak to you?

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The above artwork is the result of week four of the class “Kingdom Come” that I’ve been doing. I decided to embed my song, Coram Deo in it, because I believe the two fuse together nicely.

True Love (song and art)

 

The above is the second mixed media piece that I did through the online class I’m taking over at, “His Kingdom Come” and created by, Shonna Bukaroff over at Twisted Figures. I decided to put the lyrics to my song, ‘True Love’ in it because I thought it befitting for the theme and what it made me think of. To be quite honest, it’s not my favorite song, but it is totally in line with my thoughts on this piece, which are faith, God’s unconditional love, and provision.

Naked and Exposed

 

Are you a private person? Do you like to keep some things to yourself?

I used to be very open with others. In fact, I used to think of myself as somewhat of an open book. I was also younger, inexperienced, and maybe a little less wiser. I remember though, when I first made a decision to believe in God and to live for Him, I began to have a much stronger conscience. I would feel anxiety at times because I felt as though there were certain things I just may like to hide from Him. Things that I didn’t want him to know. Maybe thoughts that weren’t always the purest and morally correct. One day, however, I was walking home from school and it suddenly dawned on me. I can’t hide a single thing from my creator. He knows all of my thoughts. All of my actions. All of the motives of my heart. He even knows the words I’m going to speak before they reach my lips. Then I realized, that in Him knowing all, and that He still accepts me just as I am, there was great freedom and comfort in that. All the wrong that I had ever done, and would ever do, could be wiped away, simply because of His amazing mercy and grace.

How could I not surrender my all to Him.

Now back to you. Are you a private person or are you an open book? Do you ever wonder, or think about your motives, and if they are ever seen or known?

Wholeness

Last week I posted a poem called, “Words, Mind, Emotions“, and shared how sometimes I find it difficult to calm my mind. I read something today that just hit me: “The world is so complex and over stimulating that you can easily lose your sense of direction“. Do you find this to be true? I do.

I began writing the above recently. It’s a song and a prayer. When I get flustered, confused, worried, etc, I come to my secret place and meet with my creator, and He seems to have a special way of just breathing peace and new life into my heart. As if He’s saying, “I know you don’t understand it all. I know that the world bombards you, screaming their ideas and thoughts. My child, you will never understand it all. Rest in me and know that I have everything under control.”

Now that’s comforting. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

How about you? Do you find this world to be complex and over stimulating? Do you ever feel like you lose your sense of direction? What do you do about it?

*source: Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

In Your Eyes

I can see
Through this window to your soul
There’s a need
To know peace, to find some calm
Tranquility
I can see
You’re just like me

In your eyes
Sad, sad eyes
Your eyes
Sad, sad eyes
In your eyes
Sad, sad eyes
Sad, sad eyes

You can’t change
The way you feel the things you do
There’s no hope
No escaping this emotional zoo
In a prison
I can see
You’re just like me.

Have you ever suffered with depression? Have you ever wondered why so many people now-a-day suffer with it? Have you ever wondered why depression has become the epidemic of the 21st century?

I started writing this song a few years ago, and just haven’t gotten around to finishing it yet. I don’t really know how to finish it. I have suffered from something since my early 20s, although I have never received a full diagnosis. All I know is that you don’t want to be around me if I don’t take my medication. I don’t sleep. I get extremely irritated. I inhale my food, unable to control myself. My emotions are all over the map, and I am ultra-sensitive. There have been speculations of bi-polar, depression, anxiety disorder and ADHD. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll find out what it is, but for now I’ll keep taking my meds, because they seem to help.

Depression isn’t anything new. It dates back to pre-history and medieval periods. Now-a-day, we hear of depression as being the disease, or epidemic of the 21st century. Why is that so? Could it be because of the breakdown of family structure in modern times? A Government study mentioned on ‘Mail Online’ says,“Children from broken families are nearly five times more likely to suffer damaging mental troubles than those whose parents stay together.” Another article says, “Depressed: Children from broken homes are more likely to be plagued by suicidal thoughts in later life.” Freud also emphasizes early life experiences as a predisposing factor.

Maybe the problem lies in our values system as a society. We hold ‘being happy’ as the be-all, end-all of life. If I have the perfect body, make a lot of money, have a healthy family, am healthy myself, have a big house and acquire the things I like, then I’ll be happy. If one doesn’t achieve these things, is continually striving for them, and never satisfied with what they have, then they have been unsuccessful at reaching their goal of ‘happiness’. Depression creeps in.

Then there’s the problem with actually acquiring all of these things, but still not finding happiness in it all. Then what? One may have all they could ask for, but it still doesn’t satisfy. So then, the search for ‘happiness’ has proven to be a waste of time and life.

I’m sure that depression is caused by a number of things. What causes it in one, may not be the cause in another. I believe I have some type of chemical imbalance, yet why do I? What contributed to that happening? Is it because I didn’t have a good father? Or because I bought into the lie of needing to be perfect, yet never attaining it? Who knows?

Now back to you. Have you ever suffered with depression? Have you ever wondered why so many people now-a-day suffer with it? Have you ever wondered why depression has become the epidemic of the 21st century?

Eternal Ecstasy & Unimaginable Treasures

Eternal ecstasy naked eyes can’t see
Unimaginable treasures waiting for me
Though it’s a struggle requiring tenacity
Hope doesn’t disappoint.

To a fallen world I don’t belong
A nomad here, Earth’s not my home
Possessions and riches, they come and they’re gone
Looking forward to a better place.

The above is the beginning of a piece I started writing while I was in Canada. Like most of my writing, it was birthed during one of my quiet times. I wrote it thinking about the peace and stillness that my creator breathes into me, despite the loud noise of a crazy world.

Life is hard, but as long as there is hope, there’s continuation. My hope is not in something tangible though.  It’s not in material possessions, vocational success, affluence, nor status.  I can’t take these things with me when my time here is up. My hope is in my God who has always been, is and will always be ever-present and all-loving.

I thought I was writing a poem when I wrote this. After reading it though, seems to me that it feels more like a song. What do you think?

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Do you find happiness in the tangible things this world has to offer? Do these tangibles bring true joy and soul-filled satisfaction? Are acquiring possessions, status, personal peace and affluence the answer to having a successful and fulfilling life?

A Wordless Song

When I sing into the night
A wordless song from deep within
My unbelieving heart
Is filled with doubt and sour fear

Don’t know what I believe
Seems all faith is gone
Lord, would you help me please
See with clear lenses, sing a new song

Do you ever feel like giving up? Like what you’re doing isn’t making a difference? Or that what you are trying to achieve will never come about? Like it’s just some sort of pipe dream? I do.

The above is part of a song I just started to write. I wrote it in tears. It’s more of a prayer, than a song. Kind of like a Psalm, like the many one can read in the Bible. The Psalms is a wonderful and poetic book because it’s a collection of poems and songs written from the heart. Written by real people, with real problems, and filled with emotion. Some are out of sheer joy, but many are out of deep desperation.

I want to be like the Psalmists. I want to be real with God about how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking. I believe he would have it no other way. I would be lying if I said my life was easy and always rosy. As if I never had any problems and my faith was constantly firm. I don’t want to be putting on a mask or be someone I’m not. I want to be real.

My husband is a filmmaker, and a risky one at that. He is a Christian and produces films that speak into the real issues of societies and realities. Films that give a voice to those that don’t have a voice, so to speak. The most recent film, “Internal Mazes” was made to combat the issue of human sex trafficking and the worth of all individuals, including prostitutes. Every person involved received their pay, except him. We have received investments from others in order to produce it, even our house is in the hands of investors until we are able to pay them back. That was a giant leap of faith.

I loved the quote by Dale Carnegie that I read over at “Soul Gatherings” today.

• “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

How about you? Have you ever strived for something you really believed in and lost hope? Have you had dark days where it seemed like a hopeless cause? How do you deal with it?

Pare Pra Ouvir/Stop and Listen to Me

Pare Pra Ouvir/Stop and Listen to Me

Os dias vão, os dias vem
E não ha nada, nem ninguém
Que preenche o vazio em seu coração
O sol se põe, a noite vem
E o silencio não contem
Uma voz que não ouviu
Um grito de solidão

Deixe eu te falar
Pare pra ouvir
O Deus que eu conheço
Não quer te ver assim
Deixe eu te falar
Pare pra ouvir
O Deus que eu conheço
Quer te fazer feliz

The days they come, the days they go
There is nothing there’s no one
That can fill the void that lives inside of your heart
The sun it sets, the night it comes
Your loneliness continues on
Even in the silence I
Can hear the cry in your heart.

I have something to say
Stop and listen to me
The God that I know doesn’t want to see you like this
I have something to say
Stop and listen to me
The God that I know wants you to be at peace

And when the sun comes out
And a new day starts
You will realize
That he is here
And when the sun, it sets
You will remember
That even in the silence
God is here

E ao amanhecer
E vê o céu se abrir
Você vai perceber
Que ele está aqui
E quando o sol se por
Você vai se lembrar
Que mesmo no silencio
Deus contigo está

This song is actually not my own.  It was written by a very talented couple I know, Jonathan and Lara Valim.  They have a band here in Brazil and Jonathan is the young man who co-produced my CD in his studio.  They asked me to do an English version to this song and then allowed me to put it on my CD.  I have to confess, of all the songs on my CD, this one is my favorite.  And it’s not even mine.  Lara is the beautiful voice you hear singing in Portuguese, however I do sing a part in Portuguese at the end.

Photo credit: www.herworldplus.com

Simple Place

 

(Photo taken from: http://www.themiraclejournal.com/2012/02/04/the-miracle-of-a-broken-heart/)

 

There is, there is a simple place
Where I can go and be myself
Where I can see him face to face
And in, and in that simple place
I can go and hide away
And I can be alone with him

I can tell him all my secrets
That I share with almost no one else
I can be open and honest, without fear
Cause he knows the deepest needs that are in my heart

I can be, I can be simple with him
That’s what he wants, that I be real with him
And I, I would have it no other way
Then be myself, be who I really am with him

I can tell him all my secrets
That I share with almost no one else
I can be open and honest, without fear
Cause he knows the deepest needs that are in my heart

Is there anyone that you can be totally open and honest with?  Anybody that you can share your deepest thoughts and feelings with, and know that you won’t be judged? I do.

Now, I don’t want to sound like a religious freak here, but I’m going to go out on a limb. This song was written about the quiet times I have alone with God.  Being a Christian, I believe in Jesus and that in him I live, move and have my being.  That said, it is very important to me to spend quality time with Him. To have relationship.  Because ultimately, I believe that is why God created mankind.  For relationship.  I love how Sarah Young puts it in her book, ‘Jesus Calling’, “He and I are intertwined in an intimacy involving every fibre of my being.” I love this quote.

Truth be told, this isn’t my greatest recording.  At times I go flat and it sounds like I’m tired (I did have a baby at the time), but this song was written about these times I have alone with God.  He is my safe place. He is where I can unload all of my crap and know I’ll be understood.

So, back to you. I’m interested to know. Is there anyone you can be totally open and honest with? How do you unload your crap? Do you have a secret place where you go to find peace and unload your burdens?

See also:   https://stacilys.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/food-for-thought-friday-zucchini-crust-pizza-and-intertwined-in-intimacy/