Sometimes You Gotta Laugh at Yourself

  I'm sure we've all heard someone say - well I just gotta laugh or else I will cry! I find that true and sometimes you just gotta laugh because it's good for you and those around you! And in such a climate of fear, anxiety and anger both politically & economically  lately...we could use something 'light'.  So have a little listen to my "Love is Here Outtakes".  Kenny put it together a bunch of outtakes...some are me fooling around in recording session, tracks I sent him to review by email or captures of my reactions to hilarious mistakes.  I think he was kind and left off the REAL embarrassing ones...I'm still waiting for that shoe to drop ;).

I record my music in lots of different places...sometimes my basement
 is the cheapest and best option!

Love is Here - Outtakes

If you are a reader of my blog you get to check out full tracks for free on Soundcloud - click on this link:

Love is Here - Free Tracks :)



Also just a note - do not despair or be afraid!  We just celebrated the feast of Christ the King - where we are reminded that there is a powerful force beyond any level of government authority, God Himself. Christ is the King of a kingdom of justice, mercy, peace and eternal happiness. Let Thy Kingdom come! 

You Are With Me

"Pain and sorrow cloud my sight right now, yet my heart feels still in the storm

I will wait on the Lord, who I'll praise everyday, my saviour and my God"

Lyrics from You Are With Me, a song I wrote during a time when a family member was undergoing chemo treatment.  These words are adapted from Psalms 3 and 42.  You can get this song on my new album - Love is Here.

I find myself needing to take on this mantra of waiting and trusting in God - even when it's not easy to be happy or see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Sometimes we have to choose to be positive, choose to have faith and blindly have hope. When we do that, God meets us where we are at and takes us forward.  Have you ever heard someone say they regretted being positive when things were grim or having faith in moments of doubt??

In difficult moments, we can have a storm of anxiety, depression or unfortunate circumstances all around us - but what keeps us still in the storm?  For me, it's knowledge of great truth, truth that never changes from age to age.  Here are a few truths I remind myself of:

We are made in the image and likeness of God, we are God's beloved children and He never leaves our side - our emotions and circumstances don't ever change that.

All things work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Jesus told us many times to not be anxious or afraid.  

John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” 

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Those of you who experience symptoms of anxiety know that sometimes just reading these scriptures or repeating them to ourselves in moments of distress don't always magically make the anxiety go away.  But it's important to make it a habit of reading and praying with these scriptures and allowing them to live in your heart - so that you have access to them when you need them.  They DO have an impact. God's truth and peace will guard your heart and mind. You will get through and you're not alone.

One last thought of encouragement, something that has been helping me recently:

14 And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. (1 John 5: 14-15)

God loves us and wants to answer our prayers, He can only answer prayers that are in alignment with His Holy Will, what is good and perfect.  Sometimes the answer is "yes", it's just we have to wait.  Sometimes the answer is ..."I hear you, but no - because I have something even better in mind that's in your best interest".  In a culture of immediate gratification, we have to remind ourselves that God works in His own ways and time...He's got our back!  Let's trust in Him.

Jesus, help us trust in your providence, love and care.  Help us to feel still in the storms around us.  Help us lead others to your light.  Amen.

Love is Here

I'm excited to announce the release of my third album - Love is Here!  Check it out!!!
https://chelseamarshall.hearnow.com 

This album is a collection of songs I have written since my last album came out in 2015.  I've had the pleasure to collaborate with my brother Daniel, friends 'old and new' (Kenny, Aimee, Don!) and to incorporate young student voices (my most favourite sound in the world!).

Love is Here has 9 songs of different styles and tempos but all centered around themes of faith, trust and connection. "Follow Me" is a song highlighting how we may get lost at times on the journey but God speaks to us simply yet profoundly; "Love is Here" reminds us to be in the present moment, "A Dream for You" is written for the next generation; "You Are With Me" was written for those who are facing suffering and serious illness and "You're the Reason" is dedicated to students from a teacher perspective.  Songs you will hear children featured in are: "I Am the Bread of Life", a cover written by Steve Agrisano and Tom Booth; "I'll Be a Light for You" highlighting the vocational journey of teachers and leaders in education and "Search and You Will Find" - a song written to inspire young people to seek God and look for His presence all around us. The album ends with "You Have a Place" first composed in 2004 when many friends in university were beginning to part ways, but it is just as relevant today as the people in our lives are always growing and changing (right, Sister Serena?!). It's a reminder of how those we truly love always remain in our hearts.

"...God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them" 1 John 4:16

A HUGE shout out to Kenny Murdoch who is the multi-talented, faith-filled musician that adds his guitar and percussion to my music as well as takes charge with the recording and production of the album. It's a pleasure working and creating with him - we've worked on 3 album projects over 9 years! Thank you SO much Kenny and I know you would join me in saying - to God be all the glory!  Love is here, love is now!