No More to Frown

Hi all!

It's been a while. Hope everyone is doing great. I wanted to share a poem that I wrote when I first started my songwriting class. I read it again, today and wanted to share it with you all. Enjoy!


Verse 1

Falling down on my dirt stained face

Washing me with descending waves

Arms extended raised toward heaven

I drink of the water, It was a quarter past 7



Splashing and sloshing was the noise of my feet

Skipping and skirting was the dance of retreat

Flashing and blinding my eyes disdained

Running and hiding was the sense attained



Chorus

Forceful rain, coming down

Fall today but don't make me frown

Descend for now, to the ground

Refresh within and cleanse without



Verse 2

Pouring down on mother earth

The deluge streamed to half past 8

Now beneath the shades of trees

I find my refuge while I wait



Chilling and dampening were clothes to my skin

Mouldering and rotten was the scent akin

Crashing and thundering was sound to my ears

Thumping and beating were the rhythms of my fear



Chorus

Forceful rain, coming down

Your falling today, I'm starting to frown

Descending now, to the ground

Wearied within and chastened without




Verse 3

Half past 8 you finally came

I see the trees have now been tamed

I slowly walk relieved, refined

Feeling warm, thinking of home to dine



Smiling and crying I made it alive

Quickening and enlarging are my strides

Whistling and humming are my songs

Who is at home, my thoughts go on and on



Chorus

Forceful rain you've fallen down

You've gone today and no more abound

Return one day but not right now

I'm going home no more to frown

My Testimony

I wanted to share with everyone my personal testimony. I found it encouraging to write this out and to reflect God's goodness on my life. I will be sharing more details and my journey after salvation in my next post. For now it's just my testimony

At the age of seven, I made a profession of faith. I had grown up hearing about the gospel. I don't quite remember all that took place that Sunday afternoon after church. My dad tells me that I apparently went to my room and asked Jesus to save me. It was hard to tell, feel or even see a change in my life because so much of my life was around Christian people and doing Christian things. I was also quite confused as to why Jesus would need to save me because  going to church, praying, serving etc. were already a big part of my life. I felt continuing in these things was just what I had to do. I didn't see myself as a sinner. 

I had learned early on that pleasing people was a way of getting what I wanted- a form of manipulation. It didn't help either that I was getting recognition for my piano playing abilities by so many of my peers. In comparison to my brothers, My 'good' behavior set me apart from them, before the eyes of others. To many people in my circles, I was known as the 'good' kid. All the accolades and recognition only further alienated me from seeing my need for God and his salvation because everything was right before others and therefore to me it equated to being right before God.

It was at the age of 16 that i felt the hand of God begin to work in my life. By his grace he began to put a hunger and desire to search him out. It was over a period of months that God was showing me my need for him. It came to the point one evening that I found myself crying over my sinfulness and Christ's work on the cross for me. His love was so overwhelming to me and my need for a savior so great because of my wickedness against such a holy God that I threw up my arms and surrendered to his calling.

Moving Song

I just stumbled across some amazing words to an amazing song!

The title of the song is "Who Made Me To Know You". You can listen to part song and read the lyrics  here. The link will take to Sovereign grace music, who are the people who produced this piece and many others.

Enjoy!

Apo

An Update.

It's been a long while since I've last written and so much has happened between the last time I wrote to now. I have no idea where to begin, except to just outline what's been happening in different areas of my life.

Musically

Currently, I'm in my 9th week of my course through Berkley Music. I am close to finishing "Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies". It has been an amazing course and I've learnt so much about writing lyrics. I feel better equipped to express what I want to say in writing. Keep an eye out for some new music coming your way.

Also, I am currently working on a CD full of hymns and spiritual songs that I hope to release over the next two years. It's a long term project due to time constraints, skill and initiative. I have about a dozen songs that are in the works at the moment, which even surprised me. The CD is a mixture of instrumental and vocal pieces. The idea behind the CD was to have a fresh take on some of the older hymns. Watch this space!

With regards to my more chilled music, I haven't written anything new. Though, feel free to listen to my I've produced over the last couple of years, here.

Spiritually

Over the last 6 months I've been somewhat lukewarm to christianity. I'm not sure why but it's been eating at me as I feel this year is an 'all or nothing' year. My pastor recently challenged me to give God 60 days of undivided attention and devotion. He said, if in 60 days I still feel the same, he would let me go. I agreed and now I'm up to my fourth day. I have to say, it has been such a refreshing challenge to take on as I really feel my soul warming to things of God again. Though, it hasn't come without work! I look forward to writing more about what I learn over these next 60 days with you. I don't know where it will end. All I know is that I'm throwing my whole self into this like I never have before. My challenge incudes, getting up and spending an hour in devotions, listening to sermons on the way to and from work and before bed, memorising scriptures daily, attending church at least twice a week and completing Jim Berg's "Freedom that Lasts" course. This is what my pastor has challenged me to do. We shall see what happens in 60 days.

On a side note, my heart has been stirred whilst listening to many of Matt Chandler's sermons. The gospel really comes alive and pierces my soul deeply.

Vocationally

I've stepped down from my coordinator position so as to get a break. I found that it was eating my emotions, my thoughts, my life! I definitely feel that I've made the right decision as now I can focus on more important things at work and in life in general. My job no longer consumes my personal life. I'm contemplating changing jobs and even state but we shall see what happens over the next 60 days. 

I just wanted to leave everyone with a song that has been piercing my heart recently. Enjoy.

Any ways, it's been nice to be back here again and writing. I'll try to keep everyone updated over the coming weeks. 

Peace out,

Apo

Saying Goodbye

A fellow musician is saying goodbye to the sound cloud community to which I belong :(

His compositions have touched my soul so deeply. It is the way I want to compose! This is my aim and I will die trying...

I feel so sad especially when their last piece is this:

Angel Whispers (Orchestral) by Tanaki Alison ☁♫ -‿- ♪♫

I am in tears!