I sing, to the glory of my King
Like A Bird In A Tree
About
My childhood
The son of a retired farmer, my childhood was for the most part privileged. My parents never divorced. I grew up in a large family home with a massive garden and tennis court, that was in the family for over 50 years and studied at what was and is still considered one of the top schools in our country and was given university education, as well. Family holidays were enjoyed on my grandfathers beautiful farm, in the North, while home was in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa, a popular travel destination for many internationals. Yet I had my share of childhood dramas, including abuse and demonic oppression. My biggest enemy however, I found over time to by myself. Prophetically I must have know this, for in my childhood room, I had a picture of a crouched over naked woman, (something I would not do today or allow in my own home) with a caption on it that said: "We have met the enemy and it is us!
Since my early teens, my hobby has always been to write songs. I was seldom anywhere without a guitar, even in the mountains. I have always enjoyed recording them on what ever I could afford. Perhaps like any artist, I feel a need to share this art, but it really is much more than that.
I first fell in love with acoustic guitar, when I heard a man sing "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor, at a talent contest in Arniston. My first guitar was therefore, you guessed it, a 12 string. I soon discovered that I was the least musical in my family. Unlike my brothers, who took piano at school, I never took any formal music lessons ever and learned by ear. Then God gave me an ability to write songs, at the same time that I welcomed him into my life. Since then I have discovered myself, as an Ordinarly Man, Embraced, by an extra ordinary God. He has taken me beyond myself, in so much of life, including the music I love creating. So, over time, I now play some eletric and bass guitar and also some keyboards. Though I am still nowhere near the musician I would love to be, I enjoy every peace I create and endeavour to continue to improve at what I do, trusting him to take me further. I am also a full time I.T. teacher at this stage, husband and father, so music and photography are passionate hobies, through the meidums of which I try to tell my stories.
As the proverb goes: The fool looks at the finger which point to the sky. I want all to know what God is truly like. He is aweseome goodness, kindness and mercy. He is personified love. I have experienced God's love and mercy over many years of relationship. I have also seen real miracles along life's way. I am concerned that many reject God, because they simpy do not know him. Sadly, the failings of those who believe in Him, including my own, are often the reason for this. Now that I am older, hopefully, my blogs and songs point more and more clearly to His truth. Our fallen lives begin in selfishness and sanctification is not instant. Saint Francis of Assissi said: "In dying we are born to eternal life". While God's gift through the blood of our saviour, justifies and covers us instantly, so that we can have relationship with our holy Father, to become like our Father, is a longer process. Phi 1:6 says: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." So, while believers shoud not use this as an excuse to sin, nor should the unbeliever, allow the unfinished vessel, to put them off the beauty and awesomeness of their perfect creator.
In Ezekiel 16, speaking of Jerusalem, God said: "'Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!"" I am sure, we can all identify with at least some of the above saying. Life never leaves us unscarred. We live in a fallen world. We are abused and abuse. My songs tell my stories. And though I sometimes bare my soul to the world, I am happy to do so, if it can in some way help somebody else. The inbetween years, are my "furnace of affliction years. Years in which I would cry out to God: "How long?" But through this I looked up more intently and my focus is to get you to look up and behold the beauty of your God and saviour.
"Baby knows to cry to mom, baby grows and wisdom's gone. Boys in pain all run for home. The realm of fools is man's alone!" From the Lift Your Head Up by Raven Rain album.
We should all look up and find help in God as Father, for so Yashua taught us to pray: "Our Father..." Fortunately for you and I, God is always listening and will not turn away a broken and contrite spirit. We are always encouraged by God, to forget the failure of the past and press on to the high calling, which is in our saviour.
So even if you are hurting or if life is great for you, I hope this site will help and encourage you to look up and find more and the true source and end of your existance and help you to grow closer to the one who is "mighty to save."
My journey began as a child. I heard a preacher share that for light to work it requires both terminals. That night, in the darkness of my bedroom, I lifted both my hands and cried out from my heart. "God, I need you. If you are real and if you want me, I am yours." It was the best decision I ever made, the impact of which reaches into eternity. It was the time of this experience that I wrote my first song. To me it was a gift I had suddenly received from the spirit of God. Did I misuse it. Yes I did. But this site is about the change that God can bring about for the better, in any person. We are on a journey. Along the way there will be trouble and suffering, but God will see that you who continue in faith and hope in him will be rewarded in this life and for eternity.
In a similar way to the bible, I aim to reveal the good the bad and the ugly through these musical bloggings, but with an upward focus that in all that I do, my saviour may be glorified and in some through this, the impact may be, that the one I love, may "see the fruit of His travail".
WHY
"Like A Bird In A Tree"?
So here I am, late in life,
having written songs
all of my life.
I am sitting outside
under a tree.
"What do you want me to do
with all this music?", I ask.
What do you hear?
(I beleive I am hearing His voice)
"I hear birds", I say.
"Just sing
like a bird in a tree"
