This song “Father” was written by Peter Tonna and performed by Banton Brothers.
Download audio file (Father.mp3)

Father here I am
Weak in your might
A little child
In your light
Oh how I’ve shamed
I don’t deserve the shine of your reign

CHORUS x 2
Oh Father
If I gave my everything
Would that ever be enough for your love?

I can’t understand
Your thoughts of me
They’re like the drops
That fill the sea
Oh take away your gaze
For I don’t deserve your grace

CHORUS.…x 2

There was a time I made it clear
I didn’t want you anywhere near
But when I look back you were there
With open arms I had never gone too far
I humbly turn around, it’s you that runs to me
When I humbly turn around, it’s you that runs to me

CHORUS….x 2

Then my heart felt the answer
And now I see
You already gave everything
For me
For me

About “Father”:
For a while I kept putting off writing this song because I wanted to have the right answer to the question that resounds in the chorus which is: “Father if I gave my everything, would that ever be enough for your love?” The truth is: we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Hence, often in our weak moments, we would wonder if God still loves us and if there is anything we can do to deserve His love.

One day, I decided that I wasn’t going to put off this song any longer. I picked it up, closed my eyes and asked God to give me the answer to the question. Then, in an instant, I felt a calmness and heard God speaking the answer to my heart. I could finally finish this song. The response to my question can be heard in the very last line of this song. Be blessed!

More information about Peter:
Peter is a songwriter from Sydney, Australia. He has written over 350 songs in many genres. It was his deep love for God which led him to focus on writing Christian and positive songs for God’s glory. He hopes to share his songs with the world to bring people closer to God.

With siblings for band-mates, ABODA is a unique Christian instrumental band. They started in 1993 with the entire family—their parents included—playing music and singing under the name Team Worshipper (which later became Worshippers). The band changed its name to ABODA in 2006. Now, it consists of Timothy Noya (piano & keyboards), Fanuel Noya (drums), Philemon Noya (guitar), and Clement Noya (bass).

The word “ABODA” comes from Hebrew, meaning “to work, to serve, to worship.” This name is in line with their vision to “share life stories to everyone who listens to ABODA’s music.”

There are various musical influences that shaped the music composed by ABODA, for example: musicians such as David Foster, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Israel Houghton, Tom Brooks, and renowned drummers Akira Jimbo and Thomas Pridgen. ABODA is often regarded as a jazz band, but ABODA never saw themselves that way. When asked about the type of music that they prefer, one of the band members replied, “The essence of worship is not the kind of music, but the heart.”

In June 2007, they released their debut album “Today in Paradise” under the label Victorious Music Jazz. This album won the award for “The Best Instrumental Album” at the 2008 Indonesian Gospel Music Awards. A year later ABODA published the “Lite Edition”, which included the song “Journey to the Fatherland.”

Journey to the Fatherland
This song was conceptualized when they saw many Muslims returning home just before the Islamic Eid* holiday. From there, inspiration struck them that “this life is actually a journey back to where we came from.” So the “Fatherland” in this song refers to not just our earthly home, but our Father’s place in Heaven.

Journey To The Fatherland (ABODA) by clementnoya

It’s not easy to judge an instrumental hymn, let alone a completely original one. But we can try to observe closely the atmosphere generated by the musical instruments in this song and try to see the inspiration behind it.

Basically, Journey to Fatherland is driven by a motif or a piece of melody that acts like a chorus. This motif can be found at the beginning of the song, in which the electric guitar and strings from the keyboard blend together. The melody for the motif is easy to remember because it contains one long tone followed by a short tune. It has a very lively but firm character. The second guitar accompaniment is catchy and the drums add to the atmosphere of hustle and bustle. It’s enough to give an impression of the heightened rush that comes with going home.

After the chorus is completed, we hear the guitar solo. A gentle piano chord is held at length to provide the bases for the solo, which is very reflective and gives the impression of nostalgia. By using echo effects at the end of each piece of the melody, it paints a picture of the composer considering the deeper meaning in life amid the activities of going home. The guitar solo ends with a touch of melancholy in which there are brief scales: four long tones down, before returning to a vibrant chorus.

Overall we see the unique juxtaposition of a lively chorus and the improvisation by the band, which always begins with a series of rapid and brilliant tone but then turns into a more melancholic one.

This seemed to illustrate that in the end, going home is nothing than just going home—a very human activity. However, we should bear in mind that this life is a journey of returning home to a far greater place—our Fatherland in Heaven. ABODA is not trying to create a heavenly atmosphere in this song; instead they wanted to depict a realistic reflection and inspiration amid the busyness of our daily activities.

Psalm 84:1-2 reads, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” May this be the cry of our hearts too.

*A three-day Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm).

Endnote: ABODA is currently serving at various churches in Jakarta, Indonesia on a weekly basis. The members are all music teachers. In the future, Aboda hopes to go international and help more people see the love of Christ through their works.

What are your dreams made out of? Share them with us!

Check out her music here!

Vanessa Faith

The Chinese has this saying “守株待兔”(literally, it means “wait by the tree for the rabbit”)。According to legend, during the Song dynasty, there was a farmer who witnessed a rabbit hitting a tree and died as result. He hence put down his farming tools and waited at that tree for the next rabbit to do likewise. This saying illustrates that it’s foolhardy to not work hard, and simply rely on chance for good things to happen.

Similarly, in our pursuit of God, intimacy doesn’t just happen. It needs conscious and deliberate effort on our part to draw near to Him. May we be like Ezra who “set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it” (Ezra 7:10).

Download audio file (Vanessa Faith - Originals (Demo Tracks) - 01 Good Things.mp3)

GOOD THINGS
(words and music by Vanessa Faith)

Chorus:
Good things they don’t fall from apple trees
Don’t sit there and just enjoy the breeze
Get back, you gotta get back on your feet
Draw a map, and get back to me
(Get back to me)

Verse1:
There are times when i stay awake
Thinking of you
Dying to get back to
Brew and construe

I try to paint a picture
Thinking of you
On a train, on a bus
People stand amused

Where have you gone to
Grace and virtue
Cos here i am
Cold and framed
Hearing once again

Verse2:
Small steps to town
I hear their voice aloud
Talking and laughing
Called me a weakling

I stopped and pondered
Thinking of you
Ate cold cream, my face beamed
I know what He means
Finally knew what He means

Check out our interview with Vanessa in the near future!
Alternatively, head here to learn more about this aspiring singer song-writer!

Have you ever felt like running away from pain, hurt, stress or disappointment? The desire to  run away from difficult situations is not uncommon. Some people have turned to alcohol or drugs, and some have decided that an exciting affair is what they need for some relief from a hectic life. Others try to escape by going for retail therapy or a short getaway. But the aftermath of all these measures often leave us feeling high and dry. So, where or who can we run to? Check out this music video!

*Run To You is the second music video from Shane Clements Band and Retta Baptist Church. Written and directed by Jarod O’Flaherty.

Run To You
Performed by Shane Clements Band

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite psalms. It paints a beautiful picture of how intimately God knows each and everyone of us—better than we even know ourselves! It amazes me that the Creator of the universe who was there from the beginning of time, who orchestrated the rise and fall of great kingdoms, would take the time to knit me together in my mother’s womb (v.15), and write the days ordained for me in His book (v.16).

The reason I chose verses 7 to 10 as the chorus is because it reminds us that God is always right beside us. This truth is especially important in our time and age where temptations abound. Temptations such as Internet pornography can destroy us when we are alone, in the private place.

Hence, let’s remember:
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” —Psalm 139:7-10

Download Song Here:
Psalm 139
(right-click to save link)

YMI Note:
Also check out Finally Alive by Asiri

Download audio file (Finally_Alive.mp3)

Finally Alive
The wind blows wherever it pleases,
You can hear its sound
But you can’t tell where it’s coming from
That’s the way it is with those who’re born of the Spirit
They’re purified and set free
Into pleasures forevermore

*And now I’m alive
because of you, I’m alive
because of you, I’m alive
Finally alive

I was a sinner, oh a great sinner was I
But you loved me, oh you still loved me
I was thirsty, lost and wondering
But you found me, you pursued me and found me

Repeat *

You took the nails,
and broke the chains,
I’m free, I’m free

You became my sin
and bore the wrath,
I’m forgiven, I’m forgiven

Repeat *

Download Song Here:
Finally Alive
(right-click to save link)

About Asiri Fernando
“I’m 25 and I’m studying for my Masters at Trinity International University situated just outside Chicago. I hope to graduate next May and head back home to Sri Lanka, to work for Youth For Christ. I love youth and I’d give my life to see them know Christ and enjoy the riches of God’s kingdom. I’m a singer/songwriter. Singing is my passion. Though I love the city, the best part of the day for me is to go out into the fields and talk to God. It amazes me everyday at the privilege we have to talk to the all-powerful King of kings who created the entire universe.

I love to think about Jesus, His death and His love for me. I love sports and I play cricket—it’s like baseball but better

John Piper has written a book called Finally Alive. It was while reading this book that I wrote the song. The song is based on John chapter 3 where Jesus talks to Nicodemus about being born again.”

With no official budget for the project, the youth pull their resources together and came out with this stunning music video!

RESIST
(Song by Shane Clements and Matt Ward)

You’re alone, outside it’s cold and dark,
Inside your soul is falling apart.
Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide;
Sometimes you feel like you could just die.

Here we are—saw you had a fire burning,
But all we see your heart turning,
Always doubting His existence,
Now all we see is your resistance.

To you this life is just a game,
Deep down inside you know something has to change
Before this life fades away, fades away.

You walked away—looking for the love you can’t find,
Leaving everyone else behind.
Doing things you said you’d never do,
In all your lies can you find the truth?

‘Cause Truth has a name, please don’t resist Him now.
Please don’t resist Him now.

Your life is not a game,
It isn’t even yours anyway.
Just one look at His hands, and you’ll see you’ve already won!

He is the One, He is the Son of God, an end to your resistance.
He is your Hope; He is the Love you could not find, the Light you cannot hide.

He made a way for you, conquered the grave for you, He lives again for you.
His name is Jesus! Please don’t resist Him now, let Him restore your soul,
Your broken heart made whole. He’ll do it all and more. His name is Jesus!

Please don’t resist Him now, you’re welcome to come back home.
We’ve loved you all along.
Arms open wide for you, tears that we’ve cried for you,
Because He died for you,
Because He died for you.

Jarod O’Flaherty – Director, Videographer, Editor (27-year-old)
Shane Clements – Songwriter, Lead vocalist (20-year-old)
Brianna Smith – Lead actress (17-year-old)
Russell Routh – Lead guitarist (18-year-old)
Krystin Jurries – Script editor, Prayer warrior (17-year-old)
Nathan Ellison – Lighting and Equipment, Supporting actor (16-year-old)
April Walker – Supporting Actress (16-year-old)

Check out our interview with the team members next week!

Download audio file (Heb12.mp3)

Words & Music By YMIblogging
Did you ever feel that life is like a race
A race that we are called to run in faith
To strive to reach the end of the line
Pressing toward the prize of life
To take the crown of righteousness from Christ

But sometimes we falter and fail to stay the course
Our feet grow weak we want to run no more
Just remember the clouds of witnesses
Praying and urging from above
Surrounding us and cheering us to carry on

Fixing our eyes upon Jesus
He’s the author of our faith
Let us lay aside our sinful ways
Cause He gave His life on the cross and bore our shame
And grant to us His living grace

Let us run and not grow weary and lose heart
Let nothing persuade nor hinder us to stop
Let the Word of God abide in us
Be our daily strength and be our guide
Cause Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life