An Uplifting Song A Day

Send us Fan Mail

Hi Folks,
Welcome to another episode of A Song a Day Keeps Coronavirus away!
Thanks so much for tuning in despite my absence. I had some voice issues and personal issues. Thank God they are both better now, however, I will be going back to work full-time as of Monday, May 12th so I will most likely only be able to manage 1 or 2 episodes a week.

But who knows? It takes me awhile now because I have to go through so many steps to make it sound as clean as possible. I purchased a mini podcasting kit to see if it would make a difference or not in quality as well as cutting the time. Pray for me that it does.

I also hope you liked my new intro/outro beat made especially for me by a wonderful young man who goes by [ sweetness ].

If you do, please take 60 seconds to call in at https://anchor.fm/diane-stafford/message and let me know!

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (Public Domain)

Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons
Blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy!
Though the darkness hide thee
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy
There is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Hi everyone,

Welcome to another episode of A Song a Day (Keeps Coronavirus away).Excuse the tinny sound of the background music. I decided to try something new this weekend. Singing with myself. By the time I recorded the top harmony, it was over!

Let me know what you think anyway!

As you can see, today's song is "The Blood Will Never Lose It's Pow'r" I chose it because ever since this pandemic began my mind has been drawn to the story of the Israelites as God worked on their release from Egypt. The final sign to Pharaoh that he really needed to say yes involved the blood of a sacrifice being posted over the doorways of their houses to ensure that the lives of their firstborn sons were preserved.

I wonder what would happen now if we plead the blood over our doorposts in 2020 and declare that COVID-19 must pass over our household?

Just a thought.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

I Trust in God written by William C. Martin (1864-1914) 

It's amazing how the wonderful gift of lyrics and the music that accompanies it can bless us.

1.
I trust in God wherever I may be,
Upon the land or on the rolling sea,
For, come what may, from day to day,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

Chorus
I trust in God, I know He cares for me,
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Tho' billows roll, He keeps my soul,
My heavn'ly Father watches over me.

2.
He makes the rose an object of His care,
He guides the eagle thru the pathless air,
And surely He remembers me,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

Chorus

3.
I trust in God, for in the the lion's den,
On battlefield, or in the prison pen,
Thru praise or blame, thru flood or flame,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.


Chorus

4.
The valley may be dark, the shadows deep
But O, The Shepherd guards His lonely sheep;
And thru the gloom, He'll lead me home
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

Chorus

Words by W.C. Martin, Lyrics by Charles Gabriel.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Hello Again,

This is a snippet of the upcoming premiere of "What Song Are You Feeling" where I discuss the power of music to change emotions.

http://deeswrites.com

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

A snippet of the first song I've ever written as an adult. To hear this backstory/testimony listen on An Uplifting Song a Week - Love Anyway or on Apple
(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-uplifting-song-each-week/id1510162487)

The lyrics were born way before any music was added. I don't know about anyone else but my creative juices begin flowing when I'm in angst and boy was that an angst ridden time.
My only child was away at college in another state, I was in business for myself and my booming profits had begun to take a hit due to competition that decided to set itself up right beside me, my mom who lived with me at the time was just beginning to exhibits signs of Alzheimer's. The strong kick butt woman with whom I lived, began to become an uncertain shadow of herself, right before my eyes.

I remember going out to my usual corner, setting up my book-stand and waiting and waiting for my customers to show up. A few did and actually bought a few items but at the end of 5 hours I only had $50 to show for time spent out in the cold. Loathe to arrive home early and worry my mom, I packed up my van and drove to a place I could always count on for comfort...the library.

Wouldn't you know it...it was closed for renovations.

So I sat in my van with the rain pouring down on the windshield and I fussed at God. I reminded Him that I was now in my church's Bible college. I was studying and learning more about Him than ever before, that now that I was right-er than I'd ever been in my life, everything was falling apart. I felt betrayed somehow. I thought that since I was doing His will, answering the call and all...that I was protected.

So as was always my habit, when things bother me...I write it down.  And what came out of me was a series of poems from God to me or to anyone else who was or ever will be in the place that I am.

I Know...Love
I know...trust
I know...forgive

I know sometimes it's hard to love...but do it anyway
I know sometimes it's hard to forgive...but do it anyway
I know sometimes it's hard to trust...but do it anyway

God needed me to love enough to forgive others who had hurt me, who had proven they were not trustworthy because He himself lived with someone for three years that He knew was going to betray Him. But He didn't treat him any differently than the other disciples, He loved him and shared his time with him giving him every opportunity to make a different choice.

I had to learn that hard lesson and that it rains on the just and the unjust and if Jesus went through hard times so would I.

I would love to say that I bounced back the next day after having that awesome experience with God, but it was a process.  As I let go of mistrust for men caused by the abuse of my father, relationships and began to forgive people and myself for our imperfections. I began to awaken to who God had originally created me to be. A happier person, one not so closed off from people.

Lyrics/Vocals: Diane Stafford
Background Track: Ainsley Harris
(c) 2006 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Hello Folks and welcome to another episode of A Song a Day (Keeps Coronavirus Away)

Before I go any further,  I would just like to take a moment to say thanks. Thanks for listening the first time and thanks for returning.

I checked my stats and there's one particular person who has listened to every episode and I'm quite honored.

I've still got quite a few songs left in me and my voice is finally starting to come back to normal.

If there's a particular song of which you'd like to hear a snippet, leave me a voice message with the info. If at all possible I will oblige.

https://anchor.fm/diane-stafford/message

Now for today's song:

Close to Thee  (Gaither Live Gathering, lovely rendition)

Thou my everlasting portion
More than friend or life to me
All alone my pilgrim journey
Saviour let me walk with Thee

Close to Thee, close to Thee
Close to Thee, close to Thee
All alone my pilgrim journey
Saviour let me walk with Thee

Not for easy wordly pleasure
Nor for fame my prayer shall be
Gladly will I toil and suffer
Only let me walk with Thee

Close to Thee, close to Thee
Close to Thee, close to Thee
Gladly will I toil and suffer
Only let me walk with Thee

Lead me through the veil of shadows
Bear me o'er life's fitful sea
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter Lord with Thee

Close to Thee, close to Thee
Close to Thee, close to Thee
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter Lord with Thee...
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter Lord with Thee...

Songwriters: Fanny J. Crosby / Silas Jones Vail

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Day 31 of A Song a Day (Keeps Coronavirus away). I cannot believe that I have been doing this for thirty-one days already.

That being said, the title of this song and the sentiment are quite apropos. If anyone would have told me that an averred loner like myself is ready to assault someone just to get a hug, I would have said, nope, that's not me.

It's amazing what we can learn about ourselves. That sense of self-sufficiency needed to crumble (and I did) so that I could be reminded afresh of just how much I need God for the difficult as well as the simple and mundane things in life.

Lyrics: Annie Hawks
Music: 
I need thee every hour
Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford

I need thee oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now my savior
I come to thee

I need thee every hour
Stay thou near by
Temptations loose their power
When thou art nigh

I need thee oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now my savior
I come to thee

I need thee every hour
Most holy one
Oh make me thine indeed
Thou blessed son

I need thee oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now my savior
I come to thee

Oh I need thee

I need thee

Oh bless me now my savior

I come to thee

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Day 26 of A Song a Day (Keeps Coronavirus away)

Sorry for the extended absence folks. The week after Easter is always full of exhaustion for me. It's that way every year and I keep forgetting...every year.

Due to the downtime by COVID, I have been able to let the creative juices flow a bit. To that end, this episode is a snippet of a song I wrote today. 

Verse 1 of my original creation for Calypso extempo challenge encouraging people to stay safe

I know COVID been here awhile
And she messing up we life
She get familiar like she our friend
Taking liberties now and then.
I tell ya
She doh make joke
She acting worse than stroke!
But even though I have The Great Hope
Bam! Ah staying home!

Lyrics: Diane (Divine) Stafford 2020
Music: Eclipse Productions 2020

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Hello and welcome to another episode of An Uplifting Song a Day (Keeps Coronavirus Away)

Today's song encourages us to consider putting aside some time daily to spend with God. The outcome of time spent with God is that He is able to take away what troubles us because He invites us to share our desires with Him.

by William W. Walford (1772–1850)
Public Domain
 
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father's throne
make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter's snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
the joys I feel, the bliss I share
of those whose anxious spirits burn
with strong desires for thy return!

With such I hasten to the place
where God my Savior shows his face,
and gladly take my station there,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Hello and welcome to Day 20 of A Song a Day (Keeps coronavirus away)
.
This song has been with me from childhood. Reminisce with me as I sing

Also, please note that we are halfway through this season. I intend to end season one at the 40 episode mark, then I will take a break for 2 weeks.

In the meantime I will be working on fine tuning my podcasting skills with my two other podcast - http://deeswrites.com/podcast/

 

Support the show