I watched Rihanna perform her new single “Diamonds” on SNL last weekend and loved the vibe of it. Her band was live and I instantly started thinking what if that was a worship song because it was so smooth! Tonight during my prayer & writing session I felt inspired to listen to it again and put my own feelings to it. Continue for the video and lyrics to a gospel version of Diamonds!
“If my life had a voice and told you my journey, you wouldn’t believe it and because of HIS grace there’s no way you can see.
And if my scars did not heal and if His love did not shield me you would see that I don’t look like what I used to be…
I don’t look like what I’ve been through…
For everyday I’m alive I thank God I survived. Now there’s a smile where I’ve cried, there’s been such a change in my life.
I can smile now. No longer mad now. Everything’s new now because I went through.
I lift my hands now. I open my mouth now. Victory is here now all because I went through.”
Those lyrics, verbatim are part of my testimony in coming out of this last season, and by God’s grace I had happy tears streaming down my face this morning when I heard this song. I am usually up to date on music, especially gospel but I must have been under a rock with song!! Just heard Deon Kipping’s “I Don’t Look Like (What I’ve Been Through) this morning and it has been on repeat all day. Check out my short cover of the song and then the original.
I think everyone knows this song, or at least the chorus!! What if God was one of us, just a stranger on the bus trying to make His way home … a song that sums up the way we should live which is treat others like we would treat ourselves, with kindness, love, and compassion. Flip the lid for my cover of Joan Osborne’s “One Of Us”!! Thanks again for checking out AfricaNicole.com and I’ll see y’all next post!!
So it’s funny how life works out sometimes. A month & a half ago I was at my lowest point in my life and today I am smiling, heart healed, and thankful. Doors have been opening that I didn’t expect and amazing people are coming into my life, in many different areas. Isn’t God amazing!?! I don’t know why I had to be let down like I was recently, but none of that matters at all because God PICKED ME UP, so I only focus on Him and His grace, amen somebody!! #MovingForward I wrote this song a couple weeks ago while just meditating on what God has truly been to me in these last few weeks and through it all He’s “thinking of me, He never leaves me, He’s ALWAYS by my side.” Continue reading for the lyrics and a cover version of a new song I’ll be recording soon.
I’ve been cleaning out my computer today. Erasing old pictures (#MovingFORWARD), documents, etc. Nothing like completely letting go, taking a deep breath, and looking forward to what’s ahead and NOT looking back!! With that being said, it’s not always easy when things are changing and you have to trust the unknown. Check out a song I wrote a while ago called “Keep Your Head To The Sky” … continue reading for the lyrics and cover video!
It’s uncuffing season!!! Who got uncuffed!?!? Lol
On a serious note though, we have all been through break ups and there are soooooo many mixed emotions that come with a break up. Anger, sadness, disappointment, freedom, relief, hurt, happiness, and so much more. One that came to mind while writing this song is the feeling of being simply disposable. Feeling like it’s so easy for someone to let you go and just move along, basically throw you away and keep it moving. Check out part of an original song of mine called “DISPOSABLE” when you continue reading!
You planned, and executed… and failed. You tried, and tried, and it didn’t accomplish your goal. You loved, and loved hard, and it failed… Things are falling apart, and so are you. We always hear all these “life is great” songs, and sermons, and sayings but in reality life isn’t always great. You have breath in your body so you can’t complain, but keeping it real, sometimes life sucks!! Sometimes your heart hurts like hell. From personal experience, a heartache is worse than any physical pain I’ve ever felt and unfortunately there’s no advil for that. Welcome to reality: things fall apart. So what’s next??
A question? Or a statement of fact? Either way, how GREAT is our God!?
I love music, I love songs, but this is easily my favorite song. Take a couple minutes to check out my cover of Chris Tomlin’s How Great Is Our God.
Felt like singing before going to sleep!! Enjoy my humble ode to the late great Nate King Cole. Continue reading to check out the video!!
Hey y’all!! As most of you know I’m an aspiring song writer. I truly believe God has given me a gift of words along with praise and worship so I want to heavily push my writing and music in 2012 so I’m ending the year with a song that sums up how I feel about 2011.
Chorus:
For you alone are worthy of my praise
For you alone are worthy of my praise
For all my days, I want to thank you
For you alone are worthy of my praise
Simple, yet heartfelt lyrics and melody. Dear God, you alone are worthy of my praise. #thankful
See you all next post!
*hugs & kisses*
-Africa Nicole
