I. Story of the “Dive Into My Destiny!” CDs
When the Lord wrote the script for the 2017 “Destiny” ministry year, He laid out many specific strategies and assignments, one of which was the creation of three CDs—one for each of the three “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshop levels. All women who attend a “Destiny!” workshop receive a free CD crafted specifically for that workshop.
The Destiny 1 CD was the creation of worship leader Julie Zurcher. The purpose of this CD is to encourage and strengthen women who are in the initial stages of discovering their destinies. God laid songs on her heart from the current market—songs about identity, healing, and freedom. Honeybee Ministries purchased the rights to the songs, and Julie recorded all piano tracks as well as bongo drums for the “Dive Into My Destiny!” theme song. She, her daughter Annie Ritter, and my daughter Ciara McDonald, sang all vocals. Though stripped down in terms of production, the CD has been a beautiful ministry tool for women as well as a powerful anthem, accompanying the Destiny team on many Jericho Drives as we follow God’s instruction to “take twelve cities” for Him in 2017.
The Destiny 2 CD is completely different in purpose and product. All fourteen songs are original, as God has gifted both Julie and me with songwriting ability. At “Dive Into My Destiny 2” workshops, we teach women about their spiritual and personality “fruits.” In His amazing provision, the Lord had us pull together songs written over the past thirty years—songs appropriate for each personality type. Also included are a few special “honey” songs at the beginning and end, including the second version of the “Dive Into My Destiny” theme song.
The Destiny 3 CD is in the initial creation stages and will hopefully be ready for the first-ever “Dive Into My Destiny 3” workshop in December. Right now, God has us in a holding pattern as we seek intimacy and purity with Him prior to the CD’s recording. Reflecting the nature of a Destiny 3 workshop, CD #3 is shorter and goes deepest in the spiritual realm. We will enter into the Holy of Holies in intense worship of our Lord and Savior.
Though all workshop attendees receive free CDs, we also offer CDs to the public for $10 each or three for $25 (once #3 is ready). Contact us at diveintomydestiny@gmail.com to order.
II. Individual Song Stories for Destiny 2 Original Songs
THEME SONG
1. “Dive Into My Destiny”
When God called me into ministry, right away He gave “Destiny” as the theme word: Everything I ministered was to be about peoples’ God-given destinies. The ministry call came in October of 2014, at which time “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshops were born.
A few months later in January of 2015, the Lord dropped this “Dive Into My Destiny” chorus into my spirit. I sang it a few times to myself and went right to the bathroom—of all places! —to attempt to record it on my computer’s Garage Band program. I had not personally used the program before and have not used it successfully since, but at that time, within about five minutes, I was able to capture the chorus and use it in upcoming workshops. The tune and lyrics remained unchanged over the next two years.
In October of 2016, Julie Zurcher felt God’s call to partner with Honeybee Ministries. As a worship leader, singer, and songwriter, Julie brought her musical talents into the Destiny! mix. At that time, the Lord revealed verses to her that were the perfect completion to the “Dive Into My Destiny” theme song, the song we use to open and close “Dive into My Destiny!” workshops.
The song continues to evolve. On the Destiny 1 CD, the song had simple piano accompaniment and bongo drums, plus two voices—Julie’s and Ciara’s. For the Destiny 2 CD, drums joined the mix, as did Annie’s voice. I anticipate ALL Destiny singer voices adding in for the “Final” version, which is yet to be recorded! Until then, our prayer is that you dive into your God-given destinies as you enjoy this song.
OPENING HONEY SONGS
One of these songs is old and one is new. However, NOW is the time for you to partake of their sweetness!
2. “Just Like in the Good Old Days”
I was raised in the Pentecostal tradition and was gloriously baptized in the Holy Spirit as a child of eight or nine years. I did my best to live a Christ-centered life through junior high and high school. After high school, my then-boyfriend (now husband) Mark and I attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, where the Holy Spirit moved regularly. Upon our return to Iowa, we attended the Red Oak Assembly of God Church. To this point in my life, I was continuously immersed in the presence of the Holy Spirit with regular manifestations of God’s precious gifts.
I love, love, love my Lord and enjoy His presence so much! I knew that not all people experienced the Lord’s presence as I had been privileged to experience Him, so this song evolved from my desire for others to know the Holy Spirit as I know Him.
“Just Like in the Good Old Days” is fun! It has a campy, Old West saloon-type feel, complete with a “slowing train” in the middle, which pianist Kathy performs to perfection. The tempo changes reflect the ebbs and flows of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring historically. Daughter Ciara used her Ella Fitzgerald-type voice to bring the “old” feel to life, and Producer Paul purposefully crafted the opening to sound scratchy and old-timey, like a phonograph record. Fred and Julie Buck playing strings and Layton on drums contribute to this spunky “kick off” song.
It is our prayer that if you have not already done so, you open your heart to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit--an amazing, awesome, and FUN spiritual immersion that brings the POWER OF GOD into your life!
3. “Oh, Lord!”
I wrote this song in the early ‘90s when my daughters were young. The first note combinations are reminiscent of a short note progression in a song from a movie my daughters owned. God used those notes as the springboard for this simple but powerful celebration of the Holy Trinity.
The song starts soft and sweet with praise of our Lord Jesus; progresses to rich middle notes as we adore Holy Spirit; and builds to the power of a waterfall as we magnify Awesome God. We then change keys, reduce volume and intensity, and end where we started with the soft, sweet, flute-like celebration of our Lord.
Soon after writing “Oh, Lord!,” I shared the song with my home church, the Lynnville Church of God. The song made it into their chorus rotation and was used there in ministry for many years.
However, the song came to final fruition with the “Destiny!” call. The deeper, rich vocals of the Dolls (Ciara, Cyvannah, Melissa) awaited the angelic, flute-like soprano of the Ritter-Zurchers (Annie, Julie). This a cappella worship chorus by the Destiny Singers is our offering to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Lord, may you be praised!
CHERRY SONGS
Cherries are God’s JOYFUL people! You’ll need to attend a “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshop to discover your personality “fruit family,” but if these two songs are among your favorites, there is a good chance that you are a Cherry, a personality family shared by approximately 38% of the general population.
4. Jesus is the Light of My Day
This is another “old” song--one of several I wrote thirty years ago in my Red Oak days—long before Carrie Underwood recorded “Jesus, Take the Wheel” (listen for one line in this song that is a precursor to a line from her smash hit).
“Jesus is the Light of My Day” reminds me of an organ grinder, a monkey, and a happy day at the park. It is perky and sunny, celebrating our joy-giver--Jesus! There is a “Mary Poppins” feel, and during recording, we heard a bit of the Andrews sisters.
This song never fails to lift my spirits. May you bask in God’s Son-shine as you listen!
5. JOY! The Cherry’s Refrain
This song was meant to be silly from the start. As “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshop women know, Cherries like to have FUN! In fact, one current Destiny! team member is a cherry (Cindy), and she helped us record this song.
There is a childlike quality to “JOY! The Cherry’s Refrain.” If the CD is viewed through the lens of marketability and professional polish, this song falls far below the mark. BUT, if one receives this song in the spirit for which it was written and recorded—goofy, fun-in-the-Son joy complete with clown hands, air trombones, melodramatic vibrato, and giggles—the song is a smashing, “Cherry-style” success! Granted, one listen may be all a Watermelon can stomach, but our fun-loving Cherries will prefer this fun ditty hands-down to some of the more serious CD songs.
PEACH SONGS
Peaches comprise approximately 38 percent of the population, so there are a lot of you practical, salt-of-the earth DUTY people out there. The two peach songs speak to themes and struggles important to Peaches: 1) Living life with feet-on-the-ground reality and 2) Overcoming the spirit of fear that preys on Peaches.
Each vocalist was tasked with praying about which songs to sing. Prior to hearing the songs’ fruit “labels,” Peaches Ciara and Melanie felt called to sing the Peach songs. Of course there are also strong lead vocals and harmonies by Bananas Annie and Julie, but how cool is God?!
6. “As Long (Ellie’s Song)”
What a contrast in style and content from the previous song. I LOVE how God ordered and laid out this CD!
“As Long” is among the newest songs. Two years ago, a gal who had attended a “Destiny!” workshop called me and asked for help in writing a song for her friend, whose mother Ellie had passed away from cancer. The woman communicated that in a dream, the daughter had seen mom running hand-in-hand with Jesus in a heavenly meadow. Could we come up with a song to honor Ellie and reflect the message of the dream? Two hours after the phone call, “As Long” existed.
I attempted to record the song and send it to the daughter. However, due to my technology limitations, she heard a very poor version. I am excited for her to hear this much better CD rendition. I pray that she and her family are blessed and that Ellie’s memory is appropriately honored.
The recording for “As Long” took AS LONG as all of the other songs combined! One of the Destiny! team had a vision for this song that included steel guitars and a stately pace for the entire song, a pace similar to the opening and closing portions. However, when the Lord rolled the song from the Throne Room, the up tempo portion was sandwiched between the slow, a cappella sections. After several tries—and with help from Producer Paul and some creative studio instrumentation—we finished “As Long” as close to the original version as possible.
We pray that you catch a hint of your own everlasting identities and of the future that awaits those of you who—like Ellie—love Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior of your lives.
7. Psalm 110: I Am Not Afraid
The Lord rolled this song out in December of 2016, complete with the beautiful trills that thread their way through the ensemble and serve as the peg on which the song hangs. In addition to the trills, the words from Psalm 110 are intricately woven throughout.
Peaches battle fear. My sister Melanie, a “peach” and an abuse victim, experienced great fear during much of her life until the Lord gloriously delivered her. Just days after writing this song, her sweet soprano came to my mind as the perfect voice to proclaim freedom from fear: Would she sing this song for the Destiny CD?
She would!
Between December when the song was written and May when we recorded, at fifty-years-of-age Melanie was diagnosed with rare and pervasive stage four liver and pelvic cancer. Our entire family and faith community kicked into high gear on her behalf: Lord, please heal our sister! On the day of the recording, Mel was just a week past her last round of rigorous, simultaneous radiation and chemo and was incredibly weak and ill. Still, determination drove her to record the song. She could barely walk down the stairs into the recording booth, but she got ‘er done, just as she got ‘er done with her many rounds of treatments.
It is September now, and as I type, I am amazed at all that has transpired. In June, less then four months after her bleak diagnosis (which included a 30% survival rate)--and just days before Father’s Day--Melanie handed our dad the best gift of his life: the news that she was 100% cancer-free. God gloriously healed her!
As Peaches—and ALL PEOPLE—sing this anthem of freedom and deliverance, may we remember Melanie’s healing as well as God’s mercy and grace to His people. Amen.
WATERMELON SONGS
Watermelons are the analytical thinkers in our world, comprising only about 8% of the general population. In a group of 10 people, you may not have any watermelons or perhaps the lone representative! The Destiny team consists of one full watermelon—Cyvannah, who felt called to sing on both of these songs without knowing they were “Watermelon songs”--and me, a half Watermelon (I’m a Waternana, a Watermelon-Banana split).
If a Watermelon makes it to adulthood without accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of his/her life, intellectualism can battle against salvation. Too often, logic wins over faith. Once saved, Watermelons will continually seek deeper answers and spiritual understanding and must constantly guard against the enemy’s attacks on the mind.
These songs—one oldie and one brand new—speak to the needs of Watermelons.
8. Make Up Your Mind
This evangelistic song is a throwback to the ‘80s (when it was written) with a decidedly country flair. We had fun recording the song, which contains a galloping intro and three key changes playing to the strengths of three lead vocalists (an alto, second soprano, and high soprano). Faced with the challenging task of so many transitions, talented pianist Norma--nearly 80-years-old--spoke one of my favorite lines ever when a key change didn’t quite work. Her explanation? “It’s in the key of ‘N’ for Norma.”
The lyrics give Watermelons plenty of compelling reasons to choose Jesus. A fabulous a cappella section mid-way through adds flavor and interest.
9. The Names of God
The newest of all the songs, God woke me up at 2 a.m. early last spring with instructions to “go up to your office and write a song.” Once there, the Lord led me to get out my Names of God Bible and then led me into a songwriting session. I had to whisper while writing to avoid waking my husband, asleep in the room below.
After completion of the original draft, I shared the song with Julie, who heard from God regarding arrangement. She changed some notes to create minor chords and crafted a distinctly Hebraic-flavored tune.
Watermelons will have their hands full learning all of the names in this song, which are only a fraction of the 365 names/characteristics of our Awesome God. This song is the perfect example of songwriter-as-vessel. I have no idea how this song reads if the lyrics aren’t right in front of me. I have yet to internalize the richness of all the words myself!
BANANA SONGS
Oh, what fun we had on our QUESTOR songs. Bananas live to “become,” and these songs are perfect examples of Bananas at our finest (Julie and Annie are full Bananas, and I am half).
10. Restless Souls—original version
“Restless Souls” is an old song I wrote in the late eighties. As a half Banana, I understand this Questing personality type intimately. In 1988, I stood at the kitchen sink in our rental house in Red Oak, with one-year-old daughter Ciara in her high chair and two-year-old Clarissa playing nearby. My soul yearned for things I could not put into words, and the song “Restless Souls” rolled out of my heart. The bridge, however, is newly minted. The Lord had me insert it as the answer to the restlessness Bananas experience.
Thirty years later, when I shared the song with the Destiny team, an interesting phenomenon occurred: Two distinct and different versions of the song emerged, both fueled by Holy Spirit. “How can this be, God?” I asked. “How shall we resolve this seeming conflict among the team? Which version shall we use?”
“You shall use both,” the Lord directed.
He then spoke to me about songs. All songs flow from a source, and Christian songs inspired by God flow straight from His Throne Room. There is a clear God-given template and design for each song, drawn-up by the Master Architect. The Lord provided a great analogy comparing song construction to house construction. One blueprint can lead to two houses that look vastly different though they use the same basic floor plan: e.g. flip the garage from the right to the left; use white siding instead of brown; take out an interior wall here; add a new wall there. Two distinct yet viable structures emerge from the same basic plan.
This was the process that resulted for “Restless Souls.” God allowed us to record both versions to show you the differences, both to illustrate the creative, unique hearts of Bananas and also to bless you with the vastly different styles, which are framed by the same lyrics (with only slight tweaks to the melody). The first version is the original and is sung (mostly) as I heard it all those years ago. It is so cool that now-31-year-old Ciara and her little sister, Cyvannah, who was not born at the time of the song’s writing, sing this version. The second “Restless Souls” is Julie’s grace-land version. As you listen, you will hear hints of “the king” as we celebrate The King.
Producer Paul had never put two different versions of the same song on a CD before, so it was a new experience for him as well. (Though he has not attended a Dive Into My Destiny! workshop, I suspect that perhaps Paul is a Banana Boy, so no wonder he was willing to indulge our questing!)
11. I Am With You
Banana Julie wrote this exquisitely lovely spiritual lullaby. It is a gorgeous reminder that as we Bananas quest, God is with us and never leaves us to wander alone.
Julie’s lovely lead vocals intertwine with the sweet harmonies of her Banana daughter, Annie. This is one of a few songs blessed by Keith’s delicious ukulele accompaniment.
12. Restless Souls—Grace-land version
(See notes for #10)
ENDING HONEY SONGS
To finish the album we have “something old” and “something new.” Enjoy these final honey offerings.
13. Drop the Stones
A year ago, our pastor preached a message about the sinful Samaritan woman who was about to be stoned and Jesus’ compassion on her behalf. Remember the story? Jesus bent down and wrote in the sand, all the while instructing those who were without sin to cast the first stones. When he arose, no one remained except him and the woman.
Pastor Jamie then invited the congregation to come forward and select a stone from a bucket of rocks he’d collected. We were to write our sins on the rocks and lay them at the foot of the cross. He later dumped the stones in Lake Red Rock, symbolizing the washing away of our sins by the Living Water. What a powerful exercise! I went home that day and the song “Drop the Stones” poured forth.
In the first verse, I pictured the ancient Samaritan woman, and in the second verse I saw the face of a recovered addict in my family. The first face transformed itself into the face of a family member who birthed a baby out of wedlock and felt great shame; the second metamorphosed into anyone who struggles with the bondage of addiction. The final verse became all of us—any man—for “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (KJV). The pronouns required infinite care and thoughtful treatment.
As I shared this song with the team, two things emerged: 1) This song would make a great music video. Stay tuned to see if that vision comes to fruition! 2) My family member who has been freed from addiction advised that her chapter of Celebrate Recovery—her accountability organization--uses the phrase “drop the rock.” I had no idea. I became immediately excited, hopeful that Jesus could use this song to speak to the many humans who have struggled with the shame and bondage of addiction.
I can barely sing the song without crying and am thus very grateful for the lead vocals of Cyvannah and Annie.
14. Tennessee (Was a Long Time Ago)
I wrote this song “a long time ago,” once again in my Red Oak days. Those were days just out of college when I had landed my first middle school English teaching job and lived the life of wife to Mark and mom to two little girls.
Right out of high school, I attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. What a great school! I attended the first year on scholarship and was offered a scholarship for the three years following. But as an Iowa farm girl who was the first in the family to venture into higher education, I missed my family so much that I gave up the dream and moved home.
For years, this languid ballad haunted me with loss and regret. I never felt completely comfortable sharing the “downer” message with others. How could God receive glory from such lament?
Many years later in 2011, doctors discovered that I had a brain tumor. Thanks to loads of prayer, I came through a risky, 10 ½ hour surgery with flying colors. Praise God! However, the “new normal” caused by after-effects from the surgery sent me into a slide that landed me in the belly of the whale. I experienced a dark life period, which led to me giving up a 25-year public school teaching career.
The loss of identity and income required humility and a huge dose of faith. Through the obedient step of leaving my job, the Lord began to redeem my life and show me how I had chosen the teaching career years prior without consulting Him about His path for me. I had forgotten a childhood call to ministry.
Thanks to the trauma of the brain tumor the Lord finally had my full attention, and I said, “Yes” to His preordained destiny for my life . . . which is to teach OTHERS about their destinies and identities in Christ!
A third verse emerged for the song, a verse celebrating this stunning turn of events. The formerly “defeated” song sprang wings of faith and hope: “Gladness I now find” rather than the sadness of old. Hallelujah! The Lord has completely redeemed my destiny (and this song), and I am finally on the right path.
May this song arrest your attention and bring you to the foot of the cross—both those traveling the wrong direction and those sitting in the center of God’s “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will,” Romans 12:2. May you ALL “dive” into your “destinies.”
The Destiny Singers and Destiny team wish you all God’s best. Our prayer is that the Lord has transformed your life in some way via the melodies and messages of this CD.
When the Lord wrote the script for the 2017 “Destiny” ministry year, He laid out many specific strategies and assignments, one of which was the creation of three CDs—one for each of the three “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshop levels. All women who attend a “Destiny!” workshop receive a free CD crafted specifically for that workshop.
The Destiny 1 CD was the creation of worship leader Julie Zurcher. The purpose of this CD is to encourage and strengthen women who are in the initial stages of discovering their destinies. God laid songs on her heart from the current market—songs about identity, healing, and freedom. Honeybee Ministries purchased the rights to the songs, and Julie recorded all piano tracks as well as bongo drums for the “Dive Into My Destiny!” theme song. She, her daughter Annie Ritter, and my daughter Ciara McDonald, sang all vocals. Though stripped down in terms of production, the CD has been a beautiful ministry tool for women as well as a powerful anthem, accompanying the Destiny team on many Jericho Drives as we follow God’s instruction to “take twelve cities” for Him in 2017.
The Destiny 2 CD is completely different in purpose and product. All fourteen songs are original, as God has gifted both Julie and me with songwriting ability. At “Dive Into My Destiny 2” workshops, we teach women about their spiritual and personality “fruits.” In His amazing provision, the Lord had us pull together songs written over the past thirty years—songs appropriate for each personality type. Also included are a few special “honey” songs at the beginning and end, including the second version of the “Dive Into My Destiny” theme song.
The Destiny 3 CD is in the initial creation stages and will hopefully be ready for the first-ever “Dive Into My Destiny 3” workshop in December. Right now, God has us in a holding pattern as we seek intimacy and purity with Him prior to the CD’s recording. Reflecting the nature of a Destiny 3 workshop, CD #3 is shorter and goes deepest in the spiritual realm. We will enter into the Holy of Holies in intense worship of our Lord and Savior.
Though all workshop attendees receive free CDs, we also offer CDs to the public for $10 each or three for $25 (once #3 is ready). Contact us at diveintomydestiny@gmail.com to order.
II. Individual Song Stories for Destiny 2 Original Songs
THEME SONG
1. “Dive Into My Destiny”
When God called me into ministry, right away He gave “Destiny” as the theme word: Everything I ministered was to be about peoples’ God-given destinies. The ministry call came in October of 2014, at which time “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshops were born.
A few months later in January of 2015, the Lord dropped this “Dive Into My Destiny” chorus into my spirit. I sang it a few times to myself and went right to the bathroom—of all places! —to attempt to record it on my computer’s Garage Band program. I had not personally used the program before and have not used it successfully since, but at that time, within about five minutes, I was able to capture the chorus and use it in upcoming workshops. The tune and lyrics remained unchanged over the next two years.
In October of 2016, Julie Zurcher felt God’s call to partner with Honeybee Ministries. As a worship leader, singer, and songwriter, Julie brought her musical talents into the Destiny! mix. At that time, the Lord revealed verses to her that were the perfect completion to the “Dive Into My Destiny” theme song, the song we use to open and close “Dive into My Destiny!” workshops.
The song continues to evolve. On the Destiny 1 CD, the song had simple piano accompaniment and bongo drums, plus two voices—Julie’s and Ciara’s. For the Destiny 2 CD, drums joined the mix, as did Annie’s voice. I anticipate ALL Destiny singer voices adding in for the “Final” version, which is yet to be recorded! Until then, our prayer is that you dive into your God-given destinies as you enjoy this song.
OPENING HONEY SONGS
One of these songs is old and one is new. However, NOW is the time for you to partake of their sweetness!
2. “Just Like in the Good Old Days”
I was raised in the Pentecostal tradition and was gloriously baptized in the Holy Spirit as a child of eight or nine years. I did my best to live a Christ-centered life through junior high and high school. After high school, my then-boyfriend (now husband) Mark and I attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, where the Holy Spirit moved regularly. Upon our return to Iowa, we attended the Red Oak Assembly of God Church. To this point in my life, I was continuously immersed in the presence of the Holy Spirit with regular manifestations of God’s precious gifts.
I love, love, love my Lord and enjoy His presence so much! I knew that not all people experienced the Lord’s presence as I had been privileged to experience Him, so this song evolved from my desire for others to know the Holy Spirit as I know Him.
“Just Like in the Good Old Days” is fun! It has a campy, Old West saloon-type feel, complete with a “slowing train” in the middle, which pianist Kathy performs to perfection. The tempo changes reflect the ebbs and flows of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring historically. Daughter Ciara used her Ella Fitzgerald-type voice to bring the “old” feel to life, and Producer Paul purposefully crafted the opening to sound scratchy and old-timey, like a phonograph record. Fred and Julie Buck playing strings and Layton on drums contribute to this spunky “kick off” song.
It is our prayer that if you have not already done so, you open your heart to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit--an amazing, awesome, and FUN spiritual immersion that brings the POWER OF GOD into your life!
3. “Oh, Lord!”
I wrote this song in the early ‘90s when my daughters were young. The first note combinations are reminiscent of a short note progression in a song from a movie my daughters owned. God used those notes as the springboard for this simple but powerful celebration of the Holy Trinity.
The song starts soft and sweet with praise of our Lord Jesus; progresses to rich middle notes as we adore Holy Spirit; and builds to the power of a waterfall as we magnify Awesome God. We then change keys, reduce volume and intensity, and end where we started with the soft, sweet, flute-like celebration of our Lord.
Soon after writing “Oh, Lord!,” I shared the song with my home church, the Lynnville Church of God. The song made it into their chorus rotation and was used there in ministry for many years.
However, the song came to final fruition with the “Destiny!” call. The deeper, rich vocals of the Dolls (Ciara, Cyvannah, Melissa) awaited the angelic, flute-like soprano of the Ritter-Zurchers (Annie, Julie). This a cappella worship chorus by the Destiny Singers is our offering to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Lord, may you be praised!
CHERRY SONGS
Cherries are God’s JOYFUL people! You’ll need to attend a “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshop to discover your personality “fruit family,” but if these two songs are among your favorites, there is a good chance that you are a Cherry, a personality family shared by approximately 38% of the general population.
4. Jesus is the Light of My Day
This is another “old” song--one of several I wrote thirty years ago in my Red Oak days—long before Carrie Underwood recorded “Jesus, Take the Wheel” (listen for one line in this song that is a precursor to a line from her smash hit).
“Jesus is the Light of My Day” reminds me of an organ grinder, a monkey, and a happy day at the park. It is perky and sunny, celebrating our joy-giver--Jesus! There is a “Mary Poppins” feel, and during recording, we heard a bit of the Andrews sisters.
This song never fails to lift my spirits. May you bask in God’s Son-shine as you listen!
5. JOY! The Cherry’s Refrain
This song was meant to be silly from the start. As “Dive Into My Destiny!” workshop women know, Cherries like to have FUN! In fact, one current Destiny! team member is a cherry (Cindy), and she helped us record this song.
There is a childlike quality to “JOY! The Cherry’s Refrain.” If the CD is viewed through the lens of marketability and professional polish, this song falls far below the mark. BUT, if one receives this song in the spirit for which it was written and recorded—goofy, fun-in-the-Son joy complete with clown hands, air trombones, melodramatic vibrato, and giggles—the song is a smashing, “Cherry-style” success! Granted, one listen may be all a Watermelon can stomach, but our fun-loving Cherries will prefer this fun ditty hands-down to some of the more serious CD songs.
PEACH SONGS
Peaches comprise approximately 38 percent of the population, so there are a lot of you practical, salt-of-the earth DUTY people out there. The two peach songs speak to themes and struggles important to Peaches: 1) Living life with feet-on-the-ground reality and 2) Overcoming the spirit of fear that preys on Peaches.
Each vocalist was tasked with praying about which songs to sing. Prior to hearing the songs’ fruit “labels,” Peaches Ciara and Melanie felt called to sing the Peach songs. Of course there are also strong lead vocals and harmonies by Bananas Annie and Julie, but how cool is God?!
6. “As Long (Ellie’s Song)”
What a contrast in style and content from the previous song. I LOVE how God ordered and laid out this CD!
“As Long” is among the newest songs. Two years ago, a gal who had attended a “Destiny!” workshop called me and asked for help in writing a song for her friend, whose mother Ellie had passed away from cancer. The woman communicated that in a dream, the daughter had seen mom running hand-in-hand with Jesus in a heavenly meadow. Could we come up with a song to honor Ellie and reflect the message of the dream? Two hours after the phone call, “As Long” existed.
I attempted to record the song and send it to the daughter. However, due to my technology limitations, she heard a very poor version. I am excited for her to hear this much better CD rendition. I pray that she and her family are blessed and that Ellie’s memory is appropriately honored.
The recording for “As Long” took AS LONG as all of the other songs combined! One of the Destiny! team had a vision for this song that included steel guitars and a stately pace for the entire song, a pace similar to the opening and closing portions. However, when the Lord rolled the song from the Throne Room, the up tempo portion was sandwiched between the slow, a cappella sections. After several tries—and with help from Producer Paul and some creative studio instrumentation—we finished “As Long” as close to the original version as possible.
We pray that you catch a hint of your own everlasting identities and of the future that awaits those of you who—like Ellie—love Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior of your lives.
7. Psalm 110: I Am Not Afraid
The Lord rolled this song out in December of 2016, complete with the beautiful trills that thread their way through the ensemble and serve as the peg on which the song hangs. In addition to the trills, the words from Psalm 110 are intricately woven throughout.
Peaches battle fear. My sister Melanie, a “peach” and an abuse victim, experienced great fear during much of her life until the Lord gloriously delivered her. Just days after writing this song, her sweet soprano came to my mind as the perfect voice to proclaim freedom from fear: Would she sing this song for the Destiny CD?
She would!
Between December when the song was written and May when we recorded, at fifty-years-of-age Melanie was diagnosed with rare and pervasive stage four liver and pelvic cancer. Our entire family and faith community kicked into high gear on her behalf: Lord, please heal our sister! On the day of the recording, Mel was just a week past her last round of rigorous, simultaneous radiation and chemo and was incredibly weak and ill. Still, determination drove her to record the song. She could barely walk down the stairs into the recording booth, but she got ‘er done, just as she got ‘er done with her many rounds of treatments.
It is September now, and as I type, I am amazed at all that has transpired. In June, less then four months after her bleak diagnosis (which included a 30% survival rate)--and just days before Father’s Day--Melanie handed our dad the best gift of his life: the news that she was 100% cancer-free. God gloriously healed her!
As Peaches—and ALL PEOPLE—sing this anthem of freedom and deliverance, may we remember Melanie’s healing as well as God’s mercy and grace to His people. Amen.
WATERMELON SONGS
Watermelons are the analytical thinkers in our world, comprising only about 8% of the general population. In a group of 10 people, you may not have any watermelons or perhaps the lone representative! The Destiny team consists of one full watermelon—Cyvannah, who felt called to sing on both of these songs without knowing they were “Watermelon songs”--and me, a half Watermelon (I’m a Waternana, a Watermelon-Banana split).
If a Watermelon makes it to adulthood without accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of his/her life, intellectualism can battle against salvation. Too often, logic wins over faith. Once saved, Watermelons will continually seek deeper answers and spiritual understanding and must constantly guard against the enemy’s attacks on the mind.
These songs—one oldie and one brand new—speak to the needs of Watermelons.
8. Make Up Your Mind
This evangelistic song is a throwback to the ‘80s (when it was written) with a decidedly country flair. We had fun recording the song, which contains a galloping intro and three key changes playing to the strengths of three lead vocalists (an alto, second soprano, and high soprano). Faced with the challenging task of so many transitions, talented pianist Norma--nearly 80-years-old--spoke one of my favorite lines ever when a key change didn’t quite work. Her explanation? “It’s in the key of ‘N’ for Norma.”
The lyrics give Watermelons plenty of compelling reasons to choose Jesus. A fabulous a cappella section mid-way through adds flavor and interest.
9. The Names of God
The newest of all the songs, God woke me up at 2 a.m. early last spring with instructions to “go up to your office and write a song.” Once there, the Lord led me to get out my Names of God Bible and then led me into a songwriting session. I had to whisper while writing to avoid waking my husband, asleep in the room below.
After completion of the original draft, I shared the song with Julie, who heard from God regarding arrangement. She changed some notes to create minor chords and crafted a distinctly Hebraic-flavored tune.
Watermelons will have their hands full learning all of the names in this song, which are only a fraction of the 365 names/characteristics of our Awesome God. This song is the perfect example of songwriter-as-vessel. I have no idea how this song reads if the lyrics aren’t right in front of me. I have yet to internalize the richness of all the words myself!
BANANA SONGS
Oh, what fun we had on our QUESTOR songs. Bananas live to “become,” and these songs are perfect examples of Bananas at our finest (Julie and Annie are full Bananas, and I am half).
10. Restless Souls—original version
“Restless Souls” is an old song I wrote in the late eighties. As a half Banana, I understand this Questing personality type intimately. In 1988, I stood at the kitchen sink in our rental house in Red Oak, with one-year-old daughter Ciara in her high chair and two-year-old Clarissa playing nearby. My soul yearned for things I could not put into words, and the song “Restless Souls” rolled out of my heart. The bridge, however, is newly minted. The Lord had me insert it as the answer to the restlessness Bananas experience.
Thirty years later, when I shared the song with the Destiny team, an interesting phenomenon occurred: Two distinct and different versions of the song emerged, both fueled by Holy Spirit. “How can this be, God?” I asked. “How shall we resolve this seeming conflict among the team? Which version shall we use?”
“You shall use both,” the Lord directed.
He then spoke to me about songs. All songs flow from a source, and Christian songs inspired by God flow straight from His Throne Room. There is a clear God-given template and design for each song, drawn-up by the Master Architect. The Lord provided a great analogy comparing song construction to house construction. One blueprint can lead to two houses that look vastly different though they use the same basic floor plan: e.g. flip the garage from the right to the left; use white siding instead of brown; take out an interior wall here; add a new wall there. Two distinct yet viable structures emerge from the same basic plan.
This was the process that resulted for “Restless Souls.” God allowed us to record both versions to show you the differences, both to illustrate the creative, unique hearts of Bananas and also to bless you with the vastly different styles, which are framed by the same lyrics (with only slight tweaks to the melody). The first version is the original and is sung (mostly) as I heard it all those years ago. It is so cool that now-31-year-old Ciara and her little sister, Cyvannah, who was not born at the time of the song’s writing, sing this version. The second “Restless Souls” is Julie’s grace-land version. As you listen, you will hear hints of “the king” as we celebrate The King.
Producer Paul had never put two different versions of the same song on a CD before, so it was a new experience for him as well. (Though he has not attended a Dive Into My Destiny! workshop, I suspect that perhaps Paul is a Banana Boy, so no wonder he was willing to indulge our questing!)
11. I Am With You
Banana Julie wrote this exquisitely lovely spiritual lullaby. It is a gorgeous reminder that as we Bananas quest, God is with us and never leaves us to wander alone.
Julie’s lovely lead vocals intertwine with the sweet harmonies of her Banana daughter, Annie. This is one of a few songs blessed by Keith’s delicious ukulele accompaniment.
12. Restless Souls—Grace-land version
(See notes for #10)
ENDING HONEY SONGS
To finish the album we have “something old” and “something new.” Enjoy these final honey offerings.
13. Drop the Stones
A year ago, our pastor preached a message about the sinful Samaritan woman who was about to be stoned and Jesus’ compassion on her behalf. Remember the story? Jesus bent down and wrote in the sand, all the while instructing those who were without sin to cast the first stones. When he arose, no one remained except him and the woman.
Pastor Jamie then invited the congregation to come forward and select a stone from a bucket of rocks he’d collected. We were to write our sins on the rocks and lay them at the foot of the cross. He later dumped the stones in Lake Red Rock, symbolizing the washing away of our sins by the Living Water. What a powerful exercise! I went home that day and the song “Drop the Stones” poured forth.
In the first verse, I pictured the ancient Samaritan woman, and in the second verse I saw the face of a recovered addict in my family. The first face transformed itself into the face of a family member who birthed a baby out of wedlock and felt great shame; the second metamorphosed into anyone who struggles with the bondage of addiction. The final verse became all of us—any man—for “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (KJV). The pronouns required infinite care and thoughtful treatment.
As I shared this song with the team, two things emerged: 1) This song would make a great music video. Stay tuned to see if that vision comes to fruition! 2) My family member who has been freed from addiction advised that her chapter of Celebrate Recovery—her accountability organization--uses the phrase “drop the rock.” I had no idea. I became immediately excited, hopeful that Jesus could use this song to speak to the many humans who have struggled with the shame and bondage of addiction.
I can barely sing the song without crying and am thus very grateful for the lead vocals of Cyvannah and Annie.
14. Tennessee (Was a Long Time Ago)
I wrote this song “a long time ago,” once again in my Red Oak days. Those were days just out of college when I had landed my first middle school English teaching job and lived the life of wife to Mark and mom to two little girls.
Right out of high school, I attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. What a great school! I attended the first year on scholarship and was offered a scholarship for the three years following. But as an Iowa farm girl who was the first in the family to venture into higher education, I missed my family so much that I gave up the dream and moved home.
For years, this languid ballad haunted me with loss and regret. I never felt completely comfortable sharing the “downer” message with others. How could God receive glory from such lament?
Many years later in 2011, doctors discovered that I had a brain tumor. Thanks to loads of prayer, I came through a risky, 10 ½ hour surgery with flying colors. Praise God! However, the “new normal” caused by after-effects from the surgery sent me into a slide that landed me in the belly of the whale. I experienced a dark life period, which led to me giving up a 25-year public school teaching career.
The loss of identity and income required humility and a huge dose of faith. Through the obedient step of leaving my job, the Lord began to redeem my life and show me how I had chosen the teaching career years prior without consulting Him about His path for me. I had forgotten a childhood call to ministry.
Thanks to the trauma of the brain tumor the Lord finally had my full attention, and I said, “Yes” to His preordained destiny for my life . . . which is to teach OTHERS about their destinies and identities in Christ!
A third verse emerged for the song, a verse celebrating this stunning turn of events. The formerly “defeated” song sprang wings of faith and hope: “Gladness I now find” rather than the sadness of old. Hallelujah! The Lord has completely redeemed my destiny (and this song), and I am finally on the right path.
May this song arrest your attention and bring you to the foot of the cross—both those traveling the wrong direction and those sitting in the center of God’s “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will,” Romans 12:2. May you ALL “dive” into your “destinies.”
The Destiny Singers and Destiny team wish you all God’s best. Our prayer is that the Lord has transformed your life in some way via the melodies and messages of this CD.