An Update...2024

 11 YEARS!!!

I started this plog 11 years ago.  I had lofty intentions of recording a spontaneous song of worship every week for a whole year.

11 years later after my bandcamp sites had been shuffled around years before, I've just reviewed and updated many of the links on this plog so that at least the post matches the embedded song now!  Woohoo!

What happened?

So for all of you wondering what happened to this project from all those years ago: I didn't quite make the whole year of spontaneous worship I set out to do.  But it was close!! Sickness made this effort very difficult and I abandoned a little early! But although I didn't quite make the year, what I did end up with was a steep learning curve of how to record and produce music at home, a whole lot of time spent singing the scriptures, spontaneous worship and soaking music that lasts for all eternity, and a couple of albums of raw unadulterated worship to look back on all these years later (here and here).

In addition, with my Lion & I bandmate James, we got a whole album of commercial music "Send Your Glory" out of this blog.  You can find that album here. And the good news is you can download and own that album for free! (as well as our earlier Lion & I album here and the raw spontaneous sessions).

My perspective from 2024

It's been an interesting exercise going back over some of these old posts and songs.  I'd forgotten a lot of what I'd recorded back then.  And a lot of things have changed since my time doing this plog: my church situation, my living situation even my marital status and name have changed.  Heck - the whole world has changed sinced 2013!  Listening back I can hear a lot of growth and maturity that has happened since these songs... I can also hear some of the unhealed parts of me and even some unhealthy attitutdes. But some things haven't changed.  And certainly my love for God, for sitting in His presence and singing His word has only grown since this time.  So although I look back on some of this time with a sense both of joy and sadness, one thing doesn't change: He's Good! And His grace covers all things.

Looking back I'm so pleased I did this little exercise.  It's a snapshot in time of where I was at in my worship journey of 2013/14.  A stake in the ground even when I was feeling so very ill and empty physically. And I was particularly encouraged to come across the post that spoke of my little niece Chloe and her first effort recording a worship song.  I'm so proud to report she is now a beautiful young adult who has only grown in her gifts and is now working as a pastor, leading worship and writing songs all the time!!  

What a lovely little walk down memory this has been.  And a beautiful reminder that 11 years later although some things pass away... other things we do have lasting impact... 

Blessings,

Sally

Born Again

Flesh give birth to flesh.  but spirit gives birth to spirit.

I've been pondering these things lately.  Particularly after watching the "son of god" movie.  I was really challenged.  If i was John or Peter or any of the disciples - would i have left everything to follow this man who just appeared and said "follow me"???   I have a feeling that my mind would be saying "this man is crazy".  But if i took the time to listen to my spirit, it would be screaming "Follow Him.  Follow Him anywhere!!"

So I have this dilemma - I know that if i let my mind judge situations or people, I will miss the things of God.  The only solution is we must be born again.  We must learn to see with eyes that see what is not really seeable!!  Because my eyes only see the physical things.  Flesh things.

…"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."…  John 3:6-8

It's a whole new way of seeing.  Of walking.  And of trusting.

Born Again

This week's song is a meditation on this truth.  Let it sink deep, deep into your spirit.  Let it remind you of how the Kingdom of God operates.

Psalm 139 - Chloe and Sally

This weeks song is very special to me. Not just becausee it's based on one of my favourite Psalms (I've used Psalm 139 as inspiration on this plog before - here). But because in a spontaneous sessions first, it's a duet with one of my favourite people - my niece Chloe Turner.

A few years ago, when Chloe was only 10 and on a visit with me over the summer holidays, we decided we would do some worship together.  I asked her to write out a few verses of her favourite Psalm and we sat at the piano and made up a spontaneous song based on those verses.  I couldn't believe my ears!  Here was a 10 year old girl making up a song off the top of her head, making up harmonies and melodies and singing beautiful and creative praise to our God.  I'm not ashamed to admit I had a bit of a tear in my eye because it touched me so much.

Fast forward a few years and Chloe is now a beautiful young woman of God.  She serves on her church worship team, her youth team, and is a dedicated lover of God.  I'm so proud of the person she has become and is becoming! So the last time she came down, we recorded a track based on her choice of Psalm 139:23-24:

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

So here we are (on a track recorded and then remixed by my Lion & I bandmate James Bough, and of course it's all spontaneous!).  Free to download!  Share it with your friends :)

Chloe and Aunty Sally recording Psalm 139

The One Coming

It's been a very long time since we've been here.  Oh spontaneous sessions, I've missed you!!  My 12 months of spontaneous-ness was interrupted by illness. Boooo. And altho I'm not completely better (yet), I'm determined to pick up where we left off.  So here we go again!  (And just a reminder that these tracks are free to download! Just click on the link below)

What really matters?

You know the cool thing about living in the western world when you've got nothing else to do but lie in bed? Lots of entertainment and distractions.  You know the bad thing about living in the western world when you've got nothing else to do but lie in bed? Lots of entertainment and distractions.  To truly fellowship with and know the Lord takes us making a decision about what we will do with our time.  It's the same decision for each of us whether we're well or sick, rich or poor, troubled or at peace.  It's too easy to be caught up in wasting our lives on things that in the end don't really matter.

Psalm 132

The first 5 verses of Psalm 132 speak of the vow that David made before God  He sets making a dwelling place for God as a priority in his heart. Todays spontaneous session was inspired by the desire to make knowing and loving God the number one priority in my life.  I don't want to just give "the minimum i can get away with giving" - I want to experience the fullness of what God has for me in this life.  To live a life abandoned to the one who is coming!

Send Your Glory - Lion & I

In this break between recording new spontaneous sessions, I've been very happy to share with you tracks from the new album by Lion & I.  These tracks were originally recorded as spontaneous sessions for this very blog, so it's just as if all is normal!!

This week I'm sharing the eponymous track from the Send Your Glory album, called....  well...  "Send Your Glory"!  It's a song borne out of a love for our country and our city.  It never fails to stir a cry in my heart for revival!!  I hope you will be stirred to pray and cry aloud for your country too:

"Send your glory to this place!"

Anointing - Lion & I

This is turning out to be a longer than usual break from new recordings!  But I'm sure to be better and back to "spontaneity" soon!

In the meantime, here's one of the awesome spontaneous worship tracks off the Lion & I just-released-album Send Your Glory.  Recorded right here on "the spontaneous sessions" back in May, this is one of my favourite songs to sing.  In true Lion & I style, it has been re-worked, and even features a rap by our very own James Bough!

I hope you enjoy it!

Sally

There Is Joy - Lion & I

Recording is still on hold whilst I recover - but normal transmission will resume as soon as I can possibly manage it!!!  So this week, I'll be sharing one of the spontaneous songs that appears on the new Lion & I album Send Your Glory.

Oooh - and in the meantime, if you live in Melbourne and would like to be a part of a live "spontaneous session", I will be leading worship (along with the Hope of Glory church worship team) at the Glory Revolution Conference on Monday 11th November.  It's gonna be a great time!

About "There is Joy"

So - to this weeks song.  It's entitled "There is Joy", is full of fun and celebration, and is based a little on Psalm 16

"...you will fill me with joy in your presence..." (Psalm 16:11)

and a little on Psalm 84

"Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you" (Psalm 84:4)

It also features some rather cool guitar playing by James Bough, some Spanish linguistics by Alisha Moure, and trumpet playing by me!!!

Enjoy!

Enthralled - Lion & I

Oh It's been a while since I've done some recording!!  Still making a recovery, so in the mean time - let me make the exciting announcement that the duo I'm in - Lion & I - has just released the album "Send Your Glory"!!

Send Your Glory (available here) is an album based entirely on recordings that were done for this blog!  An exciting mix of heartfelt worship and very funky beats!  It has hints of pop, latin, RnB, electronica and so much more!

Here's one of my favourite songs from the album: Enthralled  (originally from this post back in July 2013).  Makes me tear up every time!

Special Guest James Bough

Well, here's last weeks song!  I'm very pleased to be featuring a song by a special guest artist: James Bough, who apart from being a talented musician and songwriter, also happens to be my Lion & I band mate!  (Did i mention that we are releasing our new album "Send Your Glory" in a little over a week? Check it out here).

He Who Reigns

I love this song - it's very heart felt and hymn-like, and simply declares dependence on God and a longing to be fully His.  James says of the song "it's pretty much me talking to Holy Spirit and wanting Him to possess me ... like it says in the bible of Gideon, where God put on Gideon like a glove"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do

Lion & I - Send Your Glory Album Release!

Hiya Spontaneous Session-ers!

Just a quick update to let you know the Lion & I are going to be releasing their new album "Send Your Glory" on November 1st!  All the songs on this new album are actually spontaneous songs that were originally recorded and featured on this blog!!!

Send Your Glory will be available both as a physical CD and as an electronic download from our bandcamp site.  Be sure to 'like' and check our facebook site regularly for more info, updates and discounts!!

Thanks for your support of "the spontaneous sessions" - without it, this new album wouldn't exist!

Sally

His Gaze

This weeks spontaneous song is "a cappella" just for a change.  "A cappella" literally translated means "in the style of the church/chapel".  How very apt!  But in reality, it just means I didn't use any accompanying instruments (well, sorta.  Except for a drum beat!).  This was super fun to do and i hope you like the outcome as much as i do.  Don't forget that this tune is free to download - so if you like it, share it around!

About "His Gaze"

Based around some verses from Song of Solomon, this song is a meditation on understanding that Jesus is truly moved by His love for us.  It's not just a duty to Him.  He truly loves.

I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.  Song 7:10

The word translated as "desire" here is actually a word meaning "to move or impel".  As the "pulpit commentary" puts it: "The thought seems to be this - As my beloved is full of worshipping affection, and I am wholly his, let his love have free course..."  Amen.

When this becomes our reality, suddenly everything else just falls by the wayside.  And then we can say nothing else matters...  Everything is gonna be fine!

Awaken Love

Well, here we are!  Last week's song is finally ready! (apologies for the lateness, I was super busy with an event for the awesome Vinnie MacDonald.)  Did I mention that Lion & I are also about to release a new album???  Very excited!!

What Does God require of Us?

If only we could work out what God wants from us, and then give it to Him, life would be so much simpler, right???  Well, it is simple! In the Gospels, Jesus tells us that Love is what God requires of us.  He sums up all of the law in love: 'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, and with all your mind.  And love your neighbour as yourself" Luke 10:27. Simple, but still a pretty tough call all the same!

It takes God to love God

A Wise Man once told me "it takes God to love God".  This reminds me that I desperately need the love of God inside me before I can even begin to really understand what it means to love God or others.  It's like His love opens us up to be able to love.  1 John 4:19 puts it nicely:

we love because He first loved us

Awaken Love

The cool thing is that when we start to really meditate on what God's love is  - how high and how wide and how deep it is - it starts to change the way we love.  And did you know we can literally ask God to come and Stir Up and Awkane Love in us???  It's one of His favourite things to do! And it also means we are then equipped to give Him exactly what he wants!  Ask Him today, and see what he does!

This Is What My Heart Is For

This weeks song comes from a free worship time a few years ago.

I think as humans living in this world, our hearts get so mis-used and mis-understood. We know we were made for love, but we confuse love as just romance, or as something we earn, or something we might be lucky enough to experience one day. But in fact, our hearts were made for Him! For real love. For love that is eternal and is busting down the doors of sin just to gain access. This is what my heart is for...
 

Rise (Ps 139)

This weeks song is coming to you courtesy of the new Lion & I album "Send Your Glory". It's due out sooooooon!!!

I recorded a spontaneous song based on Psalm 139 back in July this year (check it out here), and it has since been remixed as part of the new Lion & I album!

See what you think!

In the presence of my enemies

"the lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...."

Most people would probably be able to quote at least some lines from Psalm 23.  Type 'Psalm' in google and the first suggestion is 'Psalm 23'.  It's one of those Psalms that has been meaningful to thousands throughout the ages.  It's a classic!

Peace in the midst of a Battlefield

I've read the lines countless times and taken comfort from their poetic truth (well, mostly. Let's just skip over the period where, as a child, I was convinced the writer was anti-God because he was proclaiming that he didn't want the Lord as his shepherd... oh the subtleties of 17th Century English!).  But lets read verse 5 again:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

It sounds like a lovely idea.  That in the middle of troubled times, the Lord invites you into His presence to spend time with Him.  But think again.   What He's also saying is that your enemy is going to be there watching you.  How many of you like to go on a romanctic date while knowing that someone who is trying to kill you is going to be there watching you???  It's a very odd, and yet strangely powerful picture. 

He says "come and dine with me"

But when you think about it, it's actually the ultimate insult to the enemy!  That you would rather sit down and eat with Jesus than engage in battles and distractions.  It's sheer brilliance, and I get the feeling that God delights in this!  But it does put us in a tricky position.  One where we have to be willing to capture our fears and crazy thought and make them subject to our choice to go to Him.  Not just when the battle is over, but right in the middle of it! It's where victory lies!

So remember - right in the middle of your fight today, the Lord is making a place where He wants to invite you to come and focus on only Him. Will you enter in....

  

My Heart Is Glad

It's that time again!  My favourite time!  Time to worship...

This weeks song comes out of Psalm 16:

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.... You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:8-9, 11)

Have you ever truly considered:
 - In His presence is fullness of joy;
 -There are everlasting pleasures at His right hand.
Those are some serious claims!  Do you find that spending time with God is truly the most enjoyable and pleasurable thing that life has to offer??? I think too often we're tricked into believing that God is angry all the time... or even worse: ambivalent.  But the truth is He is the most passionate, exciting, pleasurable and joyful being.  Ever.  If our experience falls short of this, then the good news is that there's more for us to discover about who He is!

I challenge you!  if spending time with God has become routine or boring for you, ask Him to open your eyes.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.  Ask Him right now!  And then watch as He takes you on a journey into the heart of the One who is infinitely good, infinitely joyful and infinitely just.

My Heart Is Glad!!!

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Just a reminder that this weeks song will also be featured on SouthernFM 88.3 program "Songs of Hope" between 8-9am  AEST this Sunday.  And if you miss it, you can download podcasts of these programs!

My Help

"where does my help come from???"

So the Psalmist asks in Psalm 121- the subject of this weeks spontaneous song.
(Incidentally, this song is going out to James, who requested I do a spontaneous song based on this Psalm.  If others out there have a favourite Psalm, drop me a line and I'll give it a go.  Apparently I'm taking requests!!).

I lift up my eyes to the mountains.   Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

In this Psalm, the singer is asking "In whom do I put my trust?".   It's such a good question!  As Christian's, our answer is of course "God"!  But It's always so shocking when we find ourselves in a situation where we'll discover, "Oh, I thought my trust was in God, but actually, it turns out I was trusting in my ability/my job/my income/my comforts."  But God's never surprised by this!  In fact I'm convinced He allows us to walk into many of these situations so we can be confronted by truth, and by repentance and humility, we can realign our hearts so our lives resound with the cry "My help comes from the Lord!"

The Lord watches over you.  The Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,  nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm.  He will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5-8)

Amen! I have a sneaking suspicion that nothing moves God's heart more than our wholehearted faith and reliance in who He is.

About 'My Help'

I've had this song on repeat since early today.  There's just something so deep about it's message and I can't get enough of it!  It's fast becoming one of my favourite plog entries (and not just because I managed to sneak an F# in the bass line of a song in C major...). As usual, this track is also available for free download.  Why not gift it to a friend and share those F#s ??

As with my two previous posts, this song is to be featured on the radio this Sunday between 8-9am on Southern FM's "songs of hope".  A great Christian program that also supports local artists like me - they've been playing one of my songs every week as an introduction to spontaneous worship.  Tune in!  Or if you can't, check out their podcasts! 

How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place

Good morning! I hope you're having a great day wherever you're reading from.

You might notice that this weeks song is in a slightly shorter format than usual.  That's because last week, and for the next 3 weeks, my spontaneous sessions are being shared on the radio!  That's right!  The radio!  The fabulous Rodney Carr who presents "songs of hope" on southern FM is featuring songs from this plog in an introduction to spontaneous worship. You can show your support by tuning in to 88.3FM between 8 and 9am for the next few Sundays!  Or alternatively, you can download the podcast from the Songs of Hope website here.

About "How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place"

This weeks song is from Psalm 84 (and as usual, is available for free download, below!)

How lovely is your dwelling place,     

Lord Almighty! (Psalm 84:1)

I sang through this Psalm earlier in the year, producing the track "My Soul Longs" - one of my plog favourites so far!!  We also recently sang through this Psalm at church as part of our "worship and the word" on Friday nights.  But Psalm 84 expresses such a central theme that I just keep coming back to it again and again.  It's message is fresh everytime: "There's no better place than wherever He is!!"

Amen!!

Awaken the Dawn

Good Morrow!  Another week, another song!

This one is "Awaken the Dawn" based on verses from Psalm 108 (or 57!):

My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn (Ps 108:1-2)

I love the phrase "I will awaken the dawn!".  It speaks of a fierce determination to praise God with everything inside!

I also like the idea implied in Psalm 49 that as we praise, as we meditate on the scripture and sing through them, mysteries will become known.  Wisdom will be released.  Understanding will go from being ethereal to tangible.  That's what this spontaneous worship thing is all about, right???  Soaking in the mysteries of God til they become the realities of our heart!

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike: My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle (Ps49:1-4)

There are two versions of this song: the normal everyday Awaken the Dawn, and now for those in a hurry, the shorter Awaken The Dawn (radio edit).  Enjoy!

Behold The One

A bit late with this post, sorry!!  But we've been working on the new Lion & I album!  Due for a release sometime around September 2013, it's gonna be awesome!

Many of the tracks on the new album will be familiar to you if you've been following this plog - because many of the songs are reworkings and new versions of the songs that have been featured right here!

You might remember a song called "Worth it All" from an earlier post in March.  Well the song featured this week "Behold the One" is a reworking of that song!  Featuring James the Justified (the other half of Lion & I) and a whole new arrangement, we hope this song blesses you and gives you a taste for what the new Lion & I album will be like!.

(please note, while this song is available for listen, it's not yet available for download.  But we promise it won't be long til you can get your very own copy!)