Not Your Grandmother’s Lullaby

We were putting the children down for their daily nap, all 24 of them. Tiny little bodies strewn across blue nylon cots 5×2 feet wide. I was in the two’s class in the daycare at my church. My normal preference for working with kids is 3 and up, but I was a floater in this season of my childcare life, that meant that I went where the need was.

When you have that many little souls to put to sleep you need all the help you can get. Our usual way of doing it was to get them on their cots, start rubbing backs, and last but not least putting on some music to help the kids relax and fall asleep.

I had been a musician for many years at this point. I played in cafe’s, church services, outreach ministries, and nursing homes. It was about this time that I was trying to find my way with the gifts that I was given. I had shifted my mind and heart away from trying to pursue the entertainment business. I fell in love with worship leading and never looked back. Still, I loved writing songs, and not just in the worship genre. As wonderful as that is my imagination for song ideas stretched beyond the walls of the Sunday morning service.

So, there I was sitting on the floor and rubbing the back of my first little kinder. Then the music started. It was the same music we always used. Loud typical nursery songs. The same songs that I’m sure my mother and grandmother knew. Not only loud but I have to say as a musician, not very imaginative and definitely not soothing. I just couldn’t imagine how the babies went to sleep through that. As an adult it really was like fingernails down a chalkboard. Like the kind of music that you hope and pray that your baby doesn’t cry for in the car. Yikes! I think you know what I mean. Wheels on the bus anyone?

Thats when the wheels in my HEAD started working. I was thinking there must be some lullaby music out there for children that doesn’t drive the parents and care givers mad. With the wheels really turning now I thought … I would love to create that!

That’s when the song Rockabye was born.

Fast forward a few years, lots of hours with the holy spirit, and more clarity about what to do with my gifts, the album ANGEL WINGS came to life.

It is my profound pleasure to create music that is filled with the love of God. To imagine him singing over all of his little ones .. big and small, because we are ALL his children. But, I mostly love the idea of this music offering so many facets ..

Relaxation, Stress relief, Quiet time with God, Soothing babies, Teaching children and adults how to connect with our creator God .. the list just goes on and on!

Watch and listen to the video below and subscribe to my brand new channel to get more relaxing videos!

Rockabye Video

Celtic harps, Flutes and Sweet Dreams …

Do you ever have trouble sleeping?

I wrote this song ROCKABYE just for people like you.

Maybe you need to find a quiet space to relax. Is it hard for you to settle your mind down when you try to meditate or pray? This music is designed to put you in that space, to relax you, to calm you, to help you get still – to sing over you and put sweet dreams in your head.

As you listen to the song, allow yourself to be still. Allow yourself to forget your troubles for a moment. It’s time to let God handle your troubles. As you allow yourself to let go of guilt or fear of the future, know that God is listening. He can handle all of your cares.

He will put sweet dreams in your heart and your head.

The Lion. The Lamb. And Rainbows.

Hope and Promise

There is a lot of fear in the world today. A crazy amount of violence and lawlessness. Every day I go to God and ask him what is going on. My peace gets shaken daily. He always tells me that it’s going to be okay. I know he is watching over me and protecting me.

Every morning for about a week I woke up seeing a vision with a rainbow in it. In the Kingdom of God, rainbows represent hope and promise. After the flood, God promised Noah that he would never flood the earth again. He put a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of his promise.

It was exciting for me. I couldn’t wait to see what God was going to show me the next day. Things actually got a little crazy because he started showing me these images every time I closed my eyes. Even when I was awake.

The first one he showed me was sheep in the meadow with a rainbow behind them. The sheep in the meadow represent peace. His sheep know peace. We can graze in the meadow without fear. He will ALWAYS provide and be our protector. The rainbow has multiple meanings. It is hope as I said before. It’s a promise too. From what the Lord has spoken to me every color of the rainbow has a meaning. Every color is an attribute of who he is. He invented color. He is the creator of creativity! When you see a rainbow in the sky he wants you to be filled with hope. He wants you to know he is here with us.

View more and purchase HERE

Another theme that I saw with the rainbows and sheep was the Lion of Judah. Over the years I have often seen visions of the Lion and the Lamb together. I’ve been well acquainted with the Lamb over the years. The sweet, tender, loving and sacrificial lamb. The Lion of Judah is a new understanding for me. He is the one who fights for us, gives us strength, is our defender. He is the one who goes into battle. The Lion and the Lamb are both the Holy Spirit.

Canvas Print

https://apps.elfsight.com/p/platform.js

The Lion of Judah Arises

The beautiful prophetic images keep coming. This idea came to me during the worship portion of my church service. I saw a baby lion and I knew that The Holy Spirit was showing me that that is how he sees the church right now.

We know the lamb. The lamb is sweet and kind and loving … or soft as some would say. The church as a whole has been operating from a very weak perspective. We have allowed the bullies of this world to dictate and control life as we know it.

We are told no prayer in school for Christians and yet other religions are considered ok to speak about and bring to the forefront of our youth. They are trying to shut down the churches, shut down the singing – Satan knows he can’t work in or manoeuvre in praise and worship. People of God LIFT UP YOUR PRAISE AND WORSHIP HIM! You will see prison doors open and the devil will flee!

So here is the baby lion of Judah. The church as it’s beginning to see and understand who the Lion of Judah is. He is fierce. He hates injustice. He upholds righteousness and hates the wicked. He is not a pushover.

Jesus told the truth. He let the Pharisees have it. He turned over tables and cast demons out of pigs and people and sent them to the pit.

Come on Lion of Judah … Roar!

You can get a canvas print or Poster Here ..

And under his wings, you will find refuge.

Yes! We have a God who is bigger than anything this world can throw at us. He carries us and shelters us.

When I wrote this song I was dealing with a lot of night terrors and fears. I was a single woman living by myself up in Nashville, TN. Thoughts came into my mind that I was not safe. (Thoughts planted by the enemy of God). I had dreams that I was out of control and couldn’t stop evil from happening to me. These evil thoughts have a way of making you feel like there is no hope. I started reading Psalm 91 every night and would pray for God to be with me and protect my thoughts during the night. I would immediately be filled with peace.

He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.

One night after praying, I had a vision of these angels covering my bed and my home. (God uses dreams and visions as one way to speak to us). I was filled with the peace of God and I no longer had the fears or the nightmares.

It’s hard for us to understand just what angels are because we don’t often see them. But I know they are real. I’ve seen many visions of them since those days of my night terrors and let me tell you, they are BIG! Their sole purpose is to serve God and do what he asks. (I will share more about things I’ve seen angels doing in visions in future blogs. I’ve got lots of stories).

I want to encourage you that if you are being tormented by fearful thoughts no matter if its something big like finances and global upheaval or something small and personal, God is in control and just a whisper away. He WILL give you your peace back.

About The Song – Joy is Our Strength!

I wanted to give the feel of nighttime to this song, so I added peaceful crickets at the beginning and the end. Cricket sounds always remind me of summers in the south when I was a child. I also added playful flute interludes to give the song joy. Joy is a strength of God to blast away depression.

It’s a fun song that is a favourite when I play live concerts. I’m sure that it will be a favourite of yours too! AND let’s blast away fear!

Thanks so much for watching and listening. If you love it and want to get the full album you can get it HERE

Angel Wings Album

Thanks again for watching and listening!

My Wildlife and Nature Photography

Along with enjoying the sounds of nature, I LOVE to be in nature. My long walks to the park sometimes include taking my DSLR camera with me. I am in awe of the wonders of God’s creation. Everything in nature is amazing to me. I find peace and God there too.

I went to the Art Institue of Atlanta right after highschool. This was during the days of film cameras. Digital was not even a dream yet. I spent a lot of time in the darkroom developing film and in the printing room with the red light. I really loved it. I spent most of my time developing black and white photos. I developed a love for black and white and fine art photography.

Baby Elephant ©Marjorie Whitley

I used a Nikon 35mm and I had a 4 x 5 large-format camera – the kind you see in the old movies with the guy under the cape standing at the back of the camera. It looked something like this.

I put the camera away for a time. But, with the dawn of the digital age, I jumped back into it. I have worked a bit as a professional doing some weddings and a few portraits for authors and such. But my LOVE is nature and wildlife! I’d say for most of my adult life I have dreamed of having a great zoom lens that I could use to photograph wildlife.

My dream came true this past black Friday when Nikon had a sale!

I like to go to my favourite park or sit outside in my little hunting blind. It’s so peaceful and relaxing watching all the animals. Not only is it a nice little backyard getaway I get the best pictures in there!

Me in my blind

Up in the north Georgia mountains

Here are some of the shots that I’ve taken in just the last year from my blind. I’ve played around with adding textures to them as well.

Some Shots From Over The Years

These images as well as others will be available in my store on canvas print soon. If you have a favorite let me know!

Thanks so much for looking!

Sunsets, Rivers, Streams and Meditations

Sunsets, rivers, and streams. Twittering birds, crickets and falling rain. All of these things bring peace to me. I love taking long walks in the wooded trails that lead to the lake. That’s where all my fuzzy and feathered friends live. That’s also another place where I find God.

I am in awe as I see all of his creation. It amazes me that he created all of it. Every tiny detail. And he made it for us! As a musician it gets creative juices flowing and some of my best lyrics are born on my walks. As a photographer, it excites my visual senses. I often take my camera along with me.

Here are a few of my nature and wildlife shots.

Bringing it Home.

Being in nature always brings a sense of peace to me. Sometimes it’s just not possible to get outside. It’s not really all the practical for me to find a quiet place away from the traffic in the woods to connect with God deeply. So, I bring nature inside. I like to put on nature sounds in my when I want to spend time with God on a deep level. The sound of rain or a bubbling brook brings an instant sense of peace. Sometimes I combine soothing worship music with nature sounds to get a double dunk of peace.

So, it came to me one day that I could combine the nature sounds with the music I create! I thought, how great it would be if you could put all of those elements together! Nature, music, and worship? How great would it be to help others find that same peace and rest?

Welcome to my world!

PEACE IN THE VALLEY is a song on the ANGEL WINGS album. It was one of a series of songs that came to me as I was in my private space at home meditating with God. You will hear twittering birds, flutes, sweet vocals and harps … a little rain shower makes it’s appearance too. You can listen to it below.

Peace In The Valley

Is Spending Time With God Meditation?

I mentioned here that I spend time with God in meditation. I just want to take a minute and explain what I mean by that. 

Meditation by definition means – cultivating the presence of God through meditation: contemplation, thought, thinking, musing, pondering, consideration, reflection, deliberation, rumination, brooding, reverie, concentration; prayer.

I’m eager to take the word meditation back for it’s intended purpose.

When some people talk about meditation they are simply talking about finding a peaceful place or a place to rid themselves of negativity. What I’m talking about, and what I’m all about is something so much more. I’m talking about a relationship with my creator. A two-way relationship where you talk to him and HE talks back to you! Yes, we can hear his voice as it’s mentioned in scripture a zillion times. Jesus also talked about his sheep hearing his voice.

In the Old Testament, Elijah talks about the still small voice .. 1 Kings 19:11-13 ..

Jesus says that the Sheep will hear his voice .. John 10:27-28 King James Version (KJV) ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸ And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

So don’t let anybody tell you that you are crazy and schizophrenic because you hear voices lol! 

All of my meditation music is centered around inviting this same spirit, the Holy Spirit, into your world.  I’m not talking about religion. Religions have rules and dogmas. Relationships have freedom and love. The God I know does not want robots. He wants children. My hope is that you will see God here in my music and images and that he overwhelms you with is amazing love. 

I want what I do to enhance your experience with God. Whether you are already engaging with him or if you are just beginning to know him.

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Now you know more about me and what I want to give to the world.

If you want to hear some of what my meditation music sounds like I have a link below.

Meditations

I’ve got a digital download available with 3 soaking “meditation – worship” songs designed just to help you enter into that connection faster. I personally like to take my time and give him as much time as he needs to communicate with me, love me, speak to me, and give me visions as he needs, well for him, but for me because I can’t get enough of his love and wisdom. I don’t always have the time to do that though. I figure it’s the same for everyone. So, I made short versions of the songs and long ones to help you depending on the kind of time you have to spend.

If you want to hear what this sounds like …

CLICK HERE to check out my download MEDITATIONS

This music combines nature with the sweet presence of God. 2 long – live soaking songs with nature sounds recorded in my home studio during my personal worship time with God. Plus short versions of the songs designed to bring the peace of God into your home. 1 long, sweet worship song recorded in my studio. In all, that’s 5 songs!

Harps, flutes, guitar, sweet vocals and a break away from formula radio music. I also have a few worship songs that I’ve converted into sweet soothing music that you can meditate and soak in the presence of God!

From The Glamour of the Stage to the Door of Heaven

I had just come back to Atlanta from Nashville, Tennessee. I was trying anything to get my foot into the door of the music business. I didn’t like country music, but I was willing to try it if it meant being a part of that glorious gold idol called the music business. 

I had had dreams of being a rock star too. I played the guitar and was trying my best to write songs. But, I had gotten a little weary of the road to rock stardom. I loved creating music, but I really hated the lifestyle. Playing in clubs and bars was just not my thing at all. But, back in that day that was the only way anyone could make a living as a musician. Not to mention the perilous ladder of trying to break into the music business.

So, being disillusioned and worn out from the music pursuit I shifted my dream. 

I put my guitar away and sought fulfillment as an actor. I can remember how exciting it felt at the end of a show and get the applause. I was in desperate need of approval but I didn’t know it. Everything I did in terms of music or acting was for that sense of approval and trying to prove to myself and others that I had value. 

I began seriously pursuing acting around the Atlanta area. And soon I developed this dream of going to New York to study acting with a renowned acting teacher named Llyod Williamson. 

I had my life all planned out, but what actually happened to me in the next few months is still a mystery to me. While I was dreaming of making my mark in the entertainment business God was making plans of his own. For some reason, he looked down on this nobody want to be hopeful girl and saw someone else. 

He saw a heart that wanted more. He saw a heart that was hungry for something real. 

He knew that what I longed for was a relationship. He knew that he had everything that I longed for and wanted to get from a career. From the day that I started to work on my plan for New York, he started working on his plan for my heart. I began going to an awesome church with these great pastoral counsellors. In just a few months he totally took my desire for the entertainment business and replaced it with a desire to use my gifts to point a hungry lost world to him.

After experiencing the excitement and what I thought was fulfilment through applause, I discovered that the audience of ONE was the greatest fulfilment ever! There is NOTHING greater than touching heaven and entering the throne room of God! I can still remember those first few time that I lead worship for the first time. It. Was. Magnificent! Such a deep, deep connection with God. So much love! Nothing else mattered to me in those moments.

I’ve had the pleasure of leading worship for Sunday morning church, kids church, small groups, singles groups and healing services.

God IS the pinnacle. The only fulfillment and audience I crave. 

Now I share with YOU the beautiful doorway that I see through to his kingdom. I invite you into the world I share with him. It is my greatest hope that you find the beauty and fulfilment, peace, or assurance that only He can give. And see the kingdom through the eyes that he has given me through my music.

If you would like to hear more of the songs I create you can hear it HERE in my latest release, ANGEL WINGS.

Thanks for being a listener and allowing me to bring heaven to you! 

Sweet, Soothing and So Powerful

It was one of those days. You know, you turn on the news and they are highlighting some world tragic event. Even though it feels like I’ve gotten a bit numb to those news stories, I know it hits my spirit. I can also feel a bit manipulated by the darkness that tries to steal my peace and joy everyday. Listen, we all know that the enemy is out to kill, steal, and destroy. I’ve made the decision that I’m not going to let him.

As I turned off the news that day I went right to my keyboard and found some really nice relaxing chords. Next, I just let it play and turned on my microphone. I added some soothing rain sound effects and just waited. I wanted to let The Holy Spirit be the author or this song. I wanted something only he could say.

Healing was on his mind at that moment. His plea to us is to give our needs to him so that he can heal the assault from the things of this world. And, as I began to sing I felt his presence. It was sweet and soothing and so powerful. 

If you like this please subscribe to my youtube channel too …

This song is part of a collection of songs on an album digital download. If you want to hear what the whole album download sounds like … 

CLICK HERE to check out my download MEDITATIONS

You Have Gifts!

I spent a little time with God this week asking him just what is he doing in this crazy time. Next thing I know he is showing me a vision. Bear in mind this is how God speaks to me personally. I’m not saying I’m an all-mighty prophet to the people. But, I think there was definitely something there for others besides me to know that God has not left us.

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Here’s What I Saw

I was kind of hovering up above the clouds with Jesus. We were looking down at the earth. I could feel this love coming from him. It was big enough to cover all of the earth.  And then he said to the world – “Do you think I have left you? Do you think I am still here?”

Then he smiled and said: “No. I have not left you. I am fighting for you. I hear all the prayers that are being spoken to me. I catch all of them in my hand and draw them up to me, and read each one.  I am not a God that abandons his people or anyone who cries out to me”. 

“What is happening in the world you ask? You say You want life to go back the way it was.” Then he said “I need you to wake up. I need you to know that there are people in this world, some of them next to you, that are dying. They need hope. I need you to extend your hand to them as an extension of my hand. So many of you have been hiding in your homes. You have treasures that you can share. You all have gifts. Use your gifts. That is what they are made for”. 

How This Applies To Me

My next-door neighbor AND my across the street neighbors both have cancer. I just didn’t know what to do for them. I sometimes think that a grand gesture is what people need in a time like this. As I prayed about it I got the idea to simply create a get well, or thinking of you card, or baking some homemade bread for them. Just to let them know that there is kindness in the world and that someone cares.

I hope this inspired you to reach out to those around you. Don’t forget that you have amazing gifts that only YOU have. These gifts are meant to be used to love each other.

Death, Where is your Victory?

Death Has Been Dealt A Blow!

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”^[a]

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 New International Version (NIV)

Death is no longer something I fear. My body will continue to age, but my spirit and my soul will live forever. I know this because I have a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. I have felt and seen a taste of the life that is prepared for us in eternity, and let me tell you, it’s AMAZING!

Joy, love, peace, and total fulfillment are tangible things that just hang in the air there. The Lord showed me this in a vision once. I was feeling really in a low place. I wanted to just go home .. as in to my final home. He told me that it was not my time yet, but he gave me a taste of what is to come.

I could feel the joy and the love in the air. I had impressions of people there who knew me and were eager for me to be with them … for reals! I can’t wait! But until then I have the Holy Spirit here to be the gateway to heaven.

My song THE REAL LIFE is the story of how Jesus beat death. Listen to it here ..

The Real Life

Marjorie Whitley

This is the real life

I cant deny you the truth / He gave his life just for you / Laid it down for you To be set free

This is the real life

On the ground the blood was strewn / Poured it out just for you / Shed it out for you / to be set free

Make no mistake this life goes on forever / The curtain’s torn thru his love it is severed

No more shackles on your feet / The burdens gone the devil’s beat / Bore the pain for you to be / To be set free

This is the real life

Yeah yeah yea
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Get Your Peace Back!

There is a God who is BIGGER than our fears. Bigger than every problem that this world can throw at us. This is not just feel-good stuff here. This is REAL and tangible! Get your peace back!