Back in 2007 I met artist Anita Van Zeumeren, from Mississauga, Ontario, in Canada. My friend Bruce had been asked to speak at various events and I was tagging along to play some music.

Leading up to the trip I was looking at my life and what was happening to my friends, family and even what was happening in the world.

I started asking the age old question, why? Why so much pain? Why so much heartache? And, more often than not where are You when my heart, and my friends hearts and souls are being ripped apart?

During the trip, on Sunday afternoon we went to visit with Anita and some other artists from the area. While we were finishing up dinner I was looking at some of Anita’s paintings and this one caught my eye.

As I was looking at this picture it was as if the Spirit was saying to me, ‘this is where I am when you are being ripped apart’. ‘This is where I am when your friends are grieving, hurting and in pain’. ‘I am here in the middle of your pain and heartache’. ‘I am holding you while you weep and fall apart’.

One of the things I like the most about this painting is that the characters are naked coz this to me shows that in our most vulnerable moments in our brokenness and shame, just as we are, with no barriers, no holding back, Christ is there holding us while we weep.

Sometimes we have no answers for why things happen. Sometimes there are no words. But Christ is always with us right in the middle of what is going on. Holding us whispering to our innermost being that it’s gonna be ok.

I often look back at this picture, and every time I see it, it reminds me that I am not alone, not even in the scary moments. Jesus is there holding me, always. I hope it encourages you too.

Let me know what your thoughts are.

NB this is only part of the picture

** If you want to check out Anita or her paintings head to http://www.burntofferings.ca/anita.html

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone here at Vanessa Kersting Music.

We hope you had a great Christmas, and that 2010 is a year when the promise of Emmanuel rings deep in your soul!

We look forward to seeing you in 2010. Blessings… Vanessa

Hey Guys! We finally have the shop open. Currently all the CD’s can be purchased through PayPal. Just head to the ‘buy‘ section on the website, find the country closest to you, click the option you want and then hit the CD above.

From now till Christmas there is free shipping on all CD’s so make you get in and get your copy today. Happy Shopping and Merry Christmas.

Well, the tour is over and I am back home here in Adelaide. Phew. It was such a great time. Thanks to everyone that came out to hear Mike and I play. It was great to meet you all.

I loved the UK. So much history wherever you turn. And to think of the hundreds of years people have walked on the same roads, sat in the same seats, sung the same songs would often blow me away.

I look forward to visiting again soon. For the moment though it’s back to work here in Australia… but there’s always time for a little music.

For those of you in Queensland and South Australia I will be in Beaudesert next weekend, playing here in Adelaide the weekend after then down to the land of the blue lake the first weekend in December.

Hope to see you all soon. Vanessa

I know you’re standing on unfamiliar ground
I know you’re searching for that all familiar sound
know I am with you always

I see you breathe deep for the courage that you need
I know you try to be strong but you’re feeling so weak
know I am with you always

you are My beloved child
the apple of My eye
I know you feel alone
and you think you’re on your own
but you are beautiful to Me
if you could only see
you’re part of Me
you are never alone

I see you crying in the middle of the night
I see you fall apart when you think everyone’s out of sight
know I am with you always

when you think your life’s undone
and you’ve nowhere left to run
feel My arms around you holding you so tight
when you start to feel afraid
and your courage starts to fade
no matter where you are I’m always right here

you are never alone oh I’m with you
you are never alone oh I’m with you
you are never alone

© 2008 Vanessa Kersting

Back in 2005 I headed off on my first trip overseas to the USA. I was going to visit with friends and see a couple of concerts. I was really looking forward to it but it didn’t quite turn out as planned.

On the flight to the US I got food poisoning. I spent my first night in LA hospital with follow up doctors appointment in Little Rock. The day I was meant to be heading to Jackson Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina hit. I flew to Nashville and was under tornado watches and warnings. Got bitten by a tic, got Rocky Mountain spotted fever and a car I was in partly fell in a ditch.

All of this happened in just over 2 weeks. The whole time I was spinning not knowing what to do and not knowing how to explain to anyone what was going on.

Towards the end of the trip I could hear these lyrics being sung to me. I started writing them down and they gave me such comfort for the flight home. Even though I was on the other side of the world far, far from home and what was familiar to me, I was never alone. We are never separated from Christ whether we are at home with our friends and family or miles away. If we are in Him and He in us (John 14:20), He is with us always, holding us together. Christ IS with us. We are never alone.

Hey Guys. Just finished chatting with Shelley Poulsen and Robbo from Vision FM. The interview will be aired in Australia tomorrow (Friday 14th Aug) just after 9am AEST. You can listen to it online or on your local Vision FM frequency.

Also if you are looking for a place to purchase a copy of the CD you can either order online here or you can buy it in Australia from Koorong Bookstores.

More updates soon. Blessings. Vanessa

G’day from Australia… This post is gonna be a short one, but I have some exciting news, hot off the press that I wanted to share with you all. This coming October / November I will be heading to the UK to support fellow Australian Singer Songwriter Mike Rayson on his UK tour. Details on the schedule are still being finalised but I will let you know where and when we’ll be playing as soon as things are locked in. I cannot wait it should be great fun!

Wow. I just noticed how long it had been since I last posted. It has definitely been busy this end. Let me send a big shout out to everyone I met up in Darwin and Clare over the last couple of weeks! It was so great to meet you all!

While I was up in Darwin I did something I had never done before. I went scooter riding and sightseeing with my cousins. I was a little nervous to start with, but after a few laps of the car park they let out onto the road. Darwin is so pretty. This photo is just a quick snapshot we took as we were setting out for the day.

So lots has been happening. New gigs being set up, more airplay is happening and this coming Sunday July 19th I am going to be on Mal Garvin’s show The Conversation of The Nation. I am so excited. The show goes out to about 60 different stations and is based in Tasmania broadcasting through heart fm.

If you live in Australia you can catch it from 10.30 pm Adelaide time or elsewhere from 11.05 AEST. For those of you outside of Australia or who don’t get the show live you can listen online at http://www.heartfm.org/ and click the listen live link top right of the screen. For my friends in the US the show will be in the morning, and I think the time should be 9 eastern and 8 central time. Should be a lot of fun so make sure you tune in if you can!

Well I think that’s about all the updates for now. Will keep you posted as we go. Talk soon. Vanessa