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Hey Guys. Lots happening this end so will keep it brief. The most exciting news to share is that last month I spent a few days writing with former Alabaster Box keyboard player, Joshua Brown and we decided to do some recording late this year, early next! I am very excited about working with Josh and the colour that he will bring to my music. Will keep you posted along the way with how things are developing.

Also for those of you living in South Australia… next Friday night, September 10, I will be supporting Scott Darlow on his national tour. Scott is an Australian singer/songwriter/guitarist and didgeridoo player so should be a great night! We will be hitting up the live on light square stage from about 8.30 pm so come and say hi!

Hope to see you all soon. Must run, but will talk soon. Blessings…… Vanessa

The church I visited this week had a message on the ‘Gifts of the Spirit’. As none of my current songs fitted this theme i sat down and wrote a new song. I have put the lyrics below. Let me know what you think… Thanks to my friends Julie and Jen for allowing me to bounce it past them….

a mother nurturing her baby
shows the love of Christ
a dad protecting his family
shows the strength of Christ
but where does this come from?
where does it start?

the Spirit takes what is Christs’
and gives it to us
so we’re caught up in sharing
the truth in His love
so if you teach then teach
if you preach then preach
and share the love of Christ

the kindness of a stranger
shows the care of Christ
the words of hope from an old friend
breathe the life of Christ
but where does this come from?
where does it start?

(c) 2010 Vanessa Kersting

We have finally hit 100 fans on Facebook. Woohoo! Keep spreading the word and letting your friends know about what’s happening here at Vanessa Kersting Music. If you want to join the craze on Facebook, and keep updated on what is happening, click on the image below. Talk soon. VKM

Wow. It has been a long time since I last posted. Lots has been happening here at Vanessa Kersting Music over the last few months. The most exciting news is that next weekend my big sister, Alison is getting married. Yay! We are all very excited! Should be a great day.

In other music news there are two things to update you on. Firstly, It has been a work in progress, but we have finally gotten the scores and backing tracks complete for the 4 worship songs on the album, I am excited to share them with you.

If you have been looking for backing tracks to sing to, you can now find these for Centre of it All, Emmanuel, O Hear The Word and Christ in Us on iTunes in Australia, the US and the UK.

If you are looking for the sheet music so that your church can sing some of the songs, or, for your band to play there are two options. You can purchase the full score and vocal sheet for the 4 worship songs here at vanessakerstingmusic.com or you can buy a ‘package’ that includes the backing track, PowerPoint slide, lyric sheet and sheet music through my friends here at included.com. Let me know how you go.

The second piece of news is that these songs have also finally been submitted to CCLI to be distributed to churches as an option to sing. Everything is being finalised, however hopefully in the very near future you will be able to look it up easily on ccli.com. Check back here for more updates… I will try to let you know as soon as it happens!

Well, I better keep moving, lots of wedding plans still to help finish off.

Blessings to you…….. Vanessa

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