An artist speaks their own truth through their art. This is one of the thoughtful things that Grant Taylor said in our discussion today.
Grant has lived his life with music and singing since he was a boy and has found he has a need to express himself through music. He realized early on that being in the limelight is not what life is all about and that people are what is important. In his life he walks what he believes as he gives from his own life to help others. Grant gave up pursuing his career on the road so that he could raise his two children in a stable environment on his own. Other ways Grant gives of himself is that he helps people who are broken and without opportunity. There is an obligation we have to help others less fortunate but there is also great satisfaction in being able to give someone a hand up as well as hope. By being available to help young artists on a one on one basis to work on their craft, Grant has provided an opportunity some of these young artists would probably never otherwise have.
With a very calm demeanor, Grant has the ability to show you that he believes what he says when he talks about being still and experiencing the simple presence of God. He says it is a healing place to go and is something so simple but yet so important for us all to do. Just be still. In his life’s journey he has experienced a lot of heartache with the loss of family members and several friends all within a short period of time. The pain of losing loved ones actually cause life to be brought into a clearer perspective and helps us to realize that things are not what is important, having fame is not what is important but what is important is people.
As an artist Grant see’s music as a gift that comes from within and is something that needs to be expressed. It is a gift that helps people relax and it gives them space to just be and just enjoy the music. An artist speaks their truth. That’s a great thought and one of the very interesting and thought provoking things that Grant Taylor had to say today as we discussed his recording of a wonderful song written by Marilyn and Alan Bergman entitled “Where Do You Start?”.
Where do you start?
How do you separate the present from the past?
How do you deal with all the things you thought would last?
That didn’t last
With bits of memories scattered here and there
I look around and don’t know where – to start
Which books are yours?
Which tapes and dreams belong to you?
And which are mine?
Our lives are tangled like the branches of a vine.
That intertwine
So many habits that will have to break
and yesterday’s we’ll have to take apart
One day there’ll be a song or something in the air again
To catch me by surprise – and you’ll be there again
A moment in what – what might have been
Where do you start?
Do you allow yourself a little time to cry?
Or do you close your eyes and kiss it all goodbye?
I guess you try
And though I don’t know where and don’t know when
I’ll find myself in love again
I promise there will always be – a little place no one will see
A tiny part within my heart – that stays in love with you
Scriptures from Interview:
Job 36:24-25
Remember that you should exalt His work, of which men have sun.
All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar.
Isaiah 44:6-8
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the first and I am the last,
And there is no God besides Me.
‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it;
Yes, let him recount it to Me in order,
From the time that I established the ancient nation.
And let them declare to them the things that are coming
And the events that are going to take place.
‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And you are My witnesses.
Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other Rock?
I know of none.
There is so much in this world that we put our hope in, things that don’t last. What does last is all of God’s creation and God’s love lasts forever.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: “I am the Lord who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth – who was with me?
God is the First and the Last. He is here always and He knows all things.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Proverbs 8:34-35
Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.
True happiness is when we search for God with our whole hearts for He will reveal himself to us and fill our hearts with his peace and joy.
Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Roman 11:17
…a wild olive branch grafted into the root…
There truly is a joining together that takes place in our lives such as in marriage or as in being grafted into the family of God. How can you separate what has been joined together?
I Chronicles 28:9b
The Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.
Jeremiah 17:10a
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind…
Romans 8:27
…and He who searches the hearts knows…
Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.
We often think that there are secret parts of us that no one knows, thoughts that we can hide…but nothing is hidden from God. He knows every part of us and even the words before they are formed on our lips.
Grant has lived his life with music and singing since he was a boy and has found he has a need to express himself through music. He realized early on that being in the limelight is not what life is all about and that people are what is important. In his life he walks what he believes as he gives from his own life to help others. Grant gave up pursuing his career on the road so that he could raise his two children in a stable environment on his own. Other ways Grant gives of himself is that he helps people who are broken and without opportunity. There is an obligation we have to help others less fortunate but there is also great satisfaction in being able to give someone a hand up as well as hope. By being available to help young artists on a one on one basis to work on their craft, Grant has provided an opportunity some of these young artists would probably never otherwise have.
With a very calm demeanor, Grant has the ability to show you that he believes what he says when he talks about being still and experiencing the simple presence of God. He says it is a healing place to go and is something so simple but yet so important for us all to do. Just be still. In his life’s journey he has experienced a lot of heartache with the loss of family members and several friends all within a short period of time. The pain of losing loved ones actually cause life to be brought into a clearer perspective and helps us to realize that things are not what is important, having fame is not what is important but what is important is people.
As an artist Grant see’s music as a gift that comes from within and is something that needs to be expressed. It is a gift that helps people relax and it gives them space to just be and just enjoy the music. An artist speaks their truth. That’s a great thought and one of the very interesting and thought provoking things that Grant Taylor had to say today as we discussed his recording of a wonderful song written by Marilyn and Alan Bergman entitled “Where Do You Start?”.
Interview 30/04/2014 – Where Do You Start - Written by: Marilyn and Alan Bergman - performed by: Grant Taylor
Download or subscribe on iTunes
Lead Scripture:
Download or subscribe on iTunes
Lead Scripture:
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed man of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Where do you start? Where do any of us start? We began in the womb. But there are times in our lives when we have to pick up the pieces of our lives and start again. In difficult times we may be at a loss of where we are to start. Knowing where you came from and Who you belong to is a positive force in helping you during the difficult times of your life.
Then the Lord God formed man of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Where do you start? Where do any of us start? We began in the womb. But there are times in our lives when we have to pick up the pieces of our lives and start again. In difficult times we may be at a loss of where we are to start. Knowing where you came from and Who you belong to is a positive force in helping you during the difficult times of your life.
LYRICS:
WHERE DO YOU START
By: Marilyn and Alan Bergman
Performed by: Grant TaylorWHERE DO YOU START
By: Marilyn and Alan Bergman
Where do you start?
How do you separate the present from the past?
How do you deal with all the things you thought would last?
That didn’t last
With bits of memories scattered here and there
I look around and don’t know where – to start
Which books are yours?
Which tapes and dreams belong to you?
And which are mine?
Our lives are tangled like the branches of a vine.
That intertwine
So many habits that will have to break
and yesterday’s we’ll have to take apart
One day there’ll be a song or something in the air again
To catch me by surprise – and you’ll be there again
A moment in what – what might have been
Where do you start?
Do you allow yourself a little time to cry?
Or do you close your eyes and kiss it all goodbye?
I guess you try
And though I don’t know where and don’t know when
I’ll find myself in love again
I promise there will always be – a little place no one will see
A tiny part within my heart – that stays in love with you
Scriptures from Interview:
Job 36:24-25
Remember that you should exalt His work, of which men have sun.
All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar.
Isaiah 44:6-8
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the first and I am the last,
And there is no God besides Me.
‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it;
Yes, let him recount it to Me in order,
From the time that I established the ancient nation.
And let them declare to them the things that are coming
And the events that are going to take place.
‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And you are My witnesses.
Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other Rock?
I know of none.
There is so much in this world that we put our hope in, things that don’t last. What does last is all of God’s creation and God’s love lasts forever.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: “I am the Lord who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth – who was with me?
God is the First and the Last. He is here always and He knows all things.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Proverbs 8:34-35
Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.
True happiness is when we search for God with our whole hearts for He will reveal himself to us and fill our hearts with his peace and joy.
Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Roman 11:17
…a wild olive branch grafted into the root…
There truly is a joining together that takes place in our lives such as in marriage or as in being grafted into the family of God. How can you separate what has been joined together?
I Chronicles 28:9b
The Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.
Jeremiah 17:10a
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind…
Romans 8:27
…and He who searches the hearts knows…
Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.
We often think that there are secret parts of us that no one knows, thoughts that we can hide…but nothing is hidden from God. He knows every part of us and even the words before they are formed on our lips.
1 comment:
Grant, I want to thank you for the really great conversation and all the thoughtful things you had to say! I also would like to thank Marilyn and Alan Bergman for the beautiful song! Such great things were brought out because of the lyrics of this song! You are a wonderful guest, Grant and I only wish I had asked you to play that piano and sing for us!!! About an hour after the talk I suddenly realized I missed that! Nothing like a grand piano staring you right in the face and not thinking of it! Hope we will have a chance to ask you again!
Thank you & blessings!
Carolyn
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