Darlene Zscech on 30 YEARS of Shout To The Lord

Reflecting on 30 years since the release of "Shout to the Lord," the speaker shares her journey from a hesitant worship leader to a seasoned songwriter and pastor. She discusses the profound privilege of crafting songs and devotionals that serve the church, drawing parallels with the Psalms' range of human experience. The speaker emphasizes the importance of personal encounters with God and the transformative power of worship, expressing gratitude for her life experiences, including pastoring and personal trials. She hopes her work inspires others to recognize and articulate God's faithfulness in their own lives.

• The speaker reflects on the 30-year journey since the release of "Shout to the Lord," expressing surprise at their own evolution as a songwriter and worship leader.
• Initially, the speaker did not see themselves as a songwriter or worship leader due to a lack of confidence.
• The speaker emphasizes the privilege and responsibility of writing songs and prayers for others to use in worship.

"Oh my goodness, I mean to be honest Laura at that time I didn't even see myself as a songwriter. I mean it was something that I could do a little bit but I just was not confident."

• This quote illustrates the speaker's initial lack of confidence in their songwriting abilities and their unexpected journey in becoming a recognized songwriter and worship leader.

"Truly I just wanted to serve Jesus in whatever I kind of feel exactly the same way today to be honest."

• The speaker's primary aspiration was to serve Jesus, a goal that remains unchanged over the years, highlighting their consistent dedication to their faith.

• Compiling "Testament" involved selecting 30 songs that represent the speaker's musical journey, which was both nostalgic and challenging.
• The process evoked a range of emotions, from beautiful memories to grief over past losses.
• Music and worship serve as a journal, capturing the full spectrum of life's experiences.

"It was hard to pick 30 songs. I did it with a, you know, with my family. I did it with a team that kind of helped me do that and it was a little nostalgic at times."

• Choosing songs for "Testament" was a collaborative and emotional process, reflecting on the speaker's past experiences and memories.

"Some songs they brought up, you know, beautiful memories and then some songs brought up, you know, just I guess a little bit of grief for the things that you know we lost."

• The selection of songs for "Testament" brought forth a mix of emotions, highlighting the personal impact of the music on the speaker's life.

• The speaker writes songs to serve the church and express deep emotions, similar to the Psalms which cover a wide range of human experiences.
• The speaker aims to create songs that release prayers and emotions that are difficult for the congregation to articulate.
• The process of writing devotionals for "Testament" allowed the speaker to delve deeper into the context and meaning of their songs.

"I write to serve the church and to express, you know, some of these Deep Cries."

• The speaker's songwriting is driven by a desire to serve the church and express profound emotions, similar to the biblical Psalms.

"I kind of picture myself in the congregation. It's like, is this a song that's going to help release a prayer that they're finding hard to pray?"

• The speaker's songwriting process involves envisioning the congregation's needs and creating songs that facilitate prayer and emotional expression.

• Writing devotionals for "Testament" provided an opportunity to expand on the meanings and contexts of the songs.
• The devotionals include scriptural references and personal stories, adding depth to the songs' messages.
• The speaker finds joy in unpacking the weightiness of the words through the devotionals.

"That's actually been really fun because, you know, again as writing it down unpacking those thoughts a little bit more."

• The speaker enjoys the process of writing devotionals, which allows for a deeper exploration of the thoughts and meanings behind the songs.

"I feel like Testament has allowed me to bring more of the weightiness of the words into that journal."

• The devotionals for "Testament" enable the speaker to convey the profound significance of the songs, enriching the listener's understanding.

• The use of QR codes enhances the music experience by transforming it into an interactive 3D experience.
• This technology allows listeners to engage more deeply with the music beyond just reading lyrics or listening.

"Every day you QR code the song and the song pops up and you can kind of be drawn into the whole experience rather than just kind of reading off a page."

• The integration of QR codes provides an enriched, immersive experience, making music more engaging and interactive.

• The album "Testament" features re-recordings that offer a deeper context and weight to the songs.
• These re-recordings help in presenting a complete picture of the songs, which might not have been possible earlier due to time and other constraints.

"There is the album Testament as well of course that people can enjoy these re-recordings that you've done of these songs which is just beautiful."

• The re-recordings in the album "Testament" provide a new dimension to the songs, enhancing their beauty and depth.

• The artist reflects on how life experiences, including being a mother and grandmother, influence her interpretation of songs she wrote in a different season of life.
• Singing these songs now brings a new perspective and connection, enriched by years of wisdom and experience.

"How does it feel to be the woman you are now singing the songs that you wrote as a woman who was living a different season of life?"

• The artist's current life stage adds depth and new meaning to the songs she originally wrote when she was younger.

• Participation in Gathered 25, a global worship event, highlighted the communal ownership of songs like "Worthy as the Lamb" and "Shout to the Lord."
• The event showcased the power of music to unite people across different countries in worship and prayer.

"I was part of something beautiful, a global thing called Gathered 25, lots of countries across the world kind of gathered In Worship in this like Round the Clock worship experience of prayer and worship was really stunning."

• Gathered 25 exemplified the global and unifying nature of worship music, creating a shared spiritual experience.

• Songs like "Shout to the Lord" have transcended their origins and become owned by the community.
• The artist acknowledges the shift in ownership from personal to communal, which is a unique and humbling experience.

"Shout to the Lord is like that, you know it left my mouth when I was in my 20s and it left my life then it's owned by everybody and that is something that you know I don't take for granted but I'll never get used to."

• The communal ownership of songs signifies their impact and the shared connection they foster among listeners.

• With time, the artist has gained the ability to reflect on the threads of God's kindness throughout her life.
• This reflection has been personally rewarding and has influenced her music writing process.

"I've had some time and I've had some time to look back to marinate to really think and watch the thread of God's kindness kind of weave throughout my life."

• The artist's reflection on her life experiences has enriched her songwriting, allowing her to capture deeper meanings and insights.

• Cancer brought a profound gift of living in the moment and being present rather than rushing through life.
• The experience shifted the speaker's perspective on life and responsibility, emphasizing mindfulness and presence.

"For me, the gift that cancer brought me is that, you know, when I was a lot younger, I used to be very forward, very responsible. But now I'm better at sitting in the moment and being tuned to the moment I'm in rather than racing through it to get to the next one."

• The quote highlights the transformative impact of cancer on the speaker's approach to life, focusing on mindfulness and presence.

• Pastoring has deepened the speaker's relationship with God, emphasizing the role of caring for people.
• Leading worship was not just about performing but about shepherding and nurturing a community.
• The speaker finds joy and fulfillment in being with people and serving the community.

"I was worship Pastor, and I took that really seriously. It wasn't about me leading worship; it was about me caring for people. I love being in the hospitals, in my community, in the streets with people. I love being a Shepherd."

• This quote illustrates the speaker's dedication to pastoring as a means of fostering community and nurturing relationships with God and others.

• The speaker's love for worship and God was influenced by a family with strong faith traditions.
• Personal encounters with God have been pivotal in shaping the speaker's faith journey.
• The speaker's first encounter with God's love at 15 was a defining moment that continues to influence their life.

"My grandparents, they're amazing people of Faith, prayed for us by name every morning. I encountered the love of God when I was 15, and the Lord said to me, 'You never need to perform for me. I bought you with a price, you're not for sale. I love you.'"

• This quote underscores the importance of family influence and personal spiritual experiences in the speaker's faith development and their understanding of God's unconditional love.

• The speaker describes a profound spiritual experience during a worship session that deeply moved them despite not fully understanding it at the time.
• This encounter led to a realization that nothing else could compare to this spiritual fulfillment.
• The journey to leading worship took about eight years, during which the speaker was discipled and taught to read the Bible, emphasizing personal growth and understanding of faith.

"I could see a sea of people all ages stages singing this one song with their arms outstretched their heads held high and I'm like something in me knew that I was ruined for anything less."

• This quote illustrates the transformative impact of the worship experience, highlighting a sense of spiritual awakening and fulfillment.

• Some spiritual experiences and words leave a lasting impact and define one's faith journey.
• The speaker acknowledges the difficulty in articulating why certain experiences have a lasting effect, suggesting a deep personal connection to the word of God.
• The importance of being inquisitive and hungry for understanding is emphasized as a way to deepen one's faith.

"I think you got to be hungry I think you got to be inquisitive to find some of these things you know I don't believe there's anyone more special than the other."

• This quote underscores the idea that spiritual depth is accessible to anyone who seeks it with curiosity and hunger for understanding.

• Hunger for righteousness and understanding is seen as a key driver for spiritual growth and fulfillment.
• The speaker contrasts hunger with comfort, suggesting that true spiritual fulfillment comes from a deep desire to seek and understand God.

"Those Who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled there is something that hunger creates in you that Comfort will never deliver."

• This quote highlights the transformative power of spiritual hunger, suggesting that it leads to a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with God.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of remembering God's goodness and faithfulness in one's life.
• The book "Testament" is intended to inspire readers to reflect on their own spiritual journey and recognize God's presence in their lives.
• Personal testimonies are seen as powerful tools for overcoming challenges and reinforcing one's faith.

"I really want people to remember the goodness of God in their own lives every day on this book at the end I ask a couple of questions to kind of provoke your own thoughts."

• This quote reflects the speaker's intention to encourage readers to actively reflect on their spiritual experiences and recognize God's enduring presence.

"They overcame by the power of the blood and the word of their testimony right it's like yes find your testimony remember get it ready to articulate and you will be able to withstand anything."

• This quote emphasizes the strength and resilience that comes from articulating and remembering one's personal testimony of faith.