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“ You Will Be Praised ,” written with Paul Baloche and Jenn Johnson on Darlene ’ s first return to America after cancer treatment , unabashedly declares the power of the Holy Spirit living among us that makes fearlessness possible in every season and circumstance of life . It is , in many ways , Darlene ’ s testimony .
Though I walk through darkest valleys / There ’ s no fear for You are with me / You have held me through the fire / Jesus You are here with me … Through every storm You will remain / In death and in life I ’ ll not be afraid / In joy or in pain You will be praised
“ It meant so much to have that opportunity and I treasured every second ,” says Darlene . “ We sat and talked about God ’ s faithfulness . I ’ m 51 , and I never thought I ’ d be doing this at my age . There ’ s such a freshness in me . In our culture , youth is almost worshiped . But there ’ s something to be said when you ’ ve watched the faithfulness of God again and again and again . There ’ s something to be said of the trust that grows over time .”
“ Kingdom Come ,” another stand-out track that is worship set-ready was co-written with Thomas Macken and reflects a year-long teaching theme at Hope Unlimited . “ Tom is an unsung genius ,” says Darlene . “ He just wrote a song for Tori Kelley , was nominated for an American Music Award , but leads worship like everyone else ... flies home and sets up the chairs at church … it ’ s just beautiful .”
“ Love and Wonder ,” written by the Zschech ’ s teen daughter , Zoe , and Hope team member , Bonnie Gray , delivers a tranquil interlude within the tracklist . “ She was downstairs on the piano ,” Darlene recalls , “ and I heard this little thing , just a little piece of heaven , really .” Mum decided it had to go on the album and listeners will understand why when they hear the chorus .
“ Beloved ” a modern hymn of surrender co-written by Darlene with Leeland Mooring and Casey Moore , takes its cues from “ When I Survey The Wondrous Cross ” penned by 17th century hymn writer Isaac Watts . “ Leeland had put it on his album , and it was beautiful . I wanted to record it but strip it back ,” says Darlene who recalls a sweet moment during the recording where the church began singing spontaneously as the team ended the song . “ You hear the people start to respond ... it ’ s a really holy moment .”
The album is full of such moments . But perhaps more than any of the aforementioned tracks , “ Here I Am Send Me ” and “ Go ” encapsulate the heart and passion of this worship pioneer and her unequivocal “ yes .”
“ Go ” is a song of commissioning closes the album . “ It can ’ t be any straighter ,” Darlene says with a laugh . “ In Ephesians , we get that sense of being commissioned into the world to share His love . I write about tribes , lands and neighborhoods … When you get in his presence , when you allow Him into the tough places , you rise knowing you must go and
share it . His love is what is missing in the world .”
“ Cancer is a funny thing ,” says Darlene . “ The medical world doesn ’ t like to use the word ‘ healed .’ They like to say the word ‘ remission ’… but I ’ m believing God ’ s report over my life . I speak Psalm 91 over myself every day , I take my medicine and I take the word of God and I do my best with what I can do in the natural and trust God with those things over which I have no power .”
“ None of us know how many days we have ,” she continues . “ Whatever days I have — and I ’ m declaring a ripe old age — I want to live them intentionally . I want to live the love of Christ … Everywhere we go , we take the presence of the Lord , we take His presence and His hope , His extravagant love . It ’ s a journey . I ’ m not there yet , but that ’ s the journey .”
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