Participants: Yvonne Lewis (Host), Duawne Starling (Host), Shirley Ann Thomas-Laurencin
Series Code: MGNH
Program Code: MGNH000001
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00:01 Magnify the Lord with me
00:04 Magnify the Lord 00:08 Jesus, the Lord is worthy 00:11 Magnify Him 00:17 Hello, and welcome to "Magnify Him." 00:19 My name is Duawne Starling. 00:20 And my name is Yvonne Lewis. 00:22 Thank you so much for tuning in. 00:24 There is a special blessing in store just for you. 00:27 That's right. 00:29 We are always so honored 00:30 to bring to you incredible talent, 00:32 ministers of music 00:33 who are going to let the Lord use them to inspire, 00:37 uplift and encourage you. 00:39 That's right, Duawne. 00:40 And we're going to hear some music from you today. 00:42 Oh, yes, yes, yes. Oh, we're gonna be blessed. 00:44 I'm looking forward to your ministry. 00:45 Well, I can't wait. 00:46 I love when God uses me to bless His people. 00:49 So don't go away. 00:50 Join us as we lift up the name of Jesus and magnify Him. 00:54 Magnify the Lord with me 00:57 Magnify Him 01:02 I'm sitting here with my co-host Duawne Starling. 01:06 And I get to sit in this chair. 01:07 Usually you're in this chair, and I'm somewhere else, 01:11 but I get to interview you now. 01:13 It's so good to have you. 01:15 Number one, as the co-host of "Magnify Him." 01:18 And number two as an artist. 01:20 You know, I was listening to you do your sound check, 01:23 and the Lord has blessed you 01:25 with such a fluid, silky instrument. 01:28 How did you avoid taking that into the world? 01:31 Why do you sing for Jesus? 01:33 You know, well, first of all I never had a desire 01:35 to take it into the world. 01:37 Raised in church, but not just raised in church, 01:41 church was raised in me. 01:43 And I developed a relationship with God very early in life. 01:47 So I knew that I would sing, 01:48 I always knew that I would sing. 01:50 All right. 01:51 And I didn't know what, you know, the venues would be, 01:53 but I knew it was not secular music. 01:56 Yes. I just never felt an urge. 01:59 You know, I never felt a desire 02:01 to be pulled in that direction at all. 02:03 And that's so unusual. I love church. 02:04 Did you listen to secular music? 02:05 Oh, yes, I did. 02:06 When my mother wasn't listening, 02:08 I listened to secular music. 02:10 I did. 02:11 I think she's watching now. 02:12 She's probably watching. 02:14 I study people. 02:15 I mean, 'cause I think there were things 02:17 that I can learn and pull from them, 02:19 like Luther Vandross 02:21 and Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin. 02:24 But at the same time I was listening 02:26 to the Brothers of Washington D.C. 02:28 I was listening to Edwin Hawkins 02:30 and Walter Hawkins. 02:31 I was listening to the Smallwood Singers, 02:34 Andrae Crouch, you know, people like that. 02:37 That's amazing, because many times 02:40 a lot of people that are as talented as you 02:42 start out in the church, 02:43 and then end up being seduced into the world. 02:46 And you're saying that 02:47 you never even had a desire for that. 02:49 No, never did. 02:50 That's amazing. Never did. 02:52 Tell us a little bit about your journey musically, 02:54 some of the things that you-- 02:55 And I know you are-- I have to tell our viewers 02:58 that you're one of the most humble people 03:00 and the love of the Lord just comes through. 03:02 But I'll say this, 03:03 I know that you sang at Ted Kennedy's birthday party. 03:07 Tell us some of the artists that you've worked with. 03:09 I've done a lot in-- 03:12 Well, I lived in Nashville for 10 1/2 years, 03:14 so I worked with artists like Kirk Franklin. 03:16 He was the very first one I started with. 03:17 I was in The Family. 03:20 "Till We Meet Again," may His peace be with you. 03:23 Yes, I love that. 03:24 I was the guy singing that, I was 19. 03:25 Wow. 03:27 And so it started there, 03:28 and I went to Daniel Winans and then Bebe & CeCe Winans 03:32 and Angie and Debbie Winans and on to Donnie McClurkin. 03:39 I did a lot of studio work. 03:40 That's kind of like how I made my living for 10 1/2 years. 03:43 I did a lot of studio work. 03:45 So I mean, even Dolly Parton. 03:46 I did, you know, I did some road work with Dolly Parton, 03:49 did the Jay Leno show a couple of times. 03:52 Artists like Fred Hayman, I did some things with him. 03:55 He's one of my favorites, too. 03:57 Yeah. Yeah. 03:58 It's a long list. 03:59 And, you know, sometimes when I was depressed 04:01 I would go to the record store 04:04 because we still had record stores. 04:06 Okay, you know, I'm dating myself, 04:07 we had record stores. 04:09 I would go to the record store and to encourage myself 04:12 I would look at all the CDs 04:14 and count how many that I was on. 04:15 Wow. 04:16 And say, you know what, you do have a gift, 04:19 and your gift will be used, 04:20 you know, whether it's in the background right now. 04:22 But I knew that I wasn't always supposed to stay there. 04:25 God always had a bigger calling, 04:27 a larger destiny for me. 04:29 And so I just-- I'm thankful and grateful 04:32 for the opportunities that I've had, 04:34 you know, supporting other artists. 04:36 And now God's giving me my own platform, 04:38 and I will use it for His glory. 04:40 Yes. Amen. 04:41 He's expanding your borders, your territory. 04:42 Yes. Stretching them. 04:44 He's stretching, He's taking you 04:46 out of your comfort zone. 04:47 Yes. 04:48 And that's-- we have such a great God. 04:50 We do. He's such a great God. 04:51 And He has greater plans for us than we could even imagine. 04:56 You know, last year this time you had no idea 04:58 that you would be co-hosting a television program. 04:59 No, not at all. 05:01 A worldwide television program. 05:02 A worldwide-- 05:04 You know, never did I think that. 05:06 You know, but that just goes to show that 05:08 my dreams are miniscule 05:11 when it comes to God's dreams for me. 05:12 Absolutely. 05:13 You know, His dreams always supersede what I dream. 05:15 Absolutely. 05:17 Jeremiah 29:11, one of my favorite verses. 05:19 For I know the plans and thoughts 05:22 that I have toward you, saith the Lord, 05:24 you know, plans to give you-- 05:25 To prosper you. 05:26 To prosper you and to give you a future 05:28 and a hope according to the NIV. 05:30 Right. A future and a hope. 05:31 You know, there is a plan specifically for you. 05:34 Exactly. And that's just so beautiful. 05:36 Another thing that I love about you 05:38 is that you are a family man. 05:40 Yes. Your family is so important. 05:42 I love the way you talk about your wife. 05:44 Tell us about your family. 05:45 Well, I have been married 10 years. 05:47 It was 10 years, 2 weeks ago as a matter of fact. 05:49 So we've been married 10 years, 05:52 we were friends for almost 11 years, platonic friends. 05:56 So, you know, every day I'm with my friend. 05:59 You know, she is my closest female friend. 06:01 And we have three daughters, 06:04 and we have a dramatic daughter, 06:07 we have a carefree daughter, and we have-- 06:11 I don't know the third one is just-- 06:13 she's got her own thing going. 06:14 I don't even know how to describe her, 06:16 but three beautiful daughters. 06:17 Oh, that's awesome. How old are they? 06:19 Six, five and three. 06:20 Hands are full. Wow, wow. 06:23 I know you love those babies with all your heart. 06:25 I sure do. 06:27 I sure do. That's so wonderful. 06:29 You know, it is so great 06:31 when you have a minister of music 06:34 who loves the Lord like Duawne Starling. 06:45 Some days I think I'm wasting my time 06:52 Trying to find peace of mind 06:58 And, oh, this world 07:02 Of broken promises 07:06 Is messing with my head 07:11 But it's temporary anyway 07:18 So, Lord, I'm counting on You 07:23 To put the order through 07:28 When You call my name 07:30 I might get carried away 07:34 In a day to another place 07:40 I'll catch a ride on a breeze 07:43 Above all the trees to another place 07:53 And sometimes I think I'm ready now 08:00 To take my final bow 08:05 But I don't want you to think 08:10 I'm giving up, no, no, no 08:13 Oh, but I'm so ready to go 08:18 I want to go where there's no despair 08:22 And the sun shines on everyone 08:30 Am I the only one dreaming of that day? 08:37 I might get carried away 08:41 In a day to another place 08:47 And I'll ride on a breeze 08:50 Above all the trees to another place 09:00 Oh, what a place to be 09:04 Where there's freedom 09:05 There's really freedom 09:10 And I can't wait 09:13 Till I see His face 09:17 That one day 09:19 I'm carried away 09:22 In a day to another place 09:28 And I'll ride on a breeze 09:30 Above all the trees to another place 09:37 Oh, a better place 09:39 I might get carried away 09:43 Away 09:48 I might get carried away 09:55 In a daze now 10:00 I might get, I might get carried away 10:10 Philippians 4:13 says, 10:12 "I can do all things through Christ 10:14 who strengthens me." 10:15 There's nothing that's impossible 10:17 when you take the hand of the Father 10:19 and never let it go. 10:39 I can do this 10:45 It can be true 10:51 I can stand up 10:57 I can make it through 11:03 I'll be all right 11:07 So I've been told 11:13 If I only take Your hand 11:18 And don't let go 11:25 I'll be stronger 11:31 Cry no longer 11:36 And I'll never wander 11:41 From Your love no more 11:48 And I'll be wiser now 11:53 Not like before 11:58 If I only take Your hand 12:04 And don't let go 12:10 I can do the one I intended 12:17 The one that You need, Lord 12:21 And I can go beyond every circumstance 12:28 When down on my knees 12:33 When I'm down on my knees 12:41 I see my way now 12:47 Now that I found 12:52 One who knows how 12:57 And He cares to show 13:03 And He'll protect me 13:07 From all that I don't know 13:14 If I only take His hand 13:20 I do believe that I can stand 13:26 If I only take His hand 13:31 I can be a better man 13:37 Lord, I'll simply take 13:42 I'll take Your hand 13:47 Please don't, don't let go 13:58 Don't let go 14:02 I'm counting on you 14:15 Magnify the Lord with me 14:18 Magnify Him 14:23 Praise the Lord. 14:24 I'm sitting here with Shirley Ann Thomas-Laurencin. 14:27 And what a delight it is to meet you. 14:30 Pleasure. Thank you for being here. 14:32 I am delighted to be with you. 14:33 When I first met you, the first thing that I noticed 14:37 was that you have a peaceful demeanor. 14:39 And then when I heard you sing, 14:42 not only is it beautiful, 14:43 but there was still that peaceful demeanor. 14:46 What is the purpose behind your music? 14:51 I believe that there is just a purpose for life 14:54 and specifically for music, 14:58 the purpose is to somehow give a message of hope. 15:05 Right. 15:06 There is something profoundly 15:11 different about music 15:15 because it reaches the soul in a way 15:21 that words alone 15:25 may not necessarily be able to accomplish. 15:29 So for me that's a purpose. 15:31 There is-- There is hope. 15:36 There is the opportunity to uplift spirits. 15:41 Yes. 15:43 I think once that is accomplished, 15:45 and we are able to point individuals to Christ 15:51 then ministry would have accomplished. 15:54 There is such power. 15:56 Yes. 15:57 Such power in the Word, 15:59 but when you couple the Word 16:02 with the music the power is expanded. 16:07 And I agree with you, 16:08 I agree with you that there are some places 16:09 that Word alone won't go. 16:12 Yeah. 16:13 And even when you don't have lyrics to a song, 16:18 a song can still minister to you. 16:19 Oh, absolutely. 16:20 Are there-- 16:22 Are there any songs that you'll be ministering today 16:24 that has that kind of power? 16:28 That same effect on you? 16:32 I think you'll agree with me that 16:34 the music must speak to you first. 16:37 Right. 16:38 And certainly I try to choose songs that-- 16:45 they've reached to me at some place 16:47 at some point in my-- in my spiritual journey. 16:51 And it has affected me so much 16:54 that I'm hoping I'm able to translate that to the listener. 17:01 And so that they, too, 17:02 can get that message, get that feeling. 17:06 So there are two songs that I'll share with you today. 17:13 One is called "New Jerusalem." 17:15 I love that. 17:18 Who's longing for home. 17:19 Yeah. 17:20 I'm absolutely looking for that day 17:23 because there is more to this, 17:28 more to this life. 17:30 It just doesn't end here. 17:32 And the message of hope 17:34 that comes with that is that 17:36 we look forward to a better place. 17:41 So I'll share that as well as a song 17:45 called "Over the Cross." 17:46 Yeah. 17:51 If it weren't for Calvary. 17:53 If it weren't for Calvary where would any of us be? 17:55 Hallelujah. 17:57 I love that God will stretch us sometimes 18:01 into the position that He wants us in. 18:03 Yes, yes. 18:04 And if we are obedient, He will lead us into venues, 18:09 such as this, that we never even imagined. 18:12 We can't get so complacent with this world though 18:14 because there is a New Jerusalem. 18:16 Absolutely. 18:17 A New Jerusalem that He's prepared 18:19 that we're all going to enjoy if we're faithful. 18:21 And that's good news. 18:23 If we're obedient. Amen. 18:24 If we're trusting Him. Yes. 18:26 If we're living for Him. Yes. 18:27 And I believe you are. 18:29 Honestly, I would love for you to listen to the voice, 18:34 to the ministry of this woman of God, 18:37 this powerful woman of God. 18:39 I know you will be blessed 18:40 as she sings "New Jerusalem." 18:56 For words could describe 19:01 The longing in my heart 19:06 For the place 19:10 God has for me 19:15 When I think of Heaven's glory 19:21 Awaiting the redeemed 19:28 All my soul within rises up 19:34 At the thought of what will be 19:41 How I long 19:44 For the New Jerusalem 19:50 Just to see my Savior's face 19:57 All my heart is in Jerusalem 20:04 My home, my resting place 20:25 I've heard that the streets are paved with gold 20:33 And the light there never fades 20:40 I've heard of treasures to behold 20:47 That words could not explain 20:52 And the praise of the saints like an ocean 21:00 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 21:07 How I long for the New Jerusalem 21:14 Just to see my Savior's face 21:21 All my heart is in Jerusalem 21:28 My home, my resting place 21:36 No more crying, and no more pain 21:44 My every tear will be wiped away 21:50 All suffering on earth will cease 21:54 Forevermore at peace 21:58 Jerusalem 22:04 Jerusalem 22:14 Jerusalem 22:16 Just to see my Savior's face 22:24 All my heart is in Jerusalem 22:30 My home, my resting place 22:37 My home, my resting place 22:52 My home 22:59 My resting place 23:14 So grateful for what Christ did on the cross 23:18 for you and for me. 23:40 My longing for love wouldn't go away 23:46 I was desperate, searching 23:51 Broken by pain 23:54 Searching for answers when nothing seemed right 24:01 Where were my answers, and what was my life? 24:09 Blinded by sin until and unless I believed 24:16 And turned my eyes 24:19 My eyes to Calvary 24:24 Oh, the cross where Jesus died 24:30 He shed His blood, gave His life for you and I 24:37 My sin erased, no longer lost 24:45 My debt was paid 24:48 I am saved 24:54 Oh, the cross 25:00 Day after day as I live my life 25:06 I find heartache and trouble 25:11 Battles to fight 25:14 When fear tried to grip me, and I feel alone 25:21 Jesus is with me 25:24 I'm not on my own 25:29 Now I can say that you in my heart I believe 25:36 My debt has been paid 25:39 Because of Calvary 25:44 Oh, the cross where Jesus died 25:52 He gave His life for you and I 25:57 My sin erased, no longer lost 26:05 My debt was paid, I am saved 26:10 Oh, the cross 26:13 Oh, the cross 26:17 Where Jesus died 26:22 He gave His life for you and I 26:27 My sin erased 26:31 No longer lost 26:36 I am saved 26:38 Oh, I am saved 26:42 Oh, the cross 26:46 Where Jesus died 26:51 He gave His life for you and I 26:57 My sin erased 27:01 No longer lost 27:07 My debt was paid 27:11 Oh, my debt was paid 27:21 Oh, the cross 27:35 Magnify Him 27:41 Duawne, that was truly a blessing, wasn't it? 27:43 Yes, it really was. 27:44 It's so great to be able to share 27:46 these artists with the world. 27:47 And I was so blessed by your ministry. 27:49 Oh, thank you. 27:51 And thank you for tuning in. 27:53 Until next time, God bless you. |
Revised 2015-04-02