Nearer My God to Thee for 9 Cellos

Hallelujah!

Support a young musician....

Mike Rood: jazz guitarist. He is amazing! Check out his music here: http://mikerood.com/fr_home.cfm And then, order a copy of his new CD.

An album I am looking forward to...

Beethoven's 5th, Salsa style...

Which just goes to show you, Gentle Reader, that excellent music transcends culture and style...



HT: CB

Lord Jesus, comfort me...

HT: TC

Kissing on a Sunday...

Found this sweet love song on Pandora this afternoon.

Sunday by Bebo Norman

Day is fading, but baby, I don't mind
'Cause sunlight is dancing in your eyes
And time is frozen but somehow flying by
Here with your hand holding mine

It just feels right kissing on a Sunday
I'll hold you tight as if it were the last day
With all my might, I will keep the world away
It just feels right kissing you on a Sunday

Time is racing to the sound of my heart beating
Can the dreaming escape this life
Unfair, maybe, but know that I'm not leaving
Right now, baby, life is kind

Make this moment last for a lifetime
Don't let it slip away
Play it over and over like your favorite song
And we'll fit forever in a day

A glorious good morning

Enjoy this fun video, Gentle Reader, and rejoice this morning!

Music: the universal language

(Thanks to DW and to DL for pointing it out)

Free Friday fling

Nathan Clark George is a wonderful musician, and a godly man. He and his homeschooling family travel around ministering to many. There is a free give-away of his newest DVD here. And while you're at it, check out this website and its sister, My Audio School.

Sabbath Sentiments

The Gospel Song by Drew Jones and Bob Kauflin

Holy God, in love, became
Perfect Man to bear my blame
On the cross He took my sin
By His death I live again

Getting a Handel on Haydn...

I stole this amusing title from an interesting article here. You see, this year is the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel, and the 200th anniversary of the death of Haydn, so you are likely to see these great composers popping up everywhere.



Of course George Frideric Handel (above) is the composer of the oratorio, The Messiah. There are a couple of interesting recent posts about him here and here; the first has musical examples and an audio piece from NPR.


And Papa Haydn, as he was known, was an amazing composer as well. Get a handle on Haydn at the link above, along with links to interesting Haydn events, or you can Haydn-go-seek at MacLeans here.

Outside my comfort zone

Next Sunday, on Easter, I am going to do something I have not done in over a year: sing a solo for special music at church. Now I have been leading music, and before last spring I was singing on a regular basis for more than 20 years. But in the last year I have not sung at all. And this time feels a bit outside of my comfort zone. Why? During the spring and summer, during two surgeries and radiation therapy, I didn't feel up to much singing or being in the spotlight. And since my third surgery last fall, the mediastinoscopy that meant a tube was inserted and run along my esophagus, my voice has been unpredictable and I can't count on it. Add to that the fact that the drug I take has some side-effects that are detrimental to the voice, and I felt pretty done in.

But this week, the pastor sent out a request for some help with music for Easter. And the thing that occurred to me is that not to offer would make me a hypocrite. For years, I have preached at others regarding the fact that music in worship is an offering, not a performance. One needn't be perfect, just obedient and willing. And here I was, saying "Oh, my voice is not what it used to be: it can crack without warning, so I guess God doesn't want me helping out any more." I felt very convicted of my own double standard: one when it makes other people uncomfortable, and another when it makes me uncomfortable!

So, I will be singing during the prelude time, as we prepare to begin worship. I will be offering an amazing song arranged by Bob Kauflin, with original text by John Newton, called The Look. The words are reprinted below. Off I will go into the space outside my comfort zone, Lord willing, seeking to be obedient and use the gifts God has given me. Please pray for me, Gentle Readers!

The Look By John Newton (original lyrics), Bob Kauflin (alternate and new lyrics and Music)

I saw one hanging on a tree
In agony and blood
Who fixed his loving eyes on me
As near his cross I stood
And never till my dying breath
Will I forget that look
It seemed to charge me with his death
Though not a word he spoke

My conscience felt and owned the guilt
And plunged me in despair
I saw my sins his blood had spilt
And helped to nail him there
But with a second look he said
“I freely all forgive
This blood is for your ransom paid
I died that you might live”

Forever etched upon my mind
Is the look of Him who died
The Lamb I crucified
And now my life will sing the praise
Of pure atoning grace
That looked on me and
Gladly took my place

Thus while his death my sin displays
For all the world to view
Such is the mystery of grace
It seals my pardon too
With pleasing grief and mournful joy
My spirit now is filled
That I should such a life destroy
Yet live by Him I killed

© 2001 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Being cut down to size

That's how I feel lately: God is cutting me down to size, reminding me of just who I am before him. I feel like I imagine Ustace felt in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader when Aslan had to painfully cut and scrape through the rough dragon hide he'd grown in order to expose the real boy underneath. It hurt, and it was not any fun, but even as the pain was taking place, there was comfort that it had to happen, and it would be good in the end because while Aslan was not tame, he was very good.

The wonderful words to this song by Jason Gray, from his album All the Lovely Losers, express it quite well:

The Cut by Jason Gray

Under your blade
As you carve out Your image in me
You cut to the core
But still you want more
As you carefully, tenderly, ravage me.

As you peel back the bark
And tear me apart
To get to the heart
Of what matters most
I'm cold and I'm scared
As Your love lays me bare
But in the shaping of my soul
The cut makes me whole.

Mingling here
Your blood and my tears
As You whittle my kingdom away
But I see that You suffer, too
In making me new
For the blade of love cuts both ways.

Hidden inside the grain
Beneath the pride and the pain
Is the shape of the man
You meant me to be
Who with every cut now you try to set free.

With everyday
You strip more away
But in the shaping of my soul
The blade must take its toll
So God give me the strength to know
That the cut makes me whole.

Remembering the Truth

One of the challenges during any time of trial is remembering the Truth when your mind and emotions are so distracted. The distraction comes from pain, worry, information overload, the love and care of others, feeling sorry for ones self, and a myriad of other temptations. And I find I am prone to all of these! But when I focus on these things and forget the truth, then I am jsut set adrift in a self-centered abyss. It's an ugly place.

So, what do I do to keep focused on the truth? Of course, I don;t do so perfectly. I have plenty of moments of being overwhelmed, but if I stay there I would despair. So here are some of the things that the great Christians of old, and the Scriptures, have taught me to do. These are my weapons in the day-to-day battle that goes on in my heart and mind when the enemy wants to drive me to despair...

• Dave and I memorize Scripture together. This week's verse is Isaiah 40: 29-31. Last week it was 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10. And the week before that, Romans 8:29-31. God's Word is like a balm.
• We also pray together and read together: good reading, like Spurgeon's Morning and Evening (which really seems like he wrote it for me, not 150+ years ago!) And we pray and read separately, too.
  
• I rehearse God's promises before His throne. "Lord, you promise to be sufficient for me, be so!"
• I try to think of others and send cards or e-mails, or pray for them. I recall that this is really not the "Cosmos of Chris" even though I'd sometimes like it to be, and see how the Lord would use me even in this place to minister to others.
• I listen to wonderful, uplifting music, watch cheerful movies, and watch my flowers grow. These are healthy distractions to keep me from wallowing.
• I do the tasks at hand (maybe not as fast or efficiently as I'd like). I try to keep moving on what God has called me to put my hand to.
  

The "sound track" to this illness is a CD I got from Sovereign Grace Music shortly before my diagnosis called "Come Weary Saints". The music is wonderful, in the contemporary worship style. But the words are deep and true. I have it on my mP3 player, my computer and in the car, and find myself putting it on when I need to take my thoughts captive. I concentrate on the truth in the wonderful words, and force my mind to dwell on the Truth. What a lovely weapon to have in my arsenal for this battle!

One of the songs I have been listening to frequently lately is below. Everyone should have this CD to encourage them!

As Long as You Are Glorified by Mark Altrogge

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Sacred Seduction

My dear friend Randy sent me the lyrics and a rough recording of a new song by his son, Seth and daughter-in-love Amy. The lyrics are below. What an encouragement to be sold out for Christ! It encouraged me, and I hope it will encourage you as well.

Sacred Seduction

Words and Music by Seth and Amy Greenwald, Andrea Rowe, and Tom Yu

5/2/2008

They tell me all the things, things I should do

If I want to grow closer to you

But I can’t find the strength

In my brokenness and heartache

To do this on my own

All that I can see, Is you drawing me into your arms

Wiping clean my tears of fear and alarm

Who can resist, your sacred seduction

Slowly breaking down my defenses

Take me unto you

Cherish me forever

To have and to hold

Rejoicing over me with singing

(Repeat)

They tell me all the things, things I should do

If I want to grow closer to you

My strivings are stilled

When you remind me

I am pursued by you

Take me unto you

Cherish me forever

To have and to hold

Rejoicing over me with singing

(Repeat 3X)

God's better plan

I have prayed and prayed that the Lord would allow my lymph nodes to be clear of cancer. And while we don't have a confirmed diagnosis on the nodes in my chest and abdomen and pelvis, they are active with something bad. While this came as a blow, I knew it was God's answer to my prayers. I have such a strong sense that God is calling me to know Him better, walk with Him farther than I think I can, gain more intimacy with and trust in Him. While His answer to my prayers is difficult, and not what I wanted and hoped for, I know it is good, and it is better for me than my own plans. My own plans would trust God a safe distance, just to the very end of my finger tips. But He won't settle for that. It's all of me, without reserve, no grasping fingers struggling for control, that He insists on. So, here I am for our next great adventure, Lord. Be sufficient for me.

Here is my song for the day:

Glorious by Mark Altrogge

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Miscellany

This morning was one of those mornings that started early... after a peaceful sleep from about 11:00 until 4:15, despite grumblies in my tummy after my barium snacks yesterday afternoon. But at 4:15 I was wide awake, an the day was starting despite my best attempts to return to sleep. So I prayed, I cuddled with my husband, and then rose to listen to God's word and start the day...

Here are a few things I've been collecting that have been interesting or encouraging to me lately. Hope you find them so as well...

• Stephen Altrogge offers and excellent, brief audio clip of John piper talking about the benefits of suffering here. I can only say "Amen!"
• Dr. John Currid offers this encouragement for not losing heart here.
• Tim Challies offers a helpful reflection on our job as parents and our response as children here. (And his blog today on our inherrent sinfulness is excellent as well!)
  
• Dallas Theological Seminary has an online rare books collection that looks worth knowing about here.
• And lastly, just for fun, Switchfoot has just released a music video of a song done for the soundtrack of the upcoming Narnia movie, Prince Caspian, here. Since we are both Switchfoot and Narnia fans, this was fun to watch (thanks to T.C. for the link.)
  

The Lord's Prayer

It's pretty amazing what you tell about the performance model by watching this sweet little girl! :-) Hope it makes you smile, as it did me! (Thanks to T.B. for the link)

Hide away in the love of Jesus

Hide Away in the Love of Jesus

Come weary saints, though tired and weak
Hide away in the love of Jesus
Your strength will return by His quiet streams
Hide away in the love of Jesus

Come wand’ring souls, and find your home
Hide away in the love of Jesus
He offers the rest that you yearn to know
Hide away in the love of Jesus

Hear Him calling your name
See the depths of His love
in the wounds of His grace
Hide away

Come guilty ones, weighed down with sin
Hide away in the love of Jesus
The freedom you long for is found in Him
Hide away in the love of Jesus

Hear Him calling your name
See the depths of His love
in the wounds of His grace
Hide away

Come hopeless hearts, do not despair
Hide away in the love of Jesus
For ten thousand joys await you there
Hide away in the love of Jesus

Written By Steve and Vikki Cook