What song does my heart sing?

A subject that I like to discuss is well stated in the blog below.  Personally, I have swung between all contemporary to no contemporary music just because of my personal preferences and lack of maturity.  At the end of the day, the music style is really a moot point - the lyrics and style should be Christ-focused, the congregation be unified and uplifted as they truly worship and visitors be drawn to the love, joy and unity of the body of Christ,  I have seen those truths clearly in both off-tune versus professional quality performances, the most contemporary rap/hip-hop versus southern-gospel banjo hymns, acappella versus full orchestra, and at the end of the day - it's all about the heart(s).

http://worshipleader.com/culture/why-should-i-play-music-that-old-people-like/

Old meets New

The older I get the more I find myself bursting out into an old gospel hymn that we sang when I was young. The same kind of song that for years I "scorned" as backward, overly emotional, embarrassingly old-fashioned. Maybe that's what happens as you get older, but for me it's more than just aging. Some of those old hymns that are ingrained in my brain cells have some absolutely fantastic Biblical truths, some uplifting words to make me shift my eyes from self to Savior, some depth of faith in tune that springs from pain and sorrow that has driven me back to the Loving Arms of our Creator. Yes, I also enjoy some of the newest praise, contemporary, celtic and other Christian songs, too, but it always comes back to which ones speak to the amazing, unspeakable, unfathomable love of Christ for one such as me. For He is the Lord of all, including songs, and especially the Lord of the heart from which all music spews.

One of These Days

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

(Yes, Tracy, this is one that I did, with the help of my children. They loved helping me match the pictures and sound and we used it as a "computer lesson" - that was my excuse, anyway!! Most of the pictures are ones that my two oldest sons took but there are a few we got from common sources.)

Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

I had not heard this song in years until the day of my niece's funeral. Since then I haven't been able to get it out of my head (or wanted to!). If you don't know this old song, it is a very comforting one.

Oh, the deep, deep love.
The love of Jesus;
The deep, deep love.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean,
In its fullness over me;
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward,
To my glorious rest above.

Oh the deep, deep love.
The love of Jesus;
The deep, deep love.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of ev'ry love the best!
Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
Tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee.

Oh the deep, deep love.
The love of Jesus;
The deep, deep love.


(This song is one of my favorites, especially sung by The Haven Quartet - to listen, go HERE and click on the song title.)

A laugh a day....

This year I have been trying to incorporate a little exposure to classical artists and composers. We "celebrate" their birthdays by looking at and discussing their art or listening to their music and talking about the time period in which they lived. Today is one of my favorites - Vivaldi. We talked a little about when he lived, I showed them a picture of the composer and then we listened to the "Four Seasons" on CD while they did their art, penmanship, spelling and ate lunch. After the CD had finished I asked the youngest, "Do you remember the name of the man who wrote that music?" He hesitated then said "It's the "Four Seasons" music I know but I can't remember his name. Was it "Old Baldy"?" Well, I don't think we will forget his name for a long time!! May you have a good laugh today, too!

A Precious Old Hymn

SONG 12. The Advantages of early Religion. (by Isaac Watts)

Happy the child whose tender years
Receive instructions well:
Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.

When we devote our youth to God,
'Tis pleasing in his eyes;
A flow'r, when offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice.

'Tis easier work, if we begin
To fear the Lord betimes;
While sinners that grow old in sin,
Are harden'd in their crimes.

'Twill save us from a thousand snares,
To mind religion young;
Grace will preserve our following years,
And make our virtue strong.

To Thee, Almighty God to Thee,
Our childhood we resign;
'Twill please us to look back and see
That our whole lives were thine.

Let the sweet work of pray'r and praise
Employ my youngest breath;
Thus I'm prepar'd for longer days,
Or fit for early death.

Wells Family at State Fair

The Wells Family

Saturday night we got to see our favorite family musicians - The Wells Family. They just keep getting better (if that's possible!) and we love the genuine friendliness they have. We share good friends (some pictured in my earlier blog "Summer Fun - Friends") who told us about them and their music. We have learned the words to most of the songs on their CDs but bought a new one to enjoy. They will be performing again in this area of NC next Sunday and then at the NC State Fair in October. Go listen to their music AND their message. They turn down a lot of "lucrative" offers from Nashville and Hollywood to keep on doing what the Lord has called them to do and to be a witness to His grace, not to benefit from the gifts He has given them - remarkable in this day and age! Truly a blessing from the Lord is on this family! Listen to a clip from my 8yo's favorite HERE, my 5yo's favorite HERE and my fav HERE!