Friday, January 23, 2015
"Song of Liberty"
Saturday, September 6, 2014
My song, "My Church"
I just recorded a piece I wrote some years back, "My Church." Please have a listen. Blessings.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
"The Christ Child"
The Christmas song for children's chorus that I spoke of in my last post. So happy to share it now with you!
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Christ Child
Well,...
It's been awhile. Not that I haven't visited myself here, haha. And not that I haven't been singing and songwriting or playing the piano... Just nothing, really, to report- as 'new' exactly, tactically... necessarily.
But, I would like to share that I've been having a nice time of it helping out with the children's choir by accompanying rehearsals. Very much a double blessing for me, too, as my eleven year old is in the chorus.
I want to share, too, that the children's choir at church is going to be singing a choral piece I wrote some years ago for Christmas Eve and a couple of community outreaches. The song is, The Christ Child. I hope to post something so that you may hear it sometime. Within the song is an invitation to accept Jesus, the reason we celebrate this season, into your heart:
Enjoy the holiday season and Merry Christmas!
It's been awhile. Not that I haven't visited myself here, haha. And not that I haven't been singing and songwriting or playing the piano... Just nothing, really, to report- as 'new' exactly, tactically... necessarily.
But, I would like to share that I've been having a nice time of it helping out with the children's choir by accompanying rehearsals. Very much a double blessing for me, too, as my eleven year old is in the chorus.
I want to share, too, that the children's choir at church is going to be singing a choral piece I wrote some years ago for Christmas Eve and a couple of community outreaches. The song is, The Christ Child. I hope to post something so that you may hear it sometime. Within the song is an invitation to accept Jesus, the reason we celebrate this season, into your heart:
"The gift is free and simple, it's all been done for you.
Now, ask the Lord Jesus to be the Lord of you.
The holiday soon over, the days continue on,
but with the baby Jesus, God gives me a new song...
...He's knocking,
invite Him
to live in your heart."
...He's knocking,
invite Him
to live in your heart."
Enjoy the holiday season and Merry Christmas!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
My birthday...
My 44th birthday marks the age my mother was when she had me. We spent the evening at my mother and stepdad’s church helping to provide a bit of music for an hymn-sing. It was a really nice time. Especially just to be together. Phoebe played her violin, too—“Jesus Loves Me” and that was a nice contribution. The last time we were there, my mom and stepdad sang a duet… Her first time, and at 88! That’s pretty good. Never too old to start something new.
Today, let’s all sing an hymn of praise to God, or better yet, just offer up a new song to Him.
Him, our audience of One.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Amazing Grace
I was blessed last week. My aunt had asked me to sing at her funeral. She'd been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last spring. It was a trying journey for her and she faced it with courage, dignity, and most importantly, her faith in Christ Jesus. What a witness of God's grace for the moment. Powerful testimony.
Truly, I didn't know how to sing at a funeral of someone I knew personally and loved; at my bro's last year, I'd only chimed a song from the lobby wanting to contribute and playing accompaniment was easy. Now, I'd have to really not get choked up and/or nervous. I'm not a solo performer - at least not the well-composed kind. But this sort of thing isn't a performance, anyway. It is a tribute to God and in honour and memory of the person's life one is celebrating.
And in this case, someone very near and dear to all of us who certainly knew the Lord and was ready to be with Him. Her family has been through a terrible trial in observing her loss, and also the loss of their husband/father and father/grandfather, both to cancer, as well. Incredible trial, pain, loss... incredible, telling journey of acceptance, grace and faith. This was a day of releasing the one who was ready to be at home. And a day to celebrate her life.
I hadn't known prior what Aunt Alberta wanted sung that day. Learning it was "On Eagle's Wings" was a relief, although the music wasn't anywhere to be found. I knew she had asked her granddaughter to sing as well, if she felt she was up to it. Unfortunately, she was too saddened. Her grandma had spoken often of how well she'd sung "Amazing Grace" in church. So, Joe and I sang a new rendition of "Amazing Grace" that I'd worked up the couple days before the funeral. It turned out to be an upbeat, optimistic sounding and feeling way to do an old, lovely hymn. I added a few lyrics and was thankful that this public domain hymn was available to be reworked.
I was blessed that several friends were praying for our morning journey out of town. God met me there and helped get us through the numbers without tears or lumps in our throats. We could really enjoy the knowledge that this kind lady is with our Lord. We could truly be thankful. It was an unseasonably warm, sunny day. And a great blessing to visit with so many cousins. It's so great, too, knowing that so many know the Lord.
I want to get into the studio to record this piece, but Joe is unemployed currently and there isn't a way right now to do anything but "jam and bread". I am so thankful, however, that despite the loss of our van to the accident that Phoebe and I were in (thank God that we weren't seriously hurt!) that we can rejoice in life and current health. We are rejoicing in our Saviour. And,...
Mom was on her way home after being with Aunt Alberta the night she died. She must have been out of it and very tired having said her last goodbye and turned the wrong way on the highway in the darkness going home... the direction of oncoming traffic. She realized this, thankfully, before any collision, and did a U-turn. An officer pulled her over and remarked that she has an excellent driving record... "and I like your bumper sticker!" He let her go on home without a warning. I couldn't believe the mercy. Thank God. It drove the point home to me that He has already numbered our days. It just wasn't her time that night. I shared this with my sister and brother-in-law when we were over there collecting Halloween treats and Phoebe's birthday present. They shared that Mike's father had died going the wrong way into oncoming traffic on the very same highway years ago. So ironic.
I rest in thanfulness tonight. Help me remain thankful. In all things. Tonight, Joe and I were singing songs together and we ran through "Amazing Grace" and then I realized that it sounds an awful lot like my aunt's name, "Alberta Grace"...
Truly, I didn't know how to sing at a funeral of someone I knew personally and loved; at my bro's last year, I'd only chimed a song from the lobby wanting to contribute and playing accompaniment was easy. Now, I'd have to really not get choked up and/or nervous. I'm not a solo performer - at least not the well-composed kind. But this sort of thing isn't a performance, anyway. It is a tribute to God and in honour and memory of the person's life one is celebrating.
And in this case, someone very near and dear to all of us who certainly knew the Lord and was ready to be with Him. Her family has been through a terrible trial in observing her loss, and also the loss of their husband/father and father/grandfather, both to cancer, as well. Incredible trial, pain, loss... incredible, telling journey of acceptance, grace and faith. This was a day of releasing the one who was ready to be at home. And a day to celebrate her life.
I hadn't known prior what Aunt Alberta wanted sung that day. Learning it was "On Eagle's Wings" was a relief, although the music wasn't anywhere to be found. I knew she had asked her granddaughter to sing as well, if she felt she was up to it. Unfortunately, she was too saddened. Her grandma had spoken often of how well she'd sung "Amazing Grace" in church. So, Joe and I sang a new rendition of "Amazing Grace" that I'd worked up the couple days before the funeral. It turned out to be an upbeat, optimistic sounding and feeling way to do an old, lovely hymn. I added a few lyrics and was thankful that this public domain hymn was available to be reworked.
I was blessed that several friends were praying for our morning journey out of town. God met me there and helped get us through the numbers without tears or lumps in our throats. We could really enjoy the knowledge that this kind lady is with our Lord. We could truly be thankful. It was an unseasonably warm, sunny day. And a great blessing to visit with so many cousins. It's so great, too, knowing that so many know the Lord.
I want to get into the studio to record this piece, but Joe is unemployed currently and there isn't a way right now to do anything but "jam and bread". I am so thankful, however, that despite the loss of our van to the accident that Phoebe and I were in (thank God that we weren't seriously hurt!) that we can rejoice in life and current health. We are rejoicing in our Saviour. And,...
Mom was on her way home after being with Aunt Alberta the night she died. She must have been out of it and very tired having said her last goodbye and turned the wrong way on the highway in the darkness going home... the direction of oncoming traffic. She realized this, thankfully, before any collision, and did a U-turn. An officer pulled her over and remarked that she has an excellent driving record... "and I like your bumper sticker!" He let her go on home without a warning. I couldn't believe the mercy. Thank God. It drove the point home to me that He has already numbered our days. It just wasn't her time that night. I shared this with my sister and brother-in-law when we were over there collecting Halloween treats and Phoebe's birthday present. They shared that Mike's father had died going the wrong way into oncoming traffic on the very same highway years ago. So ironic.
I rest in thanfulness tonight. Help me remain thankful. In all things. Tonight, Joe and I were singing songs together and we ran through "Amazing Grace" and then I realized that it sounds an awful lot like my aunt's name, "Alberta Grace"...
Thursday, August 7, 2008
at the bookstore...
I was talking with my daughter crossing over the 35W bridge to the program, south to Burnsville on August 1, 2008, remarking that this was about the time the bridge went down... Ironically I had scheduled the program for this Friday, August 1, not realizing until the day before that it would be the one year anniversary of the bridge collapse.
I’ll recount as best I can… Last year it was in rush hour that I'd been arguing with my husband on the phone, I was overwhelmed, angry and upset... feeling great pain I felt like fleeing. I was compelled to run to one of two places, I should have gone to the throne. The day before Sophie and I saw the flick "Hairspray" and debated on a favorite Italian place in Dinkytown (taking us over the bridge) or Mex... it was around 5:30 the day before, July 31, 2007. We hemmed and hawed and chose Mex. Pepitos to be exact. Well thoughts of Italian were in my head the next day and it was around the same time, a little after 5:30 p.m.. Argue argue, phone down. Turned off. I'd had enough. It was a war in my head. Take time to yourself, go have dinner, you don't need to deal with this! -vs.- Doing what I knew I needed to do, go to Cub, buy the ingredients for the soup you need to make for Sharon (my sister) and do it now! Like two angels on each shoulder: Time to yourself... soup… time for YOU… soup! And so the war went on. I don't know what in the world (angels, the Holy Spirit) compelled me to go to Cub and follow through with the soup, but I did. Only to return to my vehicle at around 6:30 with loads of frantic messages from my daughter and from Joe. "Call immediately,..." "This is urgent,..." "Call now!"... and so it went. I couldn't figure it out. Then, the sound in my daughter's voice on the machine resonated panic and determined unsurrender. I can't remember it all and I don't frankly wish to identify the emotions, presently, but the long and short of it is mercy. I got home and my son was there to meet me at the door, “Mom, I thought you were on the bridge,” he said with a look of deepfelt sorrow, he hadn’t recovered yet, even though he knew I was alright, right there with him.
On the day also where darkness fell on some of China with the solar eclipse, the lights were coming on again for me. Here we were crossing over a bridge southbound on 35. Just north on the other side of town was the bridge site where I might have been the previous year, had I not been obedient to my plans to serve my sister, I might have been very near the bridge, if not on it. God in His sovereignty overrules our near disasters many times, and had I gone it is very plausible I wouldn't have been on the bridge at that moment. But I certainly would have been stricken with a starker reality: the trauma induced by disobedience and its aftermath. Simply realizing my notions to not go home were ominous enough to instill a deep sobering inside of me.
This year, at this time, at this place... I was grateful. Resting in the mysterious, loving arms of my Saviour and about to go sing for Him. He also had been telling me for a long time to “sing a new song.” That message I heeded. I thank Him for that, for His protection and saving me from myself, essentially. Sometimes we simply succomb to the temptation to give up, to not see something through, when we actually need to put forth the effort and simply entrust ourselves to God. When a break is necessary, our flesh is very weak. Seeking escape in anything other than God, Satan will be sure to use that opportunity to pull us down and into danger. His goal is always to destroy, steal and kill.
And I shall rejoice that His mercies are new every morning. When He speaks, O, God, make us listen! Even when we see only in part.
Give us ears that hear and eyes that see. And cause us to obey Your voice.
I’ll recount as best I can… Last year it was in rush hour that I'd been arguing with my husband on the phone, I was overwhelmed, angry and upset... feeling great pain I felt like fleeing. I was compelled to run to one of two places, I should have gone to the throne. The day before Sophie and I saw the flick "Hairspray" and debated on a favorite Italian place in Dinkytown (taking us over the bridge) or Mex... it was around 5:30 the day before, July 31, 2007. We hemmed and hawed and chose Mex. Pepitos to be exact. Well thoughts of Italian were in my head the next day and it was around the same time, a little after 5:30 p.m.. Argue argue, phone down. Turned off. I'd had enough. It was a war in my head. Take time to yourself, go have dinner, you don't need to deal with this! -vs.- Doing what I knew I needed to do, go to Cub, buy the ingredients for the soup you need to make for Sharon (my sister) and do it now! Like two angels on each shoulder: Time to yourself... soup… time for YOU… soup! And so the war went on. I don't know what in the world (angels, the Holy Spirit) compelled me to go to Cub and follow through with the soup, but I did. Only to return to my vehicle at around 6:30 with loads of frantic messages from my daughter and from Joe. "Call immediately,..." "This is urgent,..." "Call now!"... and so it went. I couldn't figure it out. Then, the sound in my daughter's voice on the machine resonated panic and determined unsurrender. I can't remember it all and I don't frankly wish to identify the emotions, presently, but the long and short of it is mercy. I got home and my son was there to meet me at the door, “Mom, I thought you were on the bridge,” he said with a look of deepfelt sorrow, he hadn’t recovered yet, even though he knew I was alright, right there with him.
On the day also where darkness fell on some of China with the solar eclipse, the lights were coming on again for me. Here we were crossing over a bridge southbound on 35. Just north on the other side of town was the bridge site where I might have been the previous year, had I not been obedient to my plans to serve my sister, I might have been very near the bridge, if not on it. God in His sovereignty overrules our near disasters many times, and had I gone it is very plausible I wouldn't have been on the bridge at that moment. But I certainly would have been stricken with a starker reality: the trauma induced by disobedience and its aftermath. Simply realizing my notions to not go home were ominous enough to instill a deep sobering inside of me.
This year, at this time, at this place... I was grateful. Resting in the mysterious, loving arms of my Saviour and about to go sing for Him. He also had been telling me for a long time to “sing a new song.” That message I heeded. I thank Him for that, for His protection and saving me from myself, essentially. Sometimes we simply succomb to the temptation to give up, to not see something through, when we actually need to put forth the effort and simply entrust ourselves to God. When a break is necessary, our flesh is very weak. Seeking escape in anything other than God, Satan will be sure to use that opportunity to pull us down and into danger. His goal is always to destroy, steal and kill.
And I shall rejoice that His mercies are new every morning. When He speaks, O, God, make us listen! Even when we see only in part.
Give us ears that hear and eyes that see. And cause us to obey Your voice.
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