This popped up on my YouTube page, so thought I’d share. 🙂
Breathe, And Be Still…
The holidays have started – for Sweet Bean, anyway. He finished up with a Sports day at his Community Homeschool day on Thursday. I think it’s the first sports day he’s ever been to – he won ribbons – excitement! 🙂 After a shaky start to the term he ended up accomplishing more than he thought he could, as well as getting a good report.
As for me, I finally got to do a couple more of my clinic practice days (I was unable to get there last time). Not only did I pass both days (while enjoying them as well), I managed the travelling, even though I had to walk from the station to the college and carry all I needed for the day. That’s the first time in a long time I’ve managed long days away from home and the strength needed to get there and back! I’ve taken it easy for the last two days…
There’s more work to be done, so I don’t get two weeks holiday. I’m feeling more confident, though.
Here’s a couple of songs I’ve been enjoying lately. Have a listen (and click through to YouTube to hear some more…)
And Then The World Changed…
An Easter Carol
(Christina Rossetti)
Spring bursts to-day,
For Christ is risen and all the earth’s at play.
Flash forth, thou Sun,
The rain is over and gone, its work is done.
Winter is past,
Sweet Spring is come at last, is come at last.
Bud, Fig and Vine,
Bud, Olive, fat with fruit and oil and wine.
Break forth this morn
In roses, thou but yesterday a Thorn.
Uplift thy head,
O pure white Lily through the Winter dead.
Beside your dams
Leap and rejoice, you merry-making Lambs.
All Herds and Flocks
Rejoice, all Beasts of thickets and of rocks.
Sing, Creatures, sing,
Angels and Men and Birds and everything.
All notes of Doves
Fill all our world: this is the time of loves.
Indeed!
I’ve just got internet back after two weeks, with nearly a week without TV, as well. We lost signals after some storms here (no landline either), and it’s taken this long to fix. On the one hand, I’ve had more time to catch up on non-internet stuff, which is nice… that’s mixed with a bit of stress over not being able to finish assessments – I can only get so far with them before needing my online resources.
One of the effects of this much time offline (apart from lots of reading! 🙂 ) is having to wade through all the accumulated emails…
I seem to have had a preponderance of posts/articles/devotionals on freedom, Wild Faith, and a bit about pain and suffering.
Something to think about…
A Vision For The Night
I should be asleep…
I’ve been trying to find a version of this hymn that I like – there’s many to choose from. It was one of my favourites when I was little, and I still love it!
“Be Thou My Vision” is from an original Irish text, 6th century, or possibly 8th century… here’s a version by Maire Brennan (Enya’s older sister), sung in (modern) Irish –
It was translated by Eleanor Hull in 1912 – this is the closest version to the one I remember singing (I remember the first line of the third verse as “Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight…” and the last verse as “High King of Heaven, O Heaven’s bright Sun, Grant me its joys after victory is won…”)
- Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
- Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
- Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
- Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
- Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
- I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
- Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
- Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
- Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
- Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
- Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
- Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
- Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
- Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
- Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
- High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
- High King of Heaven, my victory won,
- May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
- Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
- Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Here’s a more modern version, by Audrey Assad –
Be Nice!
I’ve been planning a post for a few days, but my brain is not running at full capacity at the moment. I’ll share some giggles instead… 🙂
Each morning we sit on the patio to have breakfast, and that often leads to discussions with the boys on various topics. This morning we went from Mr Bean, to physical comedy and the art of mime, and then somehow onto this sketch –
Be nice! 😀
Here’s the response, years later, of some real rappers…
Back to study…
Fork Candles
Little Bean has been watching a “Best of” Ronnie Barker DVD lately, and so has come across this classic –
He had a giggle… so I showed him this clip, from a show called Would I Lie To You?, where guests are given a card with a story to read out , and the opposing team has to decide whether it’s a truth or lie…
Enjoy! 🙂
Open The Gates
The week between Christmas and New Year tends to be a quiet week for us. Life does tend to intrude… you can’t hide away from pain and tragedy. You can still your heart and focus on God. It’s been a time to take a breath – to “reset” from the hurtling months, slowing into the year’s change. It’s odd, really. Just another day. But tomorrow marks a fresh year, so somehow it seems significant.
I was listening to some songs this morning, and felt these spoke to the past year, and walking on into the future…
The gates of 2017 are about to open…
Let the King of Glory enter into your year!
While finding those, I also found this. It’s an old song, but still good! I love finding new songs, and have listened to some great ones over Christmas. Sometimes, the old favourites give a bit more comfort.
Lift up your head!
Tomorrow is a new day…
1000 Fields of Roses 