Love's like a hurricane

Last Sunday at church we were having worship time and started singing a song that--until quite recently--I hadn't adored as a do now. But the last several times I have sung it, I have found myself deeply touched by this love song. Literally, it is a love song. A ballad about My King's great love for me, and it gets me. I get it. Whatever the case, it's beautiful, and if you don't know it, you need to listen to it and remedy that right now.

.

He is jealous for me.

Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me.

Chorus:

Oh, how He loves us 

Oh, Oh,

How He loves us,

How He loves us, Oh.

He is jealous for me.

Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me.

Chorus again

And we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes.

If His love is an ocean, we're all sinking.

And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets 

When I think about the way

That He loves us,

Oh, how He loves us

Oh how He loves us,

Yeah, He loves us....

Happy Valentine's Day, Everybody!

Let Me Call you Sweetheart?

....that is one love-song I absolutely despise. I mean, really. Ew. But I have to admit that I have an affinity for love songs in general. The other night, Sarah and I were sitting together at the computer helping a friend compile favorite songs for her trip to NYC! :) I was laughing over how many of the songs I suggested would classify as love songs. Haha

Though I'm a romantic, I don't go in for all the sappy, sad love-songs, nor the cheesy ones. Broadway and Vintage music have my numbers, as do Michael Buble and several country stars. :D  What are some of my favorites?

"Beyond the Sea" by Matt Belsante

This song is such a loved one it made it into a large part in my latest novel.. ^.^

"I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz

Such a sweet song. I love the dedication. :)

"Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait

One of the cutest little songs ever.

"Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Buble and "Everything"

Two of the most adorable songs from one of the best modern-vintage singers.

"The Way You Look Tonight" by good old Frank Sinatra

"Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra (again)

"Coffee in the Morning and Kisses at Night" by Dale Evans

This song just makes me so happy and cozy. ^.^

"Why Don't We Just Dance" by Josh Turner

"Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner

(A favorite from the very first moment I heard his astonishingly deep voice. :D)

"The Lights of Old Santa Fe" by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Another precious one by my favorite cowboy-couple

"Sweet Afton" by Nickle Creek

(YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A MONTAGE OF LADY MARY AND MATTHEW CRAWLEY! <3) 

"De-Lovely" from Anything Goes by Collin Donnell and Laura Osnes

(This couple is way too cute for their own good.)

There are more. There are so many more, because the world is just chock-full of good, cheery, sweet love songs. But these are the ones I will give you, and for further news, check out Meghan's post of her own favorites! :)

"children drop your chains and sing"

A benefit of having a brother and cousin (who are rather on the up-and-up when it comes to Christian contemporary music) is they keep you well-informed on the best songs out there. So when Daniel bought Tenth Avenue North's The Struggle c.d., I had high high hopes.

 Mike Donahey's music blesses me more and more the better I get to know it. This c.d. is full of wonderful songs, but one in particular I have taken as my catch-phrase for 2013...

"The Struggle"

"There's a wreckage, there's a fire

There's a weakness in my love

There's a hunger I can't control.

Lord I falter, and I fall down 

Then I hold onto the chains You broke

When You came down and saved my soul.

Save my soul."

This verse is my heart's cry when I'm hurting...it was David's heart's cry in the Psalms, and I think it is the prayer of every Christian at times. (And as a purely aesthetic thing, I love the play on S.O.S. "save our ship" turned to "Save my soul") This verse just pins those moments of temptation and weakness and mourning. Then comes the chorus:

"Hallelujah!

We are free to struggle,

We're not struggling to be free.

Your blood bought and makes us children

So children drop your chains and sing."

So profound. So beautiful. "We are free to struggle. We're not struggling to be free." When I first heard this song I got chills...and it's happened every time since. God's love for me. His passion and longing for His wandering people to repent and come home to His arms.// I love how the author of this song pegged the difference grace makes: as Christians we are free to struggle--the battle and war against and wrestle temptations. But we're not in bondage. We're not struggling to be free.

"So I look. Do I still fail?

Do I withold? Do I give into temptations?

On my own I am bankrupt

I will trust You. I will take You at Your word.

You promise."

Then the chorus again. A cry for the fulfillment of this promise from Jesus...and the piercing knowledge that He will give it. This promise, this oath, this glorious, incomprehensible grace. 

"Hallelujah, death is overcome

And we are breathing.

Hallelujah our stone hearts become flesh,

a flesh that's beating.

Hallelujah chains have been undone

and we are singing.

Hallelujah the fire has begun.

Can you feel it?"

The victory in this verse reminds me so of that passage in Romans: (8:38-39) 

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord."

"Hallelujah!

We are free to struggle,

We're not struggling to be free.

Your blood bought and makes us children

So children drop your chains and sing."

My life as a musical :)

I have had this idea (and have been longing to do it) for ages. So welcome to a Musical of my Life. This is a post full of songs (broadway, movie, etc.) describing my life for the past month or so. :) Ready?

^ That referenced much of what I do, not the fact that I don't believe my life has begun. :)

And because the weather has been so absolutely gorgeous this past week I've been humming:

Change "greenbeans" to "weed-things" and you'll about have it. :P We've done a deal of delving out our plants from the carpet of weeds that have quickly overtaken the garden. :D

Daniel & Abigail (and me being dramatic in the background... ;)

And so, because like Eponine, I have no one of my own, Abigail has given me this advice... ;)

But it didn't seem to be working, so she thought she'd give me another tip:

But it was all rather exhausting, so I decided to go the easier way and just sing to him before going off to get my beauty-sleep.

In other news, there's been a deal of this: (because of sailing ships.)

And, of course, anywhere and everywhere I go, you'll have a bit of trouble getting my attention because likely I'll be...

In short, this last song pretty much perfectly sums up the emotions and events of the past month or so. :)

I hope you all enjoyed this post! I had fun making it. :)

Holdin' out for a Hero ;)

A friend recently emailed me and in the email spoke of her great admiration and respect and love for her "guy" and the great influence he'd had even in brief meetings with some of her acquaintances. How even non-Christians were touched and impressed with his character. At the end of this adoring ramble she said, "Wait for such a man, Rachel!" :D

Of course my brain-that-loves-to-compare matched the situation up to song-lyrics and I soon caught hold of a song from the end of Shrek 2. (no, haven't seen this movie and I definitely can't recommend it) And it made me laugh so much that I knew I had to share it with you girls. "Holding out for a Hero"...here are the words! (and of course I'm not waiting for a god--you know that.)

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night i toss and i turn and i dream of what I need

(Chorus)
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life(larger than life)

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood(like a fire in my blood x4)

hero

i need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
and he's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

hero

and He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
i need a hero

*smile* Ahhh...gotta love soundtracks and perfectly-suited songs, dontcha? :)

The cold-blooded murder of the English Tongue. :)

This is a song just because...just because I like it...and just because we all butcher English with a frightening frequency...just because you know you want to laugh. :)

Higgins: Look at her, a prisoner of the gutter, Condemned by every syllable she utters. By right she should be taken out and hung, For the cold-blooded murder of the English tongue.
Eliza: Aaoooww!
Higgins: Aaoooww! Heavens, what a noise!This is what the British population, Calls an elementary education. 
Pickering: Come, sir, I think you picked a poor example. 
Higgins: Did I? Hear them down in Soho square, Dropping "h's" everywhere. Speaking English anyway they like. You sir, did you go to school? 
Man: Wadaya tike me for, a fool? 
Higgins: No one taught him 'take' instead of 'tike'!
Hear a Yorkshireman, or worse, Hear a Cornishman converse, I'd rather hear a choir singing flat.Chickens cackling in a barn, Just like this one here. 
Eliza: Garn! 
Higgins: I ask you, sir, what sort of word is that? 
It's "Aaoooww" and "Garn" that keep her in her place. Not her wretched clothes and dirty face.
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak? This verbal class distinction, by now, Should be antique. If you spoke as she does, sir, Instead of the way you do, Why, you might be selling flowers, too!
Pickering: I beg your pardon!
Higgins: An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him. The moment he talks he makes some other Englishman despise him.One common language I'm afraid we'll never get,Oh, why can't the English learn to 
set a good example to people whose English is painful to your ears? The Scots and the Irish leave you close to tears. There even are places where English completely disappears. 
In America, they haven't used it for years! 
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak? Norwegians learn Norwegian, the Greeks are taught their Greek. In France every Frenchman knows his language from "A" to "Zed" 
The French never care what they do, actually, as long as they pronounce it properly. 
Arabians learn Arabian with the speed of summer lightning,The Hebrews learn it backwards, which is absolutely frightening. But use proper English and you're regarded as a freak. 
Why can't the English,Why can't the English,Learn To Speak?

10:30 on a Monday mornin'.

...and I was allowed to sleep in till 9:30, viewing the nature of our weekend. :) All the goats have had their kids! We are now up to nine (?) goats so I suspect selling some of them will be in the plans for the near future.

Let's see....Daisy had Emma and Harriet...(who is not so docile as her name leads you to believe. :P)

...Dove followed suit with a great big boy they dubbed Flynn Ryder. :)

And just this morning Lizzy had a girl that is yet nameless. :) But this is to be a post of catching-up-miscellany. It has no real topic, which is why it was difficult for me to find a name for the post. :P First off, I wanted to post a picture that just about sums up my theory on the subject of the sort of chap I'd love to marry. (as far as trivialities go. :)

Because what could be better than a gentleman in blue jeans? Nothin'. :) The trip down to North Carolina was great and uneventful, though my bum requires much standing up today to counteract all the sitting down of yesterday. We drove an 1 1/2 hours to their church, then to lunch, then to A.C. Moore with Annabeth to get the ribbon and tulle Sarah and I need to make her pew-bows for the wedding, then back to the church. Then we drove to Annabeth's brother-in-law's house to drop her off and pick up Daniel, then we drove 1 1/2 hours back to the Taylors, and finally another 2+ hours home again, home again, jiggity-jig. :D But it was all worth it. I think the wedding shower was a great success and I got to see the two girls' whose hair I have been put in charge of doing for the wedding. I love doing hair and I think I'm a fair hand at it--I understand face-shapes and what styles look best with that face so that there is no looking bald or looking poodle-ish. :D I've done hair for  graduations and for a flower-girl at a wedding, but I'm looking forward to doing some bridesmaids for real. It will be so much fun.

Last but certainly not least [and I put it down here because I wanted to leave you on this note] I wanted to show you a simply wonderful song we sang in worship time at the Taylor's church yesterday. I've sung it several times there and it has blessed me every time. :)

♫"These guilty hands I raise, filthy rags are all I bring and I have come to hide beneath Your wings. These holy hands I raise, washed in the fountain of Your grace, and now I wear Your righteousness." ♫

Have a beauteous, blessed Monday, everyone! Tell me, what are your plans for the week? :)