Category: Getting to grips with God stuff

Well I am a Christian…

Music on a Monday – Singing in the Strength of the Lord

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, MusicLeave a comment

Ten minuets before I was due to sing on Sunday morning I came over all unnecessary! I always feel a bit tired on Sunday mornings. Well every morning actually…. But usually after the practise I’m raring to go.

Just before the service started I felt really unwell. When we sang the first hymn, I didn’t sing a word – didn’t even feel like I could stand up. I was to sing 3 songs and wondered if I’d be able to get to the end of the first one.
The theme of the service was asking the question, Where does your confidence lie? To be honest I was listening but not applying the question to my situation. (Common mistake of mine) As the girl leading the service announced that we were about to sing, in a split second I thought ‘I can’t do this today…’ then I was up off my chair and on the platform.
I looked at the words and saw the first line that I would sing and they were, ‘In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.’ I smiled to myself and off I went.

By the time I got to third song (which I had to start on my own as it was new), I felt like I had my mojo back .

My confidence has had a few knocks lately but on Sunday I really felt the strength of God helping me and encouragement to keep my confidence in Him and not myself.

It also reminded me of a blog post from November 2008. I’ve shared a bit below…

“…The other thing that has happened lately is a change in my singing. Well, actually a change in my attitude to my singing. I had this funny feeling after singing a few weeks ago. Didn’t know what it was but it was nice. It happened a couple of times and I probably should have prayed about it but didn’t.

I went into my boss’s office a couple of weeks ago and he has a picture of Eric Lidell on his window ledge. I have seen it loads of times but I picked it up that day and read what was underneath it. It was the (seemingly) famous quote of his. When he runs he feels God’s pleasure. I stopped in my tracks. THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS THE FEELING God’s pleasure.

I couldn’t believe it. I mean I can sing, I know that. But I’m no Kiri Te Kanawa by any means. But sometimes He’s deligted to hear me sing and sometimes lets me know.

And it happended again this evening. What a feeling it is. I am so unworthy of His love, it’s amazing.

My precious Father, help me abide in you and abide in me that I may be better at serving you. I love you Lord!“

Voting for the first time at 38

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings2 Comments

Well I finally did it! I voted in a general election for the first time.

I can hear you all, crying ‘SHAME’ Yes I know that people died for my right to vote. But they also died for so that Irish people could be governed with integrity. That doesn’t always happen either!

I have to say, I haven’t ‘not voted’ from apathy. I don’t sit at home thinking, ‘ah stuff it, I couldn’t be bothered.’ I haven’t voted before cos I haven’t thought it mattered, or that it would make a difference. If I see a local counsellor in Tallaght working hard, serving the people with integrity I’m loathed to do anything that might help him to get to the Dáil. The nearer they get to the top the less they can fight for local issues and the more they have to fight for countrywide issues AND more importantly the more they have to compromise on the one thing that makes them worthy of my vote – integrity.

Having said all that, I didn’t vote with enthusiasm last Friday. I am not sure that any party would have done any better. Who’s to say that they would not have been drunk on the same wine as Fianna Fáil? Are you sure they wouldn’t have been blinded by the money and the lure of the bankers and property developers? I’m not.

I acutally kinda like Micheál Martin. But there’s no way they could be allowed back in, I just felt I had to do my part to stop them… even though I hate the fact that now they can sit in opposition and criticise away to their hearts content.

Lastly, I need to clear up the whole nonsense of the , ‘if you don’t vote you don’t have the right to complain.’ Eh actually yes I do! No matter who we vote for or not, the government should govern for us all. The taosieach is our taoiseach whether we voted for him, the other guy or no one at all. He’s supposed to lead a government that rules the country for our good.

So give up yer grousing.
But as I voted this time, it should keep yiz quiet on that one!!!!

Music on a Monday – A song and a prayer….

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, MusicLeave a comment

I have been writing songs for a long time. Evidently I’m not THAT good or else I’d have been scooped up by now and I’d be living in Nashville, next door to Keith and Kristyn 

As a teenager I was fairly dismal in my outlook. And most of the songs I wrote reflected that. I listened to The Cure and The Smiths. I was never happier than when I was miserable, sitting with my guitar and bemoaning of the meaninglessness of life. I wrote a song called ‘The Puppet Show’ about someone who I thought was my friend, but actually they were just using me and I was their puppet – I didn’t realise they were deciding what I would do and wear and listen to. Bizarre teenage years!!!!

These days when I’m writing songs they usually come from prayers. (Just moaning again really) Some times I don’t know what to pray. Or I’ve prayed the same prayer so many times that I just feel I can’t ask for that same thing again. So I pick up the guitar and suddenly the prayer I couldn’t say comes out in a song. I would say 99 out of 100 tunes disappear into oblivion. But the odd time a tune stays with me and becomes a real song.

The real difference is that, like some of the Psalms (though not as good obviously) no matter how hopeless my songs start, they always end up with hope and comfort from God.
I’m so glad that my songs that have been written in times of near hopelessness don’t end there.

I love music. I’m not a highly trained, dazzlingly talented musician. But I do love it and it makes me very happy.

How’s my profile looking?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, HumourLeave a comment

Got one of those personality profiles done. The only thing that surprised me was it was so accurate.

It says that I need “applause” and that if I don’t feel appreciated that I actually get tired and indecisive.

The maddest bit was, one comment on the profile said,
“she will be de-motivated if she is not invited into meetings with her peers.”
I was amazed by that.
I used to work in a team of 7 or 8 people. There was one meeting each week that I was not part of. It was just a coincidence, I wasn’t involved in that area of our team’s work, and the others who were not involved had a half day on the day that meeting would be on.
So I manned the phones for the team during that meeting.
I did not like it at all! Even though I knew there was a valid reason for me not being there.
The worst bit was if someone popped in and wondered why I was the only one not at the meeting and I would be at pains to explain. I remember the feeling so well and I was shocked to see the words in black and white in the profile.

It did make me laugh tho!
How do they get those profiles so right? It’s amazing.

So what does it all mean?

Well if you don’t read my blog, follow me on Twitter and RT when you do then…

I might cwy.

Oh by the way the profile also suggests that I have a very ‘persuasive’ style

aka emotional blackmail 🙂

Music on a Monday – Singing the Praises of Marriage

On By auntyamoIn Family, Getting to grips with God stuff, MusicLeave a comment

I’ve just discovered two great songs about marriage. One is called ‘Lead Me’ by Sanctus Real.

And the one I totally love is “Dancing in the Minefields” by Andrew Peterson
It is a song about a couple who married young and are looking back on it after 15 years. The chorus goes,
“We went dancing in the minefields,
we went sailing in the storm.
And it was harder than we dreamed,
but I believe that’s what the promise is for.”

That line just sums it up for me! When Rich and I married we didn’t REALLY know each other. And even though we took our vows very seriously and wrote them ourselves based on Ephesians 5, I don’t think we really knew what we were promising.

Within two years of marriage we had lost Richard’s Dad and any hope of having children.
“It was harder than we dreamed but I believe that’s what the promise is for!”

Another line I love is,
“‘Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price
For the life that we have found.”

These are encouraging words. And if when my marriage isn’t really like this. It’s a good thing to aspire to.

Links to Lead Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLr6G8Xy5uc
and Dancing in the Minefields http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs3fg_WsEg

They’re worth a listen 🙂

I wish I knew what way to go on the whole guidance thing….!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuffLeave a comment

If you’re someone who follows God and wants to live as He commands then the whole area of guidance in the smaller more specific things is a tough one (well it is for me anyway).

The Bible is clear about the will of God for our lives as far as how we should live, our attitude to each other and our attitude to God. But the ‘life’ stuff… Will I buy a house or rent? Will I stay here or move somewhere else? Will I quit my job and go work for a mission organisation in Africa? Will go out on that date? Will I take out that loan?

Now I realise that some of those issues above are bigger and have more implications than others. I’m just talking about stuff that’s not mentioned specifically in the Bible. The things we need to work out ourselves.

I’ve always thought that guidance, discernment etc comes in a number of ways. There’s the inner witness, there are circumstances that lend themselves to the situation (the ‘open door’ effect) and then there’s wisdom and counsel of others.

Presuming we all pray and we all believe we hear from God, we hope that those things will match up and together a picture of the future and the path to it emerges.

But that doesn’t always happen. So what if someone wiser than you thinks you shouldn’t do what you’re convinced God is asking you to do?

Answers on a postcard or the back of a sealed envelope 

(Oh, were you hoping I’d be able to answer that question…..? eh…. Sorry!)

Music on a Monday: Come West Along the Road meets Songs of Praise!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Music1 Comment

I had such a great day yesterday.

We visited a church in Listowel, Co. Kerry. There is usually about 70 there but there were a fair few missing. (They must have heard there was a Jackeen coming!)

The music and the practical arrangements of it was great tho. I knew most of the songs so was able to sing along with my usual gusto 🙂 It was a different set up to what I am used to but it worked.

The first thing that happened was that the list totally changed about 5 minutes before the service was due to start. Not sure why but I think there were probs with getting the words up on the screen. But this didn’t seem to disconcert anyone and the list was rewritten and words were sorted out.

Then I noticed that there was not going to be a practice. People just turned up with instruments and by the time we were ready to go there was a guitar, mandolin, fiddle, two flutes, an accordian and some bongo drums (or congas – never sure which is which, the small ones anyway).

Then I noticed that no one had any mucic in front of them. Everyone just played.

And there was such a trad feel to everything. I really noticed it in I Stand Amazed in the Presence (How Marvellous), there was a slight change of rhythm which gave it an Irish feel.

In one of the songs there was mandolin solo. It was brillo.

I love the musical differences in churches across counties and countries. But I have to say that as I was singing God’s praises yesterday morning I KNEW I had ‘Come, West along the Road’ and I was delighted to be there.

I’ve returned to the East now and this Sunday will be in my own church, singing our songs our way 🙂

Viva la difference eh?

I wonder if anyone in Grosvenor plays the mandolin……

Music on a Monday (well… on a Tuesday Actually!) — The Cure for Christians?!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, MusicLeave a comment

Happy New Year all.

As you see I took a long break from waffling.
All I can say is that my husband has benefitted greatly 😀

So….

Ireland’s first national Christian Radio station, Spirit FM has gone live on air. At the moment they are doing their test transmissions. They are on 89.9FM (the old Christmas FM freq)

So I’m driving to work listening to the station and next of all Just Like Heaven by The Cure comes on and I am SO excited. (You may know that The Cure is my fave band in the whole world and I have loved them for more than 20 years.) So I’m very excited as I’m listening to a Christian Radio station IN MY CAR and my fave band comes on!

But then I thought, hang on….! The Cure?!?!?!?! on a Christian Radio Station?!?!?!?!

DOES NOT COMPUTE…!

The test transmission is playing a mix of music at the moment and their website says that they, “will play the best mix of contemporary positive and uplifting music.”

Now The Cure have been accused of a lot of things but being positive and uplifting??? Robert Smith will eat his hat lololol 🙂

All joking aside I wish the station God’s richest blessing and favour and hope that they do give, as they hope to, “something positive to listen to and bring a passion for life to the airwaves.”

We could all do with that couldn’t we!

I’d love to hear your opinion on a Christian station that doesn’t stick to only Christian music, or your opinion on the station generally. It’s deffo worth a listen 🙂

Music on a Monday – What Can i Say?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, MusicLeave a comment

To be honest I don’t have much else to say today.

It’s Christmsa week – my fave time of year; and I’m winding down 🙂

I just wanted to leave you with the words of of a great song.

Immanuel by Michael Card
A sign shall be given
A virgin will conceive
A human baby bearing
Undiminished deity
The glory of the nations
A light for all to see
That hope for all who will embrace
His warm reality

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

So what will be your answer?
Will you hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son
But gave him for us all
On earth there is no power
There is no depth or height
That could ever separate us
From the love of God in Christ

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

Have a fantastic Christmas.
If you believe and worship Jesus i pray you’ll be blessed in this time.
If you don’t I would ask you to stop, just for a moment and consider the God who came to earth to save us .

Immanuel, our God is with us. And if God is with us, who can stand against us!

Music on a Monday — Oh Carol!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, MusicLeave a comment

Are you ready?!

Have you prepared your vocal chords?

Are you all tuned up?

Cos it’s that time of year…..

If you’re someone who goes to church then you’re about to enter the ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’ zone never to escape from it (well… until January!)

But I have to say I wouldn’t have it any other way. I totally love that carol. And the fact that it is a smidge too high for my grizzly alto means I have to MEAN it to be able to sing it.

As someone who loves Christmas and bans humbugs from her presence….! (be warned) the carols mean so much to me.

I’ve always loved Christmas. It’s a huge deal in my family. And I’m grateful to my parents that the crib was as important as the tree when I was a kid. Christmas Mass was important too so I learned that carol at a young age and still love it!

There’s so much GREAT Chistmas music. ReligIous and non religious. And I’ve even written my own Christmas song….

But for me, nothing comes near Hark! the herald angels sing.

And by the way…. if you’ve never actually thought about it, or investigated what it is they sing and why… Ask me, it could lead to a Christmas you’ll never forget!