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 – The Irish 12 Days of Christmas

On By auntyamoIn Humour, Music1 Comment

For today’s Music on a Monday I can offer you nothing that combines Irish, Funny and Christmas better than this…!

Music on a Monday – My Christmas Top Ten

On By auntyamoIn MusicLeave a comment

10. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) – I love this cos it reminde me of my Mammy. She sang this every Christmas. She had such a great singing voice. Precious memories 🙂 I sang it on the Christmas CD that our family made last year. A little tribute to her… but nowhere near as good.

9. Joy (Joy, God’s Great Joy) – Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir. Just FAB!!!

8. Sleigh Ride – Not the the rubbish version by the Spice Girls. Or any other sung version for that matter! The orchestral version by Leon Anderson. I have hilarious memories of playing along with this using key’s, pencils and a ruler for the ‘crack’ of the whip; and no I wasn’t 6. This was quite recently with a workmate. Her daughter is a percussionist…. we knew what we were doing you know….!!!

7. All I Want for Christmas is You – Now I’m not a big fan of Mariah Carey, but she landed on a winner with this one! The ultimate feel good Christmas song. And you quite forget that she’s actually sad cos she doesn’t have the one she loves with her but we’re all bopping around to it anyway. Brillo.

6. Driving Home for Christmas – I lived in the UK for 8 years and was homesick pretty much most of the time but going home for Christmas was just the best. This song, even now, makes me smile. It just reminds me of the journey and the excitement of travelling towards home.

5. Sans Day Carol – and old Cornish tune. Never have I heard it sung better than my brother’s recording of it on the family Christmas CD. The refrain is, “And Mary bore Jesus, our Saviour for to be”.
That’s Christmas in a nutshell my friends 😉

4. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly – the tune of this is so moving. And the way the lyrics and tune build up in the second half of the verse… magical. Only 2 verses but what a finish….”Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the babe was born for you, Christ the babe was born for you.”

3. Must Be Santa, Bob Dylan – This Song is so much fun!!! Best Audience Participation Christmas song since The 12 Days! If you haven’t heard it find it on You Tube. It’s the craic! 😀

2. Hark!, the Herald Angels Sing – The best real Carol. It’s a little too high for me in places so I have to SING IT to hit the notes. So triumphant. Love it!

1. Silent Night – This is my fave. always makes me cry. It reminds me of Christmas as a kid. I remember going to midnight Mass and up until then the AMAZING life size crib didn’t have the baby Jesus in it. And on Christmas Eve they would put the little statue of the baby in the crib. And we’d all queue up to kneel in front of the crib to say a prayer. And i always associate that memory with Silent Night.
I rememeber even at a very young age knowing that this was something very very special. And I’m grateful to my parents that in our house the crib was as important as the tree.

We’re not in Narnia anymore…

On By auntyamoIn Random RamblingsLeave a comment

Well the thaw has set in. The weather man said it had started but only when I saw that our snowman’s head had fallen off was I convinced…!

As I looked out at the view which yesterday was dazzling and now just look cold and wet…. something occured to me….

The ‘thaw’ in Narnia wasn’t like this!

There wasn’t horrible dirty slushiness. It went straight from Winter to Springtime. From snow covered pine trees and a frozen river to Apple blossom on trees and streams of clean running water.

Not a headless snowman in sight.

I suppose we’ll just have to put up with the ugly mess for a while.

No sign of Aslan either 😦

Confined to Barracks

On By auntyamoIn Random RamblingsLeave a comment

Like a lot of people on the East coast of Ireland, I was stranded in my home today. I didn’t even try to get the car out of the drive, cos I didn’t think I’d be able to go to get it out of the estate or up the hill. The news said there was trouble on the N7, the M50 and the N3. Basically my route to work!!!
So I stayed in my pjs, looked out at the snow, logged in remotely and did some work, made the smallest snowman in history and listened to Christmas FM! It was lovely.

Problem is… this weather might also stop me from flying to Wales this weekend. In the last 2 days, the airport has been closed twice for a number of hours at a time. The airport may well be open tomorrow… but how will we get there? I mean we could try to get the car out of the drive, and then get out of the estate and then up the hill, then on to the N7 and on to the M50….. not looking good is it!

What is it about this weather?! ‘Ohhhhh I’d love to be snowed in!!!’ We love the idea of it and when it arrives we still love it… for about 24 hours! Then it just isn’t funny any more. People trying to get to work, and get home again, old people stranded in their homes, essential services disrupted, public transport at a stand still and I’m running out of milk!!!!!

So after my day of encapsulation what what have I learned?

1. Uggboot slippers are definitely the way to go
2. Working from home is something to aspire to
3. Snow is a bit like a giant cream cake; looks gorgeous but eventually you’ll get sick of it!
4. Building a snowman is harder than it looks
5. Being snowed in the definitely one of those, ‘be careful what you wish for….’ things
6. My husband is a saint!
7. No matter where I want to get to I need to get my car of the drive, out of the estate, up a hill……

Music on a Monday – One last push for sales of my Charity CD

On By auntyamoIn Music1 Comment

I’m delighted that over 100 copies of ‘Music for India’ have been sold. Thanks SO MUCH to all of you who bought one (and more than one!!!)

The feedback has been great and Psalm 84 seems to be a ‘hit’ 🙂 I’ve really appreciated the encouragement.

I seem to be at my best writing wise when I’m at my worst emotionally. I’m sure that says a lot about my bizarre mind!!!
But my songs have definitely been written from a position of sadness and struggle.

I have the beginnings of lots of songs that roll around my brain for ages then when I’m crying out to God, (or giving out to God) something happens and they turn into a song.

Music is a big part of my life and a big part of my family. There aren’t many professionaly trained musicians in the family. But that hasn’t stopped us 🙂 When I started to follow God and realised what a big part music plays in the Christian faith, it felt like a bonus!!! And all those songs of misery in my teen years that cried out to emptiness turned into songs that cry out to God and aim, in some way to give Him glory in everything.

Some of you have been kind enough to ask for more of my songs. And I have already decided to make another CD next year to raise month for another charity. So watch this space…

If you haven’t yet bought a copy of ‘Music for India’ and would like to then please get in touch. I’d be delighted to send one to you. It doesn’t matter where you are… they’ve gone to the UK, the US and Australia. Nowhere is too far, as long as you’re wiling to part with a few sheckles… for a very good cause!

My FB page is http://www.facebook.com/auntyamo or you can leave a comment on the blog

Thanks again 🙂

Another old blog post of mine – Cadbury’s now owned by Mac’n’Cheese brigade!!!

On By auntyamoIn Health, weight & wellbeing, HumourLeave a comment

I’ve been looking at my old blog posts and found this one from almost a year ago…

What a sad day. After months of fending off a hostile takeover, Cadbury have finally bowed to Kraft’s offer.
Now I’m feeling very delicate and fragile at the moment (another story) but the one of the things gives me comfort is chocolate. In fact I do believe it is an addcitive substance. I’d love to walk up to a drug addict and say, “HEROIN??? come on!! have you never dipped a bar of fruit and nut into your tea and sucked the melting chocolate off while keeping a finger free to catch the bit rolling down your chin?????? Now that’s a high!!”

But some one told me that not to do that. Not advisable… apparently!

Kraft make soups, freeze dried mac’n’cheese and all sorts of other highly processed instant stuff. Yum… not! And I know Iriah jobs are important and blah blah blah but WHAT IF THEY CHANGE THE RECIPE!!!! Now that WOULD BE a serious national disaster.

As life progresses I realise more and more that it is true… God really IS the only one I can rely on. I’m struggling with some disappointments at the moment. And even the faithful chocolate could end up being a pierce’n’ding product — although I’m not sure quite how that would work; but you get my point.

There was an attempt at a hostile take over of God. More than 1 actually. But he fends them off — every time. And thank God that his recipe won’t change!

Right let’s make some tea…. 🙂