St. Patrick's Prayer

Christ as a light, illumine and guide me
Christ as a shield, overshadow me
Christ under me
Christ over me
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me
Lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the hearts of each to whom I speak
In the mouths of each who speak unto me.



You can find this version at Itunes by John Michael Talbot.
A more modern (and longer) recording is "St. Patrick's Breastplate" by Stefan Van Voorst. I also like the version of "St. Patrick's Breastplate" by an artist named Mr. Jag.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Learn a little about this hero of our faith here.

This is my post for Thought-Provoking Thursday, hosted at Some Girl's Website. I find this prayer very thought-provoking. It shows prayer as a desire for Christ to permeate my whole life.

Lip Balm and Soul Balm

Just a simple thought today, and it's a recycled post from a couple years ago. I went looking for it because I was trying to remember the name of this hymn, so I thought I'd share it again.

Out of earth's sorrows, into Thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
--from a hymn: "Jesus, I Come" by William Sleeper, 1887

I don't use the word "balm" often, unless I'm talking about lip balm. Now that I think of it, that's a great illustration of God's word. My lips get dry and cracked in the desert in both winter and summer seasons unless I apply lip balm every day. Similarly, without a daily application of God's word, my soul becomes parched. Praise God for the balm of His love!

To hear more of this hymn, check out Scott Wesley Brown's version on the album Hymns, the Old Made New.



Today at Some Girl's Website, the topic is Restoration. I thought "Soul Balm" was a similar idea.

Praise Patterns: the supplementary soundtrack

Every chapter of Praise Patterns includes the lyrics to a hymn that expresses the theme of the chapter in poetic praise. In the front of the book I list my favorite arrangements of these hymns. They're also in a handy Itunes Imix I linked to several posts ago.

In the back of the book is a Supplementary Soundtrack: a list of contemporary songs that express these same themes. This is a convenient way to continue meditating on the material while you do dishes or drive or go for a walk. Here is a the Imix of contemporary songs. There are thirty-eight songs in a variety of styles, several for each chapter. Listen to clips on Itunes and download only the ones you like.

Music for a December Afternoon

Here's another eclectic mix of old and new. I'm finding that every Christmas mix I make has one or two versions of "O Come O Come Emmanuel." If you haven't heard "Rose of Bethlehem," it's certainly worth a listen.

Music for a December Sunrise

I put together an eclectic mix of Christmas music, from U2 to Dolly Parton. I wanted a blend of songs I discovered this year ("Awake, Arise Good Christians" by Kate Rusby) with songs that remind me of my childhood (101 Strings' "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear") and songs that speak to me of Christmas hope ("I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns).

Finer Things Friday: Russian Sacred Music

I like to lisen to music while I study my Bible or write, but I find most vocal music distracting. This week I downloaded Sacred Songs of Russia by Gloriae Dei Cantores from Itunes. The music provides a gloriously worshipful atmosphere, but since the words are Russian (and I don't understand Russian) they don't distract me. I can also play this downstairs the next time my kids are upstairs listening to one of those educational CDs that is great for memorizing math facts as well as driving Mama crazy.

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Oversleeping

Today my husband and I overslept and lost an entire hour. Somehow we both got to our destinations at the proper times, but I had no time to read my Bible. Because I lead a Bible study on Tuesdays, I feel a little undernourished and ill-prepared if I miss my Bible-reading this day. On the way to study, I listened to a CD that I'd burned for a friend. I wanted to be sure that it played properly. One of the tracks is Selah's "Be Thou My Vision." The ancient words suddenly seemed fresh and new to me today, and I felt nourished and encouraged and prepared.

Here are the words. I will not comment on them--they are complete in themselves.

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.

--At­trib­ut­ed to Dal­lan For­gaill, 8th Cen­tu­ry

Lip Balm and Soul Balm

Out of earth's sorrows, into Thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
--from a hymn: "Jesus, I Come" by William Sleeper, 1887

I don't use the word "balm" often, unless I'm talking about lip balm. Now that I think of it, that's a great illustration of God's word. My lips get dry and cracked in the desert heat unless I apply lip balm every day. Similarly, without a daily application of God's word, my soul becomes parched.

To hear more of this hymn, check out Scott Wesley Brown's version on the album Hymns, the Old Made New.

Music for Sacred Signposts

Each chapter of my Bible Study Sacred Signposts includes a hymn, and here are my favorite arrangements:

Finer Things Friday: Albinoni and Quiet Time

Amy at Amysfinerthings hosts Finer Things Friday. This week her "Finer Thing" is Sleep. I understand. Sleep is precious and vital when you have small children in the house.

At our house we have a Quiet Time every afternoon. The girls all have a Quiet Time Place where each of them is alone. My seven year old makes paper crafts with quantities of tape, my five year old looks at books and hums to her toys (and still falls asleep most days), and my three year old cuddles up with her doll and takes a nap. I read or write or exercise or sleep.

My children prefer to sleep with music and in the afternoon Mama chooses the music. It has to be just the right music that will allow me to nap if I need to, won't keep the kids awake, but won't put me to sleep if I'm trying to get something accomplished. I found something perfect: this Albinoni Adagios CD. The Baroque style is refreshing and helps me focus if I'm writing, but it does not keep any of us awake if we desire to nap. It's truly a Finer Thing.

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