Weekly Song Round Up

School has now broken up and we will gradually start swinging into Christmas in our house.

Decorations will go up, sweets will be bought and cheesy Christmas DVD's will be watched.

But most importantly and on my insistence we will have Jim Reeves Christmas album accompanying our lives over the next week!

My Mum was a big Jim Reeves fan, and it is just nostalgic for me. I am instantly in my childhood home, in the kitchen, messing around, being stupid, having a laugh, whatever, probably in fact complaining at how awful it was having Jim Reeves on when we could have 'Now that's what I call Christmas'.

But now, as an adult with my own family I can inflict it on my kids because I know it will add to their memories of Christmas, and now as an adult I can finally admit, what's not to love about Jim Reeves?

The Smiths - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want ( 1984 )

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want....................Lord knows it would be the first time..............

Nah, I've got what I want before, just a fab song that has invaded the airwaves having been used in the John Lewis ad, having said that there are a few things I would like to get!

Weekly Song Round Up

Simply one of the best songs ever written, and there were a number of times this week I would like to have become 'comfortably numb'!

Weekly Song Round Up

The Script are one of my favourite current bands, some of their songs are quite challenging in questioning the existence of God and looking for something to believe in, but I can't deny their lyrical talent!

I was listening to them this week and 'I'm Yours' came on and I realised I was singing along and I was singing it to Jesus.

Jesus gave everything to us, and no matter how messed up we are He still wants to love us and spend time with us. For some unfathomable reason He values us! The least we can give Him is ourselves.

Can you say "I'm Yours" to Jesus?

I Will Live My Life For You............Will I?

This song is very special to me, I'm sure all of us as Christians are in awe of the love Jesus has for us.  But when we sang it in Church this morning, it spoke to me differently.

God told me, "I accept your thanks for my sacrifice, but I want you to make some sacrifices, I want you to show the grace & love I have shown you to the ones that have hurt you beyond your understanding"

If I am living and giving my life for Jesus I have to express that in my attitude and actions to others.  I can't excuse it with, "but you will never believe how much ..........hurt me".

This has been a battle of mine for a while, and although I have done forgiving and talked and gone over and this and that, I just couldn't seem to get over that final hurdle of letting go of the
hurt.  I have prayed and others have prayed (including some of my fellow bloggers!) for a restoration of my marriage, and I really felt God say this morning that I could do it, I could freely give my life to show the grace that I needed to show, because God showed that same grace to me, knowing that I would hurt Him beyond understanding.

I have probably heard or read a million times 'we should live like Jesus and treat others with love etc...' but it is difficult to put into practice unless you are asking God through His Holy Spirit to help you do that.  That is why I know that today I understood the words of living my life for Him, to be relevant to what I was going through, because I had been asking God to work in me in that way.

Weekly Song round Up

OK, this week has made me think of a load of songs about young life and how it can be wasted!

The bonus in the Tom Petty video is it has Johnny Depp in it!

So many kids are out there making bad choices Skid Row 18 and Life These might just be fictional songs/stories but even if it comes true for one young kid it's too many. Alice Cooper I'm Eighteen I've gotta say I don't think I would ever want to repeat my teenage years and they weren't that bad compared to some, but I've got my skeletons that I buried and they affected my future.

I suppose what I'm thinking is if you know or have influence over young adults or kids who are just out of school, pay attention.  I think a big problem is teenagers don't realise there are people who will do anything to help them straighten their life out.  It took me 20 years to accept a little help and like I said I don't think I had it too bad, but my family I think, are unaware of what I was going through because I just didn't think there was anything anyone I could talk to.

Weekly Song Round Up

The cassette of choice in the Volvo this week has been Lou Reed's Transformer.  Some of the best poetic songs ever written on that album!

Everybody loves Perfect Day and if you don't, I'll pray for you - you're missing out.

I love this time of year, the weather is gorgeous, the trees look amazing with the leaves in all their different colours and the ground becoming carpeted with them.

Next week is my birthday and I am anticipating having a 'perfect day'. For me that would be spending it outdoors, going for a long walk, surrounded by all things natural, that is probably the one time I don't allow music to infiltrate my life, when I am outdoors, I love to hear the natural sounds around me, that is music in itself. 

It never ceases to amaze me how many different varieties of natural things there are. Take trees, green is my favourite colour, so that is probably why I like trees so much, but have you ever thought about how many hundreds of different trees there are? Why didn't God just make one or two varieties or just think, 'I have made a tree, now onto the next thing'. And getting back to the colour, grasses, leaves, plants have so many shades of one colour, it's fantastic!  If that isn't 'supernatural' I don't know what is!

Anyway, if while I'm outdoors on my perfect day I find a pub to have lunch in, well it would be rude not to stop.

Have a good weekend.

What's your perfect day?

Weekly Song Round Up

My car failed me the other week (on the way to my counsellor of all places, you know how I like those drives!)

So I did the only sensible thing, I now allow my husband to drive our unreliable car and I have been using his - this would be a good switch if he drove a two year old mercedes company car or something, but he actually drives a 25 year old Volvo........I know, but at least it won't (shouldn't) break down on me.

This beast of a classic car is equipped with a tape deck, so I have had no choice but to listen to cassette's while I am out and about.

For any readers under 20 or maybe even 30, cassettes were around at the same time as 'records' which pre-date c.d's, well let's just say when I bought this particular 'tape' 20 odd years ago, I could never have imagined I would be sharing it's brilliant music with people all over the world with a few drags and clicks.......what will they think of next?

Anyway this weeks music has been the fantastic Paul McCartney's Tug of War album!  I recommend you go immediately to spotify now, or any other reasonable musical download outlet and give it a listen!

A couple of my other faves from the album are Wanderlust and Ebony & Ivory.

Which old cassette or record would you like to dig out and re-listen to?

Weekly Song Round Up

How can I go forward when I don't
know which way I'm facing?
How can I go forward when I don't
know which way to turn?
How can I go forward into
something that I'm not sure of?

This has kind of been the last couple of weeks for me.  I don't know which way is up or whether I'm coming or going - but God does.

It's fair to say daily life has been a little bit of a struggle, marital problems, well-being not as good as it could be - and income - well, what's that?

Soooo hubby had taken over a lot of the running of the house, because a lot of the time I just wasn't firing on all cylinders, but at the same time we were praying for him to either find employment or establish a sustainable income through doing his own work whatever that may be.

This has been life for probably twoish years, frustration, anger, tears, hate, fear, and the tiredness, just wanting to sleep and never wake up.

It occured to me on many occasions that actually maybe our prayers for a job for hubby weren't being answered, because he was needed at home to look after the house and the kids and I hate to say it, me.

Although I knew financially it was desparately needed, I was terrified of it coming because I had no idea how I was going to slip back into the role I had so easily fallen away from.

Well it appears it has now come, it has crept up on us gradually, giving us a taster, showing us we have to cope, I do have to now make adjustments to my day and organisation is not my thing!

Hubby has been out working for two full weeks now, working for himself, and it looks like he may have some work for next week as well.

God knows I am struggling, it gets to 5 o'clock and I don't even know what we're having for dinner and it definately isn't in the house.  In fact a standard answer to "what's for tea?" is "I don't know, it's still in Tesco"

But things are going to have to change, and I take that as God showing me I am ready to take on more responsibility, I am getting better and I will be able to cope, my husband can go out and provide for his family and I can start to take care of things.

How can I go forward?  With God leading the way, I won't be afraid of praying for hubby to continue to get work and for me to have the strength to get through the day without him.

Isaiah 30:20-21(CEV)

The Lord has given you trouble and sorrow as your food and drink. But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, "This is the road! Now follow it."

Weekly Song Round Up

I had to confess to somebody this week that I didn't know if I had any love in me. To give or to receive, What is Love anyway?

My feelings surrounding most things are indifferent, the thing is I have such a non-opinion of myself that to offer emotional feelings to others or to accept them for myself can be quite hard.

I have only just been able to accept God's love, which I thank Him every day for, I don't know why I get it, i just do.  But love offered to me by another, I kind of don't really believe it, I don't think they're lieing, I just brush it off as being un-important.

I finished last weeks post by concluding All You Need Is Love.  I do believe this and if I can just learn to love myself (pass the bucket!) I am sure things will start to fall into place.

God Is Love, and he created us in His image, so that means we must be love, right?

It seems like such a cliche to not be able to quantify love, how do you describe it?  I know I am coming out of an emtional shut-down, so maybe this is 'normal' at the moment, and when I am fully up and running again, I will be bursting with so much love it will annoy those who are desparate for it at the moment! I can only pray so!

I have even just finished reading 5 Love Languages .........guess what, I couldn't identify mine!

What's yours?

He Loves It When You Call

Out in the car today, doing my usual long chat to God as I drove, I probably found myself rambling a bit, I was going over the things that had happened over the last week that I needed strength for and then was distracted by the awsome scenery and just had to give thanks for the incredibly beautiful world we live in, and then I didn't really know where else I wanted the prayer to go so I gave in and turned the radio on.........that was when God spoke to me. 

No, he's not moonlighting as a DJ, he's got enough on his plate at the moment.  It was the song that came on, that for me immediately was God saying 'thanks for the chat'.

The Feeling I Love It When You Call Years ago when this song first came out, our Pastor used it as an illustration in her sermon.  I know, imagine that, pop music in a place of God.  Well I'm still here and we weren't all turned to stone. (Don't even go there on the fact our Pastor at that time was a She)!

Anyway her point was God loves it when we call.  He is our Father, if we can't go to Him who can we go to?

Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Jam 5.13

Pray for one another, that you may be healed. Jam 5.16b

Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1Ti 2:8

The line in the song 'what's the complication, it's only conversation' couldn't be more true about the way we communicate with God.  Just talk to Him!  He loves it when you call!

Weekly Song Round Up

Woop woop, have survived the first week of School's Out. Actually very helpful that our Church have been running their holiday club this week, it is a fantastic outreach to the community finishing with a BBQ tonight.  The weather has been fantastic all week so pray it lasts till tonight with Mr Blue Sky. I'm sure the majority of people will be there tonight because the food is free, but don't knock it, I'm sure many a person has been saved over a free burger.  And after all Jesus dished out free bread and fish.

Despite the kids being occupied for the week, I took on far too much work and have pretty much burned out, probably didn't help that I danced till I passed out at 80's party last Sat, so started the week exhausted!  Anyway I am Too Tired to do anything of use.  In my head I am telling myself I won't take on so much next week, it is difficult though when you are dependant on making money, but too exhausted to do the work!

This is a song I never thought I'd choose so do excuse me, ahem, The Greatest Love Of All.  There, I linked it.  The main reason being because I do love giving my kids a rota of jobs in the holidays, we are a family of 6 and with me working from home the house can get in a tip pretty quickly!  And I have to say they have done brilliantly, puting on washing, stacking the dishwasher, they really have made a difference to how the days go taking on the responsibilty of some of the jobs, they are the future!  I know a lot of families may have that as their normal routine every day of the week, but I'm someone that would rather just have my husband do......I mean do it myself.  Scratch the bit in the song about loving myself, I don't think I'm quite there yet.

Weekly Song Round Up

There is no way this post could pass by without me including the amazing Pink Floyd's Coming Back To Life and at just over 6 mins long, it's positively one of their shortest songs!  I am still overwhelmed by my feeling of being woken from a deep sleep, it's like I keep realising things that have happened that I missed, but, I was actually there - wierd.

Guitar lessons are going well and we're throwing some worship songs into the mix, don't want to end up backsliding by learning too much AC/DC. Have to try and have a go at learning this one this week I See The King Of Glory Hosanna it is a beautiful song, so it will be a pleasure to give it a go.

Woop, woop 80's party tomorrow, forget your Wham and Culture Club and Duran Duran, this is what I loved in the 80's raunchy, clever, phenominal drummer! you see the theme there - long hair and guitars!  Every time!

Weekly Song Round Up

Oooh we do like a bit of music!  I have re-acquainted myself with the old guitar and am having some proper lessons by a proper person who knows how to play properly!

I think I have pretty much mastered the classic can't get enough of you love!  Barre chords aaghh!

Have been invited to an 80's party next week, I'm torn between 3 choices of who to go as - I think.

1. Debbie Harry, Blondie

2. Carol Decker, T'pau

3. Souxie, S and the Banshees

The eighties were my childhood decade and at one point I attempted to become a 'goth'.  My poor Mum was just delighted that I was wearing a skirt, she overlooked the fact that it was a black fringey tassled one, I wasn't brave enough to fully rebel and dye my hair black and wear, shock, horror, MAKE UP!

My 'goth' phase lasted all of a week and then I got into Heavy Metal, it was easier to get away with the 'double denim' look and not offend my parents, and I don't think they could understand a single word that was coming out of the record player!

Obviously I will be nailing this riff soon sweet child o mine and maybe I'll just go to the party as an eighties rocker - stay in my comfort zone!

Baptism Song Choices................

OK, it's nearly here, B-day, yeah that actually doesn't sound right.  Anyway, I am torn between three songs and have added a vote poll to my facebook page!

Mighty To Save “take me as you find me, all my fears and failures” this was the song that always used to get to me leading up to the point I accepted God loved me, it was my prayer song.

Because Of Your Love “now all of my life I freely give, because of your love I live” Since accepting God’s love I do now live because of him and for him.

Happy Day “Endless Joy, Perfect peace, earthly pain finally will cease, celebrate Jesus is alive!” Says it all! A celebratory song of a future hope with him in heaven!

If you have an opinion go to my facebook page via the link and please vote.......and pray for me, thank you! x

Weekly Song Round Up

Having been on holiday and then having a stupidly busy week with work, haven't blogged for a little bit!

I have had a terrible couple of days, but I do not want to throw myself a pity party......

Anyways, I went to see Bon Jovi last week, it was a real treat in so many ways.  It was my first concert in about 14 years!  I went with my Sister who I am trying to improve a relationship with, but big step for me I did not feel anxiety!  I couldn't have done this even if I wanted to over the last couple of years, I am so happy to be feeling more comfortable in my surroundings and pray that it continues.

So a few favourites from the show for you!

I wonder how many of you feel comfortable to Raise Your Hands at a concert, but at Church? meh.....

I have been facing some pretty tough times lately, but I know I have a Father in Heaven who I am important enough to him to care about me and my family, and this definately helps me to Keep The Faith.
btw Baptism coming up this Sunday, wonder if I could have Living On A Prayer as one of my song choices.........

Weekly Song Round Up

After visiting my Sister's last weekend, we were priveledged to see their new £1,000 000 Church building, which they didn't have a penny for 9 months ago!  They managed to get it built without going a penny over budget and within the time schedule.  They now have an amazing building to meet in as God's people, but also a building to serve the local village community in many ways giving testimony to God's love.

At the service their were three baptisms, each person had such a lovely moving testimony.  My favourite song of the morning was Matt Redman's Facedown such lovely words which really expressed the emotion of the morning.

My eldest daughter did her last exam this week and that is it - no more education for her and a new start to whatever she decides to do, this song came to mind as it was one of my absolute favourites at around her age.  I loved the music video more.Life's What You Make It.

And don't know if this is an age thing, but I can't get enough of James Taylor on spotify at the moment!  This is a lovely song, which I'm sure if you heard it at a particular time in your life it would mean a great deal to you.Fire And Rain.

Weekly Song Round Up

Bit different this week.  Since Monday, I have been absolutely flat out with my work, sorting out a prom dress for my daughter (thanks America - no such thing as a 'prom' when I left school)!

Important things like catching up with a couple of people I haven't been able to have a proper conversation with for weeks, etc. etc.  All good stuff but it has kind of left me in a spin, with no songs to accompany it, but I did remember this gem of a poem;

Leisure by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

God gave us this wonderful world, and we certainly are poorer for not taking the time to stand and stare once in a while.

Last Saturday we were able to go and spend the day over in Wales, I have made an album on my Talking Christian facebook page, because I am constantly in awe of what God has made.  (It does tend to drive the family a bit mad, cos every time they turn around, I am pointing the camera at yet another flower or formation of some sort!)

I am going to share one song this week, we are going to stay with the lovely Riley family for the weekend and this is their family anthem!

Have a good one! x

Weekly Song Round Up

Whoa, these weeks are going fast - June already!

Listening to UCB radio earlier in the week, I thought I recognise that song, or rather, I recognise the words to that song.  The last time I sang it I was probably stood under protest at the back of a purpose built Gospel Hall, looking forward at a congregation of old men in suits and old ladies in hats thinking 'can this tune get any worse?'  Thank goodness for modern worship and the people who recognise that electrical instruments aren't the work of the Devil, but the gift of God to man to praise him in the most amazing way.....Glorious Day 

Baby Can You Hold Me Tonight I can say that, but I can't say 'sorry' and I can't say 'I love you', so this song is as if it's too me, not from me.  Lots of talking and high emotions have led on from our marriage course this week, we both know where our issues are.  I keep finding myself saying I just don't know what 'love' is, I know when I'm happy or sad or upset, but if someone says 'I love you', they could say, 'd'you want a cup of tea' I'm indifferent, so I hesitate to say the phrase myself, with that in mind I Wanna Know What Love Is.

Finally this week the sun came out and with it came The Pop Singers Fear Of The Pollen Count!

I can't believe it's only next month I will be getting baptised!  Can't wait!  At the moment I think this is my favourite potential song to have during the service Because Of Your Love.  Thankfully, that is the one love I do understand, I didn't used to think it was for me, but now I get it, it is for everyone who wants to accept it and live their daily life with it.  Thank you Jesus!

Happy weekend everyone! x

Weekly Song Round Up

Well if you didn't expect to still be here because of the Rapture, none intended, but more fool you! I do believe the Rapture will happen;

Matthew 24: 30-31 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other".

But it can never be predicted by the likes of any false prophet;

Matthew 24: 36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father".

With this in mind my first song has to be There Is A Day .

We don't tend to argue a lot, or get caught up in conflict.  Some people have suggested to us, this may not have been helpful in our marriage, because things get buried or left unsaid.  On the occasions though when there is conflict, it's usually a biggy!  Life's too short to be moaning about who didn't unload the dishwasher (probably me anyway!) When Love And Hate Collide.

Money's Too Tight To Mention One of the main sources of disagreement in a marriage is money.  We're both definately on the same page there - we know we have none!  It is becoming a bit serious now and there are undercurrents of worry, but we are both trying to be really faithful and trust that God will pull us through.

Big family life change yesterday.  Our eldest daughter finished school, she only has to go in for the next few weeks to do the odd exam!  Who knows how we are going to adjust to this change as a family, she herself gets very stressed over changes - even going on holiday stresses her out, so the thought of her now having to look for a job and go out to work is going to be.........interesting! Slipping Through My Fingers blub, blub.

Now I don't want to trivialise things, but, as a Brit, I do have to start the day with a cup of tea, which obviously I have with marmalade on toast.  Imagine my panic and horror when I discover we have run out of teabags.......the toast is in........what am I going to do.........I can't have marmalade on toast with..........coffee?  No, too radical.  I had to search the cupboard and find the last scrapeing of Strawberry jam.  (It was in a jar by the way, I didn't just scrape the residue of the cupboard shelf.)  This made me feel extremely proud - very unchristian I know, but hey it was a new breakfast experience and I'm not ashamed to say I liked it!

The other thing I did this week that really did make me feel uber proud - with lyrics! was drive on the motorway, I know, I know, I'm rushing things, first a breakfast change then driving with really fast cars, where will it stop?  I am hoping that this new found confidence will give me a new lease of life and independance, I don't want to be the child anymore,  I want to take control of my own life and make my own decisions and be a GROWN UP. Woohoo!

Enjoy your weekend people! x