What's playing in your head?

THESE.DAYS.ARE.EXHAUSTING.  I thought about blogging a list of all that happened within these four walls today but I couldn't remember it all!  The fluidity and pace of our days keep me hopping and it's hard to slow the moments down. 

What's hardest I think is seeing my own impatience and occupation with the immediate take over my spirit.  Blech.  When I *raised my voice* (that's a nice way to say yelling, isn't it?) at my dear toddler today after he whined at me for the umpteenth time I saw his hurt clearly in his little brown eyes.  He had only wanted to get my attention. I snatched him up, kissed and hugged him mercilessly and tickled that hurt right away. 

During these full full days I often find myself crying out to God for help.  Not just a nebulous warm fuzzy feeling to wash over me (though that would be lovely).  But I'm asking for help in action.  To practice thankfulness, kindness, PATIENCE, gentleness, joy and love.  Mostly to flesh these out for my kids but also in other relationships.  Like to my complaining elderly neighbor who insists on discouraging our schooling choices for Chloe.  Lord give me patience and graciousness!

These are the songs I keep singing to myself during these crazy days of hurry and flurry:

I need Thee every hour

Please be my strength (Gungor)

Grace is sufficient (Shane & Shane - click the "Organic Remix" player link to hear)


And oh, these words have been a comfort to my harried soul!

What's playing in your head right now?

We have a winner!

Jenny Muth is the fortunate commenter who wins the new Shaun Groves cd, Third World Symphony!

Kind of bummed more of you didn't enter my bloggy giveaway.  But that's just testimony to the fact that I need to BLOG MORE to keep you guys reading and commenting.  I'll work on that.  Still wish there was an app which connected my brain directly to blogger.  That would save me so much time and effort.  :) 

Congrats go out to Jenny too on the safe arrival of new baby Cadence!  I've got some other fun goodies to throw into the winning package too.  (Doesn't that make you wish you had entered now?) 

Happy listening!

Shaun Groves Giveaway!

No, I'm not giving away the musician Shaun Groves.

But I AM giving away Shaun Groves' newly released and fantastically crafted cd, Third World Symphony.

I know I've blogged about this before but Matt and I have a very short-list of Christian artists that really move us. There's a power in these guys that comes from their expert blending of truth, poetry, heart-felt sincerity and musicality that is incomparable with other more mainstream Christian artists. 

I won't walk too far down the rabbit trail here but scores of Christian musicians are facing mounting pressure from Christian radio stations which will only play *lighter* music.  The radio stations want songs with softer lyrics which fit a particular soft-rock pop song style.  BLECH.  Thankfully, many Christian artists are still generating music that is weighty, unique, powerful and relevant.  They're just doing so independent of record labels and going "underground" so to speak.  (Read more here and listen to more gourmet Christian music here at Under the Radar.)

Shaun Groves has always been on our short-list.  (Along with Shane & Shane; the Gettys; Andrew Peterson; Seeds Family Worship and Sons of Korah.)  I can't explain why exactly we like his tunes so much.  His heart sings through his words palpably.  You can hear his earnestness and it's urgent and pleading.  It's as though he's just singing to God and could care less about any other audience.  But you happen to be at the door listening in; overhearing the overflow of his heart and blessed because it's also the overflow of your own.

But it's not just his honesty that compels us to listen to his music repeatedly.  His poetry is inspired.  I don't know what else to say about it.  His lyrics are effortless, poetic and infused at every turn with grace.

And the music itself is GREAT.  The fast rolling riffs of "Enough" and the surprising twangy banjo of "No Better" are toe-tapping and enjoyable without distracting from the song messages.

I could say much much more about this cd.  Many of the phrases keep stabbing at my soul and haunting me (in a good way) with the encouragement of God's truth.  Words like this . . .

"When you throw your stone, aim it at the heart . . . where every crime comes from, where every stumble starts and save the next for me . . . We've all got hell to pay and grace pays all we owe.  Lay me down with the liars, brawlers thieves and backbiters.  Lay me down with the others 'cause I'm no better."

"In this brawl between the empires of our good Lord and the liar will you stand?  Please stand with me.  'Cause right now my faith can take it but oh, when they come to break it, will you pray?  Please pray with me.  So we'll stand and pray 'til the dark gives way and we will sing, sing, sing."

"Thank you for daily bread.  Through us fill the empty.  Thank you for bodies whole.  Through us mend the breaking.  All is grace, All is grace, All is grace and grace enough for all."

 
Have I convinced you to buy his album yet?  :)  (Buy it on itunes, amazon or on Shaun's website)

Take a listen below and become convinced!

I'll give away a copy of Shaun Groves' new cd to one randomly chosen commenter.  To enter the cd giveaway just tell me who your favorite moves-you-deeply artist is and you're in!


Third World Symphony by shaungroves

Soul Music

Like most folks, I have particular musical tastes. Of course I'm keen on a variety of artists from differing genres dependent on my mood, inspiration and activity. But when it comes to soul-stirring truth-speaking music, I have a few all-time faves that I keep coming back to. These artists continually resonate with and encourage me in my daily walk.

For me, the artists below have perfectly struck that hard-to-find balance of poetry and music.

Sons of Korah :: This Australian group is led by a theology prof who sets psalms to music. The kicker for me, besides the sincere vocals and meditative music, is that they don't change the words of the psalms (except marginally). Keeping the text pure makes their sound rich and deep.

Shaun Groves :: In my opinion this guy is seriously gifted in poetry. Seriously. His song Last Notes is a simple but incredibly encouraging look at death.

Keith & Kristyn Getty :: This husband and wife team write modern yet theologically rich and alive hymns. Love 'em. Especially Kristyn's prayerful ballad Still.

Sovereign Grace Music :: There are simply loads of songs I dig by these artists! While their poetry/creativity is not always earth-shattering in its presentation, in my mind they've produced some moving and inspiring music. My favorites are the kids' album, Awesome God, and Valley of Vision inspired by the Puritan prayer book of the same name.

I'm always on the hunt for some new favorites! Who are your go-to artists for inspiration, encouragement and spiritual resonance?

My new favorite freebie

In the past year I've become a freebie junkie. I L-O-V-E getting free stuff in the mail! Free samples, magazine subscriptions, coupons, rebates. I've never tried so many different kinds of shampoo (what's with those horribly slippery sample shampoo packets?!? Don't the shampoo companies know I don't keep a scissors in my shower? ). It gives me such a thrill to know I'm saving a few cents by using something free.

My newest freebie discovery is regarding music. We rarely buy new cds because they're so stinking expensive. And it's difficult to choose a cd that we absolutely love enough to shell out the money for.

Enter Sovereign Grace Music. I just discovered that Sovereign Grace offers free downloads of their songs; usually one per album. Woo-hoo! This particular free-to-download song has been a huge encouragement to me: All I really need is Your grace. To find the free songs, click on each album cover listed here and then click the download link below the music player.

I found another free music player on the Sovereign Grace Ministries homepage. Sovereign Grace radio! Just click the link and a new window opens up and plays through a playlist of various Sovereign Grace music.

I am on the computer A LOT so having some good music to play in the background is essential for my sanity. :) Sadly all our cd players are cheapies so the computer is the best music player in the house!

Do you listen to music on your computer? What internet radio do you use?

I knew this day would come . . .

. . . the day when Chloe would learn the most annoying children's song ever. Yup. Last week she learned the dreaded Father Abraham in her Sunday school class. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was only a matter of time I suppose. I always hated doing Father Abraham with little kids because it's a song that has the potential to never end. And of course they get riled up from moving and shaking all their little body parts while singing.

What's your least favorite kiddie song?