A Curious Girl: Music and musings

Interesting... someone searched Google for 'sweet indigo'...

I'm debating. Either this entry will be on songs on I want in my funeral (sorry, I'm in that kind of mood :) ) or things that get me through the day. Actually I think I'll write two entries, who wants to be awake for an Energetics workshop? It might make me realise just how uninteresting it actually is. Roll on Genetics. Speaking of which, I have the continuation of the practical Friday...

Anyways, I've been thinking, and should I die tomorrow or in the near future, perhaps by drowning in work or as a consequence of eating my own cooking, I was thinking of the songs I'd like people to sing at my funeral. Actually I'd sort of like to write a speech as well, to prove I'm talkative even after death...

(What would I like people to say at my funeral? "Look, she's moving!")

In all seriousness, I thought I'd like to share with you some of the songs/hymns that have touched me over the years. Enjoy.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

By Charitie L. Bancroft

(Lyrics shamelessly grabbed from the cyberhymnal.)

There are lots of tunes to this song but I prefer the Sonicflood version. I love this song because it's affirming, it's about belonging to God and God's passion for us. I think that's pretty awesome :)

Next up... Actually this hymn was played at my baptism, and a trillion other things, but I still love it, plus it's Irish.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Be all else but naught to me, save that thou art.
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night;
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true Word;
Be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord.
Be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
Be thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
Be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower;
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise;
Be thou my inheritance now and always.
Be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, thou Heaven's bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won!
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Lyrics grabbed from here.

There's another version but it doesn't scan so well. That song is a prayer I like to pray, and it's an important thing to focus on :)

Now... the gratuitous Charles Wesley.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Got lyrics here.

Charles Wesley was a great worshipping man, and I love this hymn, got a good tune and a joyful message.

And this song I learned at Soul Survivor. You can buy the songbook here.

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in
Lord still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in
Lord still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name.

By Matt and Beth Redman.

Now that's not happy clappy stuff. Although actually I like happy clappy, deep down I would be glad to sing lots of happy clappy stuff :D (Matthew prefers Isaac Watts and hymns with too many syllables and impossible tunes!)

Anyway *smile* weirdly enough, that cheered me up.

As an aside (I can't be bothered to start that other entry right now, so if you skimmed through the songs, here's something to read...), I confess I'm almost startled by Matthew's preferred body size (in women). Actually it's only relatively recently that I realised some people find me attractive anyhow, I always considered myself a dork (not literally..)... I think it was when I was walking down the street one day and had a boy about my own age (not a middle-aged burly lorry driver) call out 'Sexy!' that I realised I might not be definite Nun/Jedi Knight material after all.

And let's face it, I'm rather chubby. Well, average. Large thighs, wide hips, usually size 16 (British) which is embarrassing when my peers would like being size 10 or 12. Ever since I had my brace taken off, I've had the occasional remark about my size (actually I gave up wearing tight skirts and they've stopped, jeans rock!). It's sort of funny, therefore, that Matthew says things like 'You've got large thighs. Large thighs are really sexy.' lol. I think he wants to dance with the Big Panty Woman. (he made me promise never to go to Weight Watchers. No problems with that one...)

Anyways, I leave you with this, from September last year. I'm sorry if it offends anyone - some swearwords folks - it's irreverent but in some ways I feel it touches on the personality of God much better than many serious musings on the Almighty around the same time (need I remind you what happened September last year?)

I give you... the Onion... God Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule. Enjoy.

Random word for today: Calorimeter

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