There's within my heart a melody

 I am not one to remember passages of words, but put a bit of music to something and it sticks with me forever more.  I like to bring out a good oldie every once in a while to crack up my kids.
Like this one....
"Oh I wish I were an Oscar Myer wiener, that is what I'd really like to be.  Cause if I were an Oscar Myer wiener, then everyone would be in love with me."
I mean truly, just how much value does that add to my life to be able to remember that from 30 some years ago?? 
 I know not everyone is hard wired this way... my poor husband can barely remember a tune from week to week.  He has other strengths so I don't hold it against him. hee hee

So, yeah I love music and singing.  I have my radio set to our local christian radio station and get that constant dose of encouragement all day long. 

Our church family has one of the icons of a cappella music, hymnology, and music history to lead us in worship, so a meeting time never goes by that I am not either deeply encouraged or deeply moved...or both. 
Funerals and weddings are historically tough for me to get through, when we have congregational singing, but these last few weeks in worship time have really been a booger.

Once again it is twofold.
We have something really special at our congregation.  The singing is amazing.  It has SO much to do with our leadership and his passion, but also with the blending of voices in praise and worship in wonderful four part harmony.  The simplicity, yet complexity of that...well you just have to have experienced it to get it. 
I have warned my children for many years that what we have in our church family (in many parts of it, not just the singing) is special and unique.  There is a fire and passion for God's word here.  We are encouraged from every side to delve into the word, to learn it...to love it. 
Those things that my son has been raised on, will not be available to him any longer. 

The other reason is that I believe so strongly in the words.  The truth is undeniable, and it is then set to music which stirs your emotions and makes it easy to bring along with you and keep at the ready. 

These are a few songs that have thankfully been on my heart, and that I will go back to time and again to find comfort and strength in. 

The first is actually my club song from my time at Harding University.  If you click on the link, you can hear the Harding Choir singing it, exactly as it plays in my mind. 

"Prince of peace control my will. Bid this struggling heart be still.  Bid my fears and doubting cease, hush my spirit into peace."

"When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."  


"He has been mindful of his servant, he has been mindful of me. I will be blessed forever, forever. I will be blessed by the Lord."

"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"

"When you pass through the fire I will be with you,
And the flames they will not overcome you.
Do not fear for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name.
You are mine."

"Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid.  The Lord goes with you each and every day. He'll never forsake you."

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed. When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings angels will attend.  Help and comfort give you to your journeys end."

"Great is thy faithfulness, Oh God my father.  There is no shadow of turning with thee.  Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been, thou forever will be. Great is thy faithfulness."

"You are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek.  You are my all in all."

And many, many more.

I began this post the Friday before he left.  I am finishing it on the second day he has been gone.  I NEEDED to read this post this morning, hear these truths and get these songs playing on a loop.
My next post will be about our time seeing him off. 

Here is my horsey image of the post!  We live in the Piney Woods of Texas, so the sky is a rare thing in my images.  I found that with my short lens and the horses at just the right spot in a new pasture it was possible.  I had to lay on the ground and it made me uncomfortable, but I got it accomplished. 
It is a reminder to look for ways to find that perspective to keep you moving in the right direction, keep looking 'up'.