Defender You go before I know That You’ve even gone to win my war
You come back with the head of my enemy You come back and You call it my victory, oh ooh
You go before I know That You’ve even gone to win my war Your love becomes my greatest defense It leads me from the dry wilderness
And all I did was praise All I did was worship All I did was bow down, oh All I did was stay still
Hallelujah, You have saved me So much better Your way Hallelujah, great Defender So much better Your way
You know before I do Where my heart can seek to find Your truth Your mercy is the shade I’m living in And You restore my faith and hope again
And all I did was praise, oh, oh ooh All I did was worship All I did was bow down, oh All I did was stay still, stay still
Hallelujah, You have saved me So much better Your way Hallelujah, great Defender So much better Your way
When I thought I lost me You knew where I left me You reintroduced me to Your love You picked up all my pieces Put me back together You are the defender of my heart When I thought I lost me You knew where I left me You reintroduced me to Your love You picked up all my pieces Put me back together You are the defender of my heart
Hallelujah, You have saved me So much better this way Hallelujah, great Defender So much better Your way So much better Your way (I know it’s so much better) So much better Your way (I know it, I know it)
And all I did was praise All I need to do is worship Lord, I will just bow down I’m just gonna stay still
Greetings bloggers and friends,
Today I’d like to promote my daughter’s new freelance site for graphic design and illustration: Emily Rose Design and Illustration. Perhaps you are looking to update your blog with some original artwork or graphics? Maybe it’s time for a new logo? Check out her work and give her a task. No job too small. There are also originals on her site which you can purchase. She is currently contracted to illustrate a children’s book being released shortly. I’ll be sharing that too at some point. Have included a little mosaic of some of her work, below. Blessings!
As we celebrate Christmas Eve today, I thought it appropriate that the final Christmas song be an expression of the grace that comes wrapped up in the gift of Christ. This is “Amazing Grace” performed by Human Nature. Merry Christmas to you all!!
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Amazing grace, amazing grace… Amazing grace My chains are gone I’ve been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace Amazing grace… amazing grace… Amazing grace… Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. Amazing Grace… amazing grace… Amazing grace… amazing grace… Was blind, but now I see
This song seems to divide people (into those who dislike it and those who love it). I’m somewhere in the middle regarding the lyrics. But this arrangement by the Pentatonix has such drama and beautiful harmony, it is definitely worth a listen.
And in answer to the question, did Mary know? The short answer is yes, in some small measure, she did know who Christ would be and what he would do (see Luke 1:46-55 for details). No doubt the reality was both much worse and much better!
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb? That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Oh
O Holy night, starry sky We were dead until tonight Christmas changes everything Long lay the world inside our sin He has come here to forgive Christmas changes everything [Chorus] Hallelujah, love has found us Hope in a manger our Saviour is setting us free This is rescue, Christ has come to make us new Oh Christmas changes everything Now God has met us where we are A thrill of hope for hopeless hearts His perfect love will shatter every fear We’re coming back to life again And it’s all because of Bethlehem Rejoice, oh rejoice! [Chorus] Hallelujah, love has found us Hope in a manger our Saviour is setting us free This is rescue, Christ has come to make us new Oh Christmas changes everything We will fall on our knees We will fall on our knees We will fall on our knees O Holy night, holy child We were dead till you came to life [Chorus] Hallelujah, you have found us Hope in a manger, oh Saviour we fall on our knees You are rescue, you are making all things new Oh Christmas changes everything Yeah Christmas changes everything Christmas changes everything.
I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play And mild and sweet their songs repeat Of peace on earth good will to men
And the bells are ringing (peace on earth) Like a choir they’re singing (peace on earth) In my heart I hear them (peace on earth) Peace on earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head There is no peace on earth I said For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (peace on earth) Like a choir singing (peace on earth) Does anybody hear them? (peace on earth) Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep God is not dead, nor does he sleep (peace on earth, peace on earth) The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on earth, good will to men
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day A voice, a chime, a chant sublime Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells they’re ringing (peace on earth) Like a choir they’re singing (peace on earth) And with our hearts we’ll hear them (peace on earth) Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they’re ringing? (peace on earth) The life the angels singing (peace on earth) Open up your heart and hear them (peace on earth) Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, peace on earth Peace on earth, Good will to men
Songwriters: John Mark Hall / Dale Oliver / Bernie Herms
‘Joy to the World’ was not intended to be a Christmas carol. In its original form, it had nothing to do with Christmas and wasn’t even written to be a song. Rather, hymn-writer Isaac Watts published a book of poems (1719) in which each poem was based on a psalm. Instead of simply translating the original texts, he adjusted them to refer more explicitly to the work of Jesus as revealed in the New Testament.
One of those poems was an adaptation of Psalm 98. He saw this psalm as a celebration of Jesus’ role as King of both his church and the whole world. More than a century later, the second half of this poem was slightly adapted and set to music to give us what has become one of the most famous of all Christmas carols. (More info? https://www.crossway.org/articles/a-brief-history-of-joy-to-the-world/)
The song I’m sharing today is a great medley which combines ‘Joy to the World’ with ‘Shout for Joy’ by Paul Baloche. A winning combo!! Take a moment to consider how these lyrics can bring great joy at any time of the year.
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Shout for joy For the son of God is the saving one He’s the Saving one Shout for joy See what love has done He has come for us He’s the saving one
Joy to the World, the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floodsRocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
Jesus, Emmanuel
O come let us adore Him
Jesus, Emmanuel
O come let us adore Him
Jesus, Emmanuel
O come let us adore Him
Here is a cheery song which reminds us that Christmas brings a sense of hope: we truly can be the selfless people we were designed to be, as we turn our eyes from ourselves and become just a little kinder and more generous towards our fellow humans. There is a little bit of ‘Heaven Everywhere’ at Christmas. The song is from Francesca Batistelli’s 2012 ‘Christmas‘ album.
I hear the bells, they’re ringing loud and clear You can’t help but love this time of year It’s Christmastime, there’s something in the air There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere
Somehow there’s a little more of love And maybe there’s a little less of us Or maybe we’re just slightly more aware There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere
It’s the smile on a man who has finally found hope It’s the tears of a mother whose child has come home It’s the joy that we feel and the love that we share There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere
It’s funny how it takes a holiday To show us how the world could truly change If we all took the time to really care There’d be a little more of heaven everywhere
It’s the smile on a man who has finally found hope It’s the tears of a mother whose child has come home It’s the joy that we feel and the love that we share There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere
It’s the grace that we show to a world that needs hope It’s giving our lives knowing they’re not our own It’s the joy that we feel and the love that we share There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere
Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plain And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains Hallelujah, halleljuah
It’s the joy that we feel and the love that we share There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere There’s a little bit of heaven everywhere
Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plain
Words, words, words... well said Hamlet! A little blog to go off on tangents within the worlds of history and literature that interest me. From the Tudors to Tom Hardy's Tess, or from the Wars of the Roses to Wuthering Heights, feel free to browse through my musings to pick up extra ideas and points for discussion!