Tunes on Repeat

I love music - singing it, playing it, dancing to it, listening to it...

I believe there can be such an anointing on a song, and that makes it even more powerful!
*side note* I'm not a doof-doof-boom-book kind of music girl. I don't have anything wrong with this musically, per se, however, I often have an issue with the lyrics. Being a words girl, the lyrics are the most important part to me. And so may songs these days have lyrics that are pointless, ungodly and/or just wrong! *end small rant*


Here are a few of my favourite (at the moment) tunes, that I have been playing on repeat over the last few weeks.

Jimmy Needham - Clear the Stage

line that gets me every time - "tell your friends that this is where the party ends - until you're broken for your sins you can't be social... worship is more than a song..."

Mandisa - Born for This

line that gets me every time - "sometimes you've got to go, uninvited, sometimes you've got to speak when you don't have the floor, sometimes you've got to move, when everybody else says you ought to stay..."

Mac Powell - When Love Sees You

line that gets me every time - "you see the struggles, you see the shame, I see the reason I came..." 

Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything

line that gets me every time - "do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face, tell the story of grace, with every move that you make, and every little thing you do..."

What are you listening to at the moment? Any one/thing/style in particular? Why do you listen to music? Are you a doof-doof kind of person? 

A question for anyone who likes to sew...

I really really love this skirt. 

I've searched for patterns, tried working from scratch and making it up myself, and even looked to just buy one. But, alas! No success. If you (or your sweet grandma, or aunty, or wise blogging friend) can shed any light for me on how to make such a sweet skirt, please, comment or email me (heldbyhishand@gmail.com). And thank you in advance. :) I'll be sure to keep you updated on how the skirt making goes!

Dear Saturday...

reflections in slightly poetic form as I look into the week ahead... 

Dear Saturday... 

you appear at the outset to be full of possibility, 

but if I blink, in an instant, will you be gone? 

Dear Sunday... 

you hold dreams, and dreams birthed inside small children

and I don't know why there parents trust me to teach them of God. 

Dear Monday... 

I don't know what you bring, another day with the little men, 

however rest at your weary end will be welcomed, I'm sure. 

Dear Tuesday... 

There are plans and paperwork and forms to fill in, 

but I pray that your day will bring exciting possibilities no end. 

Dear Wednesday... 

What happens before, will happen, will be - 

but 6pm in your evening, ah sweet fellowship it brings! 

Dear Thursday... 

Well, over half the way through. Thursday, oh you... 

The last big day of books and paper, with my boys... 

Dear Friday... 

Let us sing and rejoice and dance for joy! If I am here and survived God is good

, though I must say goodbye now, I pray not forever. 

Dear blog readers... dear sisters, my friends. 

You are wonderfully precious to our Father. 

Praising Him for life and living... 

Just a little update :)

Hello lovely people in blogland and all over God's gorgeous green earth!

How are you all? I have missed you so much these past weeks! Alas, I must stay M.I.A. for three more... I am currently competing a student teaching/practical experience placement for my uni studies... and it consumes a lot of time! I have been up midnight and later for the past three nights now and it's really wearing on me...

So, I want you to know - I am thinking of you all, and praying for you regularly as I go about my day. Thank you for thinking of me :) I am looking forward to sharing lots of memories and things I've learnt after prac has finished next month.

Until then, you should all read Psalm 27. God told me to read it on Sunday night (last Sunday) and He made me cry... How great is our God!

xx
Rachael

Psalm 27

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation —
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall. 
³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear; 
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life, 
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble 
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted 
    above the enemies who surround me; 
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; 
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me. 
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face! ”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger; 
    you have been my helper. 
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior. 
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path 
    because of my oppressors. 
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord 
    in the land of the living. 
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

You should read...

Amber's blog is wonderful... and guess what? 

I'm guest posting on her blog today! 

Don't be afraid... 

See you there! :)