Homeschool Fahion

Ahhh...Homeschool Humor...

Tucked-In

Ahhh...Homeschool Humor!

The Alabaster Box

I love this song.

Luke 7:36-50

HAVA NAGILA!

It started when my sister got home from her choir practice.

Actually, it started before that.

In case it hasn't been obvious from my blog, I'm getting really tired of winter. And cold. And snow. And ice. It's really easy to be depressed in the winter. The cold does strange things to your mind, like making you wonder if drowning is a really pain-free way to die...OK, so I'm not suicidal,but it is frightening because you can see how people with no hope or truth can despair.

But despair is a sin. And it happens. Even to the children of God, when that familiar demon perches on your shoulder and starts whispering. The children of Israel had very good reasons to despair in Isaiah. The prophet foretold that they would be captured by the king of Babylon and 130 years later, what God predicted happened. Imagine being seized from your homeland, made a slave in a foreign country where you were forced by threat of death, to worship false idols. You would be wondering if God remembered His promise to you. If He even remembered you...if He cared. But He had already ordained a means of escape, even before the tragedy occurred. He had Cyrus, king of Persia conquer Babylon and allow the Jews return to Jerusalem. All of these events were foretold 200 before they happened, and were planned far, far before in Eternity.

Because the Truth is, God never forgot the children of Israel. He comforted them and upheld with the right hand of His righteousness. His plans and visions for Israel never changed, even in the midst of discipline, because His relationship with them was a covenant relationship, and nothing, nothing no kings, or powers, or sin could ever change His steadfast LOVE. And still that remains today, because we are in a covenant relationship with God through Christ:

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the LOVE of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Sometimes things seem worse than they are. But we always have this triumphal declaration to hold up above our heads..."MORE THAN CONQUERORS!"

So while contemplating these things, and the praise that the children of Israel offered God for their deliverance, my little sister came home from choir practice with a new song. Anna is learning, "Hava Nagila", a traditional Jewish song and dance of praise. She has been flitting around the house singing it and playing it on the computer for two days now, and try as hard as I can, I can't get it out of my head. But that's OK, because it makes me smile. I wonder how long this song as been around, and how long God's children have sung it in praise to Him. The words are:

Hava nagila, hava nagila, hava nagila v'nismeha

Hava neranenah, hava neranenah, hava neranenah v'nismeha

Uru, uru ahim! Uru ahim b'lev sameah!

Let's rejoice, let's rejoice, let's rejoice and be happy!

Let's sing, let's sing, let's sing and be happy!

Awake brothers! Awake brothers, with a happy heart!

If this song doesn't make you smile and want to dance, then there is something wrong with you!

LET'S REJOICE!

The Edge of Vengeful Sanity

My sister is learning Scriabin's Etude Opus 8, Number 12 in D sharp minor.

I love it.

She has wanted to learn it for years. As she was practicing it very slowly, hands separate the other day, it was difficult to recognize. I told her whatever she was playing was mournful and was making me sad. She said it was supposed to be faster - at which pace it was still mournful, but less sad. More tainted with - revenge! As one person described it on YouTube: "If there is one piece that would represent the agony of a man on the verge of sanity, this would most likely be the piece..." So, my lovelies, if you like feeling as though you are tottering on the edge of vengeful sanity in a blindingly white snowstorm, then without much further ado, is Vladimir Horowitz playing Scriabin's Etude in D sharp minor:

"Grobot"

If you've ever find it worth your while to scroll the music I have annoyingly blaring from my playlist below, you might have discovered that I slipped some Josh Groban in there.

OK - so he's not really a classical artist, but his music is painfully beautiful, and for all other's opinions, he really does have a glorious voice.

Poor Josh.

I hardly ever hear much about him anymore...in fact, he's one of the few celebrities I have never, ever seen or heard any news about. No drug arrests, no illicit affairs, no D.U.I, no restraining orders...just fundraisers for African orphanages and various international concerts. He seems to be one of the few celebrities who is...normal. I remember back in about six years ago, when the "Josh Groban craze" hit the small and sheltered group of teenagers from church, who were the only people I hung around with. To be a Josh Groban fan, was then to me, daring and intense. Groups of guys even tried to imitate his style while singing at church, earning the nickname my dad dubbed them: "Grobots." Get it? Mindless, mechanized followers of Josh Groban? (Darn! I used an alliteration. I'm not fond of them. They are too overused. In fact in most instances, I find alliterations cheap, cheesy, and chintzy.)

Anyway, I don't hear much about Josh Groban from the mainstream media, nor from any of that group of people. I guess he's just not cool, or hip to young people anymore. I mean, who wants to listen to Josh Groban, when there's Lady Gaga?

Well, I still like him. His songs, to me, bring back streams of fragrant nostalgia. He came out with a new album just two months ago...I need to listen to it. Because I think he's still retained his talent. :)

Here's an old video...awww...this song was from his first album. (2001)

Don't  you love music? I can't imagine a life without it! Only the God of sunsets and waterfalls could have created music...thank Him that He did!



Happy New Year!

Well, after keeping this article in my draft folder for over a week, it's difficult to see the point in saying "Happy New Year", a week in. Isn't it funny how quickly a new year loses it's "newness".

I love the song on this video. I heard it on the radio as my sister and I drove to a friend's house New Year's Eve. We were looking forward to spending the night full of fun and games. But as we drove through the darkness on the highway and passed through the city, this song came on the radio and it's message struck me in a new way. I looked out the window to hide my tears.

It was literally the last song we listened to on that radio, since that night my sister's car was targeted, and a midnight thief high on alcohol and who-knows-what-else, ripped the radio and CD player out of our car. Happy New Year.

I have made no attempt to hide my eagerness for 2010 to be over. I was glad to see it go; and was looking forward to seeing what 2011 would bring - hoping it would be better than 2010. That year started going down-hill for me twelve days into the new year. But, God got a hold of me and exposed the selfishness of my delight.

Because two days before the new year, a dear friend of ours was diagnosed with Stage One cancer. A young lady, who is still single and an example in her faith and love of the Lord. A friend, who has encouraged us,  in many ways. In fact, there are three books sitting on our bookshelf all about trusting God, that came to us from her.

The first week of December, I enjoyed reminiscing about my "surprise" trip to Haiti - already a year ago. But those good memories were shadowed when I heard from my friend who took me there, that Pastor Nene had been in a terrible accident, and was now struggling with recovery from severe brain damage. Pastor Nene, who good naturedly followed us all over Port-au-Prince and up into the mountains; who patiently waited for us while we played duck-duck-goose with the kids in the orphanage. Pastor Nene, who gladly translated for us, and was always available, even if that meant spending more time away from his family. Pastor Nene, who proudly introduced us to his beautiful family, and his joyful church. Pastor Nene, who translated for me in the prison, as I shared the message God laid on my heart to the women behind iron bars, and who helped me pray with them as they accepted salvation.

Then there's Betsey, my new friend who, along with her husband, had adopted two beautiful sisters from Haiti after the earthquake. They had been trying to adopt a third handicapped little girl, who had lived with them while in the States on her medical visa. Now that her mother has decided she can't provide and take care of her, they're trying to get her back. Only a few weeks before the new year, they discovered that the Embassy in Haiti has denied her a visa. Now what?

This list can go on and on...

While I may be looking forward to 2011 - what frightening depths of the unknown it holds for people close to me in Christ.

Depressing sounding, isn't it? That's not how I mean it. God,  in His great mercy, often delights in our impossibly despairing circumstances, in order to show us Who He is. It's a lesson for all of us in the body of Christ and it certainly has been for me. While these depressing circumstances are not happening to me personally, how can I do my duty and help bear the burdens in the church of Christ, if I am so concentrated on my own personal comfort, "I'm so happy 2010 is over!" Sin and it's affects follow us everywhere. Even into New Years. Sickness and disappointment are not unknown to Him, the Man of Sorrows.

So that's why that song meant so much to me. It was like everything was just made clear. No matter what resolutions I make for perfection, living in this sinful world will hurt and disappoint and mess up my plans. So my one resolution for this year, that I have no idea what happiness or maybe sorrow, it will bring for me or loved ones:

"Be strong in the LORD!"

And my prayer for those around me - whether I weep or rejoice with them:

"Be strong in the LORD!"

I'm still looking forward to this year...but not for myself. I'm just excited to see what God will do - in me, everywhere and all around me.

Happy New Year!

O Holy Night!

Bon Nwel!

Merry Christmas!

Music from the Sky

I love Debussy.

I love this song. I'm having a love affair with it.

Well, then...it is lucky for me that my sister is learning it for her Winter Quarter and I get to hear her practice it all the time.



I have been posting too many videos...a very shoddy excuse for blog posts. But it's so easy!

I don't know where my title came from...that's what it sounds like to me. Oh, maybe because that crazy man whistles it on that astronomy TV show...but it does sound like stars twinkling.

Waltz in Swing Time

Winter is a time for nostalgia.

When I was a younger I wanted to be an actress. (OK - well, I still do, I just have accepted that I am not) and dancing just went right along with that. I love dancing.

I've never danced, but I know I love it.

When I was younger I would dress up in heels and flowing skirt and go dance in our barn. Because it was big...lound...echo-y. I would imitate Ginger Rogers because I loved watching Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movies. (Eek...actually, it doesn't seem that long ago.) They are really dumb, though. Really, really dumb. Because movie writers would have to write scripts around the song/dance acts and that resulted in stupid plots. I grew up watching those black-and-white, film noir,glamorous, artistic older movies. They have a special place in my heart.

I was thinking about some of those Rogers/Astaire movies with a nostalgic longing this week and thought about placing a hold on some of them throught the library. But then, I found the dance scenes on YouTube...and since those are the best parts...who needs the movies?

I mean, come on...who wouldn't want to be Ginger Rogers?

Reverse Thinking

Your Love is Strong

Star Light, Star Bright

I got out of the car last night after getting home from a concert with my sister. It was dark, cold and frosty. I happened to look up and gasped. Not a cloud was in the sky, and stretched all across like a dazzling display of jewelry, was a starry sky. I even leaned against the car and stood staring for several minutes, even though it was icy cold.

I have to admit this - somehow the stars look even  more beautiful even the winter. I don't why...maybe, it's because the distant specks of light seem warm in the cold weather...but that's how my silly mind works.

Earlier yesterday I watched the latest Nasa rocket launch live on FoxNews. It's always a breathtaking display of what man has been able to accomplish through science. Later last night as I stared up at the sky, the cargo rocket had already completed it's three and a half hour journey of orbiting the Earth three times at 17,000 m.p.h., and crash landed in the Pacific ocean.

But when I see the stars and think about the One who put them there - all that man can do is blown away.

Stars are amazing to me because they have always been there. For thousands of years, men have stared up at the same stars, whose light has traveled billions of light years to reach us. These stars that you can stare at in the sky and somebody thousands of miles away can be looking. These same stars, who sing aloud their praise to God, and whose massiveness and energy and distance make us look like a speck in the cosmos...

"The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork..." Psalm 19:1

Thank you, God, for Your beautiful stars. reminders of Your great Love.

:)

I'm Prayin for You

Let's never forget to pray for the men of God in our lives and our brothers in Christ around the world. Satan is always at work - so must we be.

Dirait-on

This is without hesitation, one of the most beautiful choral pieces ever composed. I love this song.

Just thought I'd share.

The Best is Yet to Come

My family has started attending a new Bible Study with BSF. I love it. We are studying the book of Isaiah, and this past week studied chapters 11 and 12.

And the best is yet to come.

The reality of Christ's return and His millennial reign, hit me full force, as I sat and listened to the lecture Monday night. Imagine a world at peace. Imagine a world FILLED with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea. Imagine the world ruled by One who is perfectly just and perfectly merciful. Imagine raising your children in a world where there is no danger or threat of nature. Imagine a world in unity, because we are all filled with the knowledge of the TRUTH. The peace and security that come from the Prince of Peace alone will once again be restored when He returns, and ALL resent anxiety, worry, fear and confusion will be gone, gone, gone.

It's hard to believe sometimes that it will happen. It is true...and He is coming again to set up His kingdom on Earth. Oh, can you imagine? Peace and harmony will be the order of the day. So many people long for that. Peace and unity. But they look for utopia in the wrong direction.

Imagine a world filled with the praises of God. Imagine, imagine, imagine....because it's true! I love Isaiah 12, and I memorized it as a young girl. But I got a whole new perspective when I saw that this would be the cry of an entire world, saved from God's wrath and rescued by His salvation. I have been in many different kinds of worship settings. Whenever I imagine the millions from every kindred and nation and tongue under the sun, gathered around the Throne in worshipful praise I get goosebumps from the wonderment and excitement of it. But imagine those praises from every nation - here, on Earth. (And when the Haitians arrive, I can guarantee it will get loud!)

I love the analogy of salvation as water. A deep, deep well - meeting out every need, vital to our existence. Available to everyone, and never running dry. I love the fact, that when we are filled with His salvation, we are overflowing with JOY - and made into a channel of His water, to touch the lives around us.

Isaiah 41:17-18, says - "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."

Back in the year, 2005, I put a note in the margin of my Bible, beside that verse: "O Lord, make me a pool, a well in a dry land!" And what a blessing to know that God answers prayers of those who desire to serve Him - how I had no idea what I was asking God - but how gracious He was in preparing me.

Anyone can be a pool of His water in a dry land. We can be filled with His Spirit and be poured out in His service, wherever He puts us. We can be pools of peace and joy, heralding the time that is coming. We can prepare and look ahead to when Christ WILL return.

Let us not be weary in well-doing.

I love this video! This past weekend in a "random act of culture", the Philadelphia Opera Chorale, performed Handel's 'Halalujah Chorus', in the upper balcony of a giant Macy's, on some unsuspecting shoppers. The shoppers were stunned, but everyone dropped what they were doing to listen to the song - and were enthralled.

Imagine the whole world bursting into songs praises, just like this, one day - "King of Kings and Lord of Lords!"