ODE TO A HOUSEWIFE - A silly song of encouragement to mommies

When I was having our two kids in 1979 and 1980, it seemed like so few women had the opportunity to be home with their kids.  I appreciated that opportunity so much!  It was sort of lonely sometimes.  I wrote this as an encouragement to them.

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I - ME - MY: It's all about me

It's All About Me Jesus

 

 

I love being a part of our church's praise and worship team.  About once a month I refile all the music that we've used that month in an alphabetical file folder.

  

Today I noticed that one of the folders is MUCH bigger than the rest.  It's the folder labeled

 

...   I   ...

  

Hmm. 

 

And then it hit me.  Even our worship is all about us.  We sing, "It's all about You, It's all about You Jesus!"

  

If only it were true.

 

I want - I will - I hope - I dream

My desire - My joy - My wish

 

I write music and I have to admit that some of my lyrics are self-focused too.  The wonder of God loving me is - astonishing really.

 

But I want GOD to be seen above all.

 

A window!  Yes, that's what I want to be.  It's not there to be looked at, just through.

 

 

John 3:30

HE must increase but I must decrease.

 

 





A LITTLE PRESPECTIVE - Seeing what matters

   As a little girl, I can remember one summer playing on the front lawn when something on the sidewalk caught my eye.  There was a trail of ants marching dutifully in a line across the pavement.  Some were heading one way and some coming the other.  Some had cumbersome loads of useful bits of leaves and dead bug carcasses that they were hauling into their little ant kingdom down a hole in a crack in the cement.

   So busy … so constructive … so focused.

  They were completely unaware that this little seven year old girl would spend the next half hour trying to make the trip a little more challenging for them.  First I placed my little pink clip-clop in their way.  They seemed a bit distressed but soon found their way around the sides and continued their trek.  Then there was a garden hose, a leaf and finally a little water.

   Very determined little creatures, ants are!

   Never could they begin to understand the complexities of my world.  Ants think that bringing treasures to their queen is all that matters.

 

   We are ants.  No.  Not the bug kind of ants.  The little earthly creatures that hustle about thinking what we’re doing is so very important.  But God looks down and wants us to understand Him.  He wants us to acknowledge Him as Master and Creator.

   Sometimes, I look up.  And I begin to understand HIS world.  It’s huge and amazing.  It’s wonderful … mostly because …

  He loves this little silly ant; this worthless, pitiful   …and busy ant.

 

Colossians 3:1-3 Reminds me –

   Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Click HERE to hear us sing it (may take a few minutes to load) 

I SURRENDER ALL - with a new bridge and chord arrangement

Click https://valleybible.net/MusicMinistry/Music/Audio/ISurrenderAll.mp3 
to hear us singing it at Valley Bible Church

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Savior,

I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

take me Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me Savior wholly Thine.

Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

Is there anything I wouldn't do, if You asked me to?

Is there anyplace I wouldn't go? Tell me if it's so.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.

I HAVE LEARNED - on learning contentment

Click https://valleybible.net/MusicMinistry/Music/Audio/IHaveLearned.mp3 to hear me sing it.

Philippians 4:11-13

I have learned to be content

In whatever circumstances I am. (repeat)

I know how to get along with humble means

And I know how to live in prosperity

I know the secret of being filled and going hungry

Both of having abundance and of suffering need

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

Music: Sally Bentley & Matt Bentley

Lyrics: Scripture

MISTER SOUNDMAN (a parody in honor of the unsung hero of music ministry!)

Click   MrSoundman (5).mov .  to watch the girls & I sing it!

Click   https://valleybible.net/MusicMinistry/Music/Audio/MrSoundman.mp3 if you only want to listen to us sing it.

Mr. Soundman bring us a dream; make us sound better than we really sing

While we bark orders you show us kindness and make our solos sound their very finest

Soundman, what would we do if you weren't with us just helping us through

Please turn on your magic board

Mr. Soundman, just for the Lord

Mr. Soundman, Mr. Soundman you're all alone; can't find nobody to help you along

So every practice your running miles

Between the artists and the knobs and dials

Soundman we never say how much we miss you when you are away

Please forgive your music team

Mr. Soundman bring us, move us, string us,

Mr. Soundman you are a dream!

(Keith W. & Steve U. - You guys are THE BEST!!)

YOU WERE THERE (thoughts on Divine election)

Click   https://valleybible.net/MusicMinistry/Music/Audio/YouWereThere.mp3

From ancient history You set Your sights on me

You formed my destiny to make me Your own

While yet unformed was I conceived in sin to die

But the Apple of Your Eye.  Such grace You have shown

You were there - seeking out my very heart

You were reaching form the start

Seeing every sin and still you chose to love and save me

There - to make my mind conceive

And make my heart believe

Pouring grace and love and all the blessings that You gave me

Jesus both God and man You fulfilled the whole plan

You died but rose again that I might live too

You never sinned or lied and yet were crucified

"It is finished" then You cried.  What more could you do?

 
 I never could repay the price you had to pay

Just live for You each day and walk in Your love

When facing the unknown I never walk alone

It's clear I'm heading home to heaven above

You'll be there - Seeking out my very heart

And we'll never be apart

Then we'll comprehend the fullness of the gospel story

There - the crowns that we receive

We'll cast before Your feet

Resurrected we, with eyes unveiled will see Your glory

CREATION ANTHEM

 Click HERE!  to hear me sing it.

Sitting on a hillside, gazing at the view. 

Looking at the beauty but all I see is You

Listening to the river, the eagle’s call is clear. 

The wind up in the treetops, but Your voice is all I hear

     The earth declares Your beauty.  Your glory shines ablaze.

     The heart of man cannot deny the wonder of all You’ve made.
     The river sings of your power. 
     The mountains display your strength.
     The clouds show me Your gentle love;
     the sky it’s breadth and length.

And then my eyes look down and see the smallest little flower

It’s delicate design still moist from last night’s gentle shower

There I see Your tenderness, Your kind and loving care

The pleasure of Your beauty.  Is that why You placed it there?

O Lord, how many are your works?  In wisdom You’ve made it all.

The earth is full of Your possessions; animals great and small.

Lord, be glad with all You’ve made.  May your glory always endure.

I will sing to You as long as I live for Your ways are perfectly pure!

THE ROMANS SEVEN BLUES

ROMANS SEVEN BLUES

S. Bentley

(sung with a traditional 12-bar blues)

It's a low-down dirty rotten cryin' shame

I always seem to keep a-sinnin'

Tell me WHO is to blame?

I really wanna be righteous

Oh Lord ya know it's true

But then my flesh creeps up and says

JUST DO WHAT YA WANNA DO!

I'm doin' the don'ts

I'm blowin' the do's

I'm singin' the Romans Seven Blues