Carol of the Sheep (Original Song)

Next to muddy waters
The weak are battered by the greedy
Fertile ground, torn and trampled
I hear feasting in the night
Does no one care about our plight?

Into mountain forests
We scattered on the day of darkness
Bruised and weak, lost and hopeless
I hear howling in the night –
My pounding heart prepares for flight

Wandering sheep, we are wandering sheep
O Shepherd come to lead us home
Find us, feed us, bind our hurts and heal us
Make us lie down, and bring us peace

In open fields we rested
When suddenly, out of the darkness
Angel hosts, glorious!
I hear singing in the night –
My pounding heart fills with delight

Wandering sheep, we are wandering sheep
Good Shepherd come to lead us home
Find us, feed us, bind our hurts and heal us
Make us lie down, and bring us peace

Our peace is Good News! Great Joy!
Fear has fled away
Glory in the highest
Our Shepherd’s born today.

Good News! Great Joy!
Fear has fled away
Glory in the highest
Our Shepherd’s born today.

Wandering sheep, we are wandering sheep
The Shepherd came to lead us home
Now he’ll find us, feed us, bind our hurts and heal us
Make us lie down, and bring us peace
Make us lie down, and bring us peace.

[arranged and performed by Jonathan Blount]

We Do Not Faint (Original Song)

from 2 Corinthians 3-5

The clay pot family

We have good news to share
Sight for the blind
We boldly proclaim the truth
Shame left behind.
We have this treasure in jars of clay
Through our body may waste away
Our spirit grows day by day
We do not faint.

We have good news to share
Life for the dead
Suffering prepares the way
Heaven ahead.
We have this treasure in jars of clay
Through our body may waste away
Our spirit grows day by day
We do not faint.

Hallelujah! The veil is gone
And we gaze on Jesus’ face!
Greater glory forever on
His Spirit leads us from grace to grace.

We have good news to share
Peace for the torn
Old things have passed away
We are reborn
We have this treasure in jars of clay
Through our body may waste away
Our spirit grows day by day
We do not faint.

Hallelujah! The veil is gone
And we gaze on Jesus’ face!
Greater glory forever on
His Spirit leads us from grace to grace

No foe will fell us
No blow will break us
Jesus will never forsake
Our bodies will die
Our bodies will live
Assurance no sorrow can shake

We have this treasure in jars of clay
Through our body may waste away
Our spirit grows day by day
We do not faint.

Hallelujah! The veil is gone
And we gaze on Jesus’ face!
Greater glory forever on
His Spirit leads us from grace to grace

Thanks to Bryan Boliver for the arrangement and production.

Reformation Day Song

Christ Is Calling You [Original Song]

Lamentations 3 & Matthew 11

by stirfrylaura / performed by Ross King

Take my yoke upon you, learn from me
My heart is meek, and it beats for you
Look to me, and I will bear your grief
I am near to those who wait
I am near to those who wait

When your crooked path is blocked by stone
When bones shatter and flesh wastes away
When lions lie in wait, and hunters bend their bow
Turn your tears to God and pray
Turn your tears to God and pray

Christ is calling you to lay your burden down
He is calling you to rest in him
Christ is calling you to lay your burden down
He is calling you to rest in him

For my love is steadfast, never fails
My mercies new, rising with the sun
My faithfulness is great to those who call my name
I am treasure for your soul
I am treasure for your soul

Christ is calling you to lay your burden down
He is calling you to rest in him
Christ is calling you to lay your burden down
He is calling you to rest in him

Have your wanderings been bitter?  (Come to me)
Is your soul bowed to the dust?  (Come to me)
Have your teeth ground down on gravel?  (Come to me)
Do you hide among the ashes? (Come to me)

For my love is steadfast, never fails
My mercies new, rising with the sun
My faithfulness is great to those who call my name
I am treasure for your soul
I am treasure for your soul

Christ is calling you to lay your burden down
He is calling you to rest in him
Christ is calling you to lay your burden down
He is calling you to rest in him
He is calling you to rest in him

Cast Your Bread [Original Song]

Encouragement from Ecclesiastes 11, for when life seems more uncertain than usual.

Cast your bread upon the waters
After many days, you will find it
Give yourself to those around you –
The future is untold, don’t you mind it.

She rises up with the rosy sun,
Plants her wheat with freckled hands
Row by row till day is done –
‘Cause she doesn’t know, she just can’t know.

Cast your bread upon the waters
After many days, you will find it
Give yourself to those around you –
The future is untold, don’t you mind it.

Life is sweet sowing in the light,
She breathes in spring and follows her heart.
Then she sees sun turn to night
Her spirit knows, oh it knows.

Cast your bread upon the waters
After many days, you will find it
Give yourself to those around you –
The future is untold, don’t you mind it.

Clouds fill up, then pours the sky.
Trees fall down, and there they lie.
Do you know how a baby grows?
Or where wind blows?

Cast your bread upon the waters
After many days, you will find it again
Give yourself to those around you
The future is untold, don’t you mind it.

Don’t worry ‘bout the clouds or the wind
The mysteries of God are beyond the thoughts of men

[Won’t you] Cast your bread upon the waters
After many days, you will find it again
Give yourself to those around you
The future is untold, don’t you mind it.

Time unfolds — as Heaven designed it.

Song by Laura Baxter. Vocals by Emma McGee. Instrumentals and production by Jonathan Blount.

Bone Valley [Original Song]

Some encouragement from Ezekiel 37.

He led me down, to a land so low
He led me down, to a land so low
Down into a land so low, it was a Valley full of Bones.

I walked around, those bones were desert dry
I walked around, those bones were desert dry
Those bones were desert dry, I will testify.

Son of Man, can these bones live?
Son of Man, can these bones live?
Son of Man, can these bones live?  The answer, Lord, only you can give.

[He said] I promise tendon, flesh and skin
I promise tendon, flesh and skin
Tendon, flesh and skin, Go and prophesy them in!

I prophesied, those bones came rattling round
I prophesied, those bones came rattling round
Those bones came rattling round, and they grew bodies on the ground.

Spirit come and bring them breath!
Spirit come and bring them breath!
Spirit, come and bring them breath!  A mighty army snatched from death!

He led me down, to a land so low
He led me down, to a land so low
Down into a land so low, it was a Valley full of Bones.

Song by Laura Baxter. Vocals by Emma McGee. Instrumentals and Production by Jonathan Blount.

Stop Striving (Original Song)

Happy Lord’s Day!

I hope you enjoy this simple song based on Psalms 130 -131. It’s been a good reminder for me during these turbulent times.

Oh my soul stop striving
Oh my soul keep quiet and calm
Oh my soul stay watching
He has promised morning will come

My heart is not lifted high
My eyes turn away from pride
There are things too great, mysteries deep
God has hidden them from me

My soul is a little child
My want has been satisfied
I am leaning on tender arms
of God, my father and mother

And my heart hopes only in the Lord
My hands raise praises with the people of my God
From now until forevermore
From now until forever more

Out of the depths I cry
Lord, hear me and come nigh
If you counted sin, who could stand?
Yet we find your fearsome forgiveness

And my heart hopes only in the Lord
My hands raise praises with the people of my God
From now until forevermore
From now until forever more

Oh my soul stop striving
Oh my soul keep quiet and calm
Oh my soul stay watching
He has promised morning will come

Thanks to Ross King Music for the recording!

Finale (Taw Year 2) — plus original song

Psalm 119:170: “Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.”

And so we come once more to the end of Psalm 119.  This final stanza captures the posture of a faithful believer: on our knees, humbly looking to God for deliverance, in obedience to his word.  And we pray in confidence, knowing God will hear and act.

Thanks to all who have joined me in kicking off 2021 with Psalm 119.  I am passionate about this Psalm, because it has transformed (and continues to transform) my perspective on God and his word.  As believers we are called to saturate our hearts and minds with Scripture, taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  I can testify that praying through Psalm 119 will bring all the blessings our psalmist has experienced: greater understanding, joy, and a closer relationship with Christ. 

If the Lord wills it and I live, I look forward to Psalm 119 for January 2022.  Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the below song, “My Cry Flies to You,” based on this final stanza (Taw).  Ross King was kind enough to put together the simple acoustical arrangement.  May this be our prayer no matter what the rest of 2021 brings.

My Cry Flies to You, by Laura Baxter (performed by Ross King), based on Psalm 119 Taw

Go to Church! (Yodh Year 2)

Psalm 119:74: Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

Our family celebrates birthdays at La Bamba, a local Mexican restaurant.  The servers come out with a goofy sombrero, place it on the head of the person being celebrated.  It’s a lot of fun to watch your teenaged son squirm while the restaurant laughs and claps.

But the psalmist is not talking about birthday celebrations.  This particular stanza, Yodh, is all about affliction and persecution (vv. 75, 78).  And yet fellow believers nonetheless rejoice to see the psalmist.  Why do they rejoice?  Because he is faithful.  Because he continues to hope in God’s word, even while facing trial.  Because he is a dear partner in the work of God’s kingdom (Philippians 1:3-4). 

When we fear God, we love to be with his people, regardless of the circumstances.  We are meant to be together, to encourage each other in hope.  When we are apart, we grow sad.  The suffering of this world is harder to bear.  This is why COVID restrictions are so devastating for the church.  This is why Christians must not neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25).

 Prayer:  Lord, bless your people as they meet together this Sunday.  Help us fear you alone, hope in you alone.  Give us the joy of community again.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For further study, see Psalm 119 for January 2020, as well as my devotional on Psalm 119.  You may also enjoy this original song based on Yodh.