oh the splendour of His greatness

Oh, the splendour of His greatness,

Oh, the beauty of His love,

Oh, the depths of His forgiveness,

The wonder of the Father's love.


Jesus the lamb for sacrifice

Shows forth His Father's plan

In love to bring back to His side

The rebel heart of man.


Oh, the splendour of His greatness,

Oh, the beauty of His love,

Oh, the depths of His forgiveness,


The wonder of the Father's love.

His Spirit given freely, 

Poured out on all who believe,

That the God of creation is mighty to save

And salvation I freely receive

Oh, the splendour of His greatness,

Oh, the beauty of His love,

Oh, the depths of His forgiveness,

The wonder of the Father's love.

Behold our God makes all things new, 

The Father of us all,

And pure we bow before His throne

In praise forevermore.

Oh, the splendour of His greatness,

Oh, the beauty of His love,

Oh, the depths of His forgiveness,

The wonder of the Father's love.

© 1987 Elizabeth Hutt

Chorus

D Bm

G A

Bm Em

G A D

Verse

G A D

G A D

G A Bm Em

G A D




I saw the phrase 'the wonder of His love' a couple of mornings ago and so many childhood memories of singing this beautiful worship song came flooding back…! My version of the chords above (may not be completely accurate though!) xD


the Word became flesh and dwelt among us

Christ by highest heav'n adored


Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come


Offspring of a Virgin's womb


Veiled in flesh the Godhead see


Hail the incarnate Deity


Pleased as man with man to dwell


Jesus, our Emmanuel


Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King.

Emmanuel means "God with us". 

God, through Jesus Christ, came to dwell with us and die for us so that the gulf between sinful man and holy God might be bridged. So that by believing on the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Son of Man, who rose from the dead after three days, who is Lord over all creation—yes, that by believing in Jesus Christ we might have eternal life! Repent and believe the Gospel.

Oh to be with Him always. To be in Him always. 
The one and only God who loves us so.

Through Jesus, our Emmanuel. 

God with us.

"And the Word (Jesus Christ) became became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Merry Christmas.

Neatly Packaged

Found this on pinterest. Some interesting thoughts, a little cliché, but neatly packaged. Resonates with me I guess~
(Well, all except the snow part :P *sigh* still dreaming of a white Christmas...)

welcoming summer

the days are longer, the dreams are wilder
the prayers are longer and wilder
straight from my heart
to His.

~Gotta pray more.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart 
You, God, will not despise." 
~Psalm 51:17 NIV

Psalm 94 + Prayer

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs

—
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

Rise up, O Judge of the earth;


Render punishment to the proud.

Lord, how long will the wicked,


How long will the wicked triumph?

They utter speech, and speak insolent things;


All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

They break in pieces Your people, O Lord,


And afflict Your heritage.

They slay the widow and the stranger,


And murder the fatherless.

Yet they say, “The Lord does not see,


Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”

Understand, you senseless among the people;


And you fools, when will you be wise?

He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?


He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,


He who teaches man knowledge?

The Lord knows the thoughts of man,


That they are futile.

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord,


And teach out of Your law,

That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,


Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

For the Lord will not cast off His people,


Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

But judgment will return to righteousness,


And all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?


Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Unless the Lord had been my help,


My soul would soon have settled in silence.

If I say, “My foot slips,”

Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,


Your comforts delight my soul.

Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,


Have fellowship with You?

They gather together against the life of the righteous,


And condemn innocent blood.

But the Lord has been my defense,


And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own iniquity,


And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;


The Lord our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 94

{so much innocent blood so brutally shed. i find my hands and lips quivering as i read and pray, pray, pray, it's so hard to find words. but God is always listening, He sees and knows all. this psalm speaks powerfully.
o Lord that You would execute Your righteous judgment, that the light of Your Son would shine forth in this breaking and darkening world, that comfort and healing would come to many through the blood of Jesus Christ spilled on Calvary's hill for the redemption of sins. Lord, how long will the wicked triumph? Vengeance is Yours, o Lord, the true Judge of the earth, and You shall repay. Your will be done O God. Your Kingdom come. 
In the Name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.}

on my knees

sobered by all that's happening…down on my knees and praying to the one true God, the God of the Bible.

from my heart, for my Lord

twenty years

ten days too late

one month too slow

twenty years learning to wait

another twenty here I go

what a mess of mind and feeling

what a rising tide of fear

wonder and unease congealing

holding on and holding dear

when nothing lasts

when life is blurred

I find Forever

in Thy Word

and my unstable melody

is anchored by Thy love for me

in leading me

to Calvary where

Thy blood was shed

for me—Emily—

so I might be

eternally

with Thee.

Lord, forgive me. Lead me

in love and with

an iron rod

what a fickle heart have I—

but O what a faithful God.

~ E.S. 

16^th August 2015

sky changes

9:52am

10:26am

Connection

Simply beyond awesome to have played with and among these fine musicians, just this weekend past. So inspired to keep pressing on in my violin playing adventures. 
Now, one of my new favourite classical pieces is Dvorak's Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No. 2 in E minor! It's so full of delicacy, character and life :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWOwZLYYQjA

Thanking God for the gift of music! 

"Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; 
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!" Psalm 150:1-5 NKJV

PS. So sorry for playing that extra B during the rest at the end of In the Hall of the Mountain King…Now that I think about it, the climactic ending of that piece perfectly captures the extent of my mortification over such a blunder…

to Allington and back

 

Thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Allington but now tripping out trying to consolidate what crumbling fragments of doubling, free indirect discourse and realism I can work into an essay due friday…all while nodding off, say, every ten minutes…

two zero

Thanking God for two decades of life on earth thus far, and for the rest of eternity with my Lord Jesus Christ.

“…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name.” John 20:31

Rhyme and Glitter

Be not angry with me that I bear 
   

Your colours everywhere, 
   

All through each crowded street, 
   

And meet 
   

The wonder-light in every eye, 
   

As I go by. 



Each plodding wayfarer looks up to gaze, 
   

Blinded by rainbow haze, 
   

The stuff of happiness, 
   

No less, 
   

Which wraps me in its glad-hued folds 
   

Of peacock golds. 



Before my feet the dusty, rough-paved way 
   

Flushes beneath its gray. 
   

My steps fall ringed with light, 
   

So bright, 
   

It seems a myriad suns are strown 
   

About the town. 



Around me is the sound of steepled bells, 
   

And rich perfumed smells 
   

Hang like a wind-forgotten cloud, 
  

And shroud 
   

Me from close contact with the world. 
   

I dwell impearled. 



You blazon me with jewelled insignia. 
   

A flaming nebula 
   

Rims in my life. And yet 
   

You set 
   

The word upon me, unconfessed 
   

To go unguessed.

~Amy Lowell "Apology" 1922

I stumbled across this poem late last year and I love the way it's just spilling out light and colour with a stream of vivid images…
And that subtle clincher at the end <3

Ah, poetry…!

Friendship musings

Friend of mine

God’s grace

Poured out

—It’s raining pearls.

I’m soaked in love

And sharpened daily

Blessed and humbled

Thankful

Praying

Always glad

To see you

And see

Christ in you

At the start of the day—
And at the end of the road.

                                    ~ E. S. 

8/8/15

Philippians 1:2-7 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…you all are partakers with me of grace."

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Coffeetime in August?

Ushering in a (hopefully) warm August with late night deep and meaningfuls, spontaneous visits from la prima, green texta on butcher's paper and a mug of hot coffee.

Thanking the one true and living God for revealing Himself in His Son, Jesus, who is the Christ, the chosen One, the author of my salvation. 
And praising Him for every breath I take in this life—yes this Life, a life that will never end.

"And this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6

Looking forward to a fine month. Trusting God's perfect timing.

Let it be known to you

…Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3:13-18

Taking a stand for righteousness

No compromise.

God ordained marriage between one man and one woman.

Jesus said:

"But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his mother and father and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
Mark 10:5-9, with references to Genesis 1:27; 5:2 and 2:24

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Dare to be a Daniel

Dare to be a Daniel

Dare to stand alone

Dare to have a purpose firm

Dare to make it known.

Who is a God like You?

"Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." Micah 7:18-20

there's something about roses

This evening I took a short break from waltzing about the intricate and often confusing world of Middlemarch and I drew a rose (might I add after hunting down a certain crumbling stub of charcoal buried deep in the jungle of my desk!)

There's just something about roses, isn't there? I feel like I could draw them over and over and never tire of it.

This particular rose smells great — just like charcoal hehehe ;)

Have a blessed week!

eye see you :)

Eye think eyes are so much fun to draw!

Hair is a challenge. I need to cultivate greater patience to be able to sit down and draw every single individual strand and create hair that really shimmers with life and movement.
This time I put in a bit more effort into the hair than usual hehehe. I tried to show the effect of light on some individual strands by colouring the shadows, leaving thin strings of white.

the forgetful one who loses her shoes

So I tried to draw Lily James as Cinderella, but when I looked up from working on the finer details, another lady's face stared out from the page…

Here's some pics from the process :)

1. Marking out head and facial proportions with rough sketch lines

2. Solidifying linework, sketching some shape and movement in the hair

3. In the shading process (sorry, we're skipping a few steps here cos I forgot to take photos :P! Basically, in between steps 2 and 3, I worked on the eyes/nose/mouth proportions and then started filling in shadows and textures and other details :) Then I moved on to shade the chin, cheeks, temple and of course the shapes in the neck and shoulders)

4. More shading, adding a little more depth to the hair—and a distinct shadow under the chin that falls onto her left shoulder.

5. I know the shading and proportions are still not perfect, and she doesn't really look like Lily hehehe, but it was good practice! Hope I have more opportunities to draw before I get lost in the storm of assessments…

I love the emphasis on kindness in the live-action Cinderella. Kindness—o what a beautiful gift!

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32

Love to write more on this but it's indeed time for a late lunch of noodles and fish balls. Have a wonderful week! xx

Evening sketches

Haven't drawn in ages! Felt inspired after watching the brand new Cinderella film (It's so beautiful! Moved to tears on multiple occasions :') 

So...I initially wanted to draw Cinderella but I thought, hey, I might warm up with a few Aurora sketches. Didn't end up drawing Cinderella tonight—perhaps tomorrow! :)

Burning the midnight oil...

Essay writing under the stars = essay writing at its finest. 

...

I have great expectations of this piece.