May

21

By Tammi

5 Comments

Categories: Faith, Grief, Health issues, Music

Tags: , , , ,

I cannot “do” this day

Family is coming in and out of town.  I had to cancel the last two weeks of our school year.  I’m not going to be able to help with preparations for VBS.  I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in over a week, nor many good naps — and sleep is vital to my health.  I’m just getting over a sinus infection and I’m exhausted and I’ve been losing my voice for over a week.  I’m watching my husband stress, grieve, plan and do, lose sleep, and cough… Today it’s all hands on-deck to move my SIL… I’m sad and angry and resentful and grateful at the same time…  I’m watching my kids learn how to handle their first major loss/grief in life…

Have I mentioned that I hate waiting for someone to die?

Physically, mentally, emotionally — I feel I am walking a tightrope in all areas, and in my own strength I’ll fall and hurt myself soon.  The only option I have is to place myself in my Lord’s hands and do what He gives me strength to do — and then stay in bed and rest all day tomorrow.  I will also infuse much worship into the day to keep my focus and priorities straight.

Holy Uncreated One
Your beauty fills the skies
But the glory of Your majesty
Is the mercy in Your eyes

Worthy Uncreated One
From heaven to earth come down
You laid aside Your royalty
To wear the sinner’s crown

O Great God, be glorified
Our lives laid down
Your’s magnified
O Great God, be lifted high
There is none like You

Jesus, Savior, God’s own son
Risen, reigning Lord
Sustainer of the Universe
By the power of Your Word

And when we see Your matchless face
In speechless awe we’ll stand
And there we’ll bow with grateful hearts
Unto the Great I Am

~Chris Tomlin

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Jan

31

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Music

Tags: , , ,

New Starfield Single

The new single is called “Rediscover You,” and it’s from the album to be released sometime in February.  I’ve loaded it onto the blog mp3 widget  for your listening pleasure…

Have a good week,

:~)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to just admit
my faith is paper thin
I’m feeling so burned out
On religion

I say an empty prayer
I sing a tired song
I need to just admit that the passion’s gone

And I want to get it back

You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I’m here
Like I’m searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move
Help me rediscover You

I want to learn to pray
The way that David prayed
I want my soul to burn when I hear Your name
I want to feel like new
I want to hunger for you
Bring me back to life like only You can do
Cause I don’t want to stay the same

You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I’m here
Like I’m searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move
Help me rediscover You

Lord, I want to be Yours today
I want to know the passion of the saints
And how they were changed

You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I’m here
Like I’m searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move

I want to burn for You
Bring me back to life, Jesus
Help me rediscover You

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Jan

11

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Children, Children's Ministry, Encouragement, Music, Spiritual Growth

Tags: ,

Of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Life-happenings, sick kids, extended family surprises/issues… stressful thoughts had my spirit in an uproar. Then I walked through the living room and heard Junior Asparagus singing “Your love was with me all throughout my day.” All other thoughts stopped, as I wondered what signs of God’s presence I’d missed that morning.

When the kids dispersed, I re-wound that part of the video so I could quietly listen again. I remembered other times VeggieTales has blessed me, besides the obvious benefits in my children’s lives.

Songs came to mind; of Annie, the scallion, singing “a thankful heart is a happy heart” to Madame Blueberry… of Junior playing an Israelite boy, reminding Joshua “we know that He will take care of us, if we will follow Him.” I thought of Jesus saying “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

Of the songs I love from the series, my favorites are sung by children, pointing to a principle, often reminding an adult about something important. It’s so easy to make lives, ministries and relationships more complicated than they need to be. But always there is a choice about attitude and approach — whether to be “wise in our own eyes” and do things in what we think is a mature fashion, or to become as little children in our Father’s eyes.

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Dec

28

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Music

Tags: ,

My band addictions

My best friend of 15 years surprised me several Christmases ago with a vintage “Sports” LP by Huey Lewis and the News, autographed by ALL SIX ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS!!  I will keep it forever, more for her love and thoughtfulness than for my deep-seated love for the music.

However, for more than twenty years HLN has been my favorite band.  I love Huey’s voice and song-writing.  I love Johnny’s harmony and saxophone.  I love Sean’s keyboard contrivances.  I won’t even get started on the bass and lead guitar players, past and present… I’ve read many things about individual band-members over the years that made me like them more, and I was thrilled when I discovered personal websites or blogs for some of them.  Tight harmonies, creativity, classy re-makes, original songs, positive lyrics and a cappella deliciousness… I can go weeks without listening to anything else.

Then came Starfield, a Canadian band created by two brothers.  Though they’ve released several albums, I never heard them before this year.  These guys can play, they can sing, they can write songs, and they do it all exquisitely while showing their passion for God.  At www.starfieldonline.com you can listen to Reign in Us, Hosanna and more from their current release. Or, give a listen to their older songs at www.dada.net; in particular, Great in all the Earth and Captivate.  WARNING: Choruses may cycle through your mind for hours after turning off the music.

Tight harmonies, creativity, original songs… I can go weeks without listening to anything else.

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Dec

17

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Faith, Holidays, Music

Christmas songs playing in my head

Love came down at Christmas time heralded by angels from the realms of glory, who appeared while shepherds watched their flocks on a silent night (where it may have been cold outside). Come all ye faithful, come and worship Christ the King, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Peace on the earth, goodwill towards men, from Heaven’s all-gracious king. Gloria in Excelsis Deo!  Let all within us praise His holy name.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Nov

12

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Encouragement, Faith, History, Music

Tags: , ,

Thankful, regardless…

1618-1648 – as the Thirty Years’ War progressed, a steady stream of refugees passed through the gates of Eilenburg, a small city in Saxony.  The Swedish army besieged the city, and hundreds of homes were destroyed. The plague, then famine, were rampant.  The pastors in the city were kept busy conducting funerals, until they, too, succumbed.  Only one was then available… to perform over 50 burial services per day.

Martin Rinkart was the Lutheran minister who remained.  He was a prolific writer, had extensive musical talents, and was a man devoted to his calling.  His faith and courage ministered to thousands of people during his lifetime, and produced a legacy for believers in centuries beyond.  During those war-torn days, he was inspired to pen what is perhaps his best-known composition:

“Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Nov

10

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Faith, Music, Spiritual Growth

Holy Lord God almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come

Make me holy as You are Holy,

set apart to worship You.

I come with reverence into Your Presence

seeking “the way of holiness.”

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Jun

16

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Children's Ministry, Music

Vacation Bible School

For the past four years, there has been one song the kids sing at VBS that melts my heart. We’ve also used it on Wednesday nights occasionally, and I listen to it and sing it throughout the year.  However, it doesn’t affect me as much as when I hear the haunting melody, see adults and children openly worshiping, and hear 100ish voices raised –

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your strength, with all your mind. These commandments that I give today should be upon your heart… upon your heart. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.”

That song wasn’t on the soundtrack for this year’s program. I listened to all the others, but nothing “grabbed” me, spiritually or otherwise. Then I thought no more about it…

Until the night the kids started singing “Grace flows down and covers me.” I love that song, and have worshiped to it before — but some combination of children’s voices and the touch of the Holy Spirit made me come completely undone.

Being unable to sing, to stop my arms from raising or to keep tears from streaming was the best reminder God could have given me. Preparation was complete, and I could both oversee and enjoy now. This was His program, and He wasn’t about to miss a minute of it.

:~)

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

May

15

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Encouragement, Faith, Music, Spiritual Growth

Blog name

Sometimes life seems like words and music that can’t quite become a song.

So, we cry inside, and we try again, and wonder what could be wrong.

But when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves, like we’ve done a time or two before,

we find His truth is the same as it has always been, we’ll never need more.


Chorus:

It’s not in trying, but in trusting.
It’s not in running, but in resting,
Not in wondering, but in praying
that we find the strength of the Lord

He’s all we need for our every need, we never need be alone.

Still, He’ll let us go if we choose to, to live life on our own.

Then the only good that will ever be said of the pains we find ourselves in,

they are places to gain the wisdom to say “I’ll never leave Him again.”

Chorus

It’s not in wondering, but in praying
that we find the strength of the Lord.

(The Strength of the Lord, as recorded by Larnelle Harris)

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.

Apr

11

By Tammi

No Comments

Categories: Home, Humor, Music

American Idol

This season, I’ve kept quiet, because whether or not Sanjaya is still around isn’t really interesting, funny or edificational.  (I don’t know if that’s really a word.)  Kevin can’t stand him, I feel sorry for him but don’t want to see or hear him anymore, and Z thinks he’s great and wonders what went wrong with our ears.

But last night was amusing, so…  Kevin realized that Sanjaya was coming up last in the show, then an expression of fear-tinged wonder crossed his face.  He said, “I cannot imagine what abomination is about to be visited upon us by Sanjaya trying to sing Latin music.”

And then that darn boy went and sang better than he has since his audition.  Between that and the new stubble, he won’t be going home tonight.

Related Posts:

Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.