Christmas Favorite No. 7

This gem that I've not heard nearly enough this season.



Love it. I like the Sara Groves version better, though.

iTunes is the Greatest

But now, their great little invention is about to cost me a bunch of money, I can tell.

When you update iTunes to version 8, you're offered the opportunity to download Genius, which will automatically create playlists that play well together for you from your library. Grand.

That's not it, though. Those people at iTunes are smart and have Genius suggest songs which would go well with any song you're playing. For example, I played Enya's "How Can I Keep From Singing" (arguably my favorite hymn ever), and it suggested these fabulous additions.

• Lullaby (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo); Josh Groban
• The Andrew Lloyd Weber Collection, Sarah Brightman
• Edge of the Ocean; Ivy
• May it Be; Hayley Westenra & Conventus Choir
• J'ai Deux Amours; Madeline Peyroux
• Arms of a Woman; Amos Lee

So, perhaps I really just need to set aside some decent pocket change so I can have all the wonderful songs iTunes is suggesting now. *Sigh.*

If the Radio Didn't Prove Me Wrong

I've got a theory: that a specific song, like books and other reading material, comes to you when you need it most. Unfortunately, the radio proves that theory wrong--or at least not accurate--fairly often for me. So, while I'm revising this theory trying to improve it's validity, I'll be listening to Andrew Peterson's Faith to Be Strong, which is resonating with me today:

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we're torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong
(c) Andrew Peterson