Someone Cares

Well this post today is another tough one for me to write, simply because I'm not good at coping with showing my emotions publicly. Hopefully thought through something I say here it might touch a chord in someone else's heart too.

These last few days have been difficult for me as I've been feeling rather fragile emotionally - don't really know why, which in many ways just makes it harder to cope with.

On Thursday night at our band practice we were told what we'd be playing in our morning service today - two pieces both of which are special to me. I was also made aware of what our Songsters (adult choir) would be singing too, and that too was a song that always touches my heart. So by the time I got home from our practice on Thursday I was already worrying about how I'd manage to get through this mornings meeting without falling apart!

Before I go on, I want to say that although I'm about to talk this morning's service from my perspective, I want to point out that this was actually a very special day for one person this morning as they were making their public commitment to service God, by being enrolled as a soldier (member) of the Salvation Army.

Everything that happened in the meeting this morning, seemed to be directed specifically to me (although of course it was actually directed to all present!). For the music from the band, junior band and adult and junior choirs, to the congregational songs, testimony and the sermon itself.

Here's just some of the music from this morning:-

• Love Changes Everything - played by the band
• The Power of Your Love - congregational song
• Forever, I Do - sung by the singing company (junior choir)
• Be Still - played by the YP Band (junior band)
• Someone Cares - cornet solo played by the band
• All That I Am - sung by the the songsters (adult choir)

I'm sure you can tell even just by the titles of these pieces, that they are very powerful and emotional pieces of music.

I struggled through most of the meeting, feeling a bit emotional at various points, but found it very difficult to keep my emotions in check during part of the sermon, when the love and support of the folks at the corps was talked about. For those of you who don't know, these last few years have been difficult ones for me because of health issues - at times I felt so very alone and forgotten by many I worship with, having little or no contact with anyone from there during these times. I do know now though that while I maybe didn't have much direct contact with these folk during these years, they hadn't actually forgotten me as they continued to support me in prayer - for that I thank them sincerely.

So I think just all that talk of love and support during difficult times is what caused me to feel all emotional again as it just got me thinking about some of my lowest and loneliest times again; about how I'm currently feeling physically and emotionally; as well as what the future may hold.

I mentioned that the band played "Someone Cares", well that song has been a special favourite of mine since I first sang it as a congregational song, many years ago. It reminds us that no matter how we feel, or how lonely we feel at times, someone does care about us, God cares.

Do you sometimes feel that no one truly knows you,

And that no one understands or really cares?

Through his people, God himself is close beside you,

And through them he plans to answer all your prayers.

Someone cares, someone cares,

Someone knows your deepest need, your burden shares;

Someone cares, someone cares,

God himself will hear the whisper of your prayers.

Ours is not a distant God, remote, unfeeling,

Who is careless of our loneliness and pain,

Through the ministry of men he gives his healing,

In their dedicated hands brings hope again.

Someone cares, someone cares,
Someone knows your deepest need, your burden shares;
Someone cares, someone cares,
God himself will hear the whisper of your prayers.

Beautiful words, meaningful words, and words I can completely relate to, as I know someone does care about me.

Do you believe someone cares about you?

Hold onto the words of the above song as God does care about you and me:

Someone cares, someone cares,

Someone knows your deepest need, your burden shares;

Someone cares, someone cares,

God himself will hear the whisper of your prayers.

Share My Yoke

Last night at our band practice we practiced the cornet solo "Share My Yoke". It's a beautiful arrangement of the Joy Webb song.

Ever since I first heard this song many years ago, I found the words and music very moving, the words themselves are very powerful and are very personal to the listener.

Given how I've been feeling lately it was no great surprise that I felt very moved by the music last night, and fell apart yet again! I was quite please though that as this was just a band practice, everyone (except the bandmaster) were playing, so I don't think anyone noticed I had got upset again.

Please listen to the cornet solo (played by Philip Cobb) and follow the words of the song. I hope you are blessed by them.

Share My Yoke

Music and lyrics by Joy Webb
Arranged for brass band by Ivor Bosanko

When I'm tired and nothing's going right for me;
When things I've counted on just do not come my way;
When in my mind the thick grey folds of doubt arise,
It's then I seem to hear him say:

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our "togetherness" my peace you'll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

When I'm perplexed and no one's understanding me;
When even safest thoughts collapse in disarray;
When I've lost the things that always seemed so sure,
It's then I need to hear him say:

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our "togetherness" my peace you'll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

When I'm alone and nothing's getting through to me;
And isolation that increases day by day;
When closest friends can seem a thousand miles away,
It's then I long to hear him say:

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our "togetherness" my peace you'll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

Isn't it amazing to know that there is someone there when everything's going wrong and we can't see how things are ever going to improve for us.

Isn't it amazing to know there is someone who there for us when no one else is.

Isn't it amazing that someone can know and feel our every movement, no matter how small.

God is amazing!

An Emotional Day

I had my post for today all planned out yesterday, but given my day today I've felt led to share something different with you today.

This morning I attended our morning worship (at Bellshill Salvation Army) feeling quite together and looking forward to the service. What I did not expect was to find myself in emotional turmoil within a few minutes of the meeting starting.

It all started with the song our Singing Company (junior choir) sang - there was only seven of them this morning but they sang so beautifully. I just about pulled myself together by the end of the prayer which followed the Singing Company, only to find the Songsters (our senior choir) were singing a song which always touches me..."Written In Red".

Before I go any further I should point out at to me falling apart in public, is my worst nightmare! So imagine how I felt when before they even reached the first chorus, the tears were streaming down my face! I was so uncomfortable that I ended up having to go out of our service for a wee while to compose myself again - I find it very uncomfortable when others can see I'm upset.

I've included the first version I ever heard of this song which was by the International Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army.



Just to round things off for me, when I got into my car to go home, after the meeting, the first song that came on from the CD I was playing in the car, was "His Strength Is Perfect" which just reminded again that "His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in his power the weak becomes strong. His strength is perfect".



The words of this song, were just the reminder I needed!

My day has continued to be an emotional one, but I continue to be reminded that God is my strength today, and in the coming days.