Joseph Farquharson - Gathering Winter Fuel, Ferdinando Carulli - Concerto for Flute and Guitar, and Amy Carmichael - The Wise Men, The King in a Manger and God's Thread

I'm posting today's painting by Joseph Farqaharson twice as I found two quite different versions of it.  The second one looks like his colors and soft textures, but the first gives more detail.  I hope you enjoy them both.  There are many little details to take in and remember.




Today's piece of music by Ferdinando Carulli is Concerto for Flute and Guitar.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFXrbjuataA

There are some interesting and challenging ideas in the following poem by Amy Carmichael - missionary to India

 GOD'S THREAD

"An ill dread is hanging over me,

Slung on a single strand of cobweb thread.

I do not know how I can live today

The usual life of common duties, turn

A calm front to the day's perplexities,

A smile upon its small, persistent cares--

While inwardly a raging fear devours

Courage in mouthfuls; and my chariot wheels

Drag heavily; and gladness flies from me,

leaving me standing shivering on the edge

Of unknown desolation; and all things

Look dark to me.  O God, Thou knowest my fear;

Go Thou not far from me lest trouble be near."

"An ill thou dreadest hanging over thee,

Slung on a single silken strand of cobweb thread--

Think: Is it cobweb thread? No spider of chance

Spun that fine-twined thread from out herself

In blind obedience to some unknown law.

But I, thy God, thy Father, spun that thread

Whose very substance is My eternal will,

My eternal Love.  And in My hand I hold

The further end and guard its whole long length

From human intermeddling. I may use

Some visible hand to operate and loose

The seeming ill, but I alone am He

With whom thou hast to do.  And I, thy God,

The Father of Lights in whom no variableness

Nor shadow cast by turning ever was,

Am with thee, to be light to all thy days,

Even to the end.  Therefore, thou wilt be strong

And more than conqueror; for I am here:

I go not from My own when trouble is near."

And two for Christmas:


               THE KING IN A MANGER
When the morning stars sang together, and all
The sons of God shouted for joy,
He was there--who was laid in a manger made
For little calves of the stall:
  The King, the King of Eternity,
  Laid His glory by for thee and for me.


Who hung the round world upon nothing--He lay
A babe on His mother's lap.
Who made of the clouds swaddling bands for the sea,
Her gentle hands did Him wrap:
  The king, the King of Eternity,
  Laid His glory by for thee and for me.


Oh, well may we love our kingly Lord,
Oh, well may we love our King
Who for love of us all became weak and small
As any baby thing.
  The King, the King of Eternity,
  Laid His glory by for thee 

    THE WISE MEN

Once a star rose in the sky,

Silver star of mystery,

But the wise men, pondering, knew

What it said that they must do.

So, in that first Christmastide,

On their camels they did ride--

Rode to far Jerusalem,

Rode to farther Bethlehem;

Found the little, precious child,

On the ground before Him piled

Gold and frankincense and myrrh;

Hailed Him Royal Conqueror.

Once again, led by a Star,

Do we come from near and far,

Drawn by Love's beloved cords,

Hail our Savior, Lord of lords.

And as holy seraphim

Veil their faces, worship Him,

Pray we now this Christmas grace--

Reverence as we seek His Face.