"My Everything"

Okay, so this is a song that I wrote based off of Psalm 73, a scripture that is very close to my heart and God has used repeatedly to correct, encourage and comfort me. My dad has been doing some recording so we recorded this version of the song. I am singing (all the parts, yes, that's the beauty of recording multiple tracks) and playing the acoustic guitar. My dad then added a drum track and some ambient electric guitar and he did all the mixing. Below is the link for your listening pleasure and also a copy of the lyrics.

"My Everything" - Bethany S. Moore

VS. 1           Sometimes I just don’t understand

The places You’ve called me to be.

I look around and I feel

that my walk is all in vain;

And my heart feels so empty.

But You have called me to run in Your ways.

And I cannot run this race on my own.

And You have told me to trust in Your word.

But I cannot rely on my own strength.

CH.             You alone are my portion;

You alone are the strength of my heart.

When life just doesn’t make sense,

And everything seems to go wrong:

I will hold onto You.

For you will never let me go.

VS. 2          Everything comes from Your hand

Both the good things and the bad.

Yet every time trials come my way

I seem to forget all the

blessings I’ve had.

And I feel like I’m drifting from You,

But You always bring me back again.

And my faith is too small to walk this stormy sea;

But you are my strength, you always carry me.

BR.             Nothing on Earth can ever satisfy me

This world does not own my greatest desire.

You alone are all that I need.

You are my everything.

WORDS & MUSIC BY BETHANY S. MOORE. 

I wrote this sonnet a while back and my sister, Sarai, took it and composed a piece out of it. Below is a link to the recording of that piece, sung by myself and performed by Sarai (Piano) and some other people (Andrew: guitar, Matt: cello, and Katie: Flute). The musical piece is entitled "Seeking You", whilst the sonnet is "A Journey's End: Sonnet I". So, enjoy reading the sonnet, and click on the link to listen to the recording! :-)

"Seeking You"

Sonnet I: A Journey’s End

I took a walk upon the sun

and found my feet grew warm.

Then no longer could I run—

my feet had lost their form.

I tried to walk across a lake

and found myself submerged;

o’er my helpless head the wake

of water then converged.

Through the cities wide, I sought

to find a love that’s true.

Many battles mem’ry fought,

yet never forgot you.

You, for whom my heart did roam;

You, at last, have brought me home.

Sonnet II

This is the second sonnet in my English (Shakespearean) sonnet series. Enjoy!

O God, I Am Sad

Oh God, you gave me life and breath;

You saved my soul through languid death.

Why, then, should these, my wits, be spent?

Why, then, should this, my heart, lament?

Oh God, you are the One who saves

my soul from many wat’ry graves

made of tears—and you efface my vice

though I should sin again and thrice

wrong you—to whom I owe my life.

Oh, God, come now, and end this strife

wrought within my troubled mind,

that chokes the lungs and voice does bind.

Take these then, these plaintive tears,

and them convert to joyous cheers.

Tolkien Inspired

I wrote this a few years ago while writing a short-novel for a contest (I didn't win, but it was still fun to write). The short-novel included a lot of sing-song and poetry, and I was in the mood for writing, so I wrote this ditty, which is inspired by the works of Tolkien (can you tell that a merry woodland elf should be singing it?). Enjoy!

A Song of Jollity

Ho! A song of joy I sing!

Mirth and gladness do I bring!

Dance all day, laugh all night,

Make one’s weary spirit light.

Sing a song all night long;

Laugh aloud with the throng.

Tring-a-ling, sing again.

Ha! The dawn is ever bright!

Bright beams ever grace our sight!

Broken hearts begin to mend,

When happiness the morn doth send.

Spirits rise, amidst the skies;

Elated are my twinkling eyes.

Tring-a-ling, sing again.

And now my song is nearly done;

The words shall flee with the sun.

And yet my soul shall always be

Forever, ever, full of glee.

The day is gone, the night is flown,

Tra-la-ling, this song is done. 

Nostalgia

I wrote this about 5 years ago, just before I graduated from high school...

Nostalgia

Softly, I hear you whisper;

Above the noise and bustle,

You gently speak my name.

I long for your sweet embrace—

Your beautiful, kind face.

When shall You mine eyes see?

Already, I am yours;

Purchased by your love,

I no longer live for me.

I long to be rid of this mortal shell,

to be free beyond where roaring waves swell.

When shall You mine eyes see?

The stars glitter, light years away,

yet still they seem closer than you;

far nearer still than the day of release.

My soul is as heavy as an iron weight,

the pain in my heart seems to never abate—

When shall You mine eyes see?

Ah, hasten to me, my precious love.

Carry me from this sin-ravaged world;

Free me from this raiment mortal.

For I was rescued by your grace

And destined for another place.

When shall You my eyes see?

Ah, glorious day, dawning bright:

Earth scoured from death’s disease.

Death without victory, Life triumphant.

The Bride falls to her Lover’s arms;

The veil is lifted, sin disarmed.

When You mine eyes shall see.

Some various pictures I took during vacation...

"Room"

I just completed one of the better novels I have read recently, entitled "Room" and written by Emma Donoghue. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy good literature and are not looking for "feel-good" books :)

"Room" takes place in the mind of a 5-year old boy, Jack, whose entire world consists solely of an eleven-by-eleven foot room where he has spent the entirety of his short life. Room is actually a sound-proofed shed in the backyard of a dangerous creep who keeps his prisoners well hidden. The prisoners are Jack and his mother, who has been held captive in Room for 7 years, with no hope of escape or discovery.

This piece of literature depicts the world as seen through the quickly developing eyes of a small child, and gives a stark contrast between the Room as a prison in the mother's eyes and a home in the child's eyes. It also gives a candid and slightly embarrassing portrait of society today, and begs the question whether humankind is truly free in society, or is it just a matter of exchanging one prison for another.

If you find the time, read this book! You won't regret it!