Post-Holiday Depression

Well, so that is that. Now we must dismantle the tree,
Putting the decorations back into their cardboard boxes...
There are enough left-overs to do, warmed-up, for the rest of the week--
Not that we have much appetite, having drunk such a lot,
Stayed up so late, attempted--quite unsuccessfully--
To love all of our relatives, and in general
Grossly overestimated our powers. Once again
As in previous years we have seen the actual Vision and failed
To do more than entertain it as an agreeable
Possibility, once again we have sent Him away...
The Christmas Feast is already a fading memory,
And already the mind begins to be vaguely aware
Of an unpleasant whiff of apprehension...

- W.H. Auden, quoted by Jill Carattini in Life After Christmas

Why God wills WORK

I have got to read this. Regularly.

"If we can discover how God conceives of work and why he wills it, then that huge portion of our lives that may seem so separate from religion and faith can be just as God-focused as our more religious acts."

There are four other articles by John Piper related to this one:

• Do not labor for the food which perishes
• Don't steal, work and give!
• Don't eat the bread of anxious toil
• Your job as ministry

My after-work song

I don't just sing it after work. It's usually the cry of my heart in the middle of a long day, a long week, or a long month at work.

Interestingly, I fell in love with this song while I was bumming around last year! Even then I felt the need to "hide" in Jesus and run away from the noise, the commotion, the endless routine and meaningless cares that bore down on me.

A song for the ache

I have always appreciated the great truth expressed in this song. As I sit in the office and busy myself with various tasks that *need* to be accomplished, it is wonderful to have mp3's to remind myself why I am here, who is my portion, & what it is I truly long for. My soul is bitter with forgetfulness, but when I remember You, I am most blessed.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art
Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night
Both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true Word
Be Thou ever with me and I with thee Lord
Be Thou my great Father and I Thy true son
Be Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight
Be Thou my whole armor, be Thou my true might

Be Thou my soul's shelter, be Thou my strong tower
O raise Thou me heavenward, great power of my power...

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Be Thou mine inheritance now and always
Be Thou and Thou only the first in my heart
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, o heaven's bright sun
O grant me its joys after victory is won
Great heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be Thou my vision, o Ruler of all...

Still be Thou my vision,
O ruler of all
O ruler of all