A Little Night Music in November - A Feast of Your Faithfulness

A photo I took while hiking in the Wenatchee National Forest this Fall on our church women’s retreat.

Good morning on this foggy November day. It has been a full month in our corner of the world. Frost clings to the grass in the morning as we wake up groggy-eyed and prepare for the day as we take glimpses out the window of the sun ascending behind dense clouds that blanket our valley. I am sneaking this little post into November before the month slips away into memory. I hope these songs lift your gaze to the one and only true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the ancient Scriptures. If you have not read these ancient Scriptures yet, I invite you to read the entire book of the Old & New Testaments. Read with openness and curiosity. Read with the skill of understanding and exegesis. Read with a desire to wrestle with these words and wonder. Wonder why a small group of followers of this person from Nazareth turned into a worldwide movement that has lasted 2,023 years and covers the globe. Wonder about who this Person of history was, is, and will always be.

This month I’m sharing recordings by a wonderful singer songwriter. These recordings combine both her music and her testimony during a very difficult season of her life. God has given her new songs born out of suffering, light out of darkness, diamonds in the dust of despair, pain redeemed, a harvest of beauty, goodness, and truth.

When we share about our weaknesses and struggles in life and the goodness that Jesus has brought out of it, God is glorified. The fragile façade of our perceived goodness and strength mercifully crumbles out of sight. Refined in the furnace of Truth, we are given new eyes to see Christ for who He truly is.

Bethany Barnard released these songs in 2021. In 2022, she released a follow up album of brief explanations of these songs to give the listener more insight into her story. I hope you will be refreshed and encouraged from listening to her music, and through these tracks as she discusses her heart… “behind the songs.”

Bethany Barnard on Apple Music, Youtube, and bethanybarnard.com.

A Little Night Music in October - Belovedness

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:11

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:1-8

Photo by Nico Frey on Unsplash

When news of the world is too painful to read, when family members pass away, when broken lives rage and wickedness is rampant, I find comfort in worshipping the Lord. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace…” (by Helen Lemmel, inspired by missionary Lilas Trotter.)

I’m reminded of my 12th grade year, full of much sadness and confusion as a mental illness had slowly taken over my life. I continued to attend school as best I could manage and keep my grades up so I could graduate. I think it was during this year that the Lord gave me an image in my mind of a great white wing, His pinions of protection, and I was curled up peacefully and safely in His care. When confusion and fear swirled around me, I would go there in my mind to this place of safety.

The image comes from Psalm 91, which I had printed out and taped on the inside of my school locker years before. I carry this image with me in my heart and it comforts me even today.

He will cover you with his pinions,
 and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4

Its in the refuge of His love that we can sing and praise and worship. Its under his wings where we can turn our eyes upon him and look full in His wonderful face.

The song I want to share this month is one that speaks of God’s great love which I believe with my whole heart. Whatever pain you have gone through in life, healing comes through worshipping Christ. You are beloved and you need to believe that.

I pray this song is a powerful testimony of God’s love for you, His beautiful creation of you in His image, and His fierce love to rescue you, to lay down his life for you, to stoop down, take your hand, and raise you up. It doesn’t matter if you are seen by the world when the eyes of Love are fixed on you, His beloved one.

“Its time to own your belovedness…”

Belovedness by Sarah Kroger, The London Sessions (Live)

I captured this photo in British Columbia recently, beauty in fall leaves, light, color, and shadows

Attending to Gratitude in Pages and Pathways

As I drove my kids to our little school this week, the smell of harvested apples permeated my senses, even with the truck windows shut to keep out the morning chill. Orchards must be in their final stages of apple picking right now. Its a common sight to see trucks heavily laden with full apple boxes being transported to the various warehouses in our fruit-bearing land. As we pass by the irrigation canals which wind through people’s backyards like quiet streams of life flowing on their journey from the top of Mt Rainier’s snow pack to our lake reservoir to water fields and backyard gardens, I notice the water level is going down. The irrigation season in what we call the upper valley is coming to an end and the canals will soon run dry once the water is officially shut off to this high desert. Homeowners will need to have their sprinkler systems blown out to remove all water from pipes before the first frost.

As the cold settles in, dew becomes a crunchy frost. It seems to me that the sweetest season in this valley is Fall, with apple, mint, and grape harvests to fragrance the air depending on which orchard, field, or vineyard one is traveling past.

This weekend, our family celebrates Canadian Thanksgiving with my folks and then in November, we will celebrate American Thanksgiving with a visit from them. I’ve designated this period of time as our Season of Gratitude, bookended with family visits. With a chalkboard marker, I wrote above my kitchen sink window “Season of Gratitude” as a gentle reminder to all of us in our home to be attentive to this season with grateful hearts, and it is a reminder to myself as well.

Some of the things I’m especially grateful for this October is the many books that I’ve been enjoying. Here is a little glimpse into some true and beautiful ideas I’ve been meditating and reflecting on in recent weeks:

The Confessions of St Augustine

In 2007, when my husband and I were visiting different Christian communities in Europe, I was inspired to study more of Church history, and a desire formed in me to discover the writings of early Christians after the time of the Apostles, generally called the Patristics, writings of the early Church Fathers, those directly mentored and discipled by the Apostles themselves. I got a copy of the shortest one I could find, On the Incarnation by Athanasius which I began to read but didn’t finish. Then for my birthday, several babies later, I asked my husband for a book on Tertullian, which I also didn’t get around to (it is a massive volume that awaits me on our bookshelf). Shortly after our fourth was born, I thought I’d read Augustine’s Confessions, the most popular of the Patristics. Again, it did not happen. However, this Fall, with my increased schedule of driving to and fro to transport my children to various school, musical, and sports activities, I’ve committed to listening to the audiobook of The Confessions. It is as others have said, so good. I will need to go back and read the actual paperback book of this tome as there are words, phrases, paragraphs I wish to highlight, underline, and mark up on the real pages of this book. For now, I am getting the general lay of the land with Augustine’s life and thoughts, and then I shall prepare for excavation another time.

A lovely visit with some mom friends for a morning cup of coffee at the cutest coffee shop in town, with stained glass windows, cozy chairs, and a quiet little book nook.

I’ve been organizing Moms Prayer Groups for about 6 years at the little classical and Christian schools we’ve been blessed to be part of. This morning, our prayer group got together for a cup of coffee and fellowship after prayer. Its a joy to make time for friendship.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, The Wingfeather Saga, Book 1

On our drives to school in the mornings, it’s nice to have a story to play for the fifteen minute drive. Occasionally, we listen to music, other times we are in a conversation, or there have been times when the eldest son has had us in stitches laughing at his very talented array of accents. But there are some mornings, I press play on the audiobook and all becomes quiet as we settle in for the drive into town and listen once again to this beloved story. I first read these books to our kids a few years ago at bedtime. I would position myself in the hallway between the bedrooms and read aloud this endearing and meaningful tale of the jewels of Anniera. This time, we are all listening to the adventures of Janner, Tink, & Leeli in the wee hours of the morning.

St Patrick: His Confession and Other Works & The Life of St Patrick and His Place in History

I have long been fascinated by Christianity in Scotland and Ireland, and love to learn more about early Christians in the years after the apostles. When living and working in Scotland years ago, I was introduced by a missionary friend to St Patrick’s Breastplate prayer in his “Confessio”. Reading works written by these ancient heroes of the faith, written in such intelligent prose and with depth of passion for the Lord Jesus, is both an education and an encouragement in the faith. Reading more about what we know of Patrick’s life and work is also incredibly inspiring.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom…

-Patrick, circa 377AD (The Lorica of St Patrick or St Patrick’s Breastplate or Faeth Fiada)

The Story of John G. Paton: Or 30 Years Among South Sea Cannibals

This is a book I’m reading aloud with my kids once a week. We are usually reading through a biography of a Christian in history. This year, we finished The Hiding Place, God’s Smuggler, and now we are slowly making our way through John Paton’s story as a missionary. Sharing these stories of lives laid down for the sake of the gospel inspire us to live our lives in His service.

I’m working my way through several other books when I have time and also listening to the audio of a seminary class from Covenant Theological Seminary in St Louis, Missouri, called Ancient and Medieval Church History, another period of time I want to understand more deeply.

As I was growing up, my mom had an Irish prayer on a cloth hanging in the laundry room. It is a good reminder that the words you put on your walls for all to see send a message to those who live and take shelter there. Send messages of truth and hope in this life! They become treasures one holds on to. Below is that Irish blessing and a photo I took this week while walking with a friend in the canyon.

May you look for and find beauty on your pathway with the Lord.

A Little Night Music in September - Your Labor is Not in Vain

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) - Apple Harvest, Éragny, 1888, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art

I have a rare morning to myself. The weather is cooler today, the flies are not invading my home at the moment, and I’m sipping earl grey tea with oat milk and honey. I am beginning to think of sweaters, slippers and crafting, a few of my favorite Fall things. A friend gave me a couple of her acorn squash which are going to beautify our family table for now. Eventually we will roast them along with other contributions we have pulled from our church gleaner’s basket. The gleaner’s tradition started in our second year as a church plant. Gardens tend to grow very well in this fertile soil, and many have an abundance of produce. Sharing it with each other is a fun tradition and keeps us mindful in providing for others. At the beginning of each potato harvest, one of our church families brings bags of russet and yellow potatoes from their farm for everyone in our church. When there is a harvest, there is rejoicing.

When we moved into our house a few years ago, we were pleased to find a small, old apple tree. However, it looked tired, and we assumed it must be a leftover fruit tree that had run its course in some long-forgotten era of an orchard on this property. Perhaps we would keep it just for looks, for a little needed shade, and a climbing space. In that first summer, we found a bird’s nest in the tree. With many kittens being born the following spring, the birds must have found a new home to build a nest, perhaps higher up in our blue spruce.

I didn’t know how to take care of an apple tree. There were a few apples here and there, but they had holes and we threw them to the chickens. That year, I naively pruned the tree right back, in fact, right to the stubs. There were only about a dozen apples that year. "It must be old,” we assumed. But it gave a place of respite from the sun and was a good starting point for our garden. We would keep it, even if just for its beauty.

I didn’t prune it at all this past Spring. We were busy and tired, and besides, it was a tired, old tree. “It’s probably stopped producing,” we would say, accepting its fate based on our presumptions. As the spring and summer months continued their course through the calendar year, we saw little green apples growing on our poor old tree, a lot of them! I was thankful that we could at least use them for the chickens. It would save us money on buying chicken feed. The apples grew larger and more plenteous, and whenever I stopped to observe them, I was struck by how many were growing on the tree! “What is happening here?” I’d muse. In mid-summer, the middle to lower branches started to bend over from the abundance. And then, the apples started to drop! But, low and behold, they were actually delicious. Again, I was pleasantly and curiously surprised. But should I be? Someone at some time had planted a seed. We were pruning it as seemed good enough to us. We were cultivating a living thing. Why was I so surprised that something good had been produced?

Our apple tree, 2023

My first plan was to give all the apples to the chickens. We had not sprayed the tree with bug-defying chemicals, so most had at least some effects of other creatures trying to partake. But some of them were quite perfect. Soon after, I decided to do something with these apples, something for us humans. All in all, we gathered an estimate of probably one thousand apples from our vibrant and life-giving tree! One Saturday morning, we all contributed to the gathering, collecting, picking and pruning. My youngest was up in the branches, pulling at hard to reach apples, and reciting lines from the classic audiobook of Winnie the Pooh. Where there is a harvest, there is rejoicing.

As we worked, the line from the song A Thousand Shores by Leslie Jordan played through my mind:“You give and You give, and still there is more…” It struck my heart with the love and generous provision of our Maker, our King Jesus. It was a living picture of His abundant love, overflowing grace, and joyful willingness to provide.

A couple of ladies from church came and helped me process this abundance of apples. In four hours of work, we made 3 pots of apple sauce. On a different day, I made 2 other pots of apple sauce. Later, I made an apple pie at the request of my pie-loving son, and apple chips in my dehydrator. I was able to give away a few bags of apples as well. When I think of all the people these apples have blessed, I smile knowing God grew those apples for us, for them, for their families and little ones. This apple tree brought beauty, a small patch of shade, a respite from the scorching summer sun, a place to hang a hammock, a playground to climb, as well as nourishing us and our friends, providing conversation, laughter, and time to build relationship around good and hearty work.

The song I share with you this September is Your Labor is Not in Vain, a song for workers, a song for the planters and harvesters, the arborists, the gatherers, and the gleaners. Our God is with us, and even apple-picking is not in vain in His fruitful Kingdom!

“The vineyards you plant will bear fruit

the fields will sing out and rejoice with the truth,

for all that is old will at last be made new:

the vineyards you plant will bear fruit.”

Your Labor is Not in Vain, written by Wendell Kimbrough, Paul Zach, and Isaac Wardell

Summer Takes a Bow

The familiar sights and sounds of summer’s finale are upon us. Our apple tree, well-laden with abundance, has dropped delicious green apples that I have distributed to the hens; they get so excited for something special. I’m not sure what it meant, but when I dumped a pile of these apples into their coup the other day, one of them crouched down and started stamping her feet… perhaps in excitement or perhaps in frustration that I hadn’t brought them earlier! It is also fly season here. My youngest loads up his nerf gun and goes hunting. I am finding fly guts in random spots on my windows and walls these days. Tis the season of harvesting fruit!

Pencils, notebooks, and calculators have been stocked. The renovations at our church & school building have been artfully and intentionally designed by dear friends. Hand-crafted with beauty and meaning, the Lord works masterpieces from the loveliness of His mind, His guidance in every detail and the work of so many, many hands. We rejoice in all the Lord has done. Gardens of grace are being planted in places of despair, and the life of the Kingdom is bearing fruit with truth and beauty. As I look around our city, some leaves are beginning their faithful farewell, their one last act in their seasonal drama, as if taking a blushed bow before stepping off the stage.

Just a couple weeks ago, a precious baby was born in our church community and this weekend, I prepared a deliciously fun meal of homemade tortillas, smoked pork (thanks to my husband), rice, and all the mouth-watering garnishes for a scrumptious meal of tacos. We frequently bake our own tortillas - our kids won’t have it any other way. We live in a city that is over 50% hispanic, one of our favorite cultures to live in, so we have adapted to cooking Mexican food weekly! On a trip to Papalote ten years ago, we received a cookbook from the women of the church we were visiting, and now Maria’s Tortillas are our go-to recipe forever! I’ve attached it here if you’d like to try your hand at home made tortillas… but get ready to be committed. Once your children try it, they won’t ask for any other kind. I’m very thankful for a kind neighbor who taught me how to make authentic tortillas from scratch many years ago with a tortilla press! The Hermanas of Papalote use a one inch PVC pipe to roll out the dough, but they say a rolling pin would work too!

It is the beginning of a new school year for my precious ones. One is in her Freshman year, two are in the Middle School years and one is starting 4th grade! I’ve been goal-setting and making plans of all kinds including what to listen to on my many drives this Fall to and from our little classical school, to violin lessons, piano lessons, and football practice. I have audiobooks aplenty. I plan to share a list here soon of what I’m listening to and learning these days.

We enjoyed a special “back to school” Tea Time on the Patio last week. Each one of them got a personal tea party with me as we shared espresso, Scottish breakfast tea, and donuts. We chatted and laughed, and had meaningful heart to heart moments. I shared with each of them a scripture passage, Jesus’ words calling his disciples to abide in Him, the true vine. I prayed for each one. It was our little summer finale, a way to be thankful for this season God has given us with sweet treats and tea, and make way for Autumn joys to arrive.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

-John 15:1-17 ESV

Grapes from my father’s backyard vineyard

A Little Night Music in August

As our spring season barreled down the tracks and came to a screeching summer halt, we found ourselves in need of quiet and solace. We borrowed an RV and headed for the mountains of Cascadia. Completely off the grid, we set up camp at a site on the side of a cliff that overlooked the Ohanapecosh river. A humble creek flowed unassumingly behind us in a trickling waterfall over a moss-covered log, glory in every drop of water. We reached our hands into streams of hot springs that trickled over rocks from within the living volcano. The well traveled trail to Silver Falls was quiet and still as perpetual sunlight followed our footsteps. We buried ourselves in books around the campfire, stared up at the stars as dusk descended, swam in the frigid snow-melt, and slept with the sound of the river lulling us into peaceful slumber. With a few other adventures along the way, we feel restored and refreshed, and with so many hours on the road across Washington state, into Idaho, and all the way up home to Beautiful British Columbia, we listened to satisfying music which I want to share with you. Here comes the mother-load!

This month’s “eine kleine nachtmusik” might take a few evenings to enjoy. I think if I ever lost my ability to hear (or more of my ability to hear as some in my family might say), it would be okay, I would hear music in my head and heart all the same, and bounce to the beat the Lord ingrained in my heart. Music is a gift from the Lord to carry us through soaring heights, comfort us in dark valleys, and lift us on eagle’s wings out of canyons of confusion and despair where we can see clearly again. Music is an intimate way to experience life. I think that is why it is so subjective. What touches one person’s soul will be like nails on a chalkboard to someone else. When one person needs the soothing calm of J.S. Bach’s Air on the G String, another might need a bit of pep in the step with the Dave Brubeck Quartet or the volcanic velocity of Eva Cassidy’s vocals in Oh, Had I a Golden Thread. We come from such varying backgrounds and life experiences. There is no end to the creation of new songs, and for those who trust in Jesus, we have the sure and steady hope that we will enjoy an eternal song.

The following is a list of songs that have accompanied me on many miles of travel this summer in Cascadia, a Land of Falling Waters. May this music fall on open ears, soft hearts, and may it bring you to the stream of Living Water, Jesus Himself.

Trust in the Lord - Jon Guerra

A Thousand Shores - Leslie Jordan

Have Mercy - Paper Horses

John 3:16-17 The Words of Jesus Vol. 1 - The Corner Room

Oh The Mighty Hand - City Alight

All Glory Be To Christ - Emily Weiss

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 96:1-6 ESV Bible

A Little Night Music in July

Photo by LAUREN GRAY on Unsplash

My Mom set apart Sunday mornings as very special in every way she managed our home on the Lord’s Day. Worship filled our home from the moment my sisters and I awoke as music from the record player downstairs beckoned us to begin anew. Dad was already at church rehearsing his sermon, praying, quietly setting up, and making sure everything was ready for the service. It was the 80’s, so with puffy sleeves, feathered hair, jean purses, and jelly shoes, we made our way to church. My mom would give us each a quarter to put into the offering.

It was those first moments of waking to music that I’ve been thinking about this month. I recall songs from Connie Scott, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Hosanna! Music Praise series such as one of my favorites… 1989’s Victory Chant! Turn up the music!

I wanted to carry on this tradition with my family of setting apart Sunday mornings as a special time for the kids and I, while my husband went to work to prepare the music for church as a worship pastor, and now in our church plant as pastor. I put on the music on our streaming device and light a candle, bake dutch baby pancakes with powder sugar on top. We quietly get ready for the morning. Sometimes we leave early, depending on how we’re helping serve that week. But the morning is set apart with worship and a delicious breakfast.

A whole slew of music has accompanied our Lord’s Day mornings over the years, but lately I’ve been playing Josh Garrels’ album, Peace to All Who Enter Here, to lead us into worship of our God as we prepare our hearts to worship with our church family.

If you haven’t heard this album yet, I hope you enjoy each one of these songs as eine kleine nachtmusik in July, and may it accompany your Lord’s Day mornings as well. Prepare well, for it is the Lord we worship. Exalt the Lord our God!

Dutch Baby Pancakes:

1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs - lightly beaten
4 Tb butter (I love salted!)
Directions… Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put it all in a bowl and mix together! While the oven is preheating, put your cast iron skillet in the oven to heat up. When ready to pour the batter, melt 2 Tb butter in skillet. Pour in the batter and bake for 15 mins until pancake is golden brown and climbing up the sides. Pull out of the oven and sprinkle with powder sugar. You can also sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with jam, fresh fruit, or chocolate chips. Enjoy with your people around the table!

Grace upon grace,

Jen