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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Recently I have been contemplating hymns in general and came across this video. I thought I would share the video and most importantly the lyrics by Joachim Neander (1650-1680). I hope in reflecting upon these words, they might ignite in us a desire to “let all that is in me adore Him!”

1. Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

2. Praise to the Lord,
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How all your longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness
And mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

4. Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Public Domain

Eva’s 1st Year


On Saturday, March 17, 2012 we celebrated Eva’s 1st birthday. As a household tradition, I made a short video highlighting Eva’s first year.

Angie and I recognize that it is God Himself who “gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25). It is what we teach our children as well. In His wisdom, kindness, and love, God has given life to Eva and has entrusted her to us. In return we entrust ourselves to Him who alone saves, delivers, causes hearts to turn to Him.

Cielito Lindo” (“Beautiful little love of mine” or literally “beautiful little heavenly one“) sung by Marta Gomez – “From Prada to Nada” (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2011.

Lyrics vary widely from performer to performer and every singer is free to add some new verse to his or her own interpretation. Some of the most traditional lyrics are the following:

Spanish Literal English translation Metaphoric English translation
De la Sierra Morena,
Cielito lindo, vienen bajando,
Un par de ojitos negros,
Cielito lindo, de contrabando.Estribillo:
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones.Pájaro que abandona,
Cielito lindo, su primer nido,
Si lo encuentra ocupado,
Cielito lindo, bien merecido.(Estribillo)Ese lunar que tienes,
Cielito lindo, junto a la boca,
No se lo des a nadie,
Cielito lindo, que a mí me toca.(Estribillo)

Si tu boquita morena,
Fuera de azúcar, fuera de azúcar,
Yo me lo pasaría,
Cielito lindo, chupa que chupa.

(Estribillo)

De tu casa a la mía,
Cielito lindo, no hay más que un paso,
Antes que venga tu madre,
Cielito lindo, dame un abrazo.

(Estribillo)

Una flecha en el aire,
Cielito lindo, lanzó Cupido,
y como fue jugando,
Cielito lindo, yo fui el herido.

(Estribillo)

From the Sierra Morena,
Pretty darling, they come down,
a pair of black eyes,
Pretty little heaven, which are contraband.Refrain:
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
sing and don’t cry,
because singing gladdens,
Pretty little heaven, the hearts.Bird that abandons,
pretty darling, his first nest,
if he finds it occupied,
Pretty little heaven, is well deserved.(Refrain)That mole you have
pretty darling, next to your mouth,
don’t give it to anyone,
Pretty little heaven, for it belongs to me.(Refrain)

If your little mouth, dark one,
were made of sugar, were made of sugar
I would spend my time,
Pretty little heaven, sucking(x2)

(Refrain)

From your house to mine
pretty darling, there is no more than a step.
Before your mother comes,
Pretty little heaven, give me a hug.

(Refrain)

An arrow in the air
pretty sweetheart, Cupid launched
playing he shot it towards me,
Pretty little heaven, and I’ve been wounded.

(Refrain)

Through dark tresses, heavenly one,
a pair of deep brown eyes,
lower as they approach,
a stolen glance.Refrain:
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
sing and don’t cry,
heavenly one, for singing
gladdens hearts.A bird that abandons
his first nest, heavenly one,
then finds it occupied by another,
deserves to lose it.(Refrain)That beauty mark you have
next to your mouth, heavenly one,
don’t share with anyone but me
who appreciates it.(Refrain)

If your little mouth, my dark girl,
were made of sugar,
I would spend my time
enjoying its sweetness.

(Refrain)

From your house to mine
there is no more than a step.
Before your mother comes,
heavenly one, give me a hug.

(Refrain)

Cupid shot off an arrow,
heavenly one,
And though he was playing,
I was wounded.

(Refrain)

Restless

The House You’re Building

You dwell in the songs that we are singing
Rising to the Heavens
Rising to Your heart
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between our frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heart

And I’m restless
I’m restless
‘Til I rest in You
(Oh God I wanna rest in You)

Oh speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me
Whisper in the dark
‘Cause I know You’re more than my salvation
Without You I am hopeless
Tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart

Still my heart
Hold me close
Let me hear a still small voice
Let it grow
Let it rise
Into a shout
Into a cry

I am restless until I rest in You

Written by Audrey Assad and Matt Maher
© 2010 River Oaks Music Company (BMI)
Matt Maher Publishing Designee
(Admin. by EMI CMG Publishing)