New Year, New Goals, and A Song about Hagar {New Music Monday}

I set a few goals for myself this year! Here they are:

I’d like to post something new here on Mondays and Thursdays. I’ve been posting twice a week on and off for a while, but typically not on the same days. I’d like to provide you, my dear readers, with more consistency, and also myself. This might mean I’ll post shorter instead of longer articles, and I might also end up posting more personal updates because I’ll be writing “on the fly” more often. I’m excited to see what I come up with! If you’d like me to write an article about something particular, would you let me know?

I’m going to finish writing a book this year. In this post I listed a couple that I’m part-way through writing. To achieve this goal, I plan to write in the evening for half an hour after the kids go to bed. I’ll dedicate some extra time to writing on the weekends Brian works, and then the occasional coffee shop visit. I’ll also continue to participate in The Habit. If you’d like me to write a book about something particular, would you let me know?

I’d finally like to get to my ideal weight. I have about 25 pounds to go. To achieve this goal, I plan to keep eating three meals a day, one serving each, and a bedtime snack. I also plan to continue exercising three mornings a week. (If you’d like to know why this is important to me, you can read more here.)

Next, Carolyn Custis James’ book Lost Women of the Bible includes a chapter about Hagar, the servant of Sarah and mother of Ishmael. She brought up so many interesting and thoughtful ideas that I had never considered before. (If you’re not familiar with Hagar’s story, you can read about her in Genesis 16.) Hagar’s story and Carolyn Custis James’ insights inspired me to write this song. In the story, Hagar names God “El Roi,” or “the God who sees.”

The Music

El Roi

As Hagar wandered through the wilderness,
She saw the Lord’s angel walking toward her.
He knew her name, he saw her anguish:
An invisible woman, but not forgotten.

El Roi, strong in any language;
El Roi, strong to save the weak;
El Roi, strong to save His people;
El Roi, the God who sees.

What a troubling thing the angel told her:
“Return to your mistress, and submit to her.”
In faith, Hagar trusted in the God who saw her,
“Surely I have seen him who looks after me.”

El Roi, strong in any language;
El Roi, strong to save the weak;
El Roi, strong to save His people;
El Roi, the God who sees.

We all like Hagar wander helpless,
Caught in sin and searching for rescue.
Believe me, sister, God sees your trouble.
He doesn’t far off, but comes to greet you.

Fear not! El Roi sees your suffering;
Fear not! Your inheritance lives on.
El Roi holds you in His mercy;
El Roi, the God who sees.

El Roi, the God who sees you.
El Roi, the God who sees you.

Photo: Erwan Hesry on Unsplash