“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 141-2 NKJV
Yesterday I returned to Watermark Assisted Living and shared with my friends some of the details of our 50th wedding anniversary travels. Besides visiting with our family, the high point was to worship at the little country church where we were married a lifetime ago. Lots of things have changed but amazingly they are still using the same piano that Nancy played before we said, “I do!” I hope you enjoy this heartfelt and sometimes funny session, along with a hymn that talks of where our journey is leading – That Manson over the Hilltop. Why not join us on the journey and put your trust in Jesus Christ to guide you along the way?!
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exodus 15:1 KJV
When the idea of singing is referred to in the Bible most of us think of David’s Psalms. Yes, the Psalms is virtually littered with incidences of David singing, but he was by no means the only singer/songwriter in scripture. Moses wrote the lyrics and then led millions of people in singing after God led them through the Red sea. (Exodus 15:1)Fast forward to the book of judges and we find Deborah and Barak singing together words they collaborated on after God had delivered them in battle. (Judges 5:1-2). Isaiah sang in his prophecies (Isaiah 5:1), Both Mary after the conception of Jesus and Hannah after the birth of Samuel composed songs. While they were in prison, Paul and Silas even sang in their jail cell at midnight, and then God sent an earthquake. (Acts 16:25). Of course we recall angels rejoicing as they announced the news to the shepherds and Revelation is filled with multitudes of saints singing in Heaven, but the most amazing singing I can think of is when Jesus led the disciples in a song at the end of the last supper.
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives Matthew 26:30
Can you even imagine Jesus leading you in song? Some of us (myself included) seem to have difficulty even singing in church. We reason that others are singing better so we will just listen, or we might not care to learn a new song, think it is too high, too low or too loud. The problem we are having is because we forget that singing to the Lord does not originate in our voice box, it begins in our hearts. As Paul tells the Ephesians believers, we are to be.
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, Ephesians 5:19 ESV
I hope that today, whatever your circumstances, whether you are in battle, in trouble, in prison or in church, that God will help you to focus again on Him. He is the inspiration for our song lyrics, our melodies and our praise. Why not sing to Him a new song or an old hymn. He is listening and best of all, He loves to join us when we praise!
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 KJV
I do hope you will like our singing of this hymn, which reminds of these truths and that you might even sing along a bit as we let the song that Jesus gave us, ring through our hearts in melody today!
Though you might think that Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art or In the Garden might be the most requested hymns. But at Sunshine Memory Care, “Love Lifted Me!” is their favorite. You can hear the joy in their voices as they join with me as we song this song, but with a different message on this Easter week. I hope you will enjoy listening in and pray for more volunteers so that we can bring this message of hope to many others who are sinking deep in sorrow, loneliness as well as sin. Jesus specializes in lifting us up whenever we look to Him! (And not just at Easter!)
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