music. singing

Singing With Virginia

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
O Sing unto to the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1 KJV

A few years ago, I had been praying for God to open doors at the long-term care facilities I visit, but I wasn’t prepared to see them swing open quite so wide. One morning I arrived at the memory-care ward of a local facility and found about a dozen folks seated in the TV area by the nurse’s station. They seemed happy to see me and as I took out my guitar and started singing “Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man who stilled the waters!”, I noticed behind one lady pacing aimlessly back and forth hunched over her walker. I paid little attention to her until she suddenly started shuffling in our direction. Being concerned that she might fall, one of the nurses jumped up and gently redirected her back to the hall. But just a minute later she was back, and this time walked right up to me and stood quietly for a moment, then reached out her finger and touched the strings of my guitar. Curious to see what she would do; I assured the nurse that it was fine. “What’s her name?” I asked the nurse. “Oh, that’s Virginia.” She called back. I had not been able to see Virginia’s face because she was so completely bent over her walker but when she heard her name she looked up and smiled. Then as we started the next hymn Virginia began to sing. Her face lit up as our voices joined together, “Jesus – Jesus – Jesus – Sweetest name I know. Hears every longing of my heart – Keeps me singing as I go!” Oh yes doors began opening today but the one that swung the widest was the one to my heart. Virginia reminded all of us that everyone on earth can sing a new song for you!

Singing the Psalms

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

One thing that makes me sad is how our churches often come to the lyrics of the greatest song book in the world and all we do is read the words in unison with a monotone voice. Yes, God’s word is perfect but forgive me when I say that maybe even God gets bored by the way we read it out loud! We seem to have forgotten that this was not the way the Psalms were intended to be experienced. Maybe it would help to think of the Psalms as songs whose melody has fallen asleep. With all the talent out there, why don’t more people compose new melodies for these precious promises of God to be sing by? The Psalms Project is one such group that has set about to try and bring them to life again, but there is so much more that could be done if others could catch the vision of singing God’s word.

You may consider scripture songs, to be somewhat old-fashioned or wooden, but once you try it, you will discover some wonderful benefits, just waiting to be explored. God always blesses the joyful singing of His word, in fact one of the last things Jesus did with His disciples was to sing a hymn after the Last Supper! Those lyrics most likely began with:

 "Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
    Praise the name of the Lord!
 Blessed be the name of the Lord
    now and forever.
 Everywhere—from east to west—
    praise the name of the Lord." Psalm 113:1-3

Imagine Jesus singing such praises just hours before His arrest, beating and torturous death. As the very Living word of God, He went to the cross still singing God’s word. Today, young people pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to listen to their favorite pop star, because their songs make them laugh, cry, or feel romantic. They shell out megabucks for just a passing experience, but the Psalms give far more than temporary feelings. Within them are the depth of the riches of the heart of God. What can be happier than?

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;” Psalm 126:2

Or what sadder words have you ever heard than?

“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.”
Psalm 6:6.

God knows that when we laugh, cry, or even complain to Him, that we begin to connect with Him and with His word in the depths of our souls. So, why not take a moment with the world’s greatest songbook today, and either alone or with others, sing out the precious words that God has given us there and allow them to sink into your heart and mind?

He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:3 NLT

Connecting Generations

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

The service last Friday at Life Care Center was really special. One of the highlights for me was a visit from a teenager named Lindsay. Lindsay is a special needs child whose mom is one of our volunteers. She was super excited to be there but nervous, so she sat at a table near the back with her counselor. About halfway through the song session, Lindsay was loving the music, but her emotions became a bit overwhelmed, so she began expressing her joy with loud vocalizations. I couldn’t see exactly what was happening, but I was told later that, before anyone got too worried about the situation, one of the residents wheeled herself over to Lindsay, and with a smile, gently took hold of her hand to calm her. I was so blessed to hear of how God used that circumstance as a perfect demonstration of how Jesus wants to connect, one generation to another through Him. The exuberance of youth, the joy of worship and the gentle patience of this precious older woman all blended together in those moments to show the love of Christ in action.

I believe that Jesus on the Main Line is the song that set those wheels in motion, so, I hope you will enjoy listening to an abbreviated version of it along with a few words on the subject of prayer. I pray God will bless you, hear your prayers and connect you to others this week in the wonderful love of Jesus!