Praise music

From the Rising of the Sun

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment 
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

Years ago, we had a chorus that used this Psalm. I never stopped to think much about what this meant when we sang the words. I had always just thought that we simply needed to praise God all day long, every day. Then the Holy Spirit began to show me a picture of my life. God has given each of us an amazing chance in life, no matter how long or how short it is to be. From our earliest days when we just begin to speak, we can begin to praise the name of the Lord. He can be precious to us, or we can choose to neglect him. Jesus continues calling us, as our sun rises and strengthens to noonday and even to the evening shadows. Some of us come in the morning; some come in the early afternoon and some not until our sun is starting to set. God is always looking for the opportunity to enter into our life. He wants to come and give us life for however many moments we have.His name is still to be praised wherever we are. God is delighted with early morning praise formed on the lips of children. God is honored by praise that rises from excited young people and God is lovingly receives quieter praise from the hearts of runners with tired legs, who are nearing the end of the race. God’s name is always to be praised. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the Lord is to be praised!

I Will Sing!

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments 
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!

Lively Praise at Assisted Living

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Not long ago, one of my fellow seniors in our Bible study group remarked that when the youth from the worship team do an occasional hymn, they sing everything soooo slowly! They must think that because we are older that we just can’t keep up a faster pace. Here is a pretty lively selection from a meeting a couple of weeks back at an assisted living facility that ought to put that idea to rest! I hope you tap your feet, clap your hands and sing along these three favorites which my fellow senior saints have no problem keeping up with!

Clap your hands, all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.
Psalm 47:1 NIV