Singing Off Key

 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  Colossians 3:16

Did you know that God loves it when you sing to Him?  The key to being set free to really worship is to understand that you aren’t singing to anyone else but God.  Colossians 3:16 ends by saying, “…singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord!”  Let’s be honest, don’t we enjoy it when someone sings to us? We may act embarrassed, but when someone sings “happy birthday” to us, it makes us feel good because they care enough about us to sing to us. God is the same way—He created us in His image and He has instructed us to sing praises to Him.

One Sunday, everywhere I turned the Lord kept saying the same thing over and over to me.  It was about singing to the Lord.  In Sunday School, we were studying the book of Revelation Chapter 5.  Verse 9 says, “And they sang a new song…”  That day in the worship service, the music director said we weren't singing to put on a show, we were singing for the Lord. 

Finally, that Sunday night I was watching TV and the message was entitled, “The Kind of Music God Loves”.  So I’m like, “OK, Lord, I get the message!” 

In the early 80’s, we lived in Louisiana.  I was a member of a small church and sang in the choir.  There was this precious lady who also sang in the choir.  She loved to sing, and you knew she meant every word she sang.  She sat behind me in the choir.  She sang loud and clear. 

The only problem for me was that she sang nearly every note off key.  I’m not a strong singer and can very easily get off key.  But, bless her heart, she didn’t even seem to know she caused some of us around her to miss some notes we were singing.  

I’m ashamed to admit it, but, I used to wish she wouldn’t sit behind me or even near me so I wouldn’t mess up as bad.  Yes, pride had consumed me!  Then one day she moved away.  I was very surprised to find myself missing her singing!  I soon realized the Spirit of the Lord didn’t seem to be present with us like He was before she moved.  God had given me a big wake up call back then and let me know that while I was thinking I sounded “so good”, it was her who was actually blessing Him.  She was singing with all her heart because she loved the Lord, I was singing because I thought I sounded good enough to be in a choir.

Because we are so used to being entertained, it is easy to make the mistake of thinking a worship service is to entertain the audience. If you are like I was and think it is like a concert, or a play where the choir loft is a stage and we’re the performers—you’ve got it all wrong.

Here’s an important spiritual truth about worship: True worship is always for an audience of One. Every song, every prayer, every offering is to be directed to our Heavenly Father.  

So, instead of thinking we’re the performers and those not singing in the choir are the audience, think of the entire sanctuary as the stage and we are doing our part in offering the sacrifice of praise to God.  When we applaud, we really aren’t applauding the talents or efforts of the person or group singing. Our applause is to show appreciation to the audience of One who has filled our hearts with grace and made all this possible.

When Jesus comes to live in our heart, He brings a song and puts it there.   Sometimes we may sing off key or sit beside someone who does, but when it all comes down to it we had better be singing Christians!   Are you singing from your heart to the Lord? 

It's Supper Time!

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth 

out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

One of my fondest memories as a child is the times I spent at my grandmother’s house.  She was old fashioned in her beliefs – one of which she believed children should be outside playing and not stuck inside listening to what the adults were talking about.

I thought she was the best cook in the whole world.  It seemed everything she cooked was just perfect.  She enjoyed cooking for her family and you could taste the love she felt for us in every bite.

Some words I couldn’t wait to hear her say when we were outside playing were, “Come on in, it’s supper time!”  Oh, how I would love to hear her say that just once more.

There is an old southern gospel song entitled, “Supper Time.”  It begins with a young boy playing outside all day long.  Then, in the evening, his mom would call him in for supper.  It ends up telling about his mother waiting for him in heaven; waiting at the banquet table.  Waiting for that great supper – the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  

One of these days, if we are one of His, we will hear the Lord call to us, “Come home, it’s supper time!”  What a gathering that will be!  Revelation 19:9 says, “…Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” 

Whatever it is that we do while we are on this earth, we should be doing it with one purpose in mind - to glorify God, to lift up His name, and to share the life changing news of Jesus Christ. We should be looking ahead, eagerly awaiting that final supper with our Lord.

While we are waiting, let’s feast on God’s Word.  Let’s do the things we do to the very best of our abilities. God has placed us right where we are for such a time as this. Let’s share some of the “food” from God’s Word with others.  Someone we will encounter today desperately needs to know Jesus loves them.  Tell them!

Pass the Salt, Please!

“Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”

~Edmond Burke~

I think most everyone will agree with the saying, “A little salt goes a long way.”  Have you ever eaten hospital food?  The main thing I’ve noticed is the lack of salt.  Fortunately, they include those tiny little packs of salt and pepper with your meal.  Strangely, that small pack provides just enough seasoning to make the food edible.

The Bible teaches us about another kind of salt.  In Matthew 5:13 Jesus said, "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth...” (The Message)

More than likely, we could all name a few people we would say undoubtedly fit into the “salt” category.   But, one person we have all heard of that comes to my mind is Mother Teresa. 

Author, Jean Houston had the privilege of talking with her on more than one occasion.  During one of the talks she asked her, "How does it happen that you're able to do these things that most international development organizations can do only with immense trouble?"

Mother Teresa replied, "My dear, it's because I'm so deeply in love."

Houston said, "You are in love, Mother? Would you mind telling me who you are in love with?"

She said, "Not at all. I'm in love with Jesus."

Houston said, "Well, of course."

She said, "No, you don't understand, I really am. I have such a love for Jesus that I feel the presence of Him everywhere — in that day-old child that was left at the convent door who needs a life and an education, or that leper who comes to me and wants to be of some use in the world. I see Christ in that child and that leper. I cannot do enough for my beloved. And so my beloved cannot do enough for me. That is why I am able to do these things." *

The “salt” Mother Teresa sprinkled on others and everything she did proved her love for Jesus. Likewise, if whatever we do isn’t done because of our love for Jesus, it doesn’t mean a thing.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 “…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” 

This week as we are interacting with others, may whatever we do be because of our love for Christ.  Also, let us remember Jesus said that we are to be salt, so, let’s sprinkle it, lovingly, on our family, our friends and on everyone with whom we come in contact.

* http://www.scottlondon.com/interviews/houston.html

Whispers

Wow!  I can't believe it's been nearly a week since I posted my last blog!  I am happy to say school has begun and all the extra time I spent there helping get the rooms ready was well worth my time.  We have wonderful children again this year.  Please be in prayer for us and our students.  May God richly bless you!  I hope you enjoy my blog!

“He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.”  2 Samuel 23:4

While sitting at my kitchen table, I noticed a bird outside my window.  It was chasing a grasshopper.  The grasshopper jumped and tried to get away, but the bird quickly flew over to where it landed, took it in its beak and shook it.  The grasshopper in turn freed itself and hopped off to another spot.  The bird didn’t let it get away and kept following after it.  He took it in its beak and shook it again.  This cycle repeated itself until finally the grasshopper stopped jumping.  With one final shake, the bird pecked the grasshopper until it had a beak full.  The bird then flew off to enjoy its tasty snack.

Wanting to run outside and shew the bird away from the grasshopper I quickly came to my senses remembering that this is how nature works.   I couldn’t help but compare this example to Christians and the Enemy.  Unfortunately, the Enemy knows our weaknesses and loves to tempt us in those areas.  We try to get away, but, like the bird, he is always on our heels pecking at us and trying to get us to give in. 

I remember in 1975, Linda Ronstadt had a #1 hit called, You’re No Good.   There are times when we do give in to the temptations of the devil, and that’s when he whispers in our ears.  “You’re No Good, You’re No Good, You’re No Good!”  1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  

You can rest assured that the Enemy will try to tell us we’re no good.  Instead of listening to him, let’s listen to Lord as He reminds us that we are His.  Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the LORD always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  

This week don’t listen to the Enemy when he whispers “You’re No Good!” in your ear. 

The Upside Down View

 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Have you ever wondered why an ostrich sticks its head in the sand?  Or have you ever wondered how it would feel if you did it?  Or even possibly why you haven’t tried it before?  Sometimes if we would stop to think about it, it might just be the right thing to do.

Since most of my family lives in Alabama, I always treasure each opportunity we have to visit each other.  There is one particular visit that warms my heart whenever it comes to mind.  I can’t help but smile affectionately every time I remember it.

My brother drives an eighteen wheeler and had stopped by for a brief visit on his way to deliver a load.  My youngest daughter was about two years old at the time.  Like most babies at that age she was going through a shy stage.  As we sat in the den talking, she was curiously watching us and playing with her toys.  

The next thing I knew, she had turned her back to him, leaned down and put her head on the floor between her legs and was looking at him upside down through her legs!   She looked like a little ostrich!  We got so tickled at her.  She stood there for several minutes just staring at him.  I have often wondered what her little mind was thinking as she watched him from this new angle.  I'm not sure if she got tired or bored with her upside down view, but she quickly straightened up and began playing with her toys again and never gave him another glance. 

We often look at life through the Enemy’s perspective and live a defeated life.  We go through our day listening to all the negative things that are being said around us.  Slowly all the negativity begins to seep into our hearts until one day we find our self spiraling downward in a whirlwind of pessimism.  It is very easy to get caught up in speaking negative things about others or about life’s circumstances in general.  At first we feel guilty, but it eventually doesn’t affect us at all. 

What would happen if we stopped, turned our back on the negativity, put our heads down and looked at life and others in a totally different way?  We might by chance begin to see them as Christ does.  For when we look at life through Christ’s eyes, everything changes!  The next time our life starts a downward spiral, let’s remember the ostrich – let’s put our heads down and look at things differently!

Would You Please Be Still?

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.”

Psalm 34:8

Isn’t it funny how time changes things?  As a young girl, one of the things I hated, but desperately needed, was a nap.  Now, I long for the chance to lie down during the day even for a few minutes.

 

The older I get it seems as if the hours in each day get shorter and shorter.  I seldom find time, or maybe it’s that I seldom take time, to just sit and relax.  There’s always something to do around the house, whether it is laundry, cooking, or cleaning, or perhaps there’s somewhere I need to go.   I’m just busy doing who knows what!  I sometimes stop for a few minutes and wonder what happened to those carefree days when I had nothing to do! 

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, “Slow down. Look around, and enjoy God’s creation.”  One of the things that makes God so awesome is His creation.  When I saw that bumper sticker, I thought of how much I needed to take its advice.   How I need to take time to focus on the beauty our heavenly Father has placed around me.  How I need to make sure I slow down every day and enjoy some quiet with Him. 

Psalm 46:10 tells us to “Be still and know that I am God…”   How can we be still when we convince ourselves we have too much to do?  How can we know God intimately if we don’t get still and listen to Him?  In regards to this, the question we should be asking our self is, “How can we NOT choose to be still and know that He is God?”  We read in the scriptures of how God speaks to His children in a still, small voice.  Haven't you found, like I have, that when we are too busy, we can’t hear Him. 

This week, let’s purposely set aside some time each day to be still before the Lord.  Then, during this still, quiet time, let’s place the names of those needing prayer at the Master’s feet.  Finally, let’s get some of that much needed rest, which comes from the peaceful presence of our gracious God.

Come Sit by Me!

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; …praise his holy name…

and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins…” Psalm 113:1-3

When I used to drive the YMCA bus, there was a little guy who rode and was constantly hopping around, standing up in the isle, falling out of his seat, and to top it all off, he was always talking ninety-to-nothing.  I always had to tell him to sit down, don’t talk so loud, and get back in his seat.  Then there was the little girl who sat across from him.  She talked occasionally, but not too loud.  She would sometimes turn around in her seat to see what was happening behind her, but mostly she was a good little passenger.

The cutest thing happened one day between the two of them.  Because of a problem that occurred on the bus I had to move one of the older boys to sit in her seat.  Knowing she liked the front seat I asked her if she wanted to sit with the little guy in the seat beside her.  She said, “Yes.”  One day she sat down by him and he turned and asked her, “Why do you want to sit with me everyday?”  With a sheepish grin she replied, “Because I think you’re pretty.”

Most of the time, we are like the little guy - hopping around and always doing something we shouldn’t.  Then, just like the little girl, here is Jesus still wanting to sit by us.  Even though He knows our faults, He sits by quietly watching us hop from one crazy thing to another.  His grace is amazing and His forgiveness is complete.  Psalm 103:11-12 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  


Today may we remember that our Heavenly Father loves us and considers us His treasured possession.  And most importantly, He loves to sit by us!