My children (both of them at some time or other) used to accuse church people of being hypocritical. They said they went to church and pasted on smiles and pretended all was fine when it wasn't.
Today I decided that's not hypocritical. That's what worship is meant to do: to shift our attention from the things of this world to the sovereign God we worship.
I'm a musician, and I love to sing at church. (This morning a gentleman asked who was going to be blessed to have me sit behind them today!)
Sometimes I sing quietly--especially when it's a new song and with today's lack of music, I don't know the melody. But sometimes it's a familiar song, the melody soars and suits my soprano voice, and the words inspire my deepest worship. That happened today with Michael W. Smith's "Great is the Lord." As we sang "now lift up your voice," I lifted my voice and sang my heart out.
Then during the offering, they turned on a recording of my all-time favorite Resurrection hymn: Charles Wesley's "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." I wasn't the only one humming along. Oh, and I can't forget the rare treat of singing a hymn by my favorite hymn writer, Fanny Crosby: "Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It"--with the original melody, no less.
Our pastor continued his series on Revelation, this time focusing on the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church (from the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 20). He described worship attendance as a date night and admitted how he often struggles with being distracted from worship. Don't we all?
But then he turned the tables. Our prayer should be that God, in all His awesome glory, should distract us from the petty problems that turn our attention away from Him.
Music, more than anything else, does that for me.
This has been a banner month for my blog. The most comments ever--over 60. So far we are scheduled for six giveaways during August. Keep up the good work!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
That's awesome.
Usually i don't sing really loud but today we were singing a song that i love!(would you believe i cant remember the name to one of my favorite songs?) Anyway i just belted it out. It was so wonderful.
I also read the small lettering and saw that there's been over 60 comments that's AWESOME!!!!
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
Hi Leah. The Lord must have been moving in our churches today! I'm so glad you had a similar experience.
Darlene - what a wonderful, thought provoking post!
I am the first to admit I don't have a "singing" voice, but when a hymn is being sung that I know and love, I just can't help myself, I have to belt it out :0)
Music has always been a healer to my heart when troubled - there is nothing like listening to "Amazing Grace" sung by Il Divo that will ease my worries & fears.
Congratulations on the 60 posts for this month - that is just fantastic!
Blessings,
Beverly
I agree, music is just a wonderful way to connect and worship with our Lord on an intimate level.
caseymh18(@)gmail(.)com
Would love to win one of your books. Seaside Romance is one that is going on my list. The front cover is so alluring, it is beautiful. I have Prodigal Parrot on my list. Juanita W
whisper97304@yahoo.com
Trusting when I get to heaven I will have a good singing voice. Not here, but I sing in the car listening to K-Love, at least a lot of their worthip music, or alone at home I sing my heart out, the Lord gave me the voice I have so He won't complain, because He could change it if He chose to. Hope He does in glory. Want to really worship Him then. Juanita W
whisper97304@yahoo.com
You know, the Lord has blessed me with a pleasant voice, but it doesn't take a professional musician to worship God. He listens to the quality of our heart and not our voice. (Spoken by one who has led in music for years and who has to ask God to get my heart right before I sit down at the piano or stand up to sing)
Setting aside the cares of the world to worship God through song seems to lift us above it all(the hypocrites, a bad day, troubles). God is so good to bless us and draw us near. I love those extra special times when God touches me deeply through a beautiful hymn or music.
This is a fascinating insight, Darlene. Worship really does change our countenance. Now to find a way to carry that through the week.
Post a Comment