Tag: Joyful Noise

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Join the Chorus

I love music!

I grew up singing in church, was a part of the youth choir and also Glee Club and Women’s Chorus in Junior High and High School. I’ve even had fun Christmas Carolling. I really like musicals and one of my favorite musical offerings over the past few years has been “flash mob” performances. I would love to be there as an innocent bystander when the mall or the plaza erupt in song.

I’m so encouraged when I read in the Bible “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord”. All of us are included in that admonition. We don’t have to be well trained vocalists like the Three Tenors and most of us would probably never win American Idol (when it was still on) but we can all make a joyful noise.

The Jewish people had songs for every occasion. They sang as they walked through the desert, they sang after battle, they sang at dedications. They sang! The book of Psalms is a song book. Young David sang to his sheep, he sang while hiding from his enemies in a cave, he sang and danced when the ark of the covenant was returned to Jerusalem.

“They sang songs of praise and thanksgiving, taking turns in singing each part. They sang, ‘The LORD is good. His faithful love will last forever.’ Then all the people cheered—they gave a loud shout and praised the LORD because the foundation of the LORD’S Temple had been laid.” Ezra 3:11

They sang while they were working and when their work was done. Their hearts were full of gratitude and they sang. I can’t help but think that Jewish life would have been like a scene from “Fiddler on the Roof”. Conversation and singing intertwined.

The people we find singing in the verses above were working on rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. They were overcome with joy because of the progress. They couldn’t contain the gladness in their hearts. They were rejoicing because the foundation of the temple had been laid, which meant that God would be dwelling with them once again. You see, they felt that the presence of God was with them because He lived in the Holy of Holies in the temple and rebuidling the temple meant that God had a place to live once again.

We should be giving thanks every day because we have been promised that God’s presence is always with us – never leaving us or forsaking us – His presence dwells within us when we are in Christ. That’s reason to give praise.

“Each one sang their part”. I’ll sing my part today and I hope you will too.

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Start the Day with Purpose

I have to admit that this morning is one of those when I wish I could go back to bed and sleep just a while longer and it’s definitely time for another cup of coffee. The day ahead is God’s slate to write on. I will praise God for His love and goodness and for His provision in my life.

Use me Lord to pen your words!

“Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you,  because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom belongs to you, Lord! You are the head, the Ruler over everything. 12 Riches and honor come from you. You rule everything. You have the power and strength in your hand!  And in your hand is the power to make anyone great and powerful! 13 Now, our God, we thank you, and we praise your glorious name!” I Chronicles 29:11-13 ERV

These words were penned by David at the end of his life. He was addressing the nation of Israel and taking up an offering to build the temple. His comments conveyed the deepest feelings of his heart; the Bible describes David as a man after God’s own heart.

David wasn’t a perfect man but he would quickly repent when he knew that his actions went contrary to God’s will. He wasn’t motivated by greed or power or pride. He knew that all he had was given to him by God and so he kept his heart open to give whenever God asked something of him. He gave freely and generously – he gave more than was required.

His motivation wasn’t to protect his reputation or hold on to “his” kingdom. He wanted to see that God was honored and God’s people were protected.

What an amazing life.

“God, I am ready, heart and soul,  to sing songs of praise. Wake up, my soul! 2 Harps and lyres, wake up, and let’s wake the dawn! 3 Lord, I will praise you before all people. I will sing praises about you to every nation.” Psalm 108: 1-3 ERV

David was far from perfect. He had an affair with the wife of one of his soldiers and she became pregnant. To hide what he had done David had her husband killed. God corrected him and David repented. David loved God and wanted to serve Him. God loved David and forgave Him of his sins.

I know everyone of us are guilty of doing things that don’t honor the Lord. God isn’t pleased with what we do but He loves us still. He loves us because God is love and His mercy keeps us from receiving the punishment we desire.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 ERV

Singing is a great way to express gratitude. We had so much to be thankful for even when we are going through rough times. We’re going to sing when we get to heaven so let’s get started now.

Heaven is a place of continuous praise to God and when we get there we will join that choir. We’ll praise Him for His amazing love but let’s not wait until then. Let’s be like David and wake up the world with our praises. Let’s start the celebration here and now. While on earth, let’s begin to magnify the Lord our God for no other reason than that He is the Lord God Almighty. We can join in with heaven’s chorus as they sing.

“Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power. You made all things. Everything existed and was made because you wanted it.”” Revelation 4:11 ERV

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Grateful?? Sing!

Have you ever seen a child sing with abandon? You know what I’m talking about – they take a stance, close their eyes, pretend they have microphone in hand and sing at the top of their voices. They don’t care if they know the right words, most of the time they don’t and seldom are they on tune but they sing with every ounce of their being and it’s great!

I think Mark Twain must have experienced such an occasion as this when he penned these words:

“Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.” -Mark Twain

It’s time to sing!

I’m not sure what goes on in your life on a daily basis but I know that some days I face more challenges than others. Some days it’s easy to sing because all seems right with the world but other days come with unexpected distractions and joy-robbing obstacles.

That’s where singing comes in – singing lifts the heart, it can make the heart skip and brings a lightness to our step.

Paul and Silas had been beaten and were chained in a prison but at midnight they chose to sing. I don’t believe they were singing the blues either, “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen”. No, I’m sure it was something like “I’ll fly away, o glory, I’ll fly away. When I die hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away.”

Today I encourage you to sing! Sing like a child – loud and long. Sing like nobody but God is listening. Sing a song from your heart – make up the words as you go along. It will be great! Sing songs of praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Savior of your soul. Sing because yesterday is over and you get a new day to experience God’s love.

“Sing joyful songs to the Lord! Praise the mighty rock where we are safe. 2 Come to worship him with thankful hearts and songs of praise. 3 The Lord is the greatest God, king over all other gods. 4 He holds the deepest part of the earth in his hands, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The ocean is the Lord’s because he made it, and with his own hands he formed the dry land. 6 Bow down and worship the Lord our Creator! 7 The Lord is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture.” Psalm 95:1-7 CEV

Sing until your heart tells your face you have something to be grateful for. Are you grateful? Then sing!

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Loud & Noisy

When will I learn? Once again it happened; that annoying three beep blast from the smoke detector at 3:30 a.m.! It’s now 4:30 and my heart rate is just now coming back to normal…I can guarantee you that I have now written on my calendar “Change Batteries” on both September 1 and March 1.

A noisy gong and a clanging cymbal! Life has many obtrusive interruptions. The Apostle Paul writes about such things.

“ If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” I Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT

These are the first verses in what is called the love chapter. Paul is telling us that we may have all sorts of talents, abilities and motivations but if they aren’t done with a loving attitude then our good deeds are worthless, annoying and for self-gratification.

Like a clanging cymbal!

However, when done from a heart of love, a servant’s heart, people’s lives are impacted and they are pointed to Jesus.

“But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9 ERV

A clanging cymbal can be either an annoyance or a sound of joy and comfort. The little toy monkey pictured with this morning’s blog is one of the most annoying toys ever. Clang- Clang- Clang! It can certainly be compared to the blast of the smoke alarm.

But then there is the blast of the horn of a fire truck on it’s way to rescue someone or the siren of an ambulance. Those sounds might annoy drivers in traffic or someone in their home trying to nap but they most definitely bring comfort to the one who made the 9-1-1 call.

The clanging cymbal – it can be like the little toy monkey or it can be like the finale of the 1812 Overture. It can be dreaded or excitedly embraced! The same is true of our actions. We can be annoying because the things we do are void of love or we can be a comfort and source of joy.

“Praise him with a clash of cymbals;  praise him with loud clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:5-6 NLT

Today I choose to be a loud clanging cymbal used to praise God and tell of His greatness!

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Music To My Ears

I love music! Memorizing the lyrics of a song comes easy to me. Time and again I will be sitting alone and my heart and my head will break into song.

And music takes me places. I hear a song on the radio or on Pandora and it will take me to the first place I heard it or to a special time that’s marked in my memory. (I hope you don’t think I’m crazy)

One time that I remember particularly well  was a Sunday morning in a small country church in Dillon, Montana. We had been singing from the hymn book and the song leader asked if anyone had a favorite song they’d like us to sing. There was an awkward silence and so the song leader asked a man sitting on the front row if he had a favorite song.

Don cleared his throat and said “Well the only church song I know is Our God Is An Awesome God.” The song leader was a bit embarrassed and quietly said, “Don, I don’t think I know that one.” To which Don replied, “That’s ok, God is Awesome anyway.”

I’ll never sing that chorus again without thinking of that time in a little country church that we didn’t sing Our God Is an Awesome God.

“Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth. 2 Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord! 3 You know the Lord is God! He created us,  and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture. 4 Be thankful and praise the Lord as you enter his temple. 5 The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.” Psalm 100 CEV

All through the Bible there are verses about singing and even times where it says the Lord gave them a song. Paul and Silas were singing one night in prison. God enjoyed it so much He sent an earthquake to break them out.

“I will sing forever about the Lord’s love.
    I will sing about his faithfulness forever and ever!
2 I will say, “Your faithful love will last forever.
    Your loyalty is like the sky—there is no end to it!” Psalm 89:1-2 ERV

Not only does God like to hear us sing but He likes to sing too. He sings about us. His is a song of love and joy.

“The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.”” Zephaniah 3:17 CEV

So, as you sit quietly this morning, listen for Him. Do you hear Him singing? He sings because He loves you!

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