Song Writing

Luke 1: ⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

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Jingles, theme songs and music that hits the charts found a strange place in my mind. I remember songs from commercials that were made decades ago. Every once in a while I will burst out in song, singing about a product that may be off the market.

• Songs are important to me.
• Songs get stuck in my head sometimes.
• Songs, written by someone clever, seem to delight my heart.

Mary was so delighted that she burst into song. There was no rhyme or meter. She did not even sample a popular beat. She sung from the heart about JESUS.

Every day I could have a new song.

JESUS is awesome to me.

HE saved my soul and watches over me!

JESUS clears the way for the low and knocks over the arrogant.

JESUS is my rock and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

HE blesses those who seek HIM earnestly and fills the heart of the lonely.

JESUS sends me to the uttermost parts of the world to tell people about HIS SON.

JESUS was and is and is to come and HIS mercy, grace and love endures forever! amen

What is your song today?

Singing While in the Midst

Psalm 137: ⁴ How can we sing the songs of the Lord
    while in a foreign land?
⁵ If I forget you, Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
⁶ May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
    if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
    my highest joy.

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Sitting in a homeless shelter, I noticed the place had plenty of volunteers. I went there with the attitude that “I” was going to be the only one who volunteered that day and this place needs “me.” Casino workers came to help those who were addicted to gambling, sex, drugs and whatever else this well-known city had to offer. “Christians working in casinos” I asked.

• Sometimes I think I have to stay away from “those” people in order to remain holy.
• Sometimes I think I have to stay out of “those” places in order to remain holy.
• Sometimes I think I have to stay in a place “I” deem holy in order to remain holy.

“These workers are the most dedicated volunteers. Some believe in GOD and some don’t, but all serve” was the statement from the director of the rescue mission to me. It struck me like a ton of bricks when I realized people who follow CHRIST could work in a place like that. GOD opened my eyes to the way I had written off that well known town, very similarly to the way Jonah, a prophet, did not want a group of murderers to receive salvation.

• GOD said to me “What is the difference between the sin you commit in your home than the ones this group commits on the street?”
• GOD challenged me by saying “Which sin of yours is less than theirs?”
• GOD told me “Have compassion on everyone I send to you and to those I send you to, no matter the location.”

With muddy hands I go. GOD sends me to places even though I am not clean and tells me to sing about the mercy of THE CHRIST. HE wants me to get out of my safe environment and to go infect people with GOD’s antidote for death, namely HIS word. I cannot be clean enough to clean myself up, let alone cleaning someone else. BUT GOD is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and that is something to sing about!

• Are you isolated?
• What is holding you back from going to another place strictly for serving GOD?
• Can you ask GOD for a new assignment and be willing to do what it takes to serve HIM where HE sends you?
• Will you faithfully remember GOD while in a foreign land that is not heaven?

Daily Exercise

Psalm 96: ¹ Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
² Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

⁴ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.

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On top of the hotel was a tiny track. I was only a few years out of college and felt I was still in decent shape. Remembering my days on the high school track team, I warmed up then jumped on the track. To my surprise I was sluggish and slow.

• The longer I skip exercising the harder it is for me.
• The more time I spend not exercising the more my muscles forget.
• The greater period I spend away from exercising the harder it is mentally and physically to get back into it.

One day the SPIRIT moved me to speak about CHRIST to someone. I hadn’t spoken a word about HIM or HIS salvation in years! “Should I talk about me? Should I argue with this stranger on their stance? How should I even mention GOD?” were the flood of thoughts that scared me away from speaking about GOD. I said a couple of words and walked away disappointed. I was SPIRITUALLY out of shape.

• GOD wants me to stop using church cliché’s and start speaking about HIM with my mouth.
• GOD wants me to sing a new song about HIM meaning I need a new adventure rather than looking back at the old.
• GOD wants me to declare HIS glory among all peoples, not just the ones I feel comfortable with.

I heard a church term “Always speak about GOD and sometimes use words” but I can’t seem to find that phrase in the Bible. GOD wants me to boldly declare HIS name and praise HIM for everything HE has done, is doing and will do! He doesn’t want me to sing a song about HIM and sometimes use words or praise HIM and sometimes use words. HE wants me to use the words that flood from a heart of gratitude!

GOD wants me to exercise daily by telling people about HIM and HIS greatness. My heart needs to be focused on what HE has done versus looking at the next complaint I can lay at HIS feet. I praise GOD from whom all blessings flow. I praise HIM as a creature here below. I Praise HIM above ye heavenly host. I praise FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST! amen

• Are you afraid to speak about GOD?
• Do you shrink back when speaking about HIS graciousness?
• Are you too busy condemning someone about their sin to tell them about GOD’s mercy on you?
• Will you stop using church terms and open your mouth by giving ‘your’ testimony about how great GOD is?

A song of praise

Revelation 15: They held harps given them by God ³ and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
     Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
     King of the nations.
⁴ Who will not fear you, Lord,
     and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

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Today is a great opportunity for me to praise GOD. He does some great things in my life and I am richly blessed. Everything HE decides for me is alright to me. HE is the ultimate leader whom I fear.

I place HIM in the position of GOD rather than thinking HE is equal to or beneath me so HIS name is above any action I will take. One day I will worship HIM when I can see HIM but for now I worship HIM in faith.