Thursday, April 19, 2012

Sing!

"O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth." -- Psalm 96:1

I love to sing, but I'm not gifted in that way. So most of my singing is done in private before an Audience of One. I recently came across a teaching done by Jake Hamilton called "Revelation through Meditation" that has absolutely rocked my world and set me free in song! 

Jake encourages us to make up new songs using verses from the Bible. He says, "SING IT [scripture]. Not word for word. Make up your own song using any verse." He goes on to say, "I know what you're thinking; you're thinking, 'well, I don't sing.' Even better! You know why that's even better? Because it doesn't cost you anything to sing a song because you know you can sing. When you sing, and you don't know how to sing, it becomes a sacrifice only you can give to God. And it's not a song you sing in your heart. Stand up and begin to sing to the Lord. Sing to him a new song!"

Remember, when Jesus sent out the disciples, he didn't divide tasks by skill (all singers sing, teachers teach, etc.), he said everyone do everything!

And this is the part I absolutely love!  He says:

“If you begin this discipline of singing new songs from scripture, a year from now, you’ll have hundreds of songs that only you and God know. Have you ever heard anybody talk about a secret history with God? You’re building one. You won’t even remember the song tomorrow, but guess Who will? You’re gonna get to heaven one day, and God’s gonna say to you, ‘I loved your song about John 3:16.’ And you’re gonna say, 'how did that go again?’ And He’s gonna remember it. And you’re gonna have hundreds and thousands of little songs just like a child sings.”

Today's prayer: "God, I love how you put music in all of us, and it doesn't matter if we can harmonize or sing in tune. You love to hear your children sing! As a mother, I know I smiled every time I overhead one of my children making up songs and singing them with their whole heart. Most times they were completely unaware that I was even listening. Thank you for keeping track of all the songs in my heart. Let's sing tonight!"

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Will You Let Me Drown?

"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!" -- Isaiah 43:2

A true drowning victim does not wave their hands and flail about, as depicted in the movies. No, in the drowning there is silence and inactivity. As long as I'm still fighting, still waiving my hands about in praise, still shouting to my King, I'm not about to drown. He will not let me.

I woke up early this morning with this one verse from the song Something Beautiful playing in my heart:

In your ocean I'm ankle deep,
I feel the waves crashing on my feet;
It's like I know where I need to be
But I can't figure out,
I can't figure out

Just how much air I will need to breathe
When your wave washes over me,
There's only one way to figure out
Will you let me drown?
Will you let me drown?
[Something Beautiful, verse 1, Neadtobreathe]

Today's prayer: "God, thank you that you will not let me drown."