The Power of Music

 

THE POWER OF MUSIC

This picture of my sister Ava and I was taken years ago in a cathedral in Palermo, Sicily.  We often sang duets together in our church.  No one else was around, so we decided to break into song just for the fun of it.  After all, music is a universal language -- and we don't speak Italian.

There’s a song our choir used to sing that begins with these words, “All praise, King Jesus; all praise Emmanuel.  King of kings, Lord of lords, Bright Morning Star…”  I can’t remember the rest of the words, nor the name of the song, but I just love the wonder and awesome praise contained in those beginning words.  It’s the song of my heart!

 In a song, the sound of the music and the power of the lyrics can work together to create something that touches the soul more deeply than mere words can do.  Here are some interesting quotes describing the power of music:

 --“Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends,” Alphonse de Lamartine

--“Joy, sorrow, tears, lamentations, laughter – to all these music gives voice,” Albert Schweitzer

--“Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast; to soften rocks, or bend the knotted oak,” by William Congreve in 1697.  Interestingly, this idea was taken from a poem written way back around 65AD by a Roman poet Lucan, who wrote, “Whose charming voice and matchless musick mov'd / The savage beasts, the stones, and senseless trees.”

 I agree with each of these well-spoken quotes.  Music wrings at the heart and can express a truth in a poetic way that – as the poet said – can “soften rocks or bend the knotted oak.”  Below, I’ve chosen some stanzas from songs that have recently spoken to my heart.  Some present powerful Bible stories in a few words, while others describe cries of the heart with poignancy.  You can listen to these songs on YouTube.  Be blessed by their messages!

      Gardens to Graves, by Elevation Worship

You turn mourning to dancing  /  You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory  /   You're the only one who can
 You turn graves into garden  /  You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways  /  You're the only one who can   

       God Who Listens, by Chris Tomlin

The God who made the winters and the summers
The One who put the stars all in their place
The only One who stands above all others 

He knows me by name

The angels hide their faces in His presence
The demons run for cover when You speak
You rule the world and reign above the heavens
And still draw close to me

I'm not just hopin', I'm not just wishin'
I know I'm prayin' to a God who listens
I know He hears me, I know He's livin'
Yes, I am prayin' to a God who listens

      Another in the Fire, by Hillsong

There was another in the fire  /  Standing next to me
There was another in the waters  /  Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding  /  Of how I've been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden  /   Where another died for me

I can see the light in the darkness  /   As the darkness bows to Him
I can hear the roar in the heavens  /  As the space between wears thin
I can feel the ground shake beneath us  /  As the prison walls cave in
Nothing stands between us  -  Nothing stands between us

There is no other name  /  But the name that is Jesus
He who was and still is  /  And will be through it all

The Psalms are full of songs of praise to the Lord.  One of my favorites is Psalm 96:  "Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!  Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day, declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples."

 

God's Word Illustrated - 2

                                     

GOD'S WORD ILLUSTRATED - 2

This photo of a stain glass in a church in Vancouver, Canada, is supposed to be St. Paul with his writing tools, representing the many epistles and books he wrote in the New Testament.  The Holy Bible - the most important book in the world is God's letter to His people -- the very words of God!  Below, are some pictures I've chosen to illustrate some of the verses in the Bible. I hope you enjoy them.

"Two are better than one...for if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one 

to help him up," Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house 

shared with a quarrelsome wife," Proverbs 21:9 & 25:24

(yes, this verse is such an important warning, it's in two places)

"Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times...but My 

people do not know the judgment of the Lord," Jeremiah 8:7

"Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord," 

Psalm 96:12

"Beware  of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, 

but inwardly they are ravenous wolves," Matthew 7:15

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our

salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully

to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God," Psalms 95:1-3

Note:  

The first "God's Word Illustrated" post ran on March 23, 2019 - in case you want see other verses.

Photos:

--Sculptures of the two children and of the old woman can be found in downtown Charlotte, NC.

--The final five photos were taken at random spots in Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA.

This is Your Story

 

THIS IS YOUR STORY -- ONCE UPON A TIME

    The English writer, G.K. Chesterton once said, "I had always felt life first as a story -- and if there is a story, there is a story teller,"  - or, we could say - there is an Author with a capital "A."

    Many of the fairy tales we grew up reading began with the familiar phrase, "Once upon a time...." and from that opening, a story about people and their lives spun out.  Although fairy tales are fiction, they often mirror real life.  Our world's "Once upon a time...." story began in Genesis 1:1, with the words:  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  Right away we meet the great Author of our story -- God.

    You could say that each of us began our own story with the phrase, "Once upon a time _____ (fill in your name) was born.  This was your beginning - the first breath of who you are today.  Lots of things have happened between that moment and this moment.  As with any story, there is conflict, laughter, tears, good times and bad times.  Have you ever read a novel that didn't have some sort of conflict or some kind of villain?

    What are some of the conflicts that have appeared in your life story?  Conflict is actually a requirement when writing a story.  Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble...." John 16:33.  It's not a case of "if" you have trouble/conflict, but rather "when" you have trouble.

    There's always a villain in every story too.  The villain at the heart of many of our troubles is that old enemy Satan who is always throwing snares at us.  His goal is to cause you as much heartache as possible.

    But there is also a Hero in our story.  There's always a hero, but this Hero is better than all others.  Unlike the heroes of fairy tales who have limited powers, the Hero of our story is in control of all things, knows all things, and is all love.  Here's what the Psalmist David said about our Hero, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies and Your right hand will save me.  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever," 138:7-8.

    The ultimate purpose of our story unfolding is for the love of God to shine through our lives so that all the world that surrounds us will see how wonderful He is in our lives.  Priscilla Shirer writes, "Make sure your life writes a story worth reading. In future generations, your story will be the one that encourages someone else to follow hard after God.  You've been given the opportunity to write a story beyond your expectations...."

    "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven," Matthew 5:16.

 Photo:  

     The bronze sculpture of stacked books in the photo was created by Jim Gallucci in 2003, and is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the entrance to a small park called The Green.

A Gift & A Birthday

 

A GIFT & A BIRTHDAY

Hmmm....what's in the box?  I received this surprise gift box for my birthday.  It says, "Cheryl's Cookies" on top - and I'm a huge fan of cookies, so I'm eager to open the box and see what's inside.

Oh, wow!  A box full of assorted iced cookies - 36 cookies!  

Some of the cookies are decorated, some are sprinkled with nuts, a few are plain, and others are simply iced.  I do love an iced cookie!!  Most of the cookies are vanilla with buttercream frosting - always good.  I also like the butter pecan flavor, but not too crazy about the mint or cafe latte.  The plain sugar cookie - well, it's plain, what can I say.  All in all, it is a delicious gift that I will enjoy for months to come (I froze some).

So, what does this description of my mystery box and the many cookies have to do with a birthday message?

As I thought about the unopened box with questions about its content, it made me think of the new year in my life that is spread out before me.  The content of each hour and day and week within this year's box is a mystery to me, but not to God.  I love that God knows each breath I will take until the day I die or I'm raptured to heaven.  The Psalmist writes, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be," 139:16.

When I look at the different cookies and taste the different flavors, I'm reminded that each day within that box of my next year will be different -- some days will taste better than others.  Some days will be pretty and some days will be plain.  I may not be too crazy about some of those days, but other days will surely bring me delight.  I love verses 9-10, "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."  No matter what kind of day I will have, God is there with me -- always.

I will weave Psalm 139 into my thoughts as I consider that God brought me into the world on May 7, 1946, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."  He knows everything about me - even more than I know about myself, "...you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord."  He cares for me deeply - "You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me..."  And I praise His name - "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!"

A birthday is cause for celebration of a life created by God for His good purpose.  Every single life is special to Him "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," Jeremiah 1:5.  There are no throw-aways in God's creations - He has a plan for every life.  I hope that your birthday will be cause for celebration this year and that your box of days will spread out before you with blessing upon blessing.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!