A Song Leader’s Guide…Pt. 3

GuideBookSince February we have been following a series of three lessons that focus on the responsibilities of the song leader, otherwise known as the Song Leader’s Guide. This last of three articles will be centered around the Three “P’s” of song leading; Proactive, Practice and Plan. Though this article may over lap with the first point (being prepared), I hope you’ll find the “Three P’s of song leading” to be more focused on how you approach and lead the Lord’s church in singing. Just remember we should work as though you’re working for God… Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

And finally, a basic guideline for all song leaders is to follow the “three P’s” of song leading. Be Proactive, be willing to Practice and be able to Plan. This approach will teach the congregation that singing is not just something we do, but rather the proactivevalue in singing hymns. Being ‘Proactive’ means you work on getting to know the song book better. Whether you use a book or project songs, review them and determine which songs you personally know and which ones you don’t. Go over each song (in the book or on the screen) and know what you’re doing well before Sunday morning. If you project songs, do not to rely on the church secretary to build the slide deck for you. Take the time to learn this procedure and know what’s on the screen behind you.

Though we addressed ‘Practicing’ earlier, here we should be more focused on practicing with the congregation as a whole. This is best done in a class setting on Sunday evening before services or on Wednesday nights. Some might want to limit this class to one quarter per year, or once a month but you will be better served to keep this as an ongoing class. Make singing something that is more than just 8 songs on Sunday morning, 6 on Sunday night and 1 or 2 songs on Wednesday. Fifteen or sixteen songs of praise per week seem to limit the Hebrew writer’s thoughts. Hebrews 13:15, “Through Him then, let us CONTINUALLY (emphasis added) offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” So let us use some class time to learn new songs (practice) as well as Congregational Singing2singing old familiar ones (praise). You can even shake it up on occasion by splitting the group up into four parts and learn/practice harmony. But remember to practice by yourself so you know how to better lead and teach the congregation.

And as you ‘Plan’ out an approach to teaching the congregation the value of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19), be sure you are familiar with and know the value of the songs we sing. Some of our songs date back hundreds of years and have a rich history we can learn from. Others are closely aligned with scripture and shed a new light on an old hymn. Some of our newer, ‘contemporary’ songs have a magnificent message that we’ll never know if we don’t broaden our repertoire. But as you plan, always check the integrity of the songs we sing (new or old) with scriptural accuracy. We strive to avoid heresy in our preaching, and so we must also be aware that it can creep into our singing as well. When we are attentive to planning out the song service, we are more apt to avoid any accidental error. Be proactive, practice and plan so that you can be the best song leader God is calling you to be.

We know that Sunday morning will come on the first day of each week and we might be the one called on to lead the congregation in song. When do we start selecting our songs? What songs will we select? Will we (Do we) prepare ourselves before we meet together for worship? These and many more questions are ours to Cover pictureanswer long before Sunday morning comes around. Just remember that we are leading the family of God in praise to Him. For some, this will be the first and only time during the week that they bow before God’s throne to worship. Will they see Him or will they be distracted by us? My prayer is that as song leaders in the Lord’s church, we will take on the mantra of I Cor. 14:15, “Church, come join us…we’re marching to Zion!”

How to Deepen/Strengthen Your Faith

Have you ever had the feeling that you’re not as spiritual as you’d like to be? Perhaps you’ve just felt like your walk with Christ wasn’t as good as it once was. Some may have even found themselves going through a time when they just didn’t care. As a Christian when you know that you could be more devoted, but your heart struggles with being close to God…what do Gods Wordyou do? If we are true to ourselves, each of us has had times when our ‘love for Christ’ has grown cold or weak. Is there something we can do, some where we could turn? Scripture should always be our first approach, followed by (and accompanied with) prayer. But personally, when Satan poisons my heart with lies and interferes with my walk, I tend to turn to the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. “In Christ Alone” (Keith Getty, 2007), “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (Helen Lemmel, 1922), “Day by Day” (Caroline Berg, 1865) and “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Annie Hawks, 1872) are just a few of my ‘go to psalms’ in times of distress. But today let me encourage you to follow the thought of a song written in 1837 by John R. Wreford…

“When my love to Christ grows weak, (exactly what we’re talking about here) when for DEEPER faith I seek, then in thought (in your ‘mind’s eye’) I go to thee, (read, Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42 & Luke 22:39-46) Garden of Gethsemane!

Jesus praying

There (in the garden) I walk amid the shades, while the lingering twilight fades, (it’s evening and the sun is going down) see that suffering, friendless One (can you see Him, in ‘your mind’s eye?’) weeping, praying there alone. (But what if I’ve fallen so far that even the sight of a man suffering and struggling doesn’t bother me? (Then read on…)

When my love for MAN grows weak, when for STRONGER faith I seek, (what can I do, where should I go ‘in my mind’s eye?’) Hill of Calvary! (go to the cross if you have trouble caring about mankind…that’s where Christ went! To the cross…) I go to the scenes of fear and woe. (Again, read the text, Matthew 27:33-54)

There (at the cross) behold His agony, suffered on the bitter tree; (look at the scripture, Mark 15:22-39 or Luke 23:33-47) see His anguish, see His faith (if you haven’t read the above passages, you’ll never over come the struggle of a wavering faith)…love triumphant still in death. (Now, what are you going to do?)

Then to life I turn again (away from the poetic imagery in your mind to real time), learning all the worth of pain (His death was for YOU), learning all the might that lies (a lesson we must all learn) in a full self-sacrifice. (where you give your life over to God. Remember, it’s not about  you!)”

The answer, if you’re struggling in your walk with Christ, if you want to be have a more spiritual tone in your life…if you want to care again… stop living for yourself. We can be more devoted and closer to God, but we need to ‘learn the might that lies in a FULL self-sacrifice.’ He sacrificed Himself for you and me. Can you, will you, do that for others? When we do, we’ll deepen and strengthen our faith in God.

A Song Leaders Guide…Pt. 2

As we continue to look at The Song Leader’s Guide, you’ll remember previously we talked about “Being Prepared.” Though we can never underestimate the importance of working with the preacher and coordinating the song service, the second point is of equal value. In today’s Humble leadershiparticle we’ll look at the next recommendation for song leaders. We must know and practice humility. Without a humble spirit, our song leading becomes nothing more than a stage for your assumed presentation. Not a good thing!

Not only should we be prepared…a good song leader will demonstrate humility before, during and after the worship services. Before worship services begin, walk down the aisle of the auditorium and visit with the members. Knowing them by name is an important connection you can make before you step up to lead. If you are too busy picking songs, or if you aren’t willing to visit with the members, you’ll never be able to properly lead them. A humble heart will see others as valuable, and be willing to invest time in them.

During the song service, demonstrate humility. Have a countenance of joy when the song calls for it, but avoid excessive facial expressions that draw undue attention to you. A smile will tell the congregation you believe in the message of the song. At all times, avoid a look of distress or frustration. If you mess up on a series of notes, or if you sing the wrong words, don’t let the congregation know it has ‘rattled you.’ Your brothers and sisters may not even know you made a mistake, but either way it won’t shake you because, “this is not about you.” When you lead a melancholy song, strive to focus the congregation on the seriousness of the song’s message. Remember, you can communicate the meaning of a song simply by the expression you have on your face.

And, humility must also be exhibited after the worship services. At times you may receive accolades regarding your ‘work’ following the worship. A common response by many song leaders is a simple ‘thank you.’ And to God be the glorythough there is nothing wrong with this reply, perhaps a better response would be ‘to God be the glory.’ However, if someone acknowledges my song leading, I prefer the phrase, ‘the congregation was in good voice.’ It is always best to turn the focus away from yourself, and towards our God and His church. Just remember that a humble heart cannot be seen in words, but in actions. Give praise to God and uplift His church or you run the risk of leaving the congregation feeling like spectators rather than participants.

Next month (April) we’ll conclude this three part series of a Song Leader’s Guide to Worship.

A Song Leader’s Guide…Pt. 1

Over the years some of my brothers and sisters in Christ have asked me, “How do you do it? How do you know what notes to sing, when you’re song leaderdirecting the songs, how do you know how to move your arms, how can you sing in front of so many people?” First of all, I’m no expert. As a matter of fact my 40 years of singing in the Lord’s church and leading singing is my only call to fame. So with this experience I want to share with you a few guidelines that will hopefully help you as you direct/lead singing in the Lord’s church. This is the first of a three part series that will look into ways we can better lead God’s family in worship and song.

Consider first of all…

It is a beautiful Sunday morning in the small, country church where our brothers and sisters in the Lord’s church have gathered for worship. The preacher has prepared a message from God’s word, and the song leader has selected the songs the congregation will be singing today. One is a ‘hired’ employee who has focused himself all week for this morning’s assembly. The other has spent only a few short minutes pulling together some of his favorites. If the truth be known, this scenario happens every Sunday morning somewhere within the brotherhood. Song leaders often find themselves sitting on the front row, searching through the song book for a good invitation song. This Sunday morning, somewhere a song leader will only take a few minutes to determine what songs will be sung in praise to God. The sermon might be focused on the ‘Man of Sorrows,’ (Isaiah 53:3), but the topic of the song service is ‘the Great Commission.’ (Matthew 28:19) Some points of emphasis within the sermon maybe lost to worth-while songs that fail to support the message of the morning. It is important to remember that coordinating the songs with the sermon will take some planning.

Isaac Watts wrote a familiar spiritual song more than 300 years ago that should be an MarchingtoZioninspiration to every song leader. When we realize that we are all “Marching to Zion,” the song leader can understand more clearly the first few words of this song. “Come, WE that love the Lord, and let OUR joys be known!” As the song leader, you are asking the congregation to join you in worship, “Come, we….” Know that you are not just leading the congregation; you are joining the congregation in praise to God. So what should the song leader do as he considers his task of leading the Lord’s church in singing? Many times we fail to put our best effort into song leading and a mediocre song service is produced. How much time is given to selecting your songs for Sunday? Are the songs selected appropriate in tempo and fit the message…or will this service be as predictable as ‘the last time he lead singing?’ Gentleman, we have to ask ourselves how much time and energy will we be giving to prepare ourselves for worshiping with the Lord’s church.

Consider this first of three points as you ready yourself for the next time you are asked to lead singing. Whether you are the only song leader within your congregation, or if you are in a rotation, the following bullet points will give you some guidance in preparing to lead the Lord’s church in song.

First of all, you must be prepared both mentally and physically for the task of song leading. It preparedmay take some work, but contact your preacher and get his sermon topic, scripture references and key ideas early in the week (maybe even on Monday morning.) Don’t be overly aggressive, but let him know you can’t put the time into the song selection until you know the basis of Sunday’s message. By this, he will know you care about the worship and it may help spur him on as well. In the meantime, review your song book and make a list of 1) the songs you know, 2) songs you want to teach the congregation and 3) songs you don’t know. Be familiar with your song book and enrich your repertoire of songs! This can’t be over emphasized. The more songs you know*, the more growth you can provide to the congregation in song. During the week prepare your voice for Sunday. Avoid stressing your vocal cords but sing songs of praise daily. Turn off the radio in the car and sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as you drive down the road. Your preparation doesn’t start on Sunday morning, though you should be singing (and listening to) A Cappella songs as you’re getting ready for Sunday morning worship. Your first step in making worship the best it can be on Sunday is to start by preparing, and practicing, on Monday.

*To ‘know a song’ means you 1) have committed to memory the words, 2) can maintain the tempo, 3) recognized/read the notes and 4) understand the message. This will take practice!

Next month (March) we’ll look at the second point toward the song leader’s guide to worship…

Good Morning, Lord!

sun rise“Well I’m up in the morning and I’m feeling OK…Don’t want the devil to get in my way so I’m down on my knees and I’m starting to pray, ‘Good Morning, Lord!’ Good morning, Lord! Send a little sun(son)shine down my way. Good morning, Lord! I just want to live for you today.”

Earlier this month I was honored to worked with more than 20 young people (JH/HS & College) at the 1st Annual Ark/La/Tex Singing Camp  in central Louisiana. With the combined talents of Andy Singing CampBaker, Benjamin Bruce and our camp director Doyle Bruce the young men were taught more than just how to read shape notes and understand music theory. We imparted a working knowledge that embraced the responsibility of leading singing and bringing the congregation closer to honoring and glorifying God. The young ladies were directed by Katheryn Baker, Kristy Huntsman and Emili Bruce.

When we consider our opportunity and obligation to sing and teach singing, we come closer to knowing how GREAT our God really is. We come to appreciate the vast debt we owe for the hope we have in this life and in the life to come. But when it comes to trying to understand that debt and how I should live in response to God’s great gift, we start by looking at the first chapter in the book of Psalm. Thanks, Andy, for taking us through this psalm as we sang and learned how to live for our God!

Blessed is the mantree by the river
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates…day and night.

He shall be like a tree
Planted by rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Godly man…PARALLELED…with the Ungodly man

The ungodly are not so
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation (family) of the righteous.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous
but the way of the ungodly…shall perish (shall not last).”

Make plans to join us next summer, but in the mean time let me encourage you with these words from Andy Baker…

“Spend time in the Son (sun),
Spend time in the Scripture and
Spend time in Self-Refection.”

 

A Time of Transitions

In the summer of 2002 more than 30 high school freshman and sophomores along with several adult sponsors from Texas came to Colorado to conduct a Vacation Bible School. Though we didn’t know it at the time, that was the beginning of a relationship that would last for the rest of our lives. When the group came back the following year, the summer of 2003, they helped our family pack and move from the Windsor church of Christ to work and worship with the Waterview church of Christ in Richardson, Texas. Thirteen years later we find ourselves, again, at a point of transition. Words fail me to express how much the brothers and sisters at Waterview have meant to my family and me. telephone

Few know that in the late spring of 2002, Jim Stigers called my father-in-law, Jim Knight for the sole purpose of finding a small congregation where the Waterview youth group might go to conduct a VBS. Their original plans had been to go to Nebraska, but due to some complications, the youth was without a mission point for the summer of 2002. My father-in-law, one of the leaders at the small, Colorado congregation, was glad to visit with his old high school friend and welcome the group to Colorado. Jim Stigers, one of the Waterview elders, read the following announcement, and perhaps there was no one was better suited to do so.

The following was announced on Sunday, July 24th:

“The future of Waterview church of Christ is bright! Jason Moon has just completed his first full year as the pulpit minister. Robert Oglesby, Robert Taylor, Warren Shepherd and Dustin Jones have forged a team that not only has welcomed Jason, but now Greg Parks into the ministerial service at Waterview. They work with the elders and deacons to set goals and objectives that reach heavenward…literally. Only the Lord knows how many families will continue to be blessed by Waterview church of Christ as they serve, grow and mature in Christ.

For the past 13 years, the Bruce family has been a part of the fabric of love and devotion, courage and faithfulness established by decades of faithful elders and solid preaching found here. In January 2015, Myron stepped away from full-time ministry but continued, on a part-time basis, striving to lead our hearts and minds toward a clearer, more focused worship to God. That has been and always will be his mission. But this morning, we need to inform you that the Bruce’s have announced that they will be moving from Plano and the Waterview church of Christ to live in Wichita Falls. He will continue to lead our Sunday morning song service until August 14th, but then will be making the transition to Faith Village in Wichita Falls where they will continue to work and worship.

16“In the spring of 2003, Vicki and I, with our three children (Logan…9, Emili…8 and Dillon…5) began a journey from the comfort of Colorado and the Windsor church of Christ, to the Dallas metro-plex joining Waterview as the Congregational Life Minister. We didn’t really know anyone, but over the years, have grown to love everyone. Now thirteen years later, we can’t begin to “Count Our Many Blessings.” The joy of raising our family to serve and worship God with this body of believers makes this day very difficult. To us, you are more than just a member at Waterview. You are, and forever will be, our brothers and sisters in Christ!  

These next few weeks we will be packing up boxes and take pictures off the walls. But more importantly, we’ll be storing up the memories and reflecting on the years God has given us with you. Raising our children in the shadow of this congregation is something we will never forget! With a common love, we have grown close to each of you!

The old hymn writer said it best, “When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.” However, God’s word expresses our deepest emotions. In Numbers chapter 6, God spoke to Moses telling him to instruct his brother, Aaron, with the following: “Thus, you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: ‘The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace!’.”

We love you and thank you for blessing our life!”

The Third of Three Gifts

For the past 23 years, this home has been blessed by one, then two and eventually three gifts from God. They came in the form of Logan, Emili and Dillon! We have loved them, carried them, walked with them, and prayed with them. Having children is truly a blessing from God. But the childhood years don’t last long. In just a ‘blink of an eye,’ those little ones are asking for the keys to the car, and before you know it, they drive away from the house alone, for the last time. They have grown up, just like you had hoped empty nestand planned, but now what? With an “Empty Nest,” what comes next in this life? Some parents celebrate their long lost freedom. Others morn the change, and fall into a great depression. Still others fall apart and fall away. Things will be different for sure, but this article isn’t intended to address the ‘empty nest’ as much as it is to focus on the last one to leave home.

This coming August, after 27 years of marriage, Vicki and I will find ourselves in one of those ‘nests.’  We’ve known it was coming, and we’ve been preparing for it for quite some time. But if the truth be known, it got here a lot quicker than I was hoping for. When Logan & Emili graduated, we felt their absence to be sure. The home was different with only three when we had grown accustom to five of us loving and struggling together. But then, in a matter of months, our family of three became the ‘new norm.’ It was good and we’ve have enjoyed Dillon as an only child during his high school years. Still, we blinked and those years changed to months and the months changed to weeks. And as I pen this letter, the weeks are counting down to days.

Every parent asked the question; ‘Am I ready for them to leave home?’ But perhaps we should be asking; “Are THEY ready to leave home? Have I done the right things, have I given the proper advise and pointed them ‘in the way he should go’.” (Proverbs 22:6) We do what God calls us to do as parents, and then we pray for their safety and for the decisions they will make. As parents, there’s not much more we can do! God gave us those little ones to cherish, nurture and raise for the sole purpose of bringing them back before His throne.

FHU GCMy kids are growing up faster than I would have ever imagined.  Our oldest son, Logan, has one more semester at Freed Hardeman University.  He is planning to graduate in December. Emili, our second child, will be starting her fourth year there. Lord willing she will be graduating in May from Freed-Hardeman. And now this fall, our youngest son Dillon, will be driving down our street on his way to Tennessee as he prepares to stretch his wings and leave the nest. The Bruce home will return to the same condition it was 23 years ago, because life goes on and children grow up. We know that, and we all move across the time-line of life. And, like it or not, it’s the design and plan that our God has established.

Each year as Logan and Emili have moved out on their own taking on the challenge of college, I selected a song with a specific message I wanted them to remember. For Logan, it was “God Bless You, Go with God.” For Emili, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” Dillon, the inspiration for the song that I believe most aptly expresses my hope and prayer for you could have been written about you. In you I see a young man who understands what it means to be humble and kind. Read these two scriptures first before reading the message of the song. You have blessed your mother and me when you shared it with us!

From God’s Word…Humble: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

Kind: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12)

1) You know there’s a light that glows by the front door, don’t forget the key’s under the mat. Childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind. Go to church ’cause your momma says to, visit grandpa every chance that you can, it won’t be wasted time. Always stay humble and kind.

Chorus:
Hold the door, say please, say thank you. Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie. I know you got mountains to climb but, always stay humble and kind.
When the dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you, when the work you put in is realized,
let yourself feel the pride but always stay humble and kind.

2) Don’t expect a free ride from no one, don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why, bitterness keeps you from flyin’. Always stay humble and kind.
Know the difference between sleeping with someone, and sleeping with someone you love.“I love you” ain’t no pick up line so, always stay humble and kind

Chorus:

3) When it’s hot, eat a root beer popsicle. Shut off the AC and roll the windows down. Let that summer sun shine. Always stay humble and kind.
Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you. When you get where you’re goin,’ don’t forget turn back around and help the next one in line.

64

Always stay humble and kind.

Dillon, as you face new challenges in this life you must remember to accept them with God’s guidance. Open doors will appear before you, but the threshold of those doors can only be successfully crossed if you go with God. If you will continue to live by the motto and “Always stay humble and kind,” I can only imagine where and what you will do! It has been an honor watching you grown into the strong young man you are today.

.

 

Hands Full of Clay…May 3rd

Have you ever watched a child with a fresh ball of Play-Doh? They’ll squish it in their fingers, roll it into logs and pat it into pancakes. For hours they’ll create shapes and mold images from play-doh 2their imagination. Perhaps it’s no wonder that we are creative from such an early age since we’ve been molded by our Creator. Shaped and made in His image (Genesis 1:26).

And for the believer, it’s not hard to see that we are nothing more than clay. Isaiah helps us see that clearly as we read from the 64th chapter; “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.” Still, we must realize the difference between a child and our God. Our heavenly Father isn’t just playing with Play-Doh! Though He has molded His creation in His own image, we will ultimately choose our own shape. God is the Potter, but we are the ones who have “hands full of clay.”

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, May 3, 2015

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Higher Ground” – no book

We recognize this old favorite, but there’s another way of singing the same words and the same notes. If you’ve never heard Ken Young’s version of this old time favorite, I hope you’ll enjoy it. Waterview, let’s begin our worship service with this hymn, singing with full volume! Together, we sing (and pray), “Lord lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven’s tableland.”

“Have Thine Own Way Lord” – 552

An old spiritual song that speaks the message of this morning’s lesson…“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art (YOU are) the Potter, I am the clay…” But how receptive will we be to the molding process? We might continue to sing, but will we continue to do? “Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.” We must be willing and we must be still if we are to be molded like the Lord desires.

how deep the father's love

 

“How Deep the Father’s Love” – no book

A contemporary song that poetically walks us through the hours of Christ crucifixion. From the time ‘the Father turns His face away’ (Matt. 27:46), to the final words of Jesus, ‘I know that it is finished.’ (John 19:30)  Would that we find the power of the message as we sing the truth…‘His wounds have paid my ransom.’

“Nearer My God to Thee” – 684

Just singing the first verse after the Lord’s Supper we remember ‘His will’ is found in Him. “Nearer my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E’en tho it be a cross (trials) that raiseth me…(Translated: Even though I will go through difficult times…) Still all my song shall be, Nearer my God to Thee. Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.” (…I still want to be near God) And the nearer we are to God, the easier it’ll be to mold the clay.

 

“Let Him Have His Way with Thee” – no book

You and I have a choice as to how we’ll live this life. We can follow God or we can follow the world. So how can we sing this old spiritual song about ‘letting Him have His way?’ If it’s ‘my way or the highway’ what role does God have to play? To start, notice the message of the song is a question, “Would you live for Jesus…would you walk with Him…would you let Him bear your burden…” There are actually 9 questions asked in this short, three verse song. If you answer ‘yes,’ then…”Let Him have His way with Thee.” But why? Because, “His power can make you what you ought (if you’ve been purchased by the blood of Christ, you ought is translated ‘you are obligated’) to be. His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free. His love can fill your soul, and you will see (that) it was best to let Him has His way with thee.”

“Take My Life” – 664

As our invitation song, you’ll find the sacrifice we make hits all levels.  Verse one begins with 1) my life and 2) my days (even moments). Verse two includes 3) my hands and 4) my feet. Verse three adds 5) my voice and 6) my lips. If it wasn’t already personal enough, verse four adds 7) my money (silver and my gold) and 8) my intelligence. And to top off this list of what is included from our life…9) my love and 10) myself. Giving those things to God is placing ourselves in the Potter’s hand!Potters hands

 

“Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” – 679

Fully trusting in God is sweet! Not like sugar, or the acceptable ‘sweet!’ The proper definition for this is cherished…What a cherished life we live when we trust in Jesus. But to have that ‘sweetness,’ we need to follow verse three; “Yes, it is sweet (cherished) to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease…” That is how we truly give over to the Potter, molding our lives with hands full of clay.

Blessed by a Noisy Neighbor

Lindy BellA special thanks to Lindy Bell from Plano, Texas. She wrote an article for the Daily Devotional Magazine, Power for Today and has agreed to share it here as well. Her Christian patience and love as she deals with a ‘noisy neighbor’ is both insightful and refreshing. Perhaps you should ask yourself if you could be so tolerant. Thanks Lindy for helping us keep things in perspective.

“I have a new neighbor, and wow, is he noisy! Break of dawn, he’s getting with it. Dusk he is still going strong. Even at 2:00 a.m. he hasn’t slow down a bit. Every time I hear the racket outside my window…I want to smile. You see, my new neighbor is a mockingbird! He is so full of song, he can’t seem to get it all out. His song various and never grows old, it’s lively and joyful. The mockingbird’s enthusiasm is a wonderful metaphor for the Christian life.

Are we so full of joy that our song overflows? Do we continually praise God because we can’t praise Him enough? God hears our song. He knows our joys and sorrows. He sees our works. He knows when we try our best, and He knows when we can’t find a song to sing. It’s interesting to me that as God created the mockingbird to be enjoyed by all who hear his song, He also created us so that we might sing of His loving kindness and mercy. “Christ for the world we sing, the world to Christ we bring…”

God wants us to share in His exuberance and our hearts to overflow with His praise. He longs for us to be filled with His ever abiding joy.

mockingbirdTake time to listen to a mockingbird’s song. Let it fill your heart until it overflows with joy and praise for the loving God who created all.”

 

“The whole earth is filled with awe at Your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy.” Psalm 65:8

Mary’s Song…Luke 1

Do we realize how powerful our words can be? We hear the saying a lot, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me…” But in all honesty, that is not true, and I speak from experience. The words that we speak on a daily basis can either bring someone’s spirit up or down. Even the experiences that we have and participate in can have a positive or negative effect on our attitudes and actions. In Luke 1, we read the account of when the angel of God came to Mary and told her that she would bear God’s Son. Most of the time we focus on her final reply, “Behold, I am a bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me Mary's songaccording to your word.” If we put ourselves in that situation, in Mary’s position, would we respond the same? As we read the chapter, we see that Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was six months pregnant at the time. Shortly after arriving and receiving blessings from her cousin, she begins to pour out her heart to the Lord about her situation. What she says, or sings, in this passage is known to many as Mary’s song or in some circles today it is known as Magnificat.

When I was asked to write my thoughts about this song, I had no idea how I was going to begin. To start, I talked with my roommate about the different aspects and approaches that I could use. As a student at Freed-Hardeman University, and a member of the Chorale, I decided to ask some of my peers their perspective of this hymn. Breaking it down verse by verse, I asked them about a few questions;
1) what thoughts ‘spoke’ to them in the verses,
2) on a personal level, how are they affected by the song, and
3) how could this hymn affect them in their own spiritual life.
Here are a few of their responses…

Soprano: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, my soul magnifies the Lord, my soul rejoices in God!”
– “This part makes me feel like it is my soul magnifying. It feels like there is a deeper part of my being that is being pulled out of me…It’s almost like it is out of my conscience self.” -Leila M.
– “It’s VERY powerful, and it is a simple message that our souls cannot help but rejoice for God being just what he is…” Caleb. H

Bass: “Glory be to God the Father, and Glory be to God the Son, Glory be to God the Spirit, Glory be to God.”
– “My dad sings this part, the bass, of the song so I hear him sing it a lot in church… It is the simple glorification that sets the basic tone for the song as a whole. The other themes in the song are based off this verse… “Glory be to God…” Unfortunately, we don’t have Mary’s perspective, but we can take it as surrendering our all to God on a daily basis…” – David. C

Alto: “He has been mindful of his servant, He has been mindful of me, I will be blessed forever, forever, I will be blessed by the Lord.”
– “No matter how much we sin, the Godhead (The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit), will still receive us (bless us) forever…FOREVER!” -Michal V.
– “This verse I think represents her praises to the Lord for finding favor in her and for giving her the great gift of bearing the Son of God. I personally feel most connected to this verse because Mary is rejoicing in the great news of the Son and now we can too. God really was watching out for us when He gave us Jesus, knowing that we would all die in our sin without Him. It is because we have Jesus we will be blessed forever and ever by our Lord. This is a song of praise, it is a song we use to show God how we feel about His glory, might, and his indescribable gift.” (2 Cor. 9:15) -Zack G.

Tenor: “God alone is mighty, mighty, our God alone has done great things, God alone is worthy, worthy, Holy is His name!”
– “When I think of these phrases, I see/think of God looking down from Heaven and the clouds rolling… And I think, ‘He has the power to do whatever He wants, and He can do, He has done, such wonderful things. He deserves to be praised and worshiped.’” -Mikayla T.
– “It is a description of His power, and He doesn’t need anyone with Him to help Him to be able to display it. I imagine that I will not have the same emotion as Mary, but when I have children I consider that a blessing. When we aren’t planning on it, God will allow something extraordinary and impossible to happen in our lives and we need to not just be prepared for that time. We need to be watching for it as well, just like Mary.” -June W.
– “‘God alone is mighty,’ this really speaks to me because He is the only one who is mighty… He created the world and we cannot really compare anything to Him. I think that we as Christians could be less prideful because we are not as good as we think we are, and God is and always will be better than we are or ever will be.” -Kyllian M.


As I was listening to my friends’ responses, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the thoughts and ideas they were sharing. Listening to this song I typically follow the alto line, but as I sat and listened to it recently, it made me realize something. Through every trial, tribulation, grief or joy our God blesses ME! That hit me like lightening. It dawned on me that no matter what I do or how far I stray, as a baptized believer in God’s church I will always be on my Father’s mind and He will always care for me. Not only does He care for me He cares about all Emili...sophomore yearof His children and He will bless us as long as we honor, worship, follow and praise Him.

Thanks to my daughter Emili for her time and energy in pulling these thoughts together. May our soul indeed, “Magnify the Lord!”