Prayer for the day-Musical Instruments of all Sorts

                                            Prayer for the day-Musical Instruments of all Sorts

       Lord help me to give you, not just a part, but all of my talents and gifts as a musical offering unto you.  Never let me even consider a musical life of being self-centered, self-serving, self-seeking, self aggrandizing service to myself.  Lord please spare  me from a life that is musical life that is centered on myself.  Help me to give my all to you.  May my life be a musical living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto you?  Help me to realize that only what is done musically in your name and for your glory will have eternal value.  These things I pray in your name.  Amen.

 

Musical Instruments of all Sorts

Musical Instruments of all Sorts  

       Ecclesiastes 2:8b states “I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.”

       King Solomon was rich, and as he confessed in verse 10b, “I withheld not my heart from joy.’  All sorts of music and a great variety of both male and female musicians were available to pleasure him with musical performance.  At the end of his musical journey of pleasure he confessed in verse eleven that “…all is vanity and vexation of spirit."

       I have lived long enough to observe musicians who have spent a life time consuming music on their lust.  Like Solomon they are never happy.  I have also observed church musicians as well as secular musicians who were enamored with a life of personal performance.  They, like Solomon, are never satisfied or fulfilled.

       The more talented you are, the more you will be tempted to believe that you have the right to consume your musical gifts and talents on your own lust.  At the end of your musical journey of religious humanism, I promise you that without doubt your life will be empty.  The joy of getting all you can get out of music and canning up all you get for yourself will leave you lonely and empty.

       The joy of getting all you can get out of music and giving it all back to God is the only thing that will bring you true happiness and a life of fulfillment.  If you fail to give all you have back to Jesus, you will find out that “all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”  The saddest and most pathetic musicians that I have ever met have been older musicians who have spent a lifetime of “getting”.  They may have been rich and famous but they were all men and women who were of all people on this earth most miserable.

      

Prayer for the day--Chief Musician

Prayer for the day-Chief Musician

      I thank you Lord for being my deliverer.  Thank you for making it possible for me to be your musical servant.  Thank you that I am your musical servant.  Thank you that I have been conjointly raised up with Christ to be your love servant for as long as I live.  Help me to be permanent and stay where you place me in your service.  Help me to keep glittering from afar with your presence.  May my life be a giant boasting of your wonderful love and power to save men and women from sin.  Help me to humbly but forcefully shout the high praises of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as long as you give me breath.  These things I pray in your strong and wonderful name.  Amen. 

To the Chief Musician

To the Chief Musician

Psalm 18 superscription states, “To the chief musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul."

       This wonderful song is presented “to’ or “for” the chief musician.  The Hebrew word natsach (5329) has been rendered chief musician in the AV.  This Hebrew word means to glitter from a far or to be eminent.  This musician was to be a superintendent of Temple music.  This word also connotes being permanent.  So, chief musician, you need to glitter from a distance.  You need to be eminent.  You need to be in charge of church and not let it take charge of you.  Finally, you need to stay on the job!

       David, the “sweet psalmist of Israel” is referred here as the servant of the self existent eternal God who now “is”.  Are you known as God’s musical servant?  Have you been able to reconcile your charismatic personality with servant hood?  What do people see when you glitter from afar?  Do they see a reflection of Jesus?  Do they see a humble servant?  Do they see a musician who superintends in a spirit of humility?

       When the going gets rough do you stay at your place of music ministry?  Are you a permanent minister of music?  Can the self existent God who “is” depend on you to stay at your place of music ministry?

       God will deliver you from your enemies in due season if you will trust Him.  Can you say with the psalmist David “Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen and sing praises unto thy name. (Psalm 18:49)

 

Thought for the day-Be Ready to Fall Down

 Thought for the day-Be Ready to Fall Down

Some times twenty-first century Christian musicians believe that they are the first musicians to find themselves in the middle of the fiery furnace of a worship war.  However, the Bible records a worship war going on in ancient times at the court of King Nebuchadnezzar.

    

Be ready to Fall Down

Be Ready to Fall Down

Daniel 3:5 states “That at the time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.”

       This ancient admonition sounds like a twenty-first century admonition to worship when ever and what ever is going down musically at a particular time.  These three Hebrew men refused to violate their conscience musically or spiritually.  Twenty-first century musicians are at times put in a place where they will have to take a stand.  The Bible lesson in this Scripture is very clear.  These three men would not worship the Chaldean image and they would not worship with “all kinds of music”. 

       The result was that they got themselves thrown into a fiery furnace.  Sorry!  These men took a stand about worship style and idol worship which incurred the wrath of those who were in charge.  Those in authority were so mad that they heated the furnace seven times hotter than normal.  So, if you take a stand musically and spiritually, get ready to enter the fiery furnace

       These three Hebrew men maintained a meek and quiet spirit, which included a good attitude, and God honored them and took care of them.  You man feel that you are in the fiery furnace because you refuse to go along with worship that that does not follow Bible principles of musicing unto God.  However you must stay “cool” in the midst of the hot furnace.  If you do, God will take care of you.  He cared so much for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that God got in the furnace with them.

Prayer for the day-Habakkuk's Burden

Prayer for the day-Habakkuk’s Burden

Thank you lord for putting your thumb in my back to deliver the burden of your message to the people I minister to musically.  Help me to pass my passion for your message on to those who hear me music unto you.  Help me to music unto you with believability.  Help me to have the abandonment of self in order to express the urgency of the message of Christ crucified, resurrected and sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for the people I minister to musically.  Please set my soul on fire spiritually.  Help my passion to burn with a consistent glow in order that your people will desire to draw closer to you.  Help me to compassionately entreat sinners to come to Christ.  This I ask in your blessed name.  Amen.

      

The burden of Habakkuk

The Burden of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 1:1 states, “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see…”  The Hebrew word translated burden in this Scripture is massa (4853).  This word carries the concept of an utterance which according to Strong’s Hebrew dictionary. He includes both spoken and singing and states that this is true especially of singing.  This word connotes a burden born in upon this person by God.

       This heavy burden expresses mental desire i.e. a vision which the prophet “did see”.  This same word massa is used of the chief singer Chenaniah in I Chronicles 15:22.  The prophets and musicians had visions of God born in upon them so vivid that the Holy Writ records is as something born in upon the prophets and musicians by God himself.

       As a Christian musician, when you feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit in your back, be sure that you deliver that message through your musicing.  Rather than be fearful of delivering the serious message that God has born in upon your spirit, thank God that He has trusted you to deliver his message to the people.

       God uses musicians and preachers to carry the burden of Jehovah to His church.  Never be ashamed to get excited about singing and playing that is anointed of God.  Never reject true hart felt emotion and meaning in musical ministry.  Believability comes through expressing your “visions of God” expressed in your musicing.  No person ever expects a preacher to drone out a sermon, and no one should expect a musician to remain stone faced and removed emotionally from his or her musical ministry.

 

Thought for the day-The Eyes of the LORD

Thought for the day-The Eyes of the LORD

       Every time that I have had the good sense to keep my big mouth shut, I have been exceedingly glad later.

The Eyes of the LORD

 The Eyes of the LORD

       Psalm 34:15-16 states, “The eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto thy Cry.  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” 

       These two verses were preceded by the admonition for those who desire to live a long life and see good days to “keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”  Christian musicians often fall into Satan’s snare of speaking “guile”.  I’m not sure of all the meaning of the Hebrew word mirmah (4820).  However, some musicians that I have associated with definitely are plagued with this speech malady.  They would not lie, cheat or steal but they often spoke evil of almost everyone I trusted and respected.  There have been some musicians that avoided like the plague because they could depress a statue with their negative chatter.  They kept almost every rule of Christian conduct in the Book; it seemed, except speaking evil of others.

       I have often told my Symphonic wind and string members and choir members to “be careful little mouth what you say.”  Even if what you say is the truth, it may hurt the person spiritually that hears what you say about others.  Christian musicians must remember that our speech about others must be kept charitable at all times.   They say in the navy, “Tell your troubles to Jesus, ‘cause the Chaplin’s gone ashore.”

       This passage of Scripture reminds us all that, “the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous” and, I might add the unrighteous as well.  The Lord knows when you have been done wrong and have been offended.  So, tell Him your troubles because as this Scripture reminds us, His ears are open unto your cry for help.  God is always listening and seeing and that is a good thing.  He is not watching from a distance but rather up close and personal.  He is always very much “in the know” so remember that He is as close as the mention of His name.  Don’t talk negatively about others, but rather ask God to help them.  Also, don’t forget to ask Him to help you as well as your enemies!

Prayer for the day-The LORD Will Work for Us

Prayer for the day-The LORD Works for Us

        O Lord our god who is ruler of heaven and earth.  I am humbly asking You to show yourself strong to men and women who are ministering musically for you out there where “the rubber meets the pavement”.  Do a strong and mighty work for that one who is all alone out there in”Smirgly Junction”.  Lift up your servant this very day as he or she reads this prayer!  Help your musical servant to trust, believe and obey. 

       O god who spoke worlds into existence, provide for your work.  Pour out a blessing so large that all those around will know that this ministry is a “God thing”.  Lord, you can save by many or by few.  You have no limits or restraint on your riches or your power.  These things I pray just now, weeping, trusting and believing in your STRONG name.  Amen.  Amen!

         

The LORD Will Work for Us

 The Lord Will Work for Us

       I Samuel 14:6 states, “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”

       Israel’s was faced by three raiding parties from the garrison of Philistines.  The Israelites were without swords or spears.  They only had plowshares, mattocks, axes, sickles, and forks.  Most of the instruments they had were not adequate battle weapons.  What they had to do the job was not adequate but that did not matter to God.

       I remember when I made an inventory of musical instruments at one Bible College where I taught, I didn’t have most of the necessary band and orchestra instruments necessary to do the job.  However, God helped me to purchase these instruments at pawn shops, garage sales, and various other unlikely places around the city.  What we didn’t have was overwhelming, but our lack of musical instruments didn’t overwhelm God.  Our lack of musical instruments gave my heavenly Father the opportunity to show me His great power.  I was given the opportunity to see “the LORD work for us”. 

       You may be overwhelmed at the lack of necessary things you need for your musical ministry.  Let me encourage you to call on the LORD and trust Him to supply your every need.  He will work for you, because as Jonathan told the young man that carried his armor, “there is no restraint to the LOORD to save by many or few”.

       Read the rest of I Samuel chapter fourteen and it will strengthen your faith in god.  I have seen God provide when we simply did not have the financial means to get what we needed to get the job done.  Since my heavenly Father is not a respecter of persons, he will also provide for your ministry needs.  Ask Him!  Trust Him!  Stand still and see His glorious work on your behalf.  Never forget that He cares about your musical ministry.

Thought for the day-Song of fools

 Thought for the day-The Song of fools

Expository preaching helps a congregation to grow spiritually.  How about expository singing?  After you sing, what does the audience know about spiritual things that they did not know before you sang?

The Song of Fools

The Song of Fools

Ecclesiastes &:5 states, “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”

       Church musicians sometimes get a little worried that their musicing unto God is too serious, because all of us want people to like our music ministry.  What does the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes mean by “the song of fools”?  Is he suggesting that the content of the song is foolish or that those who are singing the songs are actually fools?  Yes, you are correct he probably means “all of the above”. 

       Never be afraid of the seriousness of the musical message of Christ crucified.  The awesome debth of this message is the very thing that makes it worthwhile.  The message of Christ being obedient to the will of His Father: which included being reviled, rebuked, rejected, misunderstood, abused, and being tortured physically and mentally is a very solemn and worthwhile message.  Never be ashamed of the awesome and solemn truth about Christ’s suffering and death which we sing about in God’s house. The Christian musician should never “water it down” or fail to sing about the precious blood that Christ shed for the sins of the whole world.

       Although the message of His suffering and death is a very solemn message, there is another side to this musical coin.  Turn it over and you will see victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You will see the joy of the debt of sin being paid by His suffering and death and resurrection.  You will also see that we can have a clean and pure heart through the efficacy of His precious blood that was shed on Calvary.  You will further see freedom from the guilt of sin.  You will also see the joy of having a relationship with our Lord ans Savior Jesus Christ in this life and in the life to come.

       Sing and play and tell through your musicing, not only the suffering and death of our savior but also of the fact that He was victorious over sin, death, hell and the grave.  This message if much better than the “song of fools” who merely sing a social gospel.  This message is far better than the foolish, light, chaffy, religious music that contains little of any eternal value. Church musician look up!  Lift up your head because you are doing the King’s business when you music the deep message of Christ crucified, buried, and risen again and seated on the right of the Father praying for us all.

Thought for the Day-When the Enemy Comes

                                         Thought for the day-When the Enemy comes

The stronger a person become as a Christian, the more that person will recognize that he or she is weak and must have God’s Spirit to protect against Satan’s onslaught.

When the Enemy Comes

 When the Enemy Comes

       Isaiah 59:19b states, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

       All of us who have served the Lord very long have become aware of the warfare of our enemy Satan.  This Scripture reminds us salvation and deliverance is only of God, and that Jehovah is the only one who can withstand the power of the enemy. 

       We are promised that when the enemy comes in like a flood that God will lift up a standard (nuwc-5127-make to flee away) against him.  God has literally promised to chase Satan away!  The enemy of our soul cannot overcome us in the hour of temptation and trial.  We have the power to give up and to fail to trust God and resist Satan’s stratagems, but god will not let Satan overpower us if we resist Satan. 

   It is wonderful to know that the god who created the heavens and the earth will come to our rescue.  Although we are no match for Satan, God is willing and able to put him to flight, because Satan is no match for our loving heavenly father.

       If you are fighting a spiritual battle of if Satan is accusing you, let our elder brother Jesus Christ the righteous fight your battle for you.  When Satan comes in to your life like a flood, my advice is to run.  Yes, I said run!  You should run under the great protective wings of our Savior Jesus Christ where you can get in out of Satan’s flood.  You should hide under His wings of protection while HE rebukes Satan.

Prayer for the day-Planted in the Right Place

Prayer for the day-Planted in the Right Place

        LORD, I thank you for planting me close to the river of life.  Thank you for providing the means of grace which are able to sustain my spiritual life.  Thank you for helping me to continue to bear spiritual fruit.  LORD, I thank you for providing spiritual life during the heat and dry times of life.  Please help me to abide in you and to bring forth my musical fruit in my season.  Thank you for blessing me day by day.  I am asking you to help me to trust you more and more each day of my life.  Help me to put my hope in you as I continue to minister for you. This I pray in your name.  Amen.

     

God Plants His Trees in the Right Place

God plants His Trees in the Right Place-Part 2

       Jeremiah 17: 7-8 states, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when the heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

       It is interesting to note that God plants the tree and the tree chooses on purpose to “spread out her roots by the river”.  Christian musician, you are planted where you are by the will of God.  It is your responsibility to spread out your spiritual roots along the pure crystal river of life.  If your spiritual leaf withers it is because you have spread out your roots in the wrong place.  It is God’s responsibility to provide the pure water that sustains spiritual life, and it is your responsibility to attend to the means of grace in order to maintain a strong spiritual life.

       Notice that this Scripture states that the man who TRUSTS in the self existent eternal god who is the provider of all the Christian’s needs.  Also note that the blessed Christian is the man or woman who hopes in the LORD.  The Christian musician should never trust in any earthly organization.  The musician who has his roots headed toward the pure crystal spiritual waters will also have his or her hope in God who provides this spiritual sustenance.

Thought for the day-Planted in the Right Place

Thought for the day-Planted in the Right Place

God does not plant His trees in the river because He knows that they would kick them.  Instead, He plants beside the waters of life where they can spread their roots by the life sustaining waters.

God Plants His Trees in the Right Place

God Plants His Trees in the Right Place

       Jeremiah 17:7-8 states, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful when in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

       This Scripture passage reminds us that the Christian musician, who puts his or trust in the self existent eternal God , is a divine planting.  He has been planted by the God is not a god who was, but rather a God who is!  This Christian is blessed because he or she is a divine planting of Jehovah.  The trusting Christian musician is not a seedling i.e. an accident or a happenstance but rather an “on purpose” planting.  This musician trusts the place of planting so much that he or she spreads out roots along the crystal clear waters of the river of life.  Why?  Because the Christian musician knows that the water from god’s river sustains spiritual life.

       This musician is planted where he or she will be sustained when the heat  and extreme dryness of life comes.   I have always said to the ministering musicians that I worked with that serving Jesus Christ is not always “hipity-hop over the top”.  However, when the heated battles surround this musician, his or her spiritual leaf does not wither.  When the extreme heat of spiritual summer comes, this Christian’s testimony i.e. “her green leaf” does not fail.  Because his or her green leaves keep making spiritual sugar, as the pure water of life keeps flowing up to God’s light and spiritual photosynthesis takes place.  Therefore, the Christian musician keeps on making spiritual “sugars” and producing spiritual fruit during the year of draught.

Thought for the day-delivered

Thought for the day-Delivered

When you can not seem to pray your way to victory over Satan’s oppression, try praising your way to victory with singing.”

Delivered from Evil Doers

Delivered from Evil Doers

       Jeremiah 20:13 states, “Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.” 

       The enemy of the Christian musician’s soul desires to take his revenge out on the Christian musician.  He waits for us to be enticed into sin.  Satan is smart and he is subtle.  Jeremiah 20:11 says, “But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail.”  Although the enemy of thy musician’s soul is crafty and powerful, our God is a “mighty terrible one”.  Therefore, Satan is no match for our Lord.  God is big enough and mighty enough to not only fight Satan but to also to win the battle for the Christian musician’s soul.

       Jeremiah was a lot like Christian musicians.  He was prone to depression (Jeremiah 20:14-18).  One moment his faith reached out to Jehovah and in the next he was deep into despair.  We as musicians should learn from Jeremiah’s mistakes.

       When Satan begins to accuse you, you must look up to Jesus.  In the time of depression move in closer to the great heart of God and trust Him and believe his Word.  You will find strength in reading scripture, praying, and singing His praises.  You should count your God given blessings and resist Satan in the name of the LORD.  If you do, Satan will have to withdraw because of the power of our God that surrounds us.

       Note that the Scripture admonishes us to sing unto the LORD.  When you are oppressed and become depressed, praise the Lord with singing.  If you praise God with singing and God will “inhabit your praise”.  Our heavenly father will abide with you i.e. he will dwell with you because Jesus is a friend that will stick closer than a brother.

Prayer for the day-Taken from the sheepcote

Prayer for the day-Sheepcote

Our dear heavenly Father, please pour out a blessing on Christian parents who train their children in early childhood to present their musical talents to God.  Please hover over all of our children’s musical talents.  Protect these children from doing evil.  Please prevent the enemy of their souls from corrupting their musical desires.  Lord, anoint mothers and fathers for training up their children in the ways of the Lord.  Please equip your church with another generation of children and young people who love you and desire to sing and play the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These things I pray in your wonderful name.  Amen.

The musician Taken from the Sheepcote

The Musician taken from the Sheepcote

       II Samuel 7:8 states, “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto thy servant David, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel.”

       Every time I read this scripture about King David’s beginnings, I think of myself.  I was raised on an eighty acre farm about five miles east of Fort Scott, Kansas about a mile and a half from the Missouri state line.  No one in my family background was an important person.  As they say in Kansas, I was born a” nobody of nobody’s”.  No one knew me from “Adam’s off ox” because we were common crop farmers who ran a very small grade “C” dairy.  So, I truly was taken from the sheepcote to minister musically unto God.

       I grew up with my older sister Virginia and two older brothers David and Nathan.  When I was a little boy our family was very poor.  However, my parents always put us first.  We always went to school with starched jeans and spotlessly clean clothes!  We always had plenty to eat and the very best of what our parents possessed.  Since we always had what we needed, we didn’t even know how really poor we were.

       Dad worked on the farm and off the farm as a painter and carpenter.  My mother worked at the hospital as a nurse’s aid, and later after we were raised, she went back to school and became a licensed practical nurse.

       My first memories of going to church include my mother practicing songs with me and the preacher lifting me up on a chair behind the pulpit to sing special music about Jesus.  I have told you all this to remind all of you Christian musicians that your family’s musical training really matters.  No matter what you have or don’t have, the things that matter are not “things”.  I was given a Christian upbringing, and I was given every opportunity as a child to give my musical talents back to God.

       Mothers and fathers give your children an opportunity to develop their musical talents and give those talents back to God!  That is what really matters.  Children learn musically by doing.  If you want your sons and daughters to give their musical talents to God in adulthood, make sure their early memories of going to church include musicing unto God.

Thought for the day--Beauty for Ashes

Thought for the day-Beauty for Ashes

I know that God will pull me through my troubles if I will relax and let Him do the pulling.

Beauty for Ashes

                                                                   Beauty for Ashes 

       Isaiah 61:3 states, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

       This chapter in Isaiah is a promise to those who are faithful.  He doesn’t promise that they will never mourn or have the spirit of heaviness, but he does, under them inspiration of god, promise that they will be given “the garment of praise.”  This scripture passage promises beauty for ashes and joy for mourning.

        If you serve Jesus Christ very long, you will probably go through times of great sorrow and psychological heaviness.  The faithful righteous Christian musician does not escape the ashes of mourning.  However, if he or she will put on the garment of praise this musician will have the spiritual strength to endure times of trouble. 

       Putting on the garment of praise will make the Christian musician strong like a tree.  This musician will not only be a strong tree but also a tree of righteousness. You will be strong in the LORD because you are a tree of Jehovah.  Your faithful praising during these times will make you an instrument of praise that will bring praise and honor to the self-existent eternal God.  So, rejoice in tribulation, put on the garment of praise and you will be able to make it through life’s troubles victoriously.  God has promised that He will give you beauty for ashes and joy for mourning.

 

Thought for the day--The Musician shall Flourish

                                                 Thought for the day-Musician will Flourish

I heard Rev. Roan Fay say once, “get connected”.  Fay says “get connected”, Wolf says, “stay connected if you wish to remain useful and fruitful.”

The Righteous Musician will Flourish

                                                      The Righteous Musician will Flourish

Psalm 92:12-15 states, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”

       I was sixty-four years old at the time I wrote this little devotional.  Over the years as I read this psalm it never occurred to me the great impact that this Scripture would have on me as I read it again while waiting for my flight in JFK Airport.  I am retired, and life has changed dramatically.  Satan tells me at least once every day that the useful part of my life is over.  He taunts me with the thought that “you’ve about had it.”

       On the authority of God’s word I have just been reminded (about &:00 pm) here at gate twenty-two in terminal two, that I can still bear fruit for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  God has promised that if I will stay “planted in the house of the Lord” who is the self existent, eternal God, that I can and will bear fruit in my retirement years.  Perhaps this devotional is just for me, or perhaps there is someone else out there who is either retired or near retirement years that needs to be reminded that in “old age”, whatever that means, you can and will remain fruitful.  Don’t ever quit ministering to others.  I do not plan to ever quit, because He has promised to make me fat and flourishing in my retirement years.

Prayer for the day-God will Restore

                                     Prayer for the day-God will restore the Musician

Lord please help me to be wise enough to repent of anything in my life that would displease you.  Please do not let my theological beliefs ever stand in the way of me having a clear conscience that is void of offense toward you Lord.  Thank you that you love all of us that, if we repent, you will forgive and restore us ever though we are undeserving of your love.  Thank you Lord that when we repent, you never hold a grudge against us.  These things I pray in your name.  Amen

      

God will Restore the Backsliding Musician

                                                God will Restore the Backsliding Musician 

       Hosea 14:4-5 states, “I will heal there backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.  His branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.”

       This Bible message from God through the prophet Joel is to the backsliding musician, or any person, for that matter.  If you are a backslider, God will heal you!  God promised that if Israel would (verse 1) “return unto the LORD thy God” that He would “love them freely”.  God’s anger would also be assuaged if they would only turn their hearts back to Him.  

       If you feel dry and parched spiritually, God will “be as the dew” unto your soul.  It is wonderful that God has promised the backslider is that if he or she will repent, He will moisten the heart as dew.   Furthermore, God proclaims that the former backslider will grow like a lily.  The Hebrew word parach (6524) translated here as grow literally means to break forth as a bud.  God promised that if the backslider would repent and turn back to Him, this person’s life would flourish and grow again.

Thought for the day-Musician's Inheritance

                                    Thought for the day—Musician’s Inheritance 

My earthly father loved me and gave me a portion of all he owned.  However, I’m getting an unbelievable inheritance from my heavenly Father-- one that is “above all that we can ask or think.”  (Ephesians 3:20)

 

      

The Levite Musician's Ihheritance

 

                                       The Levite Musician’s Inheritance  

       Numbers 18:20 states, “And the LORD spake unto Aaron, thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them:  I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.”

       It must have disturbed the Priests and the Levites that they weren’t given any land as an inheritance.  They were supposed to receive a tithe for their inheritance.  Many Christian musicians have a tendency to question the fact that they have so little in this life.  These musicians often work part time in a church, Christian school, or Christian college and “mend tents” as a means to pay the bills.

       The striking import of this Scripture is that Jehovah promised the priests and Levites that, “I am thy part and thine inheritance”.  I cannot find any place in the Old Testament where God made this promise to any of the Israelites who were not from the tribe of Levi.

       The self-existent eternal God who is has promised to be the portion and inheritance of the musician who ministers for him.  Praise God!  He has promised to be our portion if we will be faithful at our place of music ministry.  We may not be able to claim very much of the terra firma but God himself claims us as his heirs.  Wow!!  God claims as his own heirs.  I don’t know about you, but I would rather inherit a portion of God’s eternal riches than to have this world’s riches.

Thought for the day--Ashes

Thought for the day-Ashes

If something in your life is paniym (before) God, it will block your view of God.  If your view of God is blocked you will develop a deceived heart.  There is no telling just what a deceived heart will lust after or desire.

Some Musicians Feed on Ashes

                                  Some Musicians Feed on Ashes

       Isaiah 44:20 states, “He feedeth on ashes:  a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

       This verse is an exhortation about the folly of idol makers.  Have you made an idol lately?  Do you have any idols that you have made or purchased in the past?  Do you have any idols that were given to you?  I ask these questions because I know several musicians who are now sort of worshiping their “idols”.

       Many Christian musicians get side-tracked by things they worship more than God.  They haven’t quit worshiping God but they have other gods that are ‘before” Him.  As a matter of fact, they are very good at acts of worship.  They seem to worship very well in church.  They know all the words to the latest worship choruses and they are able to put clever worship sequences together.  However, they worship trinkets and toys and a host of things more than they worship God.  Anything that obscures the face of God in our lives is “before” (paniym 6440) God.

       A Christian musician must be careful to keep the main thing the main thing!  Everyone needs a hobby but the Christian musician must not let a hobby hobble him or her.  Be sure that you use your time of recreation to ‘re-create’ you.  Be sure that you do not simply live for your trinkets or your life will become “wood, hay, and stubble.  If you do not keep the main thing the main thing, it will not be very long until you will be “feeding on ashes”.  

       It is sad to see a talented Christian musician who has turned aside by his or her deceived heart.  Be sure you are not carrying around a lie in your right hand.  P.S., don’t carry around a lie in your left hand either.

Quote for the Day-The Voice of Singing

                                                         Quote for the day-Voice of singing 

“There is a difference between people who sing songs about Jesus and those who sing who know Jesus.” (Rev. Tim Keep)

With the Voice of Singing

                                                             With the Voice of Singing

       Isaiah 48:20 states, “Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with the voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, the LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.”

       At this time Israel was in Babylon, they had transgressed God’s law.  God, in his tender mercy, was going to make it possible for them to leave Babylon.  God was going to “place his arm on the Chaldeans” to help Israel to escape.

       Have you ever found yourself in trouble and then realized that it was your own fault?  Musicians are famous for blaming everyone else for their problems.  However, I have lived long enough to learn that it isn’t what happens to us that really matters when we get in trouble in trouble.  No, it is how we react to what has happened to us that makes the difference.

       Notice that God said to Israel,”go”, “flee”, and “declare with the voice of singing”.  Today He is asking Christian musicians to declare “with the voice of singing” that “the Lord hath redeemed” us and will also deliver us from the “furnace of affliction (vs. 11).”

       It is important to note that the Scripture uses the terminology “with the voice of singing.”  Sometimes we can sing our way to victory when nothing seems to work.  If you are in the “fiery furnace” just now, try singing God’s praises!  I remember the Bloom sisters singing the song “It’s amazing what praising can do.”  That song has been a source of help to me many times when I have been troubled and so depressed that I felt like leaving my place of music ministry.  If you are depressed and feel that there is no way out of your trouble—try praising God with the “voice of singing”.

Thought for the day--weary Music Ministers

 

                                  Thought for the day—weary Music Ministers 

Be careful of people you idolize because may people who are considered to be “stars” become fallen “stars”.  So, keep your eyes on God who is the keeper of the stars.

Weary Music Ministers

 

                                                         Weary Music Ministers 

       Galatians 6:9 states, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

       How can we keep going when we haven’t seemed to have accomplished the great task before us?  I do not believe that this verse is teaching that the Christian musician will never get tired.  I have seen some high energy musicians that seem to never get tired.  However, I am sure that they have to get weary emotionally and physically.  I believe that this Scripture is an admonition to the Christian musician to not quit when he or she is tired and faces burnout.

       I remember being so emotionally weary that one morning on our way to work I announced to my wife Sheila, “this is it—I quit.”  I remember her saying to me very calmly, “If you leave I will not go with you because you know that the Lord wants you to stay here.”  I thought that she was kind of joking, but I didn’t test her to see if she really meant it!

       The Bible lesson in this verse is that the Christian musician should not quit or he or she will miss the harvest.  Wouldn’t it be awful to work hard and the give up before the Lord sends the harvest?  I ministered 38 years full time as a Bible college music director.  If I had quit after only a few years, I would have missed a multitude of God’s richest blessings.

       Galatians 6:9 includes a little word with a big meaning.  This word is “if”.  The promise of spiritual harvest comes to those who refuse to quit.  None of us know when the “due season” will come.  So, hang on!  Be sure you get your soul fed because you can not keep going unless you have spiritual strength within your soul.

       Keep up your “well doing”.  Your musical ministry does not have to be large in order to please God.  It isn’t your success in the eyes of people that matters.  Rather, it is your faithfulness and “well doing” that matters to God.

Thought for the day- Cisterns

                                        Thought for the day-Cisterns

My Father would often say, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”  The same is true of a Christian musician.  The musician must partake of the means of grace if his or her musical ministry is going to be efficacious.

Musicians with Broken Cisterns

                                                           Musicians with Broken Cisterns

       Jeremiah 2:13 states, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and have hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

       God sent his prophet Jeremiah to plead with the nation of Israel who had begun to worship false gods.  After all that God had done for Israel, they had changed their worship to false gods.

       Notice that they had forsaken the fountain of living water.  They had gone after their own source of spiritual strength (broken cisterns).  Their worship had left them dry spiritually because these cisterns would not hold water.

       The ministering musician is constantly giving to others.  As I have told my ministering music groups for years, “You can’t feed others unless you eat.”  If you have some kind of broken cistern that has failed to sustain you spiritually, get out your ladder, broom and mop and clean out the inside of your cistern.

       If your cistern is not clean on the inside the plaster will not adhere to your spiritual cistern walls. All the junk in your life must be removed!  If you are going to store up the pure living water, you may have to “clean house” or the means of grace will not be efficacious.

       Remember, the children of Israel were incurable worshipers.  When they quit drinking the living water they started worshiping false gods.  Satan doesn’t care which “thing” we worship as long as it is something other than our loving Heavenly father.  He doesn’t even care if we worship religious music.

       The Bible lesson to be remembered is that we should make sure we are taking advantage of the fountain of living water.  God has enough of this water to sustain every ministering musician.  We also must be sure that we have not started worshiping music fads and trends or any genera of music but rather worship GOD with music that appropriately represents and honors Him.  Anything less is a broken cistern.

Thought for the day -waves

                                                                            Thought for the day-Waves

Perhaps Jesus lets us get in the midst of a storm so that we will know for sure that we need Him.  Since it is so easy to row our little ship when the sea is calm, we sometimes forget just how much we need Him.

Covered with Waves

                                                                       Covered with Waves  

       St. Matthew 8:24-25 states, “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: and he was asleep.  And his disciples came unto him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.”

       As I wrote this blog post, I was sitting in my daughter Deanna’s living room looking out of a very large picture window at a very boisterous sea.  The white caps were crashing onto the rocks along the shore with great vengeance.  I can imagine how the disciples felt that day when they were at sea.  Perhaps when they entered the ship with     Jesus that day the sea was very placid.

       The day before the sea had been very beautiful and calm in Northern Ireland but this day it was a scary sight to behold.  Now I understood why the disciples were so terrified and why they were so intent on waking Jesus.  I know that I would have been the one waking Jesus if I had been in waves like the ones I was observing as I looked out at the sea in front of Mark and Deanna’s home.

       Jesus said to them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”  I can’t say anything bad about his disciples because many times when the storms of life face me, I panic!  I guess when I cry to him He lovingly chuckles and says, “Don’t you know that I’m on board your little ship?”

       I know He is on board but I tend to be like Hid disciples.  I’m guilty of saying, “Master, carest not that we perish (Mark 4:38)?”  I know that he can control the waves on the sea of life but somehow I am sometimes doubtful that he will still them.

       I am greatly comforted by His words “Peace be still.”  When Jesus says these words there is always a great calm in my life.

Thought for the day--Tower

                                                 Thought for the day--Tower

Pick your tower very carefully and be sure that you are not hiding under the wrong one!

The musician's Tower

                                                                            The Musician’s Tower

       II Samuel 22:3 states, “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior, thou savest me from violence.”  

       The first site that I wanted to in Paris was the Eifel Tower.  We arrived at the tower just before they turned on the tower lights at dusk.  The tower is beautiful all the time, but it is awesome at night when the lights outline the entire tower.  The tower looked big from a distance, but when stood directly under the tower it was very huge!

       I don’t know how many times I have read this scripture but it never stood out to me until I had seen the Eifel Tower.  Now I have a much clearer mental picture of God as my high tower.  He is bigger and stronger than the Eifel Tower.  He is the God who is above all false gods.  Now I understand that the false gods of the world are like those little key chains which have a small metal tower hooked to them with a chain.

       Everyone has a rock.  It may be a crumbling rock or a bunch of pebbles.  Let me remind you that my God is your Rock and strong tower.  Since He is so high and lifted up, strong and mighty, He towers above all your troubles.  He will be your refuge and Savior. The Christian musician’s tower is the rock Christ Jesus.  There is no other tower as strong as our God.  The Christian musician is anchored deeply on the strong rock and tower Christ Jesus.

       When we got to the Eifel Tower it was raining and the wind was blowing.  However when we got completely under the tower, we were sheltered from the cold night rain in Paris.  I did not want to leave the protection of this magnificent tower.  However, I had too because the others I was traveling with wanted to see more of the magnificent city or Paris.

       Praise God, we never have to leave the protection of our strong, high and mighty tower Christ Jesus our Lord.  I can not understand why any musician would willingly journey through this life with out the strength and protection of our tower which is Jesus our Lord.