Thought for the Day-Part 6

        
Thought for the Day-Music Matters-Part 6

Part of the preparation of a pastor must be educating him or her musically. If educational curricular requirements do not include Bible based music education, then the pastors will have to include it as a part of their life-long learning.

 

Prayer for Blog in December

                                                                  Prayer for this blog in December

Lord, please allow this Music philosophy blog to be a blessing during the month of December.  Please let this blog go around the world to places where I cannot go.  Help me as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  Only you know Lord who is out there ministering musically that needs a fresh anointing for musical ministry.  Help me to know which philosophical and devotional topics are important and will be a blessing.  Please anoint the blog and the blogger.  These things I ask in your name.  Amen.

Thank You For A Great November

Thank You For a Great November

       Thank you for a great month of November.  The last month was a continuation of my devotional thoughts for music ministers.  It is my prayer that these posts will stimulate your thinking and that they will bring honor to our heavenly Father. 

       Since we began on January 2 we have received a total of over 18,482 page views with about 1,400 views in November.  The page views have come from 65 different countries.  These views have come from Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands,  China, Congo [DRC],Croatia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Hong Kong,  India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Porto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the USA.  There were four new countries added during the month of November.  They were: Israel, Lithuania, Qatar, and the Turks & Caicos Islands. Please pray with me that God will allow this Music Philosophy Blog to go places where I will never have the opportunity to minister musically.

       Again I want to thank all you busy pastors and musicians who have taken the time to view my music philosophy blog during the month of November.  Please continue to pray that God will guide each post and allow it to reach those who need encouragement to keep ministering for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

       The main reason that I started this Music Philosophy blog is that although there is much music philosophy information on the net, not very much of it is from a biblical perspective.  Please share the blog address with your friends.   If you have an area of music or fine arts philosophy that troubles you, please feel free to let me know and I will include it in our discussions.  My email address is Garenlwolf@gmail.com.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day   

Lord I am asking You to help me to always act like a Christian musician.  Help me to guard my attitude and my tongue during rehearsal.  Help me to guard my heart and my attitude toward those with whom I minister with musically.  Help me to live a life that is worthy of the vocation to which You have called me.   Help me to be more interested in the people that I work with than I am about a missed note, rhythm, or musical nuance.  These things I pray in Your wonderful name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day  “Living for Jesus” by C.F. Weigle   

Thought for the Day        

If we want anyone to believe that Christianity works, we will have to act like Christians every day, all day and even during the night.

Your Vocation and Calling

Your Vocation and Calling      

Ephesians 4:1 states, I therefore a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation where with ye are called.”  

       In this verse Paul is admonishing the Ephesian Christians to live a life that is consistent with a Christian profession.  Did you ever wonder why he was admonishing Christians to act like Christians?  Not only was it necessary to admonish them to be what they professed, but is necessary for Christian musicians today to check up on the way they act.  When you give a slight correction to the tenors because they are singing under pitch or when you inform the sopranos that they are singing too loudly, do you do so with gentleness?

       We as Christian musicians, need to stop our hurried pace long enough to check up on whether our musicing and musical leadership is being carried out in a spirit of Christian kindness and humility.  When it comes to the musicians that a musician leads, it is not “big I and little you”. 

       Verse three of the fourth chapter of Ephesians is an admonishment Christians to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (NIV).  We need to make sure that we are not more concerned with musical precision than with Christ’s presence.  Ouch!  We should never hide a disgruntled attitude under the disguise of being a musician who is a perfectionist and is working with mediocre musicians. 

       We need to remember that a perfect heart is much more important than a perfect performance.   With this said, I do believe that God expects the best musical offering that we are able to give Him.  However, with that in mind, I still believe that how a Christian musician acts in rehearsal and in performance is more important than perfection of performance. 

 

Prayer,Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day      

Lord I am “under Your hands” for song and I realize that you have placed others “under my hands” to teach them to minister the vision to Your church.  Please help me to catch a greater vision of You so that I may be truly a “seer” of spiritual things.  Lord, may my life’s vision be to ultimately bring glory to your name through the use of music.  These things I pray in Your name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”  anonymous   

Thought for the Day     

Are you mentoring any young musicians or are you consuming music on your own desires?

 

 

Those Who are "Under Your Hands"

Those Who are “Under Your Hands”     

I Chronicles 25:6 states, “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God according to the King’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.”   

The Levite sons were under their father’s “hands for song” (yad  shiyr 3027, 7891).  This Scripture is doubtless a reference to cheironomy i.e. the use of hand signs to designate pitches to the Levite musicians.  So, these musicians were literally under the hands of their father who was a cheironomer.  Now centuries later young people are under our hands for song like the Levite sons in ancient Israel.  The conducting  gestures used by the conductor actually place these ministering  Christian musicians under the hands or the conductor. 

       It is an awesome responsibility to have children, young people, and adults who are depending on us for musical and spiritual leadership.  Chapter twenty-five of I Chronicles is a discourse about  the chief musicians who were music directors and the young musicians who  received musical training and leadership from godly musicians like Asaph, Heman (Ethan), and Jeduthun.  These Levite men  taught musical  matters in the service of Elohiym the supreme exceeding God.

     As a ministering musician you have an awesome responsibility like Heman  to be the King’s “seer” or a beholder of a vision of God’s kingdom (see I Chron. 25:5).  It is your responsibility to pass that vision on to those you minister with and those who are “under your hands”. 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day      
Lord, You are my Lord and Savior.  You are my helper, healer, counselor, defender, deliverer, and friend and brother.  I am asking You to make Your praise so glorious when I music unto You that those who hear my song will also want to praise You for who You are and what You have done.  I know that all my musical efforts will be in vain unless You help me to music unto You.  Lord, you have done much for me and the people to whom I minister.  Help us all too truly be thankful as we praise you with music.  These things I pray in Your name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day “Our God Reigns” by L.E. Smith Jr.    

Thought for the Day     

The Levite musicians who served in the Jewish Temple were separated to record, thank, and praise God.  Try remembering, and truly being thankful before you lead others in praise music.

 

A Song of Deliverance

A Song of Deliverance        

II Samuel 22:1 states, “David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD  delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”   

       David had been delivered from all his enemies including Saul who was also his enemy.  What a relief David must have felt to be out of harm’s way.  What did he do?  He wrote a song and sang it unto Jehovah.  

       Have you recently received anything from the bountiful hand of the self-existent, eternal God who is?  Perhaps you should try what David did when God helped him greatly.  Write down your joy and sing it unto God during your time of private devotions and perhaps try singing it pubically for the glory of God. 

       Writing a song to Jesus may seem to be a little crazy, but there is nothing too lavish to bestow on our Savior Jesus Christ.  Psalm 66:2 says very clearly, “Sing forth the honor of his name: make his praise glorious”. 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

Lord I want to thank you for the gift of music.  Thank You that You have chosen me to be one of Your musical ministering servants.   Please help me to be quiet before You so that my heart may be “tuned” to the will of the Holy Spirit for musicing unto God.  These petitions I bring to You knowing that You will tune my heart, if I will only turn my heart and mind toward You.  Amen.  

Song for the Day “At the Name of Jesus” by C.M. Noel  

  Thought for the Day     

Before you music unto God be sure you get quiet before the Holy Spirit so that he can talk to you about your music plans for the service.

 

Preparing to Sound

Preparing To Sound  

Revelation 8:6 states, “And the seven angels which had seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.”  
       In the Book of Revelation at the time of the opening of the seventh seal, seven angles were given seven trumpets.  The opening of the seventh seal was serious business.  When the seventh seal was opened “there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Revelation 8:1B).

       Musicing unto our heavenly Father is serious business today.  If the angels in heaven needed to prepare themselves to music in the presence of God, surely Christian musicians need to prepare themselves each time they minister in God’s house. 

       The ministering servants in heaven were quiet before God for about a half hour as part of their preparation for “sounding” in His presence.  Likewise, we as ministering musicians must have a time of quietness in the presence of God before “sounding’ i.e. musicing unto our heavenly Father.  It is my opinion that public music ministering should be somewhat like an ice berg.  By that I mean that there is much more hidden beneath the surface than the part that the church attendee witnesses during the worship or evangelistic service. 

       Christian musicians spend years “tuning their harps’ but many times, because they are so busy, spend little time “tuning their heart” before ministering publically.   How much time do you spend “tuning your heart” before musicing unto God?  It is very important to prepare our music before we minister, but it is just as important to prepare our hearts, by practicing the Presence of God, before we come before His presence with musicing. 

Prayer,Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day     

Heavenly Father, I approach Your throne today through our mediator Jesus Christ who is my Savior, Sanctifier, and elder brother.  Thank you for giving Your Son to suffer and die on a cruel cross to pay the price for my awful sins.  Thank You Jesus for declaring my name in the midst of the congregation and for musicing with me to my heavenly Father.  I love You Lord and wish to serve you throughout this life and eternal life to come.  These things I am praying in The name of the Father.  Amen.   

Song for the Day  “I’ll Tell the World that I’m A Christian”  by B.C. Fox   

Thought for the Day     

My two older brothers David Wolf and Nathan Wolf were always willing to defend me when I needed help.  I think Jesus is like my two older brothers in that He is always willing to help me.   

 

"I will Declare Your Name"

“I Will Declare Your Name”   

Hebrews 2:12 states, “I will declare your name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”   

       The Scripture in Paul’s letter to the Hebrews is a bit difficult to understand.   Clarke, Whedon, and Barnes say that this direct quote of Psalm 22:22 is messianic and therefore referring to Christ in the Hebrew letter.  If this is correct exegesis then Christ is not ashamed to call us brethren.  With this exegesis in mind we can deduce that Christ is approving and participating in singing Gods praises in public worship.  

       No wonder that the child of God claims Jesus as our elder brother.  What an encouragement it is to the Christian musician to realize that Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, owns us as His children and is not ashamed to call us “brethren”.  

       Next is the statement that in the midst of the church (ekklesia 1577) Jesus will sing God’s praises.  I must admit that again this statement is very difficult to interpret.  Either Christ is saying that he will sing the father’s praises or our praises.  I choose to believe he is referring to praising the Father.  If this is so, then Christ meets with us on Sunday morning and sings God’s praises in the midst of the ekklesia i.e. the congregation of saints.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness to me during this busy, busy season.  Thank You for helping me to feed your people with my little musical lunch.  Lord, it may have been small, but I gave it all to You.  Help me to remember that it was my responsibility to give 100%, and it was Your pleasure to feed the hungry people with my meager lunch.  Help me to keep believing your Word that encourages me that I am doing the will of the Father.  These things I am praying in your name.  Amen. 

Song for the Day “O Come All Ye Faithful” Latin Hymn

Thought for the Day

Can God trust you to make right decisions?

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

Lord as I walk with you I know that there will be times of trouble that come to me.  Lord please help me to have Your peace when I go through these tribulations.  Help me to understand that You will use these troubles to draw me closer to you.  Lord help me to stay close to You no matter what I have to go through in this life.  Help me to realize that You will make all these things work together for my “good” and that You will never do anything to destroy my hope in You.  These things I pray in Your loving and wonderful name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day “I Must Tell Jesus” by Elisha Hoffman    

Thought for the Day     

Don’t expect to be overjoyed when you are going through “tribulation”.  During these times you will have to love and adore God on purpose.

Peace with God

Peace with God     
Romans 3B-4 states, “…we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations worketh patience; And patience experience; and experience hope…”  
       When things aren’t going well musicians often quote “tribulation worketh patience”.  However, I have never heard a Christian musician say, “I glory in tribulation”.  I know that I am not thrilled when I go through trials.  Neither do I pray for patience knowing full well that such a prayer might bring about even greater problems in my life! 

      I believe that the point that St. Paul was making was not that we should ask for tribulation, but that the Christian has peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord when he or she is surrounded with trouble.  The Christian musician is able to see “good” in whatever situation he or she is facing.  It is not always possible to see “good” in a situation while you are going through a trial, but a Christian knows that “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

       As a Christian we go through times of trouble, and when we do, it is important to remember that God cares about our everyday lives.  Knowing this, we can have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ no matter what type of tribulation we face.  This peace gives us a lively hope in god as we learn patience, gain experience, and greater hope in Jesus Christ our lord. 

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, help me to be thankful for who You are and what You have done for me personally.  You are the rock of my salvation.  I want You to know that I love You Lord.  Help me to shout your praises and sing with great acclamation about Your saving grace.  These things I pray in your name.  Amen. 

Song for the Day “Holy Ground” by Geron Davis  

Thought for the Day    

When you don’t understand what God is doing in your life make sure your heart is full of love and adoration toward Him.

Singing to the Rock of Our Salvation

Singing to the Rock of Our Salvation   

Psalm 95:1-2 states, “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”  (NIV)

       Why do we sing unto the Lord?  We sing because our hearts are joyful.  We are so excited about Jesus the Rock of our salvation that we shout aloud because of the thanksgiving and praise that wells up in our hearts.  Because of this joy we come before His presence with thanksgiving.

       What does it mean to extol the Lord with our musicing?  The word ruwa (7321) which is justly translated extol in the NIV means to shout aloud or to music with great strength.  It does not connote noise making as the AV would suggest.   The word todah (3034) which is translated thanksgiving means literally to extend the hands in worship. The words music and song in the NIV and psalms are derived from the Hebrew word zamiyr (2158) means to accompany a song with instrumental music.  So when we extol God with our musicing we sing with great strength songs accompanied with musical instruments. 

       Because we joy in the presence of the LORD, we shout aloud the praises of the self-existent, eternal God who is.  We enhance our praise music by singing with instrumental accompaniment.  Because Jehovah is worthy of praise, we lift up our hands in avowal to the triune God. 

       Chief musician, is your heart full of mighty praises to our wonderful Lord?  If not, remember that God is the Rock of your salvation.  As you remember who He is and what He has done, and what he is capable of doing, you can actually come into His presence with praiseful musicing. 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day—“I am Helped”  

I want to thank You Lord that You are my strength and shield.  Thank You for helping me in my spiritual walk with You from day to day.  I also want to thank You Lord for giving me special help with my musicing this very week!  Help me to not forget that is You that have brought truth and joy to my life.  I want to take time right now to say “Thank You, thank You, thank You.”  Now Satan knows exactly where I stand today!  These things I pray in Your Strong and mighty and wonderful name.  Amen.   

Song for the Day “Spirit of the Living God” by Daniel Iverson   

Thought for the Day    

If you really want to “practice the presence of God” in your life, you might try meditating on the Decalogue “day and night”.

"I am Helped"

“I Am Helped”   

Psalm 12:7 states, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” 

       The psalmist David expressed that his shield is the self existent eternal God who is.  He also acknowledged that he received his strength from Jehovah.  Sometimes church musicians only think of the struggles of public music ministry.  They forget to remember and say “I am helped”.  They also often forget just who it is that has helped them.  Practice the presence of God”.  When we receive help in our musicing unto God we need to practice saying out loud “Thank You Lord for helping me”.   It will help you and Satan will not like it because he will know that you have your head on straight. 

       The psalmist David acknowledged that God helped him and, since Jehovah was working in his life, he said, “My heart greatly rejoiceth”.  Do you rejoice when God helps you in your musicing?  Do you greatly rejoice?  Do you really praise God like David with your “song’? 

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day—Paul’s Thorn   

Lord You know what is best for my life.   When something continually perplexes me, I want You to solve it as soon as I bring it to you.  Help me to be aware that You working in my life even when I do not understand why this trial has come into my life.  Help me to believe that Your grace is sufficient for me at this time.  This I am praying in Your name.  Amen.   

Song for the Day “Make Me a Servant” by K. Willard.   

Thought for the Day     

We are often ashamed of our areas of weakness.   God uses these “thorns” to cause us to realize that we need Him.

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh     

II Corinthians 12:7 states, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”   

       For centuries Bible expositors have postulated on just what St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was.  However, no one really knows what this “thorn” was.  If he had been a choral director, I think I know what this “thorn in the flesh” would have been.  It would doubtless have been a choir member who did not sing quite on pitch.  

       Paul prayed for the removal of this problem but the Lord, in His great wisdom, did not remove it.  Do you have something or someone that troubles you incessantly?  Are you perplexed that this “thorn in the flesh” has not been removed?  

       St. Paul believed that the Lord did not remove this problem so that he would not be “exalted above measure”.  In the midst of this perplexity Paul could see a loving God at work in his life.  In verse nine Paul recorded that the Lord promised him that “my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  This precious Bible promise is still available for all those who have some problems that just won’t go away.  God’s grace is still sufficient for every need that a Christian musician has in the twenty-first century.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day—Submit and Resist 
   Lord I am asking You to help me to submit to Your will and accept your protection from Satan.  Help me to draw near to You so that I can hear your voice and be able to resist Satan’s temptations, accusations, deceptions, and powers.  Help me to recognize that You have promised to draw near to me if I will draw near to You.  Help me to claim Your promise that when I resist Satan  in Your wonderful and powerful name that he will have to flee from me.  Thank you Lord for your constant protection.  These things I pray in Your name.  Amen. 

 Song for the Day, “I Surrender All” by Judson  Van Denter   

Thought for the Day     

If you have trouble submitting to the Lord, try getting out of the driver’s seat.

 

 

Submit and Resist

Submit and Resist
   James 4:7-8B states, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”  
       The answer is to resist and submit at the same time.  However, you cannot resist until you submit.  When you submit it is easier to resist.  God will give you the power to resist Satan, but He will only give you that power if you submit to Him.    
       Submitting every situation TO God is many times a difficult task.  Many Christian musicians are energetic self-starters who are not often of a mind  to let someone else solve their problems.  They know that God is able to each life situation but they still try to deal without their problems without fully submitting Gods will and wisdom.  
       How should we then submit?  The answer is found in verse eight.  Draw near to God!  The closer that a Christian musician gets to the great heart of God, the easier it becomes to submit to His will and way.  The closer a Christian draws to God the closer He comes to us.  When He is close to a musician the more clear and real the relationship becomes.  The closer a Christian comes to God the more he or she is able to take advantage of God’s wisdom and protection.  Satan doesn’t like to be in the presence of God, so as we draw near to God, Saran will flee from us. 

 

 

Prayer, Song and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day-How Should We then Sing?   

Lord, I am asking you to sing in the Holy Spirit so that I may understand how to music unto You and Your church.  Please give me the power of the Holy Amen.  Spirit so that my musicing will truly be with Spirit and with understanding.  This I pray in Your name.   Amen.   

Song for the Day “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart” by G. Croly    

Thought for the Day    

If our musicing unto God is going to maximize the spiritual, it will require maximizing the sensual. 

How Should We then Sing?

How Should We then Sing?    

I Corinthians 14:15 states, “So what shall I do?  I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with the spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” (NIV)  

       How should we then pray and sing unto God?  It seems that Christian musicians tend to identify more with singing and praying with the Spirit than praying and singing with the intellect.  It doesn’t have to be either or, because, if praying and musicing is to have the proper balance, they must utilize both Spirit and intellect.  Our musicing must have both Spirit (pneuma 4551) and intellect (nous 3563). 

       If our musicing is going to be effectual we need the anointing or the Holy Spirit.  However, it is difficult for the Holy Spirit to bless and anoint our musicing unless we engage our mind.  Our musical offering must include thought, feeling, vitality, believability, and mental understanding if it is to have very much real meaning.

       Remember that “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits” (II Timothy 2:6).  Christian musicians must be fed spiritually before they are able to feed others with their musical offerings.  It is only when the Christian musician’s soul is fed that he or she will have true spiritual understanding of the spiritual message of the music being presented to God.  So, efficacious musicing requires the aid and anointing of the Holy Spirit on the musician’s musical offering. 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the day—If any Lack Wisdom   

Lord I am confessing that I do lack wisdom.  I feel like Solomon of old who prayed, “I know not how to go out or come in” (I Kings 3:7B).  Lord help me to believe and trust You that You really will give me the necessary wisdom to work with others and to be a good and faithful music minister.  These things I pray in Your name.  Amen.  

Song for the day—“I need Thee every Hour”  by Annie S. Hawks    

Thought for the Day    

It is not  show of inferiority or ineptness when a Chief Musician admits to God that He or she lacks wisdom to handle a certain situation.

 

If Any Lack Wisdom

If Any Lack Wisdom  
James 1:5-6 states, “ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, not wavering, For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” 
       Music ministry would be a perfect calling if we just didn’t have to work with people.  Of course without people we couldn’t have corporate worship, congregational singing, choirs, church orchestras, vocal ensembles, or even a simple vocal or instrumental duet. 
       So we all can see that people are the heart and soul of music ministry.  Music ministry is not about the chief musician’s plan, performance, position, or even his or her problems.  Music ministry is about people giving praise unto the blessed Trinity. 
       Most of life’s huge problems stem from working with people.  Many of these problems require more wisdom than most of us have.  So, what should we do?  Ask God.  He will supply the needed wisdom and he won’t chide, belittle, or make a joke of your asking for that wisdom. 
       There is one very important fact to remember when you ask God for wisdom.  You must “…believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6B). 

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the day—Passing the Test    

Lord, I am asking you to not let me minister to others, and become a spiritual castaway myself.  Lord please do not anything come between my soul and You as my Savior.  Will you take of the “blinders” LORD, and let me see myself as You see me.  These petitions I bring to You knowing that You are all-- knowing.  Amen. 

Song for the day—“Satisfied with Jesus” by B.B. McKinney  

Thought for the day  

It is a good idea to spiritually examine ourselves occasionally because it will help us to be sure that we are ready for the Great Judgment of God. That will surely come after we leave this sinful world.

 

Passing the Test

Passing the Test  
II Corinthians 13:5 states, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless. of course, you fail the test.” NIV 
       Paul admonishes the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they were “in the faith’.  Although it is not healthy spiritually for Christian musicians to continually test themselves with “spiritual thermometers” in their mouths, it is a good thing to periodically examine their spiritual lives.  
       Paul, in Hebrews 3:6 admonishes Christians to “…hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”  If Christ dwells in us we should not ever surrender that faith.  However, if a musician fails the spiritual test, it is necessary to make the spiritual adjustments necessary to have peace with God.  Paul was warning the Corinthians to do what was right when he stated in II Corinthians 13:7A, “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest…” 
       Regardless  of one’s theology, every Christian musician should admit that if he or she has sinned and come short of the glory of God, the blood of Jesus Christ only cleanses from all sin if we walk in the light  (see I John 1:7) .  As I said before, continual morbid spiritual inspection is not spiritually productive.  However, with that said, a musician should never harbor or hide sin in his or her life. 

 

Prayer, Song, and thought for the day

Prayer for the day—God Owns Music.    

Thank You Lord for creating music.  Thank You for hovering over music in the twenty-first century.  Thank you blessed Holy Spirit that You sometimes use music to draw men and women to Christ.  Please help me to find the mind of Christ when I music unto you.  Help me to music in such a way that You will be pleased with the condition of my musical offerings that I present to You.  These things I pray in your wonderful name.  Amen.  

Song for the day—“How great Thou Art” by Carl Boberg, Translated by Stewart K. Hine 

Thought for the day  

J. S. Bach wrote at the end of his compositions “Solely for the Glory of God”.  Is your music and your musicing solely for the glory of God?

Music Belongs to God

Music Belongs to God  

St. John 1A-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word …All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”  

       It is comforting to a committed Christen musician when he or she realizes that music does not belong to any musician.  God made music so He owns it. The proper understanding of music begins with its ownership.  

       Music belongs to God because He created it in a real and personal way.  It is important for us to realize that music did not begin with a “big bang” but rather with a big creation by a big creator.  Knowing that God created and owns music helps to understand that, since He created music in a real and personal way, He still cares about music and how we use it.  

       As his musical servants, we are a part of something that God considered to be very good when he created it.  Genesis 1:31 tells us very clearly “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good.”  Since music belongs to God, and since He created it in a very good condition, we know that He cares about what we do to his creation.  Since He cares about what we do to music, we know that He will show us how to keep it in its original “very good condition”. 

       We are not alone in the twenty-first century.  God has not abandoned us to wallow in ignorance concerning how to music.  I Corinthians 2:16 tells us that we have the mind of Christ.  It is therefore our responsibility to simply seek the spiritual discernment to gain the mind of Christ concerning how to music unto Him in this present age. 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the day

Prayer for the day—The Glory of the LORD  

Lord, like the Priests and the Levites in the ancient Jewish Temple, we want to thank You and praise You with our musical OFFERINGS.  We are asking You to inhabit our praise and manifest Your presence in our musical worship.  Lord we confess that we do not know how to come in and go out before You.  We want to please You with our worship, but we confess that we do not always know how to worship You.  We want to thank you for the times that we feel your presence as we music unto You.  Help us to music in a way that will bring honor and glory to your wonderful name.  Things we pray in your name.  Amen.  

Song for the day—“We Have Come into Your House” by B. Ballinger  

Thought for the day    

If we want God’s presence in our midst when we worship together, then we must make sure that we are getting along with each other.

      

 

The Glory of the LORD

The Glory of the LORD  

II Chronicles 5:13b-14 states, “…then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD.  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD filled the House of God.”  

       The Levites ministered on this occasion and while they were musicing unto god, the glory of Jehovah filled the Temple.  The priest could not carry out their duties and their sacrificial offerings.  The musicing and the Priests offerings gave way to a divine visitation. 

       As the trumpeters and the singers thanked and praised Jehovah for His goodness and His mercy, all of a sudden Jehovah’s presence swept over the Temple.  All those who were there knew that Jehovah was tabernacling or inhabiting their musical and sacrificial worship.

       Do you long for God’s presence to fill the Church when you have the responsibility and privilege to music unto Him?  God will meet with us and will inhabit our praise musicing unto him, if we will seek Him with all our heart.  The most important part of our worship is turning our hearts toward God.  Christian musicians have the responsibility to lead other Christians in taking the journey from the natural to the supernatural and experiencing communing with the blessed Trinity. 

 

Thought for the day--Acceptable Meditations

Thought for The day--Acceptable Meditations
 
If you meditate on the law of the Lord day and night, you will not have time to think on things that displease the Lord.

Meditations that are Acceptable

Meditations that are Acceptable  

Psalm 19:14 states “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”  

       The Hebrew word higgaion (1902) translated here in the AV as meditation means a murmuring or solemn sound and is derived from hagah (1897) which means meditate or ponder.  I often hear musicians say that we are what we eat, but I do not often hear them say that we are what we muse or think.  If a Christian musician continually muses on something long enough, he or she will believe it is true whether it is or not.  

       In this psalm David is asking Jehovah to help him not to say or think anything that not acceptable in God’s sight.  Words cut and kill not only the person that we say them about, but also the person who says them.  Thoughts cause actions that not only injure others but also the person who thinks them. 

       In the thirteenth verse of this psalm David also asks the LORD to forgive his hidden faults and his presumptuous (zed 2086) or proud sins.  A musician must never let his theology keep him or her from asking for forgiveness for anything that would keep one from being upright or innocent before God.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the day-Happy Musicians

Prayer for the day

Great and wise High Priest, I want to acknowledge You at this moment as my High Priest.  You understand my temptations and infirmities because You went through them without ever sinning.  I am asking You, right now, to please help me to recognize and acknowledge Your presence.  Please help me to be willing to listen to your voice.  I know that You not only listen but You also love, restore, heal and forgive those who truly ask of You.  Please lift me up in the most holy faith and to put on the whole armor of God so that I may be able to resist Satan.  These things I pray in Your name.  Amen.  

Song for the day—“A mighty fortress is our God” by Martin Luther  

Thought for the day-God Really Cares. 

We all need to remember that the just live by faith in God alone, and not by works i.e. not by “doing”.

 

      

Sometimes Musicians are Happy

Sometimes Musicians are Happy  

James 5:13 states, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.  Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.”  

       James must have understood musicians when he alluded to the fact that when they are afflicted, undergo hardship, suffer misunderstanding, trouble, or are in trouble of their own making, they need to pray.  He believed in the power of prayer because he later stated that efficacious prayer is powerful!  

       Christian musicians do not have much trouble asking god for “stuff’ because it seems that they are almost always in need.  It is one thing for a musician to ask but it is entirely another to believe that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  (James 5:16B)  Many times musicians look like they are sad when they are in need.  

       However, Christian musicians are not always sad.  Sometimes, believe it or not, they are happy.   When they are happy, what should they do?   James, writing under Divine inspiration, declared that they should sing psalms.  Some authors render the Greek word psallo (5567) translated psalms in this verse as “to sing a hymn” or to “celebrate the praises of God in song”.  The word psallo actually means to “twitch or twang” i.e. touch the parts of a stringed instrument.   So, it may be justly rendered that happy Christian musicians should sing songs accompanied by stringed instruments. 

       The point that James was making was that musicians naturally sing the praises of God when they are happy.  Unfortunately Christian, musicians, happy or not, often sing out of a sense of duty rather than from a grateful happy heart.   Musicing is a “job” to them.  What a pity that they often miss the joy if simply musicing for joy unto the Lord.

 

 

Prayer,Thought, and Song for the day-God Cares!

Prayer for the day-God really Does Care!   
Great and wise High Priest, I want to acknowledge You at this moment as my High Priest.  You understand my temptations and infirmities because You went through them without ever sinning.  I am asking You, right now, to please help me to recognize and acknowledge Your presence.  Please help me to be willing to listen to your voice.  I know that You not only listen but You also love, restore, heal and forgive those who truly ask of You.  Please lift me up in the most holy faith and to put on the whole armor of God so that I may be able to resist Satan.  These things I pray in Your name.  Amen.  

Song for the day—“A mighty fortress is our God” by Martin Luther  

Thought for the day-God Really Cares.

We all need to remember that the just live by faith in God alone, and not by works i.e. not by “doing”.

 

      

God Really Does Care?

God Really Does Care!  

Hebrews 4:15 states,  “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  

       The Greek word asthenia (769) translated infirmities in the AV means feebleness, moral frailty or weakness.  Have you ever felt like you had so displeased God because of your spiritual failure that you could not touch Him?  Have you ever come to Him at the end of a frustrating busy week so ashamed that you had almost left Christ pout of your difficult week? 

        I have!  I have come to him after I had “failed the test” begging Him for forgiveness.  I know in retrospect that I have not always understood just how much Jesus had been touched with the feeling of my infirmity and spiritual weakness.  I was unaware that even though I had failed to ask Him for help, He had been helping me through the time of frustration and trouble.  

       Musicians are most often very busy people.  They are many times engulfed in “doing” rather than “being”.  They are often so busy trying to learn that they fail to learn from our very wise and loving heavenly Father.  Christian musicians need to be reminded often that our “high priest” Jesus Christ the righteous one is very approachable.  However, it is necessary to approach Him, if ye want His help. 

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the day

Prayer for the day—The Word was and is God. 
Heavenly Father, I want to love You and experience You more than I do in my times of private devotions.  Please reveal Yourself to me through prayer and reading Your Word.  Lord, I am Yours and You are mine since You have adopted me as your own son.  Thank You for making me Your child.  This I gratefully pray in Your wonderful name.  Amen.

Song for the day  “Jesus the very thought of Thee  by Bernard of Clairvaux  

Thought for the day 

Since I am truly God’s children, I can talk to Him like I would talk to my earthly father,

      

 

The Word was and is God

The Word Was and is God  

St. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
       St. John refers to Jesus Christ as  the Word.  He also tells us, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus Christ was before creation because verse three tells us “All things were made by Him”.  Thus John establishes that Jesus is God the third person of the Trinity and that He cannot be separated from the Logos or Word.  

       We are adopted sons and  daughters of God because the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” and “…and as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…”  Every Christian musician should receive strength in the knowledge that the Word assures us that the Holy Spirit  “…beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children or God…” (Romans 8:16)  

       At times in the past when I could not feel God’s presence when I was praying, I have experienced Him through reading the Bible.  If you are having trouble experiencing God’s presence try reading His Word and singing Scripture songs.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the day

Prayer for the day-To the Chief Musician  

Lord I confess that sometimes I feel like quitting, but I know that I can’t quit because You have called me to minister musically for You.  Holy Spirit I am asking that You will fill me afresh with Your anointing.  Help me to music with a burden for lost souls, weary Christians, babes in Christ, skeptics and seekers who come under the sound of my ministry.  Help me to never give up or lose hope on the inside.  These petitions I bring to You who are exceedingly able to give more than I could ever ask or think.  I love you Lord.  Amen.  

Song for the day “I Will Serve Thee” by Howard Walter  

Thought for the day

It seems that God gives ‘burden for song” to those whom He can trust to serve Him with their musicing.

      

To the Chief Musician

To the Chief Musician  
I Chronicles 15:22 states,  “And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.”
       Chenaniah was in charge of music and he had a burden (massa 4853) for music in worship.  He was placed in charge because of his burden for song and because he was a skillful musician.  If you are reading this devotional today and you are a skillful musician, it is your responsibility to use your musical skills for God.  You may be so emotionally and physically weary that you sometimes wish that you could  run away and hide in a very big church where no one knows that you are an experienced accomplished musician. 
       As we mentioned above, Chenaniah was not only “in charge’ of music but he also ministered with great massa or burden borne in upon him of God.  The Hebrew word massa used here is the same one used of the major prophets of the Bible who were said to have this burden borne in upon them by Jehovah.   I believe that you, as a Christian musician, have not only the responsibility to of ministering through music, but you also have the responsibility to carry a spiritual burden for the musicians you minister with and the people you minister to who attend services at your place of ministry.

 

 

Thourht for the day-Sewing with the Right Water

 Thought for the day—Sewing with the Right Water 

Perhaps the tears a Christian Musician sheds in his or her music sewing are proper water for the crop.

 

 

 

 

Sewing with the Right Water

Sewing with the Right Water  

Psalm 126:5&6 state, “   they that sew in tears shall reap in joy [or with songs of joy].  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing [ranan-7442, i.e. singing], bringing his sheaves with him.” 

       This is a precious promise for those who bathe their ministry in tears.   Sometimes we sew and sew and sew in tears and there seems to us that there is no fruit for our ministry.  However, God’s Word promises that they that sew in tears will reap with songs of joy. 

       If you have been praying for a long time for some situation or someone, do not give up!  Psalm 30:5 promises that “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  The night of trusting God may be a long one, but God is faithful to keep all His promises.  Weeping connotes heaviness of heart and burden of soul , but the promise that we shall doubtless come again rejoicing with singing gives us hope.

       If you are now in the long night of waiting and trusting God, keep praying and keep trusting believing that God will answer your prayers.  Are you patient?  I’m not very patient.  However, I have seen God work miracles in His time.  God knows best; His clock keeps perfect time, and He never slumbers or sleeps. 

Song,Prayer, and Thought for the day

 Prayer for the day-Jesus Expects Our Help 

I am asking you Lord to forgive me for misunderstanding You and trying to do your work in my own strength.  I need and want your help.  Here is my musical lunch.  It is meager but iis my all.  This I am praying in Your strong name.  Amen.  

Song for the day—“Take My Life and Let it Be” by F.R. Havergal  

Thought for the day—Jesus Expects Our Help

Jesus will never ask more than you are capable of giving.

Jesus Expects Our Help

Jesus Expects Our Help

Mark 6:35A states, “He [Jesus] answered and said unto them [His disciples], give ye them to eat.”

       After Jesus taught the people, his disciples wanted Jesus to send those He had taught away so the people could go somewhere and buy something to eat.  The disciples were overwhelmed at the enormous task of feeding about 5,000 people.  The job was too costly and too big for them, but it was not too big for Jesus.

       Christian musicians are often just as overwhelmed at the tasks before them.   Eighty thousand dollars for a new organ, seventy-nine thousand dollars  for a new piano, two Sunday morning  worship services, an adult choir, a youth choir, a children’s choir, an Easter pageant, and a Christmas Production with a special choir ,orchestra, sets, lights and drama are definitely too much pressure and too taking.  

       It often seems that Jesus is saying ‘do it all yourself”.  What we often forget is that He does expect our meager “five loaves and fish” but when we present them to Jesus, HE BLESSES our work and HE provides for the five thousand.  Jesus takes whatever we have and when He has blessed it is enough and it will be sufficiently proper to accomplish the ministry task.  

       It is our job to give of our best to the Master, and it is His job to bless our musical ministry so that it will be efficacious.  Jesus did say that it is our responsibility to feed the souls of those who attend our worship services.  However, He does not expect us to do it with our own strength or power.  We are required to give Jesus all that we have but we must remember that our musicing will accomplish the desired task if we will let him bless and break it so that will feed all those who attend our worship services.