Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day   

Precious Lord I want to take time right now to thank You for the warnings that You have placed in the Bible.  Thank You for caring enough for me to help me avoid close association with grumpy grouchy unhappy people.  Lord, help me to pick friends like I would choose a brain surgeon!  Lord, I am asking you to be my friend and portion and confidant.  O precious Jesus I know that I will never need to be lonely when I have a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Thank You for being my friend.  These things I am praying in Your wonderful name.  Amen. 

Song for the Day   I Have Decided to Follow Jesus –anonymous 

Thought for the Day 

The people that I have known who passed themselves off as being deep free thinkers  were the most dangerous to associate with.  The greatest Christians I have known were humble persons who served Jesus in a spirit of humility regardless of their education or position.

Avoid Dissemblers

Avoid Dissemblers 

Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”  Psalm 26:4 “I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.”  Pr 4:14-15,   “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”   Proverbs 1:10,  “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

       All of these verses are warnings to Christian musicians to stay away from close fellowship with wicked vain scornful persons who are dissemblers.  A dissembler is a hypocrite or a person who professes that he or she has beliefs that, deep down in his or her heart, this person do does not hold to in order to conceal real feelings or motives.”  It is amazing that these kinds of persons work for Christian organizations.  They are by far in the minority, but they are there.  During my teaching career I taught in two different Bible colleges and in both colleges there were a few offices that I avoided like the plague!

       If you want to know the latest gossip or if you want to hear predictions of gloom and doom, hang around these people.  However if you do, you are sure to face burnout.  They will have you mistrusting everyone from the pastor to the custodian.  If you love to be depressed, take their counsel while you sip their bitter coffee.  However, the Bible verses above give Christian musicians a way out—don’t stand, walk, or sit in dissembler’s office.  As a matter of fact, find a path that doesn’t go past their office!

Prayer and thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

I want to thank You Lord that you are truly “The ancient of days”.  Lord, I don’t understand it, but I believe with all my heart that you have always been there and always will be.  Thank you Lord that you never change.  Lord, the older I get the quicker I get tired.  Thank you that you never slumber nor sleep.  Will You accept my humble praise this morning?  Thank You that you have given me another wonderful day to love and serve you.  These thanks I give to you.  Amen. 

Thought for the Day 

God has given each of us this day to use in loving, praising and serving Him.  It is our responsibility to use the hours of this day wisely.

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden But Still There

Hidden But Still There 

         The words to the great hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise are written below.  They are filled with meaning for the Christian worshiper.  The first verse explains that God who is hidden from our mortal eyes by the light that surrounds him is worthy of our praise although we cannot see Him.  He is blessed and glorious because He always has been and will be. 

        The second verse lists some of the otherness of his glorious being.  Because He is truly very God, He doesn’t ever have to hurry.  Can you imagine that!  Musicians most often live a life of hurry.  We also want, we waste, and we certainly wear out quite often. 

       The third verse reminds us God is the giver of each moment of every day.  It doesn’t matter if we are someone or if we are a nobody on this earth God gives us all life and better yet he gives us everlasting life as well.  This great hymn puts it so well, “We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.” 

       He is most certainly our “Great Father” who is surrounded by the “light” and splendor of heaven.  So, I am suggesting that you stop everything for a moment and give our great heavenly the laud and honor which is due to him.  We are separated from the sight of him in this short life but one day soon we shall see God as he is if we keep our lamps trimmed and burning.  Please enjoy this great hymn text before you start your day. 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, thy great Name we praise.

 

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;

Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

 

To all life thou givest—to both great and small;

In all life thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

 

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

All laud we would render: O help us to see

’Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day  

I want to thank you Lord for calling me to be your musical servant.  Thank You for caring enough about me to call me to continual service.  Lord, I love You and want to serve you as long as you allow me to live on this earth.  Lord, if I know my heart I am a “lifer”. I want to be a profitable music servant for Your kingdom.  Lord, please don’t let anything get in my way that would cause me to not be able to follow you my whole life long.  These things I pray in your Name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day Now I Belong to Jesus by Norman J. Clayton  

Thought for the Day  

It is the responsibility of a good master to take care of all or his servant’s needs.  We have a good Master.

 

 

Jesus Said “Follow Me"

Jesus Said “Follow Me"  

             St, Luke 9:59 records Jesus’ words, “And he said unto another, Follow me.”  Jesus never called sinners to a one time meeting with Him, but rather He called sinners to follow Him continually.  There were often conditions which Jesus mentioned that would have to be met before one could follow Him.  Some had to deny themselves.  Others had to have a sale (Acts 16:22).  Some had to distribute their “treasures” {to others (Acts 18:22).  Some had to get dressed properly before they could follow Jesus (Acts 12:8).  

            From St. John 12:26 we learn that the call to follow Jesus is a call servant hood and service to others. “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”  When I was in the U.S. Army there were two kinds of soldiers: those who were what we called “short” because they were not in the Army for the long haul and others whom we called “lifers”.  Jesus does not call Christian musicians to be “short” but rather He calls them to be “lifers”!  

            Jesus calls us to follow Him as long as we live.  He does not call sinners to mere repentance, but also to a life of following Him as devoted servants.  Christian musicians need to understand that Jesus does not call gifted musicians to be a mere “flash in the pan” but to be lifetime followers and committed servants.  Jesus is not asking for part of us, but, rather all of us. 

 

Prayer, Thought, and Song for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, if I know my heart, I want to have a continual relationship with you on this spiritual journey.  Lord, please search my heart to make sure that my heart is purified in order that I may be able to offer unto You a musical offering in righteousness.  Please help me to guard my heart so that I will have nothing between my soul and the Savior.  These things I am praying earnestly to You.  Amen.

Song for the Day   A Closer walk with Thee by Haldor Lillenas

Thought for the Day

Sometimes Christian musicians want to travel “first class” spiritually but only want to pay “coach fare”.

 

Tabernacling with God

Tabernacling with God 

Psalm 15:1-2 asks and answers the question of who was allowed to tabernacle with YHVH, “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?  Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”

The  tabernacle, which was the dwelling place of YHWH, had to be taken apart, moved, and re-assembled every time the children of Israel moved during their sojourn in Egypt.  Psalm 24: 3-4 which is a companion scripture to 15:1-2 asks and answered the question of who may tabernacle with God, “ Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” 

Every Christian musician that I know desires to dwell in God’s sacred place.  However, there some conditions for a musician to dwell in close relationship with God.    Psalm fifteen explains that this person must walk uprightly (halak, 1980) i.e. must behave uprightly (tamiym, 8549) i.e. without blemish or defilement.  Psalm twenty four further explains that this person must have clean hands (naqiy, 5355) i.e. this musician must be guiltless in his or her actions and must pure heart (bar, 1249) clean or pure heart.  Furthermore, this person must not be a vain or deceptive or one who has sworn deceitfully i.e. who lies or is involved in any kind of fraud. 

If a Christian musician is not guilty of any of the above he or she will ab le to tabernacle with God.  Every Christian musician should be reminded that these are the Old Testament requirements of YHWH.  In this spiritual dispensation Christian musicians can have a close daily relationship and walk with God, but there are spiritual requirements that we all must meet if we desire to know Christ intimately.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

A music educator without a congruent music philosophy is like a military patrol leader who is in unknown territory on a cloudy night without a map or a flashlight.

 

My Christian Music Education Credo

         My Christian Music Education Credo  

            I believe that the more than 600 references to music in the Bible are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction today. The Bible provides us with timeless, relevant, usable, practical and spiritual guidance in the twenty-first century. Therefore, I believe that the principles of musicing set forth in the Bible are relevant for developing a music education philosophy and praxis in the twenty first century. I believe that the only completely safe teacher of Christian music education philosophy is the Holy Spirit who is capable and willing to guide us into all truth concerning music ministry and music education in this century.  
             I believe that there are absolutes concerning music education in the Christian organizational ministry.  I believe in prescriptive music education philosophy that is built on Bible principles of musicing, profundity, appropriateness and standards of correctness.  I believe that there is room for taste in the use of music in the context of music education, but that this use of music is not all a matter of personal taste since it must be guided by Bible principles of musicing.  I believe God created music, and that He thought it into being.  I believe that since God thinks about music, we should study Gods Word to ascertain what He thinks about music.    
            I believe that the Old Testament teaches that it is the responsibility of Christians to educate their own musically.  I believe that good causes in Christian music education may be served.  I believe that even though we as Christians live in this present evil world, we are not of this present world system. Therefore; a philosophy of Christian music education should be different from a secular, humanistic philosophy of music education.  I believe that a Christian music educator’s music philosophy matters to God.  I believe that although there is much evil in this century, conservative Spirit-filled musicians can effect changes in Christian music education that will have a positive influence on music in this century.  I believe that along with the home, churches, Christian schools, and Bible colleges who have a Chistocentric music philosophy can and should catechize the next generation of Christian Musicians.