July 2, 2017
Summer Sunday-Sunshine for the Soul
Jesus Put a Song in my Heart
“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD”.
Psalm 40:3
Years ago when our children were younger, in those days, music was magical to calm moments of chaos or angst…when there were no movies in the car…and the only distraction from our ‘crazy’, was the sound of music! And to be specific, the most effective peace-giving music was children’s Praise songs. Our children could have been in the midst of a battle between the two of them…voices raised, pushing and shoving, to be the first to the car…and once constrained and restrained by the seat belts…the music would begin…oh yessssssss….The sound of music…and of peace! I am quite certain that I made up errands and the need to travel because when we made it to the car, and the music began…everyone’s countenance changed, including mine…The sound of Praise music!
The absolute truth is that none of us could sing…not a bit, but, we allowed the music to redirect our attention to something magnificent, to someone majestic, to moments of peace and joy and laughter, instead of our fussiness, our feuds, and our fighting. Yes, that is exactly what Praising does for God’s people.
Although I possess no musical talent, I am certain that music is a universal language which God has given …and I thank Him continually that my lack of musical talent in no way prohibits me from responding to the music He puts in the heart of His people…you see, Praise music makes my heart sing…it makes me ecstatic…it makes me thankful…it leads me to count my blessings…and it reminds me of where I have been…and where I am now because of the love and the faithfulness of our Almighty God. I suspect that you understand and have experienced this too, whether you are the one, singing and leading worship and praise…or perhaps you are like me and my family…we sing from our hearts…we praise from our hearts…and stand next to those who can sing with their voices!
And Jesus gives us a new song to sing when we give up our stubbornness, when we yield to His Ways, when we surrender our wills to His will and to His purpose. When my children and I found refuge in our car on the hot summer days, when we buckled up, when the music began…it really didn’t matter where we were going…what mattered was the condition of our hearts…the condition of our attitudes toward one another and more importantly, toward our Faithful Father, toward our Jesus.
Jesus Put the Song in My Heart, was one of our favorite songs from the 80’s, from Kid’s Praise, Psalty the Singing Songbook. It is funny that a children’s song told my story…I guess that is why I would find myself singing it loudly…joyfully with my children:
I tried to sing my song on my own, But then I found out I was singing alone.
Then Jesus sang with me, We sang in harmony, Now, I’m singing His song.
Jesus put the song in my heart, He turned my life around,
He gave me a treasure, the heart of a servant…
He gave me His love, He sang me His song, And He put His song in my heart! Yeah!
I’m goona live my life differently, Serving the Lord, I’m not serving me. Helping to meet your need, Following Jesus’ lead, Yes, I’m singing His song…
My friends, on this Summer Sunday, enjoying the language of Praise is a beautiful way to spend the day, with your family, children, grands, spouse, and friends. Jesus is faithful to fill our hearts with His Song…writing our story, with His story…helping us to live our lives differently as we respond to our families…as we sometimes race through our days pushing and shoving…voices elevated…drowning out the peace which awaits us. He wants to help us to live our lives, our summer days…all of our days, differently.
I still find myself singing that children’s song…yes, in my heart of course, but when I am alone, I sing loudly, and I add some words of my own…Jesus put a song in my heart…oh yes He did…and He still does…I want to serve Him, not serving me…And, I want, more than ever, to live my life differently!
You see, I am blessed…Often when I drive my grandchildren, instead of requesting their favorite movie, they ask for ‘their songs’…and I just happen to know what that means…You guessed it! They want the children’s Praise music…and I turn it up loud, sometimes rolling down the windows…and they sing with their hearts and their voices, and I pray and ask God for them to live His Praise, every day of their lives. You see, I am blessed because my grands have the most wonderful praying parents!
What a beautiful way to spend our days…singing with our hearts…our lives…and our voices…singing the song which Jesus has put into our hearts. Go ahead, turn up the music…Sing His song with your lives! And enjoy the precious people in your life as you invite them to sing with you!
Jesus Put a Song in your Heart-The Absolute Truth…Know it, Sing it, Dance it, Live it…Love it!
Joy and Abundant Blessings,
