I hope that link opened for you – and I hope you were inspired to sing along!
What does the Bible say about singing?
Singing is part of our human experience. Songs have been used to express some of the deepest human joys and sorrows from the beginning of time. Of course, the Bible has a lot to say about music and singing. You may wonder what God thinks about that toe tapping song you sing every Sunday morning. What does the Bible actually say about singing? Here are a couple of m favorite scriptures:
“Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”
Do go back up to that youtube link, if you didn’t click on it before… and this time, do sing along! Nothing will lift your spirits quite like that! Sing to the Lord… He’ll lift you up and you’ll smile in spite of yourself. Really!! Try it!
God will send you beauty In the skies and on the land Look for His surprises everywhere Many of them really are quite grand
It’s hunting season here in Montana So the deer and antelope are convinced If they come here to our yard They’re protected as if they’re fenced
Something good happened here today The doe and the buck stuck around I enjoyed their company – you would, too Shhh… don’t scare them. Don’t make a sound!
They see me; they hear my steps Off they go – but they’ll return Good things happen here You’re safe, my friends. Come and learn!
The word for today is PEACE. In a world of chaos, dear Lord, Let there be peace on earth. Let me be an instrument of that peace.
We may not be able to control What everyone else on earth does, But we can control what we do. Are you determined to be a peacemaker?
I want to be a peacemaker. In spite of the chaos in this world, I want to make peace where I am. That may be all I can control.
And I can pray to our Father in Heaven, “Let there be peace on earth! Place the message of peace In the hearts of today’s rulers.”
“Lord. I know you have overcome the world. I know you also have given man free will. Lord, place common sense and compassion In the wills of those who are waging war!
Let there be peace on earth!! And help me find peace in my little corner of it!”
As St. Francis of Assisi prayed, “Make me a Channel of Your Peace.” I love Susan Boyle’s voice singing that prayer. Take a minute to listen to it… and internalize it!
To find peace in my place in the world, I may have to turn off some of the news. I MAY HAVE TO SHARPEN MY SENSE OF HUMOR, And pass some chuckles on to my friends!
Just once, I want a username and password prompt to say CLOSE ENOUGH.
I may have to find reasons to laugh In spite of the sadness and devastation. I may have to look for reasons to laugh, Reasons to pass along a sense of optimism.
I want to be a realistic optimist! The pessimist complains about the wind The optimist expects the wind to change The realist adjust his sails
What will you do today to add peace to your little corner of the world? I am looking for the peace of editing this post and getting rid of the oversized font! What’s happening??
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
Choosing positivity brightens life; It keeps us happy and upbeat. Even though we encounter difficulties, We can choose victory, not defeat.
It’s up to us to decide the kind Of person we want others to see. If we keep our hearts open to love, We’ll be the best that we can be.
We can choose positivity again and again As we focus on the good things in life. Meet life eagerly as we tackle each task And ask God to take away any worry or strife.
“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth…”
Ah, TRUTH! It can be so evasive… But a positive attitude and an open heart and mind Can make Truth more discernible. Seek it out with questions wise and kind.
Positive people are filled with curiosity; They never stop asking when and why. You can’t stop an intelligent child From asking, “Why?” even if you try.
So foster that curiosity! Appreciate it in your own design. You are a Child of God, you know, So embrace your uniqueness and SHINE!
Thank you for visiting JanBeek today. Your positive remark in the comments below Will add to my joy today. Let your positivity show!!
September blows in with its many promises Of new beginnings and of endings, too. Away with sandals, sunscreen, summer scorchers, Mowing lawns, trimming hedges, trips to the zoo.
Enter colors rich in autumn hues, Football mania, school admissions, taxes due. Welcome loved ones who waited to visit Until the bustle of summer was behind you.
September promises the joy of learning New ways of navigating challenges that spring Up unexpected as we explore new venues, Putting the old behind, welcoming each new thing.
Each season has its own kind of newness And this one is certainly no exception. September ushers in a ton of TV shows That viewers hope to see with clear reception.
But staying in and looking at some screen Is not what this season’s all about. The outdoors begs you to explore September’s promises – take a new route.
There’s winter, spring, summer, and fall. Just like the natural seasons change, so do the seasons in our lives. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season.” It also tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “ [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.”
Paint a word picture for me here Of what you hope September will bring. I’m looking forward to our visitors – Family always makes my heart sing.
What’s in store for you this September?
Thanks for visiting JanBeek. Happy September first to you!
If you have time, listen to this beautiful song sung by my favorite singer from my high school and college days… Liquid Velvet!! The year Nat King Cole recorded this was the year I graduated from college and began my teaching career! Yup, an oldie, but goodie!!
My last couple of posts dealt with the theme of shipwrecks and lifeboats. Today’s sermon at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church seemed to contradict the idea of jumping from the ship and hopping on the lifeboat. Or did it?
The boat in today’s scripture lesson was in a storm (“…beaten by the waves …the wind was against them,” Matt 14:24b). The boat was filled with the 12 disciples. Jesus was walking on the water to come to them.
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[a] from the land,[b] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
In his sermon today, Rev. Steve Hundley took me on a new journey through that scripture. Instead of focusing on Peter and his desire to also walk on water – and his doubt which caused him to begin to sink, Pastor Steve invited us to take a closer look at the eleven disciples who remained in the boat. I had not done that before. In fact, I am not sure I even realized the boat was big enough for eleven of them to fit in there!
If you have followed my blog for a while, you know I have a habit of listening to the sermon and taking notes in poetry. That way I can share the message with Bob on our way home (since he has trouble hearing and following the sermon during church). Well, I did that note-taking today. Here is what I came away with:
Is this a story about faith? Is it about Peter’s doubt? Or, is it about the eleven who Stayed in the boat without a shout?
They saw Jesus walking on the sea. They thought He was a ghost. Jesus said, Never fear, it is I.” Peter: “… if it is You…” Not the eleven, though. Who believed most?
Peter doubted – and he asked to be Set apart so then he’d believe. Like the rest of us who ask For exemption – “Give me special power – relieve!”
Relieve my doubt. Let me ask for help. Do you have trouble asking for help? Do you like playing the hero? Unlike the eleven disciples, do you yelp?
Peter yelped, “Let me walk on water, too.” Jesus gave him the ability to walk. But Peter continued to doubt And so he began to sink. Walk the talk?
No, the church doesn’t need heroes. It needs disciples like the eleven were. Stay in the boat – Wait for Jesus to come. Don’t try to be a hero and cause a stir!
We’ve got a storm of constant change Going on all about us. We need To stay in the boat and pay attention To the eleven. Don’t be a Peter of greed!
The wind and waves stirring up change In our world can eat a person alive. It’s easy to jump ship, but Jesus says, Stay the course. Stay in the boat. Survive!
Take heart! You are not alone. I am with you in the boat. Sing! Know that this is your lifeboat. Wait for the peace and calm that I will bring.”
Amen? Amen!
In his “Prayers of the People” after the sermon and a hymn titled, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” Pastor Steve prayed,
“Take us by the hand And rescue us in our darkest hours. It is You who rescues us. We pray You will not leave us alone. As we strain at the oars, protect us when we find ourselves adrift. Strengthen our hands when we are weak.”
I would add, “Strengthen our faith when we are weak. Keep us on the boat. It is not a shipwreck, not if You, Lord, are our Captain.”
Don’t jump ship! Life may be a shipwreck, but with Jesus as your Captain, your boat is a lifeboat! You can trust Him completely. Sing in the lifeboat!
Sing, “I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men…” (and of women, too!)
Thanks for visiting JanBeek this lovely Sunday afternoon. I hope you had a great day. Bee well, and Bee safe! And stay in the boat!!
Written
on October 13, 2023