Category: Music

Posted on in Aging, Faith, Focus, Music, Obedience, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth

THINK ON CHRIST

How would it be if we applied the song below to our love for Christ? Paul wrote about it in Colossians.

2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. Colossians 3:2-10

Can you set your mind on things above for more than a few minutes? How about an hour? Think you could handle an hour? Part of my spiritual discipline is to adopt the mindset of Brother Lawrence. He conversed with God all day long. It is not an easy task, but it can be done, even in our strange too-busy society. This song sparkled when I thought of this concept in terms of this love song! The lyrics follow the YouTube song.

The very thought of you
And I forget to do
The little ordinary things
That everyone ought to do

I’m living in a kind of daydream
I’m happy as a King
And foolish though it may seem
To me, that’s everything

The mere idea of you
The longing here for you
You never know how slow the moments go
‘Til I’m near to you

I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It’s just the thought of you
The very thought of you
My love

The mere idea of you
The longing here for you
You never know how slow the moments go
‘Til I’m near to you

I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It’s just the thought of you
The very thought of you
My love

Written by: Ray Noble, Maxime Le Forestier

When I set my mind on Christ, instead of forgetting the things I ought to do there seems to be more time made available for the ordinary things! Somehow the chronos time of the clock is overridden by the kairos impact of the moment.

In Romans we are told to offer to God our very bodies as living sacrifice. Your brain indeed is part of your body. Would you offer God your thought processes, ask God to occupy you body, MIND and spirit? The Holy One would be delighted to do so.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NRSVUE

Posted on in Aging, Faith, Family, Listen, Memories, Music, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks

Another Morning Song

I remember Grandma Snapp playing this. It seemed to me she was playing chords, but this person does a good job of it.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]

3 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]

4 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. [Refrain]

United Methodist Hymnal

The hymn was written the year before my mother was born. Her dad was an itinerant Methodist minster in both Ohio and Kentucky. Her mother played the piano and my mother was forced to stand on a soapbox and lead the hymns. When I was young Mom said she had enough church growing up. My sister and I were dropped off at church. My parents attended at Christmas and Easter if we were singing in the choir. American evangelist and song-leader George Bennard (1873–1958) wrote the hymn.

I remember Grandma Snapp playing this hymn on our piano. She was always uncertain she could reach the chords with the arthritis in her hands. To me she did great! She died at age 79 after breaking her hip and contracting pneumonia.

All these years later, the hymn rings through my soul from time to time. To me the most memorable part is “where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.” Jesus, our Savior and King. Help us never to forget your cross and all it stood for then and now.

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Focus, Music, Obedience, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Trust, Worship

Newsboys

I was playing music in my car from my favorite songs on a data stick. The next day I kept hearing a melody. Then a few words. Finally, I realized I was hearing the bridge from a song by a group called the Newsboys. The song is entitled We Believe.

The following are the words from the bridge:

So, let our faith be more than anthems 
Greater than the songs we sing 
And in our weakness and temptations 
We believe 
We believe

Anthem: 1. A hymn of praise or loyalty. 2. A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.

"Our faith greater than the songs we sing", so necessary if we are to push through our difficulties and struggles. Songs help, but there are times when there are no songs. There are times I am hard pressed to even remember a melody! 

Here are the lyrics of the song followed by a music video.
[Verse 1]
In this time of desperation
When all we know is doubt and fear
There is only one foundation
We believe, we believe

[Verse 2]
In this broken generation
When all is dark, You help us see
There is only one salvation
We believe, we believe

[Chorus]
We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life
We believe in the Crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the Resurrection
And He's comin' back again
We believe

[Verse 3] (I called it the bridge)
So, let our faith be more than anthems
Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations
We believe, we believe
Here is a video of the song.

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NRSVUE

Posted on in Faith, Music, Praise, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Worship

Lake & Jonas – The Author

Here is a new find! I think it was released May, 2026. Evidently it was released quietly. Those of us who like the music of Brandon Lake found it. I think it is a great song!

Here is also an interview with Nick Jonas about his faith and painful experience with the church. https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36442/20260506/nick-jonas-church-hurt-faith-journey-brandon-lake-the-author-2026.htm

The two men collaborated on the song at a song writing camp. Who knew that artists even attended such things? I certainly did not!

https://youtu.be/oRw4PqBzGc0?is=yXKD_b_C6EOLkSuW

Try the link above.

Here are the lyrics: [Verse 1: Brandon Lake]
Picked up the Book for the first time in ages
Still washed me clean with the dust on the pages
My life is a story I struggle to write
But is it one worth telling? Is it one You like?
Mm

[Chorus: Brandon Lake]
So who am I? Who am I?
Am I just a poor preacher’s prodigal son?
Troubled child, running wild
Chasing the glory instead of the One
Who says that I, even I, have something still left to offer?
So who am I?
Who am I to question the pen in the hands of the Author?

[Verse 2: Nick Jonas]
Like every good story, you learn from the loss
And I lost the plot every time I played God
I live in a moment You already wrote
It’s proof that I’m someone, yeah, someone You love
Oh

[Chorus: Nick Jonas]
So who am I? Who am I?
Am I just a poor preacher’s prodigal son?
A troubled child, running wild
Chasing the glory instead of the One
Who says that I, oh, even I, have something still left to offer?
So who am I?
Who am I to question the pen in the hands of the Author?

Two preachers kids singing their testimony!

Are you willing to tell your story of following Christ?

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Music, Obedience, Rest, Trust

First Heard During A Retreat

Quiet my soul in your silent presence
Gentle my soul in your stillness and peace
Tender my soul in your beauty and grace 
God of this moment 
Here in this place 

Quiet my soul
Gentle my soul
Tender my soul
God this moment
Here in this place

Recently this song was set to play on repeat on my speaker. I tend to panic and get fearful when health matters arise and I know there might be a potentially bad outcome.

The retreat when I learned this song was years ago. There is still a power in this song to center and bring me to stillness.

Psalm 131 has been a great help to me over the years. This is taken from Psalms in Inclusive Language, Joseph J. Arackal, Translator.

O Yahweh, my  heart is not arrogant
nor are my eyes raised too high.
I have taken no part in great affairs,
nor in wonders beyond my grasp.

I have kept my whole being quiet and silent,
like a infant at its mother's breast;
like an infant quieted is my whole being.

Let Israel hope in Yahweh
henceforth for all eternity.

The New Living Translation offers this:

Lord, my heart is not proud;
    my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
    or too awesome for me to grasp.
2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
    like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
    Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
    now and always.

I have always said that if we occupy ourselves with what the Bible says to do regarding our own personal behaviors we need not worry about the “Thou shalt nots.”

Here is my favorite rendition of Psalm 131. I love that John Michael specifically says we are to be like a child at rest on its Mother’s knee and then like a child at rest on its Daddy’s knee. Yes. God is both mother and father to us!

May these versions of Psalm 131 and these songs bring you to a place of peace and trust.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Music, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth

All Are Welcome

We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders.

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU

During the communion prayers we sometimes pray, “Jesus taught us that the liberation of the whole world will not be in the brutality of violence. Rather, it will be in showing kindness to our neighbor, in standing up against injustice, in returning hate with love, in transforming one heart at a time. It will be in the simple but holy task of dining together, sharing bread and wine, truly seeing one another as beloved by you.”

One of our favorite lines in the Communion service is when the priest declares. “This is God’s table, not ours. All are welcome.”

Oh Father, we have such a long way to go to bring you delight. Purify our hearts we pray that we might not sin against you. Open our eyes to see our fellow humans as made in your likeness. Help us to esteem others as better than ourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

We have also been learning a song by Michael Stillwater that goes, “One by one everyone comes to remember, we’re healing the world one heart at a time.”

This is a German speaking group. We also sing it in rounds at church. I found myself singing it one day last week and had to stop to remember where I had heard it!!

May your eyes be opened and your heart know that there are no outsiders. Just humans walking each other home.

Posted on in Aging, Book quotes, Faith, Focus, Humor, Joy, Marriage and Memories, Music, Praise, Prayer, Thanks, Trust, Yield

Morning of Our 56th

Awoke singing this in my heart:

I could have danced all night
I could have danced all night
And still have begged for more

I could have spread my wings
And done a thousand things
I've never done before

I'll never know what made it so exciting
Why all at once my heart took flight
I only know when he began to dance with me
I could have danced, danced, danced all night

Yes, after 56 years I am more than willing to dance with Robert Milan. We have FUN together. Sometimes he carries his teasing and jokes too far for my emotion at a given moment, but overall, we have fun.

We create humor and jokes between ourselves. We are friends, yes, even best friends. There are times he gets on my last nerve and I get on his, but we each get over that and move on.

On this date in Edges of His Ways Amy wrote:

It is the little things of life, the minute, unimportant-looking things, that are most likely to shatter our peace, because they are so small that we are very likely to fight them ourselves instead of looking up at once to our Strong God, our Barrier between us and them. “Close the gate, or bar up the way, as the cloudy pillar formed a barricade between the Egyptians and Israel” is Kay’s note.

The deaths of Ginny and Chuck Lynch have taught us how short life is, how unexpectedly death can come and now is the time to love and laugh, to cherish and sing.

When I saw Bob Dutina for the first time, at a distance, it really was love at first sight. I have never understood exactly how our lives came to be together; however, I am grateful and blessed to have been given the gift of this incredible marriage.. Thanks be to God!

Psalm 90:12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

Posted on in Aging, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Joy, Just do it, Music, Praise, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Trust, Worship, Yield

Rumi

Seems like wherever I turn these days folks are seeking direction and fulfillment for their everyday lives. I keep returning again and again to Rumi, the poet, theologian, Islamic scholar, and Sufi Mystic. I am not looking to replace my Christian faith, but this guy understood the depths of mysticism and genuine faith.

Merriam-Webster defines mysticism as a religious practice based on the belief that knowledge of spiritual truth can be gained by praying or thinking deeply. I know Jesus would agreed.

Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop. There are quite a few dead leaves dropping around here and summer is not even complete. How about the things we fill our lives with that do not fulfill us? Can we drop some of those and be more like the tree described in the Psalms?

Happy are those
    who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
    or sit in the seat of scoffers,
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
    planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
    and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper. Psalm 1:1-13 NRSVUE

Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth, trust that.  There is a local billboard that states “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” It is powerful advice. Our worship service has children participate especially in collecting the offering. There is also a special children’s sermon that is delightful. I am always refreshed by the children. And they know how to smile!

Before I had the recent foot surgery if I saw someone in a wheelchair I made an effort to get on their eye level and greet them with a smile. Since I have so recently driven electric wheelchair shopping carts in so many different stores I am even more inclined to do that. It is an entirely different world down there. Most people just hurry past and ignore those who are seated. Try giving those folks a smile of yours! If you have never driven one of those carts, the next time you see them lined up for charging you should try one, just to gain a new perspective! Of course, if there is only one or two please leave it for those of us who cannot walked the area of American mega-stores! There are some people who would see me reaching for an item and ask if they could help me with it. There is still kindness all around us!

Hard, but oh so true. Constantly flowing, never clinging, always embracing the new. Wowsers. Here are just a couple of short songs to keep you in the ways of a river today.

And an even better one is Ever Flowing!

Posted on in Faith, Joy, Listen, Music, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Yield

There Was Jesus

Last spring our contemporary worship band made a point of learning this song. We sang it this week as our offertory hymn, noting the death of Dolly Parton. The song was written by Zach Williams. In an interview he stated that he just kept hearing Dolly Parton singing it with him. He eventually contacted her. After hearing the song, reading the lyrics she said yes she would be glad to record it with him.

According to Williams, Parton was looking for more faith-based projects when his team reached out regarding the song. 

“We all knew it was a big ask and we were shooting for the moon to try to get her on the song,” Williams explained. “We originally heard that 90% of the stuff that comes her way, she turns down just because she has so many people asking to do songs with her.”

Williams recounted Parton telling him, the day she received the song, that she didn’t even make it through the first chorus, before she knew it was a special song and a “God-send.” 

“She said ‘I wake up and I pray every day that God just gives me the opportunity that I need for that day…I felt like that was the one that He wanted me to do,’,” Williams noted Parton said, when in the process of creating the track. –from https://americansongwriter.com/there-was-jesus-dolly-parton-zach-williams-song-interview/