The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(For Dan)
"Didn't See It Coming"
We never know what is coming, do we? But Someone does.
"His understanding is infinite… Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world" (Psalm 147:5; Acts 15:18).
I thought about this today, a week from a very special anniversary in our lives. On August 20th, 1985, I visited a music store and bought my first acoustic guitar. I was 28 years old at the time and wanted to learn the instrument I so loved to hear others play. I also planned to use the guitar in services we conducted in order to perform hymn accompaniments. I had no idea that 40 years later, I would have done so in more than five thousand gatherings. I did not know that Frances and I would write and record hundreds of songs that have enhanced our bond together, and hopefully served as a blessing to others. Nor did I know that learning the piano would follow the guitar several years later. Most of all, I did not know that Frances and I would look back on four decades and not be able to imagine what life would have been without the music that became so much a part of our walk with God and each other.
In a service today, Mr. John, a wonderful gentleman, commented after we sang a hymn, "That is a beautiful song!" I am sure he did not reference our playing or performance, but rather the wonder of the hymn musically, and most of all, its lyrical content. The thought occurred to me with overwhelming impact that Frances and I have been honored to share together with thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ these songs of the faith that so enrich our hearts and lives. Even more overwhelming is the impact on God's heart when He hears His children sing to Him and about Him. "The Lord taketh pleasure in His people" declared the Psalmist, which surely includes the joy our Lord finds in the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that accompany many of the words of praise believers seek to offer (Psalm 149:4). What a gift God has given in the hymnody of the church, and how different all our lives would be without it.
I did not see it coming forty years ago today, that a week later our Heavenly Father would bless us in a way that, again, we could never have anticipated. No possibility exists to adequately thank Him, even in song. Thankfully, a long eternity awaits when we will all together "sing unto the Lord" (Psalm 30:4) Most of all, we will hear music such as we cannot presently imagine, when someone - the very Maker of music - sings to us…
"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."
(Zephaniah 3:17)
"I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."
(Psalm 104:33)
Weekly Memory Verse
"He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water."
(John 7:38)
7553
No comments:
Post a Comment