Get that song outta my head...and into my heart

Take to heart these words that I give you today. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. Write them down, and tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (GW) 

I woke up with a chorus rattling around in my brain this morning from my Vacation Bible
School days - XX number of years ago. But, Kids' Church music has changed so much over the years, that none of the young people I teach today would remember the chorus, probably because it used King James Version English for one thing.

Yet it was a chorus based on a timeless Bible truth - there are to be two loves in our lives - God and others. Because I learned the chorus, I will never forget the two great commands Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV): 
 
"This is the first and great command, to love thy God above.
This is the second, as thyself thy neighbor thou shalt love.
Who is my neighbor, he who needs the help that thou canst give
This both the law and prophets say to do and thou shalt live."

The truth is that music - its forms, styles, beat and the instruments used to promote it will change over time. Many of the choruses that we sing today will be forgotten by the generations to come, but the truth and message of the scripture must never be forgotten.

Music gives us a great way to help memorize scripture. There's something about the rhythm and cadence of it that makes it easier to remember any words set to music. Try it this week. Choose a song that you know well and put the words of a scripture verse to it. You'll find you can remember the verse more easily and the tune may just get stuck in your head so that you find yourself repeating that verse over and over again.

Sing it until the meaning of the words impact your heart. It doesn't matter how the words get there, but they must get there - into your heart! It really works.

Father help me get your word into my head so that it gets rooted in my heart. Amen.

“Tell of your joy to each other by singing the Songs of David and church songs. Sing in your heart to the Lord. Always give thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20 NLV

Have you ever had a song rumble around in your head that just won't quit?

Last night a beautiful old hymn of the church got stuck there and I found myself humming and singing the words I remembered over and over again. I'm not even shure why it was there, but it just reverberated there. So in light of today's verse, I think I should share that one with you. To hear the music, click on the video link at the bottom of this post:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth, Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee; Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee. What need or grief ever hath failed of relief? Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee; Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee. Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging, Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging, Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace, Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding, Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding, Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night, Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him. Let the Amen sound from His people again, Gladly for aye we adore Him.

***

Joachim Neander wrote the words to this hymn in German around 1674-79. It was one of many poems he wrote and sang to the Lord as he wandered the beautiful Düs­sel River Valley during the time when he was the principal of the Düs­sel­dorf Reformed Grammar School. At that time, the valley was a narrow gorge, full of caves and beautiful waterfalls - a perfect spot to inspire such majestic words.

As he wandered there, he often held outdoor gatherings where he would share his poems and preach about the Lord. Today the valley is named after Neander and is a wide, open area after being quarried for limestone deposits. And in case your wondering, yes, the famous remains of the "Neanderthal Man" were found there in a cave originally named after the hymnist.

Building trust through the little things in life

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT

Several years ago, I was going through a dark place in my life. I felt emotionally drained and depressed, unsure if I would ever get out of such a deep pit of despair. My trust muscles were so atrophied at that point in my life, I had difficulty believing God could care about me, even though I had been a Christian for most of my life.

During that time, I had an appointment in a town about 40 miles from home. I arrived a little early, so I sat in my car, waiting and listening to a Christian radio station. They played a song I had never heard before, but the words brought a ray of hope into the darkness. I went into my appointment with a sense that I would make it through that current dark situation.

As I drove home that day, I tried to remember the words, the tune and the artist who sang the song. I thought maybe I could stop at the Christian bookstore on the way home and purchase the song. Nothing! I couldn't remember one word or even a bit of the tune. And I had no idea who sang it. The hope I had felt was snuffed out.

Because I was dealing with issues of trust during that time, it was important for me to see God's hand at work in my life. I needed to know that he cared for me in the darkness I faced. I prayed that he would somehow let me hear that song again, though I wasn't sure I'd know it if I heard it since I couldn't remember one thing about it.

But about 2 weeks later, parked in the same spot, waiting for another appointment, the station played the song again. Right away I knew it was the same song that had blessed me just 2 weeks before. So this time I grabbed some paper and wrote down the song title and artist - Never Alone by Damaris Carbaugh. It was such a little, but intensely personal, answer to prayer. It was one of many that the Lord used during that time of emotional healing to let me know he was there and he cared.

What a blessing that song has been to me in the years since that day. Its message still assures me I'm never alone, he's in my heart and will be my closest friend, no matter what kind of circumstances I find myself in - no matter how I feel - no matter how dark the way seems.

That answered prayer has helped to teach me to recognize God's care. He has been rebuilding my trust, brick by brick through the little answers to prayer - many of them seemingly insignificant to others, yet of vital importance to me to demonstrate his great love, patience and trustworthiness.

Thank you Father, for rebuilding my trust through the little things you do for me each day that show me how big your live really is! Amen.