Fiddles,
banjos, dulcimer and guitar through the years has generated the perfect sound
of a southern string band that helped create legends like The Carter Family,
Earl Scruggs, Chet Atkins and Dolly Parton, to name a few. Alan Jackson has an amazing way with a guitar
and his voice, as does Vince Gill and so many others. Southern Gospel groups like the Kingdom Heirs
(my favorite), Gold City and Greater Vision to name a few, have a way with music
that touches the core of my soul!
The
Bible talks about celebrating with music from Genesis to Revelation, but most often
in the Psalms. Music was frequently used
when praise was given. David danced in the
street when they were bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the City of David. He was praising The Lord. Miriam played a
timbrel, sang and danced, along with all the other women, after they crossed
the Red Sea in joyous celebration and praise.
God welcomes our voices even when they don’t harmonize perfectly with
another in a worship service. It’s a
matter of giving our hearts and voices up in praise that matters to the Father.
Sometimes
when I go to bed at night I have a tune in my head which keeps repeating itself. What’s wonderful is when I wake in the
morning with a song in my heart. It
might be the same song I heard in my head as I fell off to sleep but sometimes
it’s another. What I find remarkable is
the peace that comes with the music about God’s grace, forgiveness, love, peace
and other qualities of our Lord.
There
are times when I’m feeling down or even just physically tired, yet when I turn
Gospel music on, I find my focus changing off me and onto the Lord. It turns my mind in another, more productive,
direction. I am able to step a little
faster, smile a little more and forget my fatigue or sad feelings.
Besides
instruments like harps, trumpets and lyres, cymbals, tambourine and other musical implements, we, as
humans with a voice, are also completely capable and totally obligated to make
music and praise unto the Lord. This is
how we were created!
I
love to sing, especially music about Jesus. (This doesn’t mean I do it well,
but I do enjoy the effort!) There is just
something profoundly moving about hearing a message in song about the Risen
Savior, or the New Birth. Easter and
Christmas fill the heart with such strong emotions that when shared in song can
stir, elevate, exalt, revere and intensify feelings that are nearly tangible. While I mentioned Easter and Christmas, any
time of year, any time of day, is the perfect time to tap into music, especially
Gospel music.
So
I challenge you to turn off the television set, turn the radio on to your
favorite Gospel station or put a Gospel CD in and listen to the music and
message, and watch (and feel) your heart soar!
Allow God to touch your soul through the medium of music, because music
does matter!
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