Music As Worship

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

 

Psalm 150

 

It's His desire that we worship Him through music and through dance. His vey Word tells us!

Our sanctuary choir sang a few songs on this Music Finale Sunday. Terry had a duet.  

 My mom joined the Seniors' Choir even though she's not technically a senior yet. She's a senior-lover :)

They sing a lot about heaven :)

 

The BGT kids' choir always draws people to worship... and to laugh.

 

 All three choirs and the band join in one amazing throng!

kids waiting patiently

Praise the Lord!

Songs of Marriage

We tied white satin bows on the backs of one hundred chairs and the guys rigged scaffolds to hang the tulle. The place was set for an evening for the knot-tiers and better halves and life partners of our church. The stories behind the marriages of those who squeezed around rose-red clothed tables went mostly unspoken. But those committed relationships were honoured as Matthew and Sarah sang love songs that echoed the beating of the married hearts in the room. The young couple shared their sweet and difficult testimony and serenaded us with lyrics that were written of their love but ones with which my husband and I keenly identified. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was the words of the songs of marriage that stirred in me a desire to thank my Lord for the gift that my marriage has become and as we nodded in agreement to their beautiful voices, we clasped hands and counted another year of watching God write more music in us and through us.

As far as the east is from the west...

Once again our BGT Dancers performed a piece that touched hearts and brought a few in our congregation to tears. Interpreting East To West by Casting Crowns, Meghan and the other kids demonstrated how being trapped in our sin makes us afraid we'll always stay there. Only Jesus can free us, lift the chains and deliver us. More importantly, we need to receive His forgiveness and gift of deliverance. We are victorious in Him!

"Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in Your 'Sea of Forgetfulness'

The chains of yesterday surround me

I yearn for peace and rest

I don't want to end up where You found me

And it echoes in my mind,

Keeps me awake tonight

I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west

And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned

But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away

From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west?

'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been

Rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin

Time and time Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in...

I know You've washed me white,

Turned my darkness into light

I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night

I can't live by what I feel,

but by the truth Your word reveals

I'm not holding onto You

But You're holding onto me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west

I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other

One scarred hand to the other

From one scarred hand to the other"

 

(more photos from the BGT Kids' Choir)

 

 

Thanks again, Mrs. Emma for your servant's heart and love for our kids!

 

Frayed Edges

I thought I'd stop breathing, that this kind of pain couldn't actually be lived through, only succumbed to. He knew better and since I'd been taught from birth to lean on Him, to give all the pain to Him, a tiny shaft of memory of this promise seered through the darkness as I wept. He took my frayed edges and sewed them up with His healing touch. He was the lifter of my head and now, in hindsight of that time, I can testify to the binding up of my broken heart.

Give Him your frayed edges, friends.

Gratitude on this sun-sparkling on the snow Monday:
642. how she bakes cookies with her friends, boys or girls
643. for how he watches Paul Washer sermons in bed on the laptop
644. sun breaking through clouds today
645. fresh laundry smell wafting from my folding area (one of my favourite smells)
646. a messy, soggy mudroom filled with winter wetness... sign of much outdoor fun
647. a king-sized bed when Littles need to squish in mid-night
648. re-reading old journal entries
649. being able to write PRAISE! over requests that were written in those entries!
650. praising for answers that weren't my idea of how they'd be answered (His ways are higher!)

651. Meredith Andrews' music--love her!
652. Sanctus Real's music--also good--loving skilled Christians using their gifts
653. new insights in the book of James (following this site for studying: http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/)
654. following Ann's videos on her book here: http://www.incourage.me/category/bloom
655. washing Molly's frayed and well-loved "blankie" that I quilted for her
656. the way my boy traces my face with his finger before I open my eyes in the morning
657. how we spent Family Day by switching half of our kids with half of their cousins on Terry's side--so fun!

Happy Family Day!

What Do I Know Of Holy?

Last year I discovered the music of Addison Road, the song below being the one that makes me melt into a puddle of love for the Lord. Turn it up, close your eyes and drink in His Holiness.



(Thanks, Traci, for the reminder.)

Singing Family

We were asked to sing as a family at our Christmas Eve service and my husband said, yes. I was quite uncomfortable at the prospect, but we sang Amy Grant's, Breath Of Heaven. And though the song is quite serious, somehow managed to be humorous entertainment.

Our son took the opportunity to make his loud singing debut, amongst other hilarious antics, which could not be predicted when we practiced at home together. When we returned to our seats (me sighing relief), people were laughing and wiping tears from their eyes. Our friend had taken these photos and someone had video-taped. What I had prayed would touch hearts on this hallowed night, brought joy in a way I could not have understood. Thankfully, it's all done now :)

Random Act Of Culture

With the proposal for change of the Canadian anthem and other ways the media has led us to believe that Christianity is no longer appreciated, there comes something called the effect of the Holy Spirit, which no one can deny. If you haven't viewed this incredibly moving scene of shoppers at Macy's, stopping to take part in the Hallelujah chorus (with the choir), watch it and see how an enormous amount of people know the words to this famous piece that proclaims Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! It brought me to tears. Every knee shall bow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=share