Songs

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19 KJV)

I’ve just visited a blog extolling music as a mood enhancer from morning to night. One of the album shots used was of the Rochesters. Long time readers know how much I enjoy their music!!

But when I started to list what we’re listening to, there is a wide variety, but all is Christian music.

Not just the Rochesters, who visit our church each year around Easter and we gather visitors from fifty miles in every direction; the Hinkle Family that our church supports in their nursing home ministry; Michael Wiggins, who sang with his evangelism – and we miss now that he’s pastoring a church. Wonderful examples of Christian music!

From Exodus through Revelation, songs praise our Lord and we can lift our voices with them. So many of our favorite hymns are direct from scripture. They don’t have to be new, and they don’t have to be ancient. There are joyous examples found in young and old.

Take Mina Oglesby and her album of Fannie Crosby’s hymns. Now there’s a companion piece for all day. Through them we know we are “Saved By Grace” and “Redeemed” while giving “To God Be the Glory.” And that’s just a few.

Or you can spend time with the Best of Mark Lowry and hear him ask “Mary, Did You Know …” and telling us “I Don’t Belong.” But my favorite is the list of “Things To Do.” “Most of all, to share a father’s love.’

That’s what Jesus came to do. Share a father’s love. It’s the first verse we memorize as children:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Well – maybe John 11:35 is really the first for children – but we all know that one!

There is one caveat – there is a Christian workout set of disks that we ladies have used for aerobics. They are marvelous playing while house cleaning, too. However, I suggest they NOT be played while driving. Not only is there a tendency to speed (not a good thing) but when you do pull up to stop signs, people look at you as though you are crazy as you tap the steering wheel to the beat!!