Great Gratitude

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT

Have you ever been listening to the radio when a song comes on that takes you back to another time and another place? You know exactly where you were and who was there with you and what you were doing and where you were going and what you were wearing. It's amazing, isn't it? Music seems to define and even seal things in our lives. Truly a gift from God.

I've been going through an old hymn book - and I'm finding a treasure trove of old hymns that become as alive to me today as they were when I was a little girl, exuberantly beating the tambourine in time to the music - the words still in my spirit. Singing the slower ones that captured the soul with the dissonant followed by the concordant, writing the harmonies on the heart. 

Some take me back to great memories - Anne Beatty playing all 88 keys and singing in her rich, contralto voice. Others take me back to not so great memories, when the song was the solace for my soul during hard times. But all of them cause me to remember that God was there each and every step of the way, as "Mama" Lutz used to sing, ♪♫ Each step I take...♫♪  because as His Word promises, He will always be there each and every step of the way.

Just so you know, I'm not stuck in a time warp. There are songs on the charts today that speak to my spirit and bring comfort and joy to my soul - but what they all have in common - whether it is Casting Crowns or Chris Tomlin, Mozart or MercyMe, Gaither or GRITS, Jimmie Bratcher or Jars of Clay - is someone wrote them. Those songs that touch your heart - be they praise, passion or an appeal - they were born through someone's walk with the Lord. Seeds sown, watered by tears, producing a harvest. Will you give thanks for that?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for touching our lives in such ways that we cannot begin to properly express our gratitude. Thank You for providing the words to sing when we cannot find the words to pray. Thank You for never leaving us. Thank You for music and the melodies. We give You all honor, all glory and all praise. In Jesus' Name Amen