Category: Praise & Worship

304 Songs In June

by Dale, posted in Music, Praise & Worship

While checking my email, I saw a subject line from Pandora entitled, “304 songs in June.” I clicked on the post and was informed by Pandora how many songs I listened to during the month, which was my go-to-station, and that I like 61 songs enough to give them a thumbs up!  Sometimes it’s a bit scary to know that the internet sometimes knows more about me than I know of myself. 🙂

Let’s make a spiritual application here for a Monday.  When the month of July comes to an end, how many songs will you have sung to the Lord?  What will have been your go-to-station—music that fed your soul or your flesh?  How many songs will you have given a thumbs up of rejoicing; hands raised in the air?  God wants to hear you sing!  He’s listening!

Psalm 95:1-2  Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 100:1-2  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 147:1  Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

Acts 16:25  At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

God Wants To Hear You Sing

He Is

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Faith, Praise & Worship

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

27 years ago today, my wife and I held the lifeless, still born body of our precious baby girl, Ashley Marie.  Last night I sat at the kitchen table of a grieving family as they recounted precious memories of their beloved dad who entered the glories of Heaven on Sunday after a 100 year sojourn here on earth. As I typed this blog, I received a text requesting prayer for a relative who has liver cancer.  Yesterday morning and afternoon, I spent lengthy amounts of time with two broken-hearted husbands whose marriages have dissolved in recent weeks. What kept us going through those days of trial, tears, and questions?  What will enable these other folks to press on in spite of their circumstances?  Here’s the answer: HE IS

Our God is Victorious

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Praise & Worship

cross victory

Psalm 40:3 says, He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  That is exactly what the Lord has done for me since returning from the Spiritual Leadership Conference in Lancaster, CA.  Each night of the meetings, the choir would sing, Nothing Ever Can; Nothing Ever Will.  I have played it over and over again at my computer, sang it while walking along, humming it, and meditating on the richness of its text.  What a special blessing to sing it this past Sunday morning in ourmorning service.  Added to that joy was a college student on the second row signing the lyrics.  Below you will find the link to the song and the words.  No matter what you may be facing today or in the future, this song will challenge, calm, and charge your heart.  Because our God is always victorious, we can say as 2 Corinthians 2:14, Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.

Link: Nothing Ever Can, Nothing Ever Will

(The song begins after the brief prelude piano music)

Lyrics:

1) Every power on earth and in heaven

Is a shadow in His light,

No authority, law or government

Challenges His sovereign might.

 

His reign and rule have no boundary,

All that is, His hands have wrought.

Nothing ever can, nothing ever will

Overcome the Lord our God.

 

2) We are well aware we were orphans once,

Bent and broken in our shame,

Then He sought us out and adopted us,

Now we bear His royal name.

 

Every sin or crime we have ever done

Is no match for Jesus’ blood.

Nothing ever can, nothing ever will

Overcome the Lord, our God.

 

3) We are rescued out of darkest night,

Freed from Satan’s evil hold

And the kingdom of our Savior’s light

Is our soul’s eternal home.

 

Though the enemy tries to steal and kill

What the death of Christ has bought

Nothing ever can, nothing ever will

Overcome the Lord, our God.

 

Bridge

Our God is victorious,

He always wins! He always wins!

In love He reigns over us,

He always wins! He always wins!

 

4)  We, the Church, declare: Jesus Christ is King,

For He conquered death once for all.

We will live in light of His victory

Following His gospel call.

 

And when the story ends we know Jesus wins,

For His power cannot be stopped.

Nothing ever can, nothing ever will

Overcome the Lord, our God.

Nothing ever can, nothing ever will

Overcome the Lord, our God.

(Ross King)

Being Renewed

by Dale, posted in Praise & Worship

This week, my wife and I are attending the Spiritual Leadership Conference in Lancaster, CA. The theme is “Renewed,” and we are preparing to come home refreshed. The music, the preaching, the testimonies, and fellowship have been a bit of heaven on earth! Here’s a taste of what we have heard this week. The music has been truly awesome!!!

SLC2014

Praiseworthy Signs

by Dale, posted in Praise & Worship

As we entered the building, we were anticipating a glorious meeting with the Lord. Several happy people of various nationalities greeted us as we arrived and walked through the main entrance and foyer. As we found our seats in the auditorium, I realized we were seated behind the deaf ministry. The dear lady who interpreted the music portion of the service was a jewel to behold as her facial and hand expressions were like watching an artist in the park create life on a canvas. Then came a moment during the baptismal service that stirs my heart every time I think about it. As folks came up out of the water, the congregation applauded with praise and thanksgiving. The deaf folks raised their hands and gave the sign for clapping! Wow! All these hands were raised in the air making the back-and-forth motion sign. The thought occurred to me, “Without speaking a word, even deaf people can show their rejoicing!”  How sad that I often have reason to praise the Lord, and have the ability to utter audible words, yet I act as though I am deaf!

Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord must . . .

1. Show expressive praise

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph (Psalm 47:1).

2. Speak exalted praise

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart (Psalm 32:11).

3. Sing eternal praise

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him (Psalm 68:4).

So, today, based up the great goodness of our God and His mighty acts, what will you do with your hands . . . and your voice?