God is Faithful!

One of the reasons we sing is to be reminded of what God has done in our lives. Many of us can probably think of a hymn or song we sang a long time ago that still holds influence on us today.

Some of us can remember the first Christian song we sang after putting our faith in Jesus. Some of us were singing at the very moment that we put our faith in Him. Some of us can mark a moment when God was very close to lead us through a tragedy by the way of song. Others can remember pouring out praise in a moment of great joy. And when we sing those songs again, it’s an opportunity to be encouraged and excited and humbled all over again..

As you remember God’s faithfulness in your past, so often etched in your hearts through a song, you are inspired and equipped to face the ups and downs of the week. This is one of the reasons you need a good amount of good songs stored up to carry with you through all of your life.

(from “Sing!” by Keith and Kristyn Getty)

Psalms - The Bible's "songbook"

Many people love the book of Psalms. The Bible’s “songbook” shows us how to deal with real life. Eugene Peterson writes that the Psalms are a place where we “find the experience of being human before God exposed and sharpened.” The Psalms are incredibly honest, embracing the realities of life and singing through them.

Over a third of the Psalms can be categorized as laments. Over and over again these songs face up to the sharpest of pains, the deepest of struggles, and the loneliest of moments. This is where many of us are as we gather together on a Sunday. There are times when we come to sing with a heaviness of heart. None of us comes with everything figured out. We need to sing songs that recognize these realities without leaving us to despair of those realities, because they bring us to the Rock that is higher than us.

The Psalms tell us to sing when we’re happy. We have freedom to dance, to shout, to sing and play music, and to celebrate our victories. But we must not only sing songs that help us when we’re happy. We can also sing because we’re sad, and we must also sing of Christ when we’re sad. We have freedom to weep, to pour out our souls to a God who hears and who acts. We sing for our brothers and sisters in those moments or seasons when they cannot.

We sing, as the Psalms train us, to help us bring all of our lives, failures, successes, losses, gains, dreams, and ambitions into gospel perspective. Our singing can prepare us for every season of life, and sustain us through every season of life. We don’t need a musical escape from our lives; we need to gaze on the Savior of our lives – our refuge and help and comfort.

(from “Sing!” by Keith and Kristyn Getty)

PraiSing Him!

Mark

5 Surprising Things About The Choir

If you have never been a member of a church choir, you might be surprised about some things.

MUSIC READING

Many choir members do not read music.

They learn the music by ear, since new songs are rehearsed for several weeks. There are usually demo

recordings available to help them outside of rehearsals.

SINGING AS A SOLOIST

Most choir members do not consider themselves to be soloists, but every voice is important in contributing to the sound of the choir.

CHOIR REHEARSALS

Our choir rehearsals usually consist of some type of warm up--usually some of our congregational music

for the week, followed by working on a number of songs. There will be occasional instructions about how to improve the sound of the choir. No one is singled out. No one is forced to sing by themselves in front of the choir. It is a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.

A FAMILY

We always spend time during our rehearsals to share praises, prayer requests, and lift our requests up in

prayer. Some weeks there will be a devotion related to one of the songs we are singing. Usually there is a lot of laughter and smiling. We simply share life together.

MORE THAN PERFORMING MUSIC

Being a part of a church choir means joining a family of folks who love the Lord and love to praise Him

through their singing. It is more than notes, rests, rhythms, dynamics, etc. It is an opportunity to minister on a regular basis.

I would encourage you to consider giving church choir a try. It just might be a truly life-changing

experience!

PraiSing Him!

Mark