SINGERS AND THEIR SONGS
Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 12
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Church of All Nations, also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, is a Roman Catholic church located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, next to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here worshippers gather to encounter God.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Nehemiah 12:46
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Name after name after name! It’s for sure that God treats each individual as a VIP (very important person). Let us always do the same and rejoice that each of us are the object of God’s attention. This knowledge of God’s care will put a song in our hearts and in our mouths. This was the case in Jerusalem, as we saw in today’s reading. Seven times the words “songs” or “singers” are mentioned. King David and Asaph, the Minister of Music, had left at least 150 songs (Psalms) for the worshippers of God.
As was suggested in yesterday’s blog, we may want to continue to compile a list of all the good things God has done for us. Then review the list each day. Try composing a song about God’s blessings! Our songs may be sung by others if we publish them, but chances are that it’s just between God and us. God is the most important audience we will ever sing to.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I desire that Your praise will continually be in my mouth. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Having food and raiment, with these things we are content.” He also wrote, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I have so very much for which to praise You Lord, that I’ll keep doing this into eternity. You are worthy, O Lord, of all my worship! Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a pastor of four different congregations during the first few years of my public ministry, I encountered various modes of worship. Believe it or not, I tended to be quite conservative in my tastes in music. Give me a magnificent sounding organ and I was content in worship. A lovely lady in my last congregation insisted on bringing her tambourine. She was the art teacher at the high school attended by my daughter Elaine. I must admit that I prayed for grace each time I saw her in the congregation. God gave me grace and then would you believe guitars and drums began to make an appearance. I’ve opened my heart and mind to various forms of expression in worship.
I began a Sunday School when I was a public school teacher. One Lord’s Day an elderly man arrived. Under his arm he had a violin case. I thought that we were about to be treated to a violin solo, but such was not the case. He carefully took out his instrument and proceeded to sing into the openings in the body of the violin. I must confess I laughed to myself. He must have liked the sound of his voice coming back to him. He sang to the Lord songs of his own composition. I found out that he worked at Atomic Energy of Canada, not as one of the scientists, but as a dish washer in the cafeteria. I came to the conclusion that, crazy or not, his worship was pleasing to God. He came every Sunday. I can see him and hear him in my memory. I think he’s in Heaven now; I wonder if he has his violin. I hope I have the opportunity to meet him again. God put a love for him in my heart.
Yours for singing to the Lord “a new song” (Psalm 96),
David
Interesting and amusing blog of David’s today on music. I like the man with the violin like to hear my own voice which is often impossible but I never tried this man’s solution, LOL! Have played the tambourine too but know there are mixed feelings about that. Trust Ann is doing well. God bless you Ann! Is campmeeting time here in Maine so is close enough to commute and am attending the Bible Study this morning and perhaps the evangelistic service tonight. I think I shared with you that I can view Mars Hill Mountain in Maine when I step outside my door. Blessings and keep cool!
I grew up in Hartland N.B. And as a child our family used to go to Mars Hill on Sunday afternoons to the big tent camp meetings with sawdust on the ground. Good memories. I live in B.C but still call NB home. Have family there.
Thanks,Ger and Gwen,for the info re Mars Hill.It might be a good bike ride some Sunday after church.I live in NS near the NB border.I’ll have to google it.God bless
Prayed and agreed with Davids prayer; thank you David for your Peronal Words always interesting!
Praise God for opening up thr Music and freeing to worship You in Spirit and in truth!!
Yres Praise
god that Ann is doing well!
These are a few of many of my poems that attempt to show praise.I’m still praying for Ann also.God is good….
Praise
Let us praise Him in our day,
Let us praise Him in our sleep,
Let unceasing praise convey
The harvest our praises reap.
Unending love is always ours,
So unending praise is owed,
Then His word of truth empowers
From the Spirit He bestowed.
Let only truth bespeak His praise,
Let not hope flee from sight,
Thus,let us dance and voices raise,
To soak in His eternal Light.
G W(Bill) Marshall / 24 Feb, 2014
Oh,King Of Kings
Oh,King of kings make haste I pray,
That your return will set us free,
Then take us Home with You to stay
In love’s vast ocean of eternity.
You have been the truest of friends,
A mentor to my searching soul,
Now is the time that Heaven lends,
To reap the garden Satan stole.
With open arms Your bride awaits,
To be no more of sin’s dark lie,
As the demon burns with his mates,
We’re safely Home above the sky.
G W (Bill) Marshall / Sept 06, 2013
Let Me
Let me please you,oh Lord,
Let me leave a kiss upon your hand,
That you may wield a mighty sword
To cleanse the evil from this land.
Let me serve you too my God,
Let me sacrifice my life for You,
So that You can point Your holy rod
To show what a sinner will do.
I am nothing to call a treasure,
But my life I freely now will give,
That You might at Your leisure
Return to show us how to live.
G W (Bill) Marshall / 19 July, 2013
I felt I had to include this and hope it doesn’t sound too self centered.It was written (June 6,2011) shortly after I surrendered on my knees but less than 2 weeks before I was baptised.I hung on to the melody in my head for about 2 weeks but did not know anybody ‘then’ who could have written the music.The attached notes explain the rest.I hope it blesses someone:
A melody started in my head,over and over, followed by
the first line of the chorus,then I had to get up (at 328 AM)
and this is the result.I corrected two typos but this is as it was
written.I firmly believeit was an inspired writing.
G W (Bill) Marshall
Salvation
Sweet Jesus I owe everything to You and to You alone,
You have shown me my home,You are my anchorstone,
You have saved me always when stormy winds have blown,
You have always been my Rock,the truest Friend I’ve known,
So why do You think me worthy as a seed You have sown;
What can I ever do to earn all the love You’ve shown .
Ch:
Let me know sweet Jesus, let me know beyond my days
Let me know my Savior,when I bow down to You in praise,
When my time here is drawing short and coming to a close,
As they carry me away after leading the life I chose,
I pray that I will leave not sorrow for those that I love,
But instead to know the joy that waits for us above.
I am not a wealthy man but I am very rich by far,
When I walk my journey You’re my guiding star
And You know that I am honest in all the things I do,
I have never born false witness,I only say what’s true,
You have strengthened my soul before I even knew
Of life’s losses with Your love to see me through.
You have always had Your hand placed within my soul,
You have shown me Your light that has made me whole,
I have never known this love that comes from Your grace,
Nor have I known compassion that shines from Your face,
For I am still a sinner and You are the son of God
I can only meet You at the end of the road I’ve trod.
G W(Bill) Marshall (No copyright intended)
I was going to cancel this post but can not find the ‘cancel’ button.(Where did it go?)I’ll take that as a “Yes”.
make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
we had a fantastic young man with 2 beautiful girls come to our church; he fit very nicely, we all love the girls; their dad could play drums and he was TERRIFIC! so……
one Sunday he did the whole service with the drum and it sounded great…..
I learned that if we don’t try things, we miss some very beautiful opportunities; if anyone had said no to this young man; I don’t think he would ever have come back to church…so, Thank You Lord for this young man, I believe his girls are married and have children; so dad remarried and is enjoying married life and his grandchildren. thank you Lord for this young man and his beautiful girls….in Jesus Name we Pray amen
SAH..that is so uplifting an encouraging to hear about that young man and his family come to your church!
I have a son in law who is a drummer, my prayer always is that God would work a miracle and that he plays in church.
David’s blog and prayer is beautiful this morning.
I am so glad that Jesus is the door and that He opened it for me!
PTL