Sing It Out Loud!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2

In the church we went to years ago there was an awesome guy named Jim. He was a giant of a man, well over six feet tall and had a large build to go with his height. Jim had a big, deep, booming voice that matched his giant frame. When it was time to sing Jim was not particularly good at holding a tune, but he more than made up for it with lots of volume as he unabashedly belted out songs.

For most of my life during the music at church I would sing just loud enough to hear myself. My volume might move up a slight notch when the Spirit moved me. But I was envious of Jim’s fearless, shameless, loud singing.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16

In all the verses in the Bible about singing and hymns there is never the caveat–only sing if you have a good singing voice.

I have been a lifelong music lover. As a boy I loved listening to The Jackson Five, The Osmonds, Elvis, and Dionne Warwick. In third grade a fellow student brought in a Doobie Brothers album to play in our school room and I first heard the song “Black Water” and thought it the best song on earth. By my teenage years I was joyfully drowning in Rock Music, a flood of it constantly playing wherever I went. And it seemed a great new band was popping up each week to enjoy listening to.

I don’t have a good singing voice. Between my year around allergies and stuffy nose and my asthma which sometimes leaves me breathless while singing, it is no wonder why I keep my singing at a low volume. But that doesn’t let me off of the hook. 

If you look up the word “song” in the NIV Bible you get one hundred and ten results. You get additional results if you look up the word “hymn”, and the entire “Book of Psalms” is a songbook. Clearly the Bible places music in a critical role regarding our service and worship of God. Great singing voice, or gravelly voice, nasally voice, or otherwise, we are all to sing to the Lord as a part of our worship.

It always made me smile and brought joy to my heart to hear Jim singing loudly off key in church. I think God and His angels must have smiled as well. Perhaps one day we will all be gifted to sing with perfect pitch like the heavenly beings who worship God continually. 

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:5

We may get a slight dent in our pride when we sing loudly to God before others. It may be a “sacrifice”, but it is one worth making. Jim is the example to those of us who leave our singing voice in the shower when it comes to church. But maybe, perhaps, if all of us terrible singers get louder the cacophony of singing may become a joyful noise of praise that pleases the Lord.

Dear Lord, music is a gift that blesses us all. While individually we may not be the best singers, help us to lay aside our misgivings and pour out our praises to You. For You deserve our praise and worship, especially in singing. Amen.

Having A Blue Christmas?

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Cheer up, dude. It’s Christmas. –The Grinch (2000).

Last week I was in a doctor’s office staring at the magazine rack. There was a copy of Midwest Living magazine there with a beautiful house nestled back into some trees. The house was covered in soft white glowing Christmas lights. It was a serene scene. The title on the cover said: All Is Calm. The subtitle said: Settling Into The Season Of Joy.

But this is not a season of joy for everyone. Indeed, many people have a love/hate relationship with the Christmas holiday. Christmas reminds us of friends and loved ones who are no longer with us. While we try to enjoy the beautiful lights and music of the season we also recall difficulties, perhaps with our health, or finances, or remember loved ones going through terrible trials at this time. For most people Christmas brings blessings tinged with sorrows.

Just this morning I was talking to a man about Christmas and he said it was no different than any other day for him. His wife, because of worsening health issues, is now permanently in a nursing home. I tried to consider what that would be like to have Christmas in a silent, lonely household knowing you would ever share another Christmas with your loved one as in the past.

It must have been a difficult world that our Savior was born into. Much of it under the iron boot of Rome. Subject to the whims of a pagan society whose top god was a moody guy tossing around lightning bolts. We can hardly imagine it. There was no Jesus, no forgiveness, no loving heavenly Father revealed to mankind. Just an adherence to laws and sacrifices that were impossible to live up to. The constant fear of what must have seemed an angry God.

But then Jesus came. He brought light, hope, and joy into the world. From the lowliest shepherd to the mightiest king the playing field was leveled. Anyone who placed their faith in the Lord Jesus would find a place in God’s Kingdom. Any sins committed would be pardoned by receiving God’s grace as revealed through the sacrifice of Jesus. No death need ever be endless, but a promised afterlife for all who believe. A kind Savior and a just King had arrived upon the earth, and nothing would be the same afterward.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Thankfully, we do not have to imagine a dark world without Jesus. What’s more, no matter what may be overshadowing our lives during this Christmas season we have a Lord who can bring light into our hearts and lives. He can give meaning to our trials and suffering, and a doorway of hope that can lead us out of despair.

The Christmas season does not always bring colorful lights, shiny bows, and pretty packages our way. It often brings painfully sad memories of loss, and current difficulties and challenges that overshadow our celebrations. Yet, no matter whether happy or sad, Christmas brought more than a single season, it brought a Savior that can turn our inner darkness to light, and bring hope and peace into our sorrows. We have hope of better things to come, something the world did not have until that small child was born in a Bethlehem barn long ago.

I hope you are having a Merry Christmas. But if you are struggling during this season, I would encourage you to remember Jesus. For no matter your sadness or difficulty, there is hope found in the baby boy who became a man and much more. A Savior who redeems us all and gives us an eternal hope that will more than compensate our pain and losses on this earth.

Prayer: Dear Lord, too many struggle with sadness during this time of year. Help us all in our momentary afflictions, and our current trials, to look up to You. For You are our hope and comfort in this difficult world. Amen.