Learning Something New

I recently bought something to add a different

dimension to my photography. 

A lensball! 

Thanks to Elijah  (click on his name to see

his awesome photos with a lensball)

who introduced me to this

amazing thing, I now have something

weird and wonderful to try out! 

These are my first feeble attempts.

Chloe and I spent a couple of hours

down at Low Level Crossing, which is presently

flooded (and keeping a close eye out for crocs),

trying out techniques. 

I'm looking forward to experimenting some more soon. 

Praise in Song

Part 2

In continuing with this theme of praise in song,

I have been doing some research into

how many times certain words appear in the Bible.

Here's a list of some of them:

Sing – 119

Sung – 10

Sang – 15

Song – 88

Singers – 37

Singing – 25

Then there is the word “play”.

In the musical context it is found 5 times

and the word “playing” is found 3 times.

Okay, so what is all this in aid of you ask?

Well, it was mainly to satisfy my own curiosity

but I also wanted to do a bit of digging into

what the Greek or Hebrew words were for

each word and in what context they were used,

to gain a better understanding of praise and worship and song

and when it was used in the Bible and how much importance

God puts on these things. (I might go into the meanings

of these words in a later post)

I found that there are so many verses on the

subject of praise in song that it would take quite a while

to list them all and even longer to read them all.

(that's not to say that you shouldn't, I have found

them all very interesting and eye opening to see just

how often people in the Bible used their voice

or musical instruments in praise of God).

We know that music often has a greater effect

than the spoken word in expressing moods

and feelings of the soul, but there is definitely a need

for discernment as not all music is worshipful and

glorifying to God.

And nothing should ever take the place of

the Word of God being boldly preached

and Bible doctrines being taught through teaching

and preaching and the spoken word.

Too often, we're seeing in our churches a shift

from the emphasis being on the Word of God

being preached, to the Word of God being sung.

There needs to be a balance.

As a musician, I love the time of worship in song

and I love to sing and play about the Saviour

and glorify Him through music. When I am singing

the words to a good, sound and worshipful hymn or

chorus, I am able to focus on the words of the song

and sing them as a prayer to God and sometimes

it does my soul more good then a dead sermon that has

not come about through hours of study and prayer.

We know that Saul used the power of music to

calm his troubled soul.

1 Samuel 16:23

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God

was upon Saul, that David took an harp,

and played with his hand:

so Saul was refreshed, and was well,

and the evil spirit departed from him.

Yes, music can lift one's spirit and give courage

and it can be used to teach the gospel.

How many children's choruses do you know that

teach Bible doctrines and stick in your head

long after you sing them?

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

This verse in Colossians reminds us

that we can teach and admonish through

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

But notice that it also says to sing with grace

in your hearts to the Lord.

Grace in your heart. To the Lord!

Also a reminder of who we are to sing to.

To the Lord. Not for praise of man.

Not for entertainment. Not for self, but for Christ.

The songbook of the Bible,

the book with the largest collection of songs,

is the book of Psalms. The majority of these

psalms are attributed to King David.

In reading through the Psalms, we are given

a glimpse into David's life and the trials he went through.

But through it all, we see him giving praise to God

continually. Despite what he was going through,

he was able to see God's hand working and was

able to sing God's praises and worship Him.

Now, we don't praise God just to stroke His ego.

No! Our praise of Him is commanded, yes,

but that is not the only reason to praise. God

knows that praise of Him, also benefits us.

In praising the all-powerful creator, it puts

things into perspective and helps us to see

how big God is and how little our trials really

are in comparison to His greatness.

It also helps us to focus on the reality of

something permanent in our all too temporary

world. God is not shaken, He is our rock, the God

of our Salvation. It gives us something to hold onto you.

In praising God, we get to know His characteristics

and build a stronger relationship with Him.

When we learn more of His character it only

makes us love Him more and want to be more like Him.

And this drives us to praise Him.

Now I know I said that I'd try and divide

this subject into little bite size pieces,

but it's so hard! Every time I take a bite,

it's like the widow's pot of oil, it just keeps

increasing! There just seems to be more of it.

So for now, I'll leave you with a few verses from

the Psalms to chew over in the meantime.

Psalms 40:3

And he hath put a new song in my mouth,

even praise unto our God:

many shall see it, and fear,

and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalms 98:1

O sing unto the LORD a new song;

for he hath done marvellous things:

his right hand, and his holy arm,

hath gotten him the victory.

Psalms 96:1

O sing unto the LORD a new song:

sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

Praise in Song

Part 1

As we read in the Bible about the importance

of praise in our prayers,

we are also given numerous examples of praise in song.

One of the most well known songs and also one of the first

songs mentioned in the Bible is the song of Moses and Miriam

after the crossing of the Red Sea.

We all know the story of God miraculously opening up the sea

for the Israelites and defeating the Egyptian Army.

This song is worth reading in its entirety,

but just in the first 3 verses

we see praise flowing from the lips of Moses and the people.

Exodus 15:1-3

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

In beginning to list names of God and

also words describing God,

in these verses alone, we find a few more.

The LORD is my strength

my song

my salvation

my God

a man of war

Now I know I'm touching on a very

controversial subject here in dealing with

music and song and it's place in the Christians' life,

and there is much debate as to who wrote a particular song,

who sang it, who arranged it,

the syncopation and the instruments used etc.

 But ultimately our goal in worship through song,

is to glorify God.

Psalms 86:12

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart:

and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

The more I study on the subject of praise, the more I find.

There is so much to be learned about how to praise God

and there are so many passages in scripture that draw

our attention to the need to praise God with our whole heart.

I have been doing a lot of reading and studying on this subject

and although I only started out to learn more about praise in prayer,

it has widened and deepened and

begun to encompass so much more,

that I am excited to see what else the Lord can teach me from His

word regarding praise and worship and its place in my life.

In saying all this, I would like to delve deeper into this

subject and share with you numerous examples from scripture

that highlight the need and God's desire for our praise of Him.

For those of you who know me well, you know that music is

a passion of mine and that singing and playing

holds a very important place in my life.

I would like to learn more on this subject of praise in song

and put into practice what I'm learning and I would like

to take you along on this journey with me.

But knowing our busy lives, my limited time for writing

and sadly the attention spans of many,

I would like to divide these posts into smaller

bits so that I, (and hopefully you) can have the chance to

really think over and read over and pray over the verses

that I'd like to share with you,

and take time in between, to practice

praise in prayer and praise in song.

Psalms 13:6

I will sing unto the LORD,

because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

What a joy to know that we serve such an awesome

God who deals bountifully with us, knowing full well

that we don't deserve His love,

but He pours out His blessings

upon our lives nonetheless.

Miriam Takes Mummy and Daddy

on a Holiday

Well, Grandma  and Grandpa and the Aunties

have been very lonely these past couple

of weeks, as little Miriam

decided to take her Mummy and Daddy

on a much needed holiday!

So, because we don't have our 

beautiful little darling here with us,

we have to make do with photos

sent to us of Miriam enjoying her time 

away seeing the sights.

Looks like she's enjoying herself

in her makeshift playpen

and getting in some zzzzz'z 

while mum and dad take in the sights. 

Getting to play on the beach for the first

time and travel on a BIG boat!

Sleeping (or not sleeping)

in the swag with mummy and daddy 

has been a great adventure! 

Oh, and don't forget getting to splash 

in the great Murray River without

the fear of crocodiles present!! 

Knowing Miriam was headed off on a 

holiday, Grandma had to get in a couple 

of quick selfies the day before she left.

First selfie with Grandma! 

I think we did alright?! 

That's My King!

After writing an article on praise in prayer

recently, I sat down and began to list the names

of God. It is going to be a long process.

I have only just begun to scratch the surface

with names given to God in the Bible, but 

when you start listing God's characteristics,

well, let's just say, I'll be adding to this list daily.

Well, in doing this list, it put me in mind

of a six minute description of Jesus Christ

I had heard many years 

ago by a man named S. M. Lockridge.

Shadrach Meshach Lockridge was born in 1913,

the oldest of 8 children and the son of a Baptist minister.

He was an African American and pastored a 

 very large, predominantly African American congregation

in San Diego, California for 40 years. 

His description of Christ is so exhaustive

and so vast that it sounds to me like he 

really did KNOW Christ. And not just KNOW him.

He had walked with Him, and talked with Him. 

He had spent time, communing with God

and it shows through his description. 

He knew something about praise! 

Take time to read it below

(I know it's a lot of reading),

but why wouldn't you want to read 

of God's character and be blessed

in being reminded of who God is 

and what He means to you! 

My King was born King.

The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King.

He’s the King of the Jews—that’s an Ethnic King.

He’s the King of Israel—that’s a National King.

He’s the King of righteousness.

He’s the King of the ages.

He’s the King of Heaven.

He’s the King of glory.

He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.

Now that’s my King.

Well, I wonder if you know Him.

Do you know Him?

Don’t try to mislead me.

Do you know my King?

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament shows His handiwork.

My King is the only one of whom

there are no means of measure

that can define His limitless love.

No far seeing telescope can bring

into visibility the coastline

of the shore of His supplies.

No barriers can hinder Him

from pouring out His blessing.

He’s enduringly strong.

He’s entirely sincere.

He’s eternally steadfast.

He’s immortally graceful.

He’s imperially powerful.

He’s impartially merciful.

That’s my King.

He’s God’s Son.

He’s the sinner’s Saviour.

He’s the centerpiece of civilization.

He stands alone in Himself.

He’s honest.

He’s unique.

He’s unparalleled.

He’s unprecedented.

He’s supreme.

He’s pre-eminent.

He’s the grandest idea in literature.

He’s the highest personality in philosophy.

He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism.

He’s the fundamental doctrine of historic theology.

He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.

That’s my King.

He’s the miracle of the age.

He’s the superlative of everything

good that you choose to call Him.

He’s the only one able to supply

all our needs simultaneously.

He supplies strength for the weak.

He’s available for the tempted and the tried.

He sympathizes and He saves.

He’s the Almighty God who guides

and keeps all his people.

He heals the sick.

He cleanses the lepers.

He forgives sinners.

He discharged debtors.

He delivers the captives.

He defends the feeble.

He blesses the young.

He serves the unfortunate.

He regards the aged.

He rewards the diligent and

He beautifies the meek.

That’s my King.

Do you know Him?

Well, my King is a King of knowledge.

He’s the wellspring of wisdom.

He’s the doorway of deliverance.

He’s the pathway of peace.

He’s the roadway of righteousness.

He’s the highway of holiness.

He’s the gateway of glory.

He’s the master of the mighty.

He’s the captain of the conquerors.

He’s the head of the heroes.

He’s the leader of the legislatures.

He’s the overseer of the overcomers.

He’s the governor of governors.

He’s the prince of princes.

He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.

That’s my King.

His office is manifold.

His promise is sure.

His light is matchless.

His goodness is limitless.

His mercy is everlasting.

His love never changes.

His Word is enough.

His grace is sufficient.

His reign is righteous.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you . . .

but He’s indescribable. That’s my King.

He’s incomprehensible,

He’s invincible, and He is irresistible.

I’m coming to tell you this,

that the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him,

let alone some man explain Him.

You can’t get Him out of your mind.

You can’t get Him off of your hands.

You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.

The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,

but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.

Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.

The witnesses couldn’t get their

testimonies to agree about Him.

Herod couldn’t kill Him.

Death couldn’t handle Him

and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

That’s my King.

He always has been and He always will be.

I’m talking about the fact that He had

no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.

There’s nobody before Him and

there’ll be nobody after Him.

You can’t impeach Him and

He’s not going to resign.

That’s my King! That’s my King!

Thine is the kingdom and

the power and the glory.

Well, all the power belongs to my King.

We’re around here talking about

black power and white power and green power,

but in the end all that matters is God’s power.

Thine is the power.

Yeah. And the glory.

We try to get prestige and honour

and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.

Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the

power and glory,

forever and ever and ever and ever.

How long is that?

Forever and ever and ever and ever. . .

And when you get through with

all of the ever’s, then . . . Amen!

Borrowed from rpministries.org

If you would like to hear how it sounded when he preached this, click the link below to see it on youtube. It's even better to hear the excitement in his voice. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LT7mQda14s

All this to say, we serve a GREAT God! He's my King! 

Do you know Him?