Welcome to Tuesday and The Notes! This is the second in a series of "reprints" from the beginnings of Tuesday's Musical Notes. We've added and corrected a few things to further enhance your web surfing experience and hope you enjoy today's "Sunny" Notes!
Uncertain - not clearly or precisely determined; indefinite; unknown - dictionary.com
We live in a world of uncertainty. We do not know what the future holds and that causes stress. We tend to question and second guess everything from our job security to the parenting skills that we use on a daily basis. Do we have enough money to make ends meet? Does my vote really make a difference and how does it effect me personally? Do the fluctuations on Wall Street really impact “Main Street”? When is the next terrorist attack? With all of these questions and a myriad more, we go through life robbed of something that God tells us we can have for FREE!!!!
Katrina And The Waves - "Walking On Sunshine"
“Don't it feel good!!” shouts Katrina Leskanich from the song that made Katrina and the Waves the ultimate in one hit wonderland. “Walking on Sunshine” went to #9 on Billboards Hot 100 in 1985. It was the only top 10 single for Katrina and the Waves, but has endured the test of time by being on 5 different motion picture soundtracks and has been covered by countless teen bands trying to recapture some of the success of the song. It has been so popular in fact that it is estimated that advertisers still pay between $150,000 - $200,000 per year to use the song. It is also estimated that the song made $1 million per year for the ten years that followed its release. It is a song that tells about the feeling of confidence from knowing that you are loved. That certainly is a feeling many in our world, including many Christians, need to tap into to face uncertain times.
Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. NKJV
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. NKJV
JOY - a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated - dictionary.com
If you search the Psalms of the Bible, you will find every emotion know to mankind expressed in beautiful ways. Sadness and joy are companions as you read through the Psalmists heart felt explorations of who God is and how we are to relate to him during times of pain as well as exuberance. Psalm 5:11 captures the “Walking on Sunshine” flavor that we as Christians should go about having even on our worst days. (Remember that whole "peculiar people" thing?) Whether you say “Let them ever shout for joy” or “I'm walking on sunshine”, you detail a love that is difficult to explain, yet easily expressed. It is a joy that only Christ can bring through our lives IF WE ALLOW IT. At our salvation, the Holy Spirit of God is released in our lives and while we may have times of sorrow or difficulties we have the calm assurance of a joy that accompanies the peace that passes all understanding. Jesus wants to be the Lord of our lives, however, He won't force joy or any of His other great blessings on us. These are things He offers freely, but we must accept and then release their power throughout our lives. This brings about the renewing of the mind and the transformation of the spirit in which the Bible speaks.
Homework has already been assigned to students as the new school year has begun. The Notes confesses to many times when we either waited until the last minute or failed to do the homework that was required. What we failed to realize at that time is that homework is intended to prepare us for the test. This is a great analogy for our lives as well. We can be better equipped for the difficult times in our lives if we have done our spiritual homework....prayer, Bible Study, fellowship with believers, and congregational worship are all tools that God has allowed us to experience as "homework" to better prepare us to face our difficulties with joy. Too many times we come to a worship service expecting joy to be overflowing, but we haven't done our homework. We haven't accepted the joy we are to have at home, in the car, in Sunday School, or at work the previous week. Why should we expect joy to spontaneously occur when we haven't done our part?
Joy is contagious. Try going up to someone with a warm smile and see if they smile back. Joy grows exponentially. The more it is expressed by you, the more you feel it growing. THAT joy can defeat all of the uncertainties we may face in this world. DO YOUR HOMEWORK and then get ready to go Walking on Sunshine!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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