What is your
favorite song? At first glance, you might think that is easy to
answer. Let me refine the question a bit further. Regardless of where
you are, who you are with, the time of day, and how you are feeling,
when you hear this song, you have to sing it enthusiastically
out loud? Any ideas? The answer to that question has changed over the
years for me as it assuredly has for you. In fact, my musical tastes
tend to transition as I have new life experiences and encounter new
people. You probably heard that the only constant that we experience in
this world is change. Needless to say, what I like musically today
is vastly different than what I liked say in 1973.
There is a
street that many children from all over the world have traveled down.
It has big birds and grouches, monsters and vampires, and friendly faces
with lessons on friendship, manners, and multiplication thrown in for
good measure. "Can you tell me how to get....how to get to Sesame
Street?" The actress who played "Maria" for 44 years is retiring from her residence on this beloved lane. Read her story here: "Sesame Street's Maria showed Latinos who we were – but it didn't stop there" by Daniel Jose Older at theguardian.com
Somewhere
in between "Theme from Sesame Street" and "One of
these things doesn't belong here", Sesame Street had the time to
introduce a song about music. Simply titled "Sing". . The song was
written by Joe Raposo for Sesame Street and became synonymous with the
children's television show. Being associated with the muppets of Sesame
Street it eventually showed up on the eleventh episode of The Muppet
Show as Lena Horne sang the song. Recorded later in
the year by the Carpenters, "Sing" reached #3 in Billboard's top 100 in 1973. The Notes favorite line from the song goes, "Don't worry that it's not good
enough, for anyone else to hear, just sing....sing a song."
The freedom that is expressed in that lyric could revolutionize lives and churches if only Christians would embrace their faith in that manner. I recently read a blog about why Christians sing. You can find it at:
The
Bible has plenty to say about singing as well. According to
Biblegateway.com, the word sing is mentioned over 100 times in both the
King James and the New International Versions of the Bible, many times mentioning singing in the form of a command
for God's people. In 1 Chronicles 16:9 New International Version/ The Message parallel and 1 Chronicles 16:23 New International Version/The Message parallel we are
commanded to sing to show God's salvation and love, the entire book of
Psalms are songs written to express the emotions of King David and the
other writers as they went through their lives. We are instructed
by the apostle James to sing because we are happy James 5:13 New International Version/The Message parallel and Revelation tells of the
singing that will happen in the end of all earthly time Revelation 5:11-12 The Message Paraphrase .
Recent
studies have shown the health benefits for those that sing as well. A
longer, happier life is one of the benefits of being obedient to God's
command. This article shows a little more detail on the physical/well
being aspects of being a singer...even if you don't consider yourself a
good one. "How Singing Improves Your Health (Even if Other People Shouldn't Hear You Singing)" from sixwise.com
Perhaps you are among the many church folks who don't think
you sing well. The Notes contend that this is a sort of reverse pride.
Your self critique is not what matters. Singing is an expression from
your heart about what God has done in your life. Besides that, God has
commanded His creation to sing of His great works. This command should
resonated even more for those whose lives have been redeemed by the
Lamb. Don't think for one moment that the sounds that you hear
coming from your mouth, are the same sounds that your neighbor is
hearing. Ever hear of Pentecost? How selfish are we when we withhold a
vigorous song about our salvation. We've a story to
tell......a Savior to proclaim......Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God
Almighty!!! Please don't discount God's creation.....your voice. Use
it to the best of your ability and Sing.....sing a song!!!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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