Welcome
to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! This is the place where we
analyze, scrutinize, sanitize and martinize favorite songs of all
decades...yes we even do some songs from recent chart history...but not
very much...because they aren't as good...but we digress...back to the
opening monologue...
Welcome
to The Notes!!! If this is your first time at Tuesday's Musical Notes,
put on your seat belt, because you're likely to discover something you
didn't know about your favorite music, and hopefully have something in
your spirit that is stirred. If you're a frequent flyer, please know
that we appreciate you being here each week!
Regardless
of how long you've been with us, please know you just being here is an
encouragement. One might even say that your reading Tuesday's Musical
Notes... lifts us...well, higher and higher!!!
From 1957 to 1971 he had 52 singles to crack Billboard's Hot 100. Today's feature song peaked at #6. During that same time, he had 42 singles break into Billboard's Top 40 R&B chart (counting today's featured song, 6 of these singles went all the way to #1).
He was one of the inspirations for James Brown, Elvis Presley, and
Michael Jackson due to his energetic stage presence which earned him the
moniker "Mr. Excitement". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 1987 and is listed at #69 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (wikipedia.org).
"You're
Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" was originally written at
Chess Records and recorded by The Dells but never released. It was
later reworked and introduced to Brunswick Records where it was recorded
by Jackie Wilson. After some initial coaching from producer Carl
Davis, Wilson was able to record the vocals in one take. It would later
be covered by The Dells (their original version finally released),
Canada Goose, and Audio Adrenaline "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher" by Audio Adrenaline from the August 30th, 2005 Album Until My Heart Caves In The most notable cover was a mellowed out version by Rita Coolidge which peaked at #2 on the charts. "(Your Love Has Lifted Me)" Higher and Higher" from the March 1977 album Anytime...Anywhere by Rita Coolidge The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and can be found at #246 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Times (wikipedia.org)
So,
how's your day going? No really. How is your day going? Take just a
moment, take a breath, and analyze your day. Has it been filled with
tumult or has it been calm and pleasant? Have you been the target of
negativism, or have you been filled with encouragement by someone
today? Really, stop and think about it.
All
of these questions are targeted towards our well being, our happiness,
our contentment on the day. When was the last time you considered the
folks around you? Maybe if you could hear their thoughts, it might go
something like this: "Now once I was downhearted, this little loneliness my foes and friend."
People
all around us are going through stuff. Are we overstepping when we
attempt to assist them in dealing with their stuff? Are we so afraid of
getting up in someone's business, that we miss the opportunity to be
the reason that loneliness departs for them forevermore? Do we miss an
incredible chance to let our love lift them higher and higher?
In
1 Thessalonians 5, Paul addresses those who have begun questioning when
Jesus might return to take believers to heaven as He has promised.
Paul reminds them that "you yourselves know very well that the day of
the Lord will come just like a thief in the night." Paul then calls
believers "children of light and children of the day". By doing this,
Paul is telling the Thessalonian believers, that they have nothing to
fear from the return of Jesus because they exist in the "day and light",
not in the darkness or night where nonbelievers exist. They have no
reason to fear thieves. So Jesus return will not be a surprise to
them. Because of this Paul later tells them: "Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up as you are already
doing." In other words, allow their love to keep lifting each other
up. As they practice the love of Jesus, they won't have time to worry
about when He might return. The
Disciple Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonian church, chapter 5,
verses 1-11, Christian Standard Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the
Bible, King James Version of the Bible parallel
I
confess that lately, I have been on a soapbox about how some
"Christians" treat each other. They seem to be hanging on to their
"night" life instead of basking in the sunlight of His love! Please
don't misunderstand me. I don't wish that we could go back to the good
'ol days of 3 piece vested suits and brush arbor, two-week long revival
meetings. (Though both of those things had their place, the suit was
for some a sign of reverence and respect for going to God's house and
being with His people, the revival meetings were a time where we got
together in a common bond to see the lost get saved) But what I do
desire is to return to the principles from those times and others that
we could be using as magnets to attract those who are in the "night". 3
of those principles I'd like to comment on further.
Do you want to be known as the person who caused loneliness to depart and never show his face again for someone?
Then be hospitable! When was the last time you had someone who wasn't
a family member into your home? When was the last time you invited a
friend to lunch (that you bought) just to invest in your friendship?
When was the last time you laid down your life (or your phone) for a
friend? The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple John, chapter 15, verses 9-17 CSB/The Message/KJV
Do
you want to be known as the person who encouraged another person to
stand up and face the world again? Then be generous. Be generous with
your time by spending it with another person doing what they want to
do. Be generous with your resources by consistently tithing to your
church, tipping those who serve you, and buying the aforementioned lunch
with a friend. Don't get me wrong, God expects us to be frugal with
His resources, but He also will provide the needed resources if our
hearts are right and our generosity is only for the benefit of others.
When is the last time you sacrificed for a friend? Paul's letter to the Roman church, chapter 12, verses 1-2, CSB/The Message/KJV
Do
you want to be known as a person who is lifting other folks higher and
higher? Then show love, love, love. I seem to remember a band that put
it this way. "Love is all you need". (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "All You Need is Love")
Be about doing the things in the previous two paragraphs. Be about
showing selflessness instead of selfishness. Open doors.
Enthusiastically say "HELLO!!!" to someone you don't know. Greet everyone with a smile. Lovingly hold a friend accountable. Mentor an employee instead of chastise them. In an appropriate way, call someone beautiful (after all, God made them, you , and I in His image (Genesis 1:27 CSB/The Message/KJV) and then called us VERY good. This being true, logic dictates that someone made in God's image would be beautiful!!! (Genesis 1:31 CSB/The Message/KJV)
Honestly,
I can't put it any better than Paul: " Let love be without hypocrisy.
Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers
and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence
in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be
patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints
in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those
who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead,
associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do
not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is
honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone."
Or in the word of today's featured song:
" Your love is lifting me higher
Than I ever been lifted before"
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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