Texts for knowing God

2/16/12 “This is my Father’s World and to my listening ears all nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres…..of rocks and trees and skies and seas, His hands thy wonders wrought….”  (lyrics from memory, but Chris Rice’s piano rendition is playing on my iPod, as I type)

An often said adage, “two texts of knowing God are His word,” (Psalm 119:38) and His creation. (Romans 1:20) has been clearly revealed to me this week---becoming truth in my own life. Whether seeing Who God is, in His Word, or seeing and hearing God on my walks, I have come to know and love Him more.

But it was that tune remembered from years ago that flooded me with the truth that is proclaimed in nature. Nature is that open book to the beauty not only of creation but also of the Creator Himself.

That hymn was introduced to me sitting in a pew at First Christian Church (Disciples of Chris) on Madison Avenue in Clarksville, TN. Probably elementary age. Probably winded from the long walk to get there from So. Second Street.
Sitting next to me was another “text” of knowing God, my grandmother. Jesus was written all over Mama Davenport’s life. 

How grateful I am for that “text” in her life. May I become such a “text” to others.

Are you reading me?

GOD SONG

2/15/12 Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty, Early in the morning my song shall rise to Thee…..If I were to “wager,” I’d say that hymn is the first, or at least on the first few pages, of every Methodist and Baptist hymnbook. You denominational folks, with hymnal access, will have to let me know.  It’s just stored in my mental hymnal bank---those recollections from my youth. God can certainly speak to my heart through those rich old melodies and familiar lyrics. 

So......this week, I've been using hymns to speak to God’s heart. I’m singing familiar verses and choruses to the Lord and praying the psalms, Bonhoeffer’s “prayer book of the Bible.” In a way it’s also a hymn book of the Bible……so I must be on the right track.

Holy, Holy, Holy’s lyrics have shown me the importance of executing this vocal exercise, my God Song, as morning "breaks". This week I’ve been composing my song “early”….whether it’s a praise song, a battle song or a song of comfort. Composition takes place before my feet even hit the floor!

How grateful I am, as one who can’t read music or “carry a tune,” that the Lord who hears from heaven, (Nehemiah 9:28) hears the God Song of my heart---not the pitch of my voice.

Song of Deliverance

2/8/12 

Soothing sounds of “You Deliver Me” were being sung by Selah. 

They’re also the vocal group that sing, “You are My Hiding Place."

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You          (http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/selah)

How interesting that this Dove Award winning trio is uniquely named with the exclamation that ends the Psalm verse from which " You Are My Hiding Place" was written. If there’s a story there, I don’t know it. I just know that today that song of deliverance spoke to my heart.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah (Psalm 32:7)

Thank you Lord for delivering me from my self.

New Song Needed

2/6/12 "Same old song." I need new lyrics for the same old song that I've been singing these last few days. Try as I might, I couldn't find a song of complaint, song of frustration or song of overwhelming anxiety in my Strong's Concordance. But.....I've certainly been singing them lately. I found songs of lament, songs of deliverance and lots of songs of praise. I know my songs haven't been songs of praise. When one's posture has her shoulders up around her ears, it's doubtful she's singing praises to the Lord.

Complaint. Despair. Frustration. Much like the "noise of thy song" (Tyre) which the Lord caused to cease (Ezekiel 26:13) I imagine my song grates on Him as well. A song of self. That music stinks.

My focus needs to look upward and not inward. Psalm 98 is a good place to start on this Meditation Monday---the sub-title naming it,  "A Call to Praise the Lord for His Righteousness."

I need a new song----a song of praise to my Lord.