Music calms the soul
Music calms the soul
It is no secret that I love all kinds music. Songs from my teen years, from my children’s teen years…and even some of the songs from my grandchildren’s teen years. I also love classical music, especially playing softly while I read a good book. Even now, as I write, there is the soothing sound of classical pianos playing in the background.
I grew up listening to the Beatles, the Monkees, the Fifth Dimension, Herman and the Hermits, Paul Revere and the Raders, Gary Lewis and the Playboys. That music is so much a part of me that when I’m cooking and I have to use either parsley or rosemary or thyme…well, you know song I start to sing. If someone says, “Hey,” I’ll burst out in “Hey, you, get off of my cloud.” Last week, I was introduced to the friend of a friend who had the most beautiful brown eyes. So you know that for the rest of the day, Van Morrison and I were singing about that “Brown-Eyed Girl.” A couple of weeks ago, on our way to the airport to begin our vacation, my husband and I sang a rendition of “Leaving On A Jet Plane” that would have put Peter, Paul, and Mary to shame.
While I was on that vacation, I came upon a Bird of Paradise plant. That night, posted a picture of three of those blooms to my online friends with the words to “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.” My friends of a certain age slammed me for planting that song in their minds, while my friends of another certain age had no idea what I was talking about. Just to prove my point, I’m sure that those of you out there who remember Little Jimmy Dickens are now singing about Birds of Paradise and runners in your hose and elephants caressing your toes. (You’re welcome!)
However, it is “religious” music I love the most. Hymns, Southern Gospel, Contemporary—I am no respecter of Christian music. My feelings for the Cathedrals and the Martins are of the same intensity as those for Casting Crowns and David Crowder. I’ll clap for Signature Sound as loudly as I’ll clap for Mandisa.
Yes, I love music. And I’ll bet you do, too.
You know who else loves music? God. Yep. And He’s also no respecter of a certain type or genre of music. He is the Creator of music, and He wants our worship music to do just that—worship Him not a musical style. (Sorry, folks, but the music wars raging in our churches is not about God. It’s about us. But that’s fodder for another column,)
But I know God loves music because of one verse in scripture. Zephaniah 3:17. “He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
I love the thought of God singing over us, don’t you? God rejoicing over us, loving us so much He sings a good morning song over us and a soothing lullaby at night. He’s singing His love to us. Even now. Sounds sweet, doesn’t it?
May we our songs be a sweet, sweet sound in His ear.
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