Lift Up Your hands

 

 

Psalm 134 

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord

who minister by night in the house of the Lord.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion,

He who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

(NIV 2011) 

 

I don't know about you but sometimes I don't quite feel like praising God but as soon as I do my whole demeanour changes. The grumpy or sad Jo changes into a more upbeat, calm, and happy Jo. Singing does something to lift your soul and worship does something even more. There is a clear difference between just singing and worshipping. Worshipping is a heart thing. It's not about singing the right notes, although it sounds better if we do. It's about giving of ourselves to God. 

 

The picture is of my cat Buddy, one of my favourate photos of him when he was a kitten at full stretch playing with a garden cane which I had hold of the other end. It, likes singing, and worshipping makes me joyful. We can never get enough joy can we? Sometimes life gets in the way and makes us grumpy, or sad, or whatever and actually it is OK to come to God in those moods. If we can't be honest with our Heavenly Father then who can we be honest to? Even in our grieving, or our anger, bring it all to God. 

 

It's really hot in the UK and we aren't equipped for it like many of our European neighbours and other countries. Also unlike other countries its also very humid. I like the hot weather but not the humidity. I much prefer the summer to other months but the extremes of heat are a bit much for me. Whatever the weather and however we are feeling God deserves or praise. But maybe on Sunday morning as we lift our hands in worship together in our churches we need a little bit more of this!

 

 

Lent 2014 - 1st April: Music

As I write I am listening and half watching a George Michael concert on TV. George's music has featured in one of my earlier blogs. You can find in here if you want to have a look. I seem to like his music more as I have got older. Maybe I am just re-living my youth, who knows. Today's simple pleasure isn't George Michael, although I am sure he is to some, but music. I love music. I like to sing, not that I am a brilliant singer, I just like singing. It brings me joy and puts a smile on my face. Car journeys are the best when the music is turned up and you can sing to your hearts content at the top of your voice. Life is so much better with music. I love good guitars, strong vocals and a good beat. Translated that means the likes of Queen, The Police, The Eurythmics/Annie Lennox, Texas, and many more. I prefer rock, indie, or alternative genres. I like 80's music more now than I did at the time. Generally I think 90's music was much better with the likes of R.E.M. Alanis Morrisette, Pulp, Blur, Manic Street preachers, Supergrass, Oasis, etc, etc.

There isn't much I dislike but drum and base and boy bands would be amongst them. I can't image a world without music. I can't imagine a world without being able to praise God. Music is about expressing how we are feeling or wanting to feel. If we are feeling sad then we may want to play something soulful and relaxing, perhaps some Dusty Springfield, Simply Red, or Adel, or Leona Lewis. If we are feeling happy and full of beans then we would crank up the volume for a bit of Robbie Williams (sorry very Girlie choice), some Bryan Adams. or Dire Straights, or Guns n' Roses. If we wanted cruising music then some Beach Boys, or The Eagles, or well depends what you are into I guess. For me praising God through song is about expressing how I am feeling and also about getting in tune with God. I may not always feel like worshiping God through singing when I start to sing but my mood and my whole being starts to change as I engage with the music and as I engage with God. Singing in church on a Sunday, or around the house, or in the car is the way in which I connect with God. This may be through worship songs or it may be in a secular song. Music is a powerful thing. It is my simple pleasure. Thank you God for music.