Why should I sing?
One of the ways that God has currently called me to serve our church is by being part of the team that leads worship. Because of that, I try to be alert to Scripture that refers to songs and music. Why do we sing? What is music’s purpose? And what if I don’t feel like singing? Won’t that make me fake?
Recently in my morning devotions, I came to Psalm 13:5,6: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Sometimes the dealings of the Lord with us don’t seem too bountiful. How often have I thought that I wouldn’t mind just a little more of His bounty in my life? A little more abundance? And then I could sing.
Yet, this Psalm didn’t start out from a place of overflow. In the opening, David questioned God, “how long will you forget me?…will I have sorrow in my heart all day?...how long will the enemy be exalted?” David feels forgotten, sorrowful, and victimized. Not really reasons to sing.
But.
His trust isn’t contingent upon God suddenly showing His face. His trust isn’t based on God immediately wiping away his sorrow or completely destroying his enemy. His trust is that God’s steadfast love endures when God is invisible; God’s steadfast love remains when sorrow is deep; God’s steadfast love holds him up when the enemy puts him down.
And David’s joy comes from a steady source: his salvation. Jesus pointed his disciples in that direction in Luke 10:20: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” The source of our joy isn’t even having a good day of God working through us; rather, it’s our eternally secure salvation, rain or shine.
“But God shows His love for us
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“In this is love: not that we have loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
The bountiful dealings of God toward us are His steadfast love and His gift of salvation. When we believe that, then even if we wake up next Sunday morning and feel like David in verses 1-4, our song raised in praise can still be authentic.
Back-to-School Prayer
Our boys started their sophomore and senior years in high school last Wednesday, but this is their first full week back. As I’ve thought about all of their commitments and their development in 2024-2025, these desires for them rise out of Psalm 90:14-17, and this is what I pray:
Satisfied Hearts: “Satisfy Gradyn and Jace in the morning with your unfailing love…” because there is so much offered to them that will only leave them empty, longing, and unfulfilled.
Singing Mouths: “...that they may sing for joy and be glad all their days. Make them glad for as many days as you have afflicted them, for as many years as they have seen trouble…” May the hard times be displaced by the joy they find in you so that instead of overhearing teenage complaints, negativity, and sarcasm, our ears catch them singing in the shower.
Saturated Eyes: “May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to Gradyn and Jace…” Our eyes roam in search of splendor. Shield their eyes with the bright light of your presence and actions, so they’re more amazed by you than by anything else.
Steadied Hands: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on them; establish the work of their hands for them- yes, establish the work of their hands.” Only by your grace can their effort this year mean anything. Let what they do make a difference in the direction of their lives, others’ lives, and for eternity.
May it be so.
Anti-psalm 27
When life has felt chaotic or overwhelming, I’ve found stability for my heart in Psalm 27. But what if the words written there were not my foundation - where would that leave me? Instead of supported, I’d be abandoned; instead of embraced, I’d be alone. Everything opposite of the Psalmist’s experience would be my reality:
The LORD is not my light or my salvation;
I have everyone to fear.
The LORD is not the stronghold of my life;
I have every reason to be afraid.
When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes,
It is I who stumble and fall.
When an army encamp against me, my heart fears;
When war rises up against me, I have no confidence.
I have not asked anything of the LORD,
or tried to get close to Him for even one day of my life,
Because I don’t see beauty in Him or a reason to focus on Him.
He doesn’t shelter me in the day of trouble;
He doesn’t let me into his tent, but rather
He leaves me vulnerable.
My enemies exalt over me, and I have no reason for joy;
I have no song to sing.
He doesn’t hear a word from me, because I’m not crying out to Him.
He hasn’t asked me to seek Him, so I don’t.
He hides his face from me and turns me away in anger.
He hasn’t helped. He’s cast me off and forsaken me.
When my family rejects me, so does God.
I have nothing to learn from Him,
Alone on my crooked path, surrounded by enemies,
Given over to the will of liars and violent people.
I don’t believe in the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Don’t wait for Him;
Be weak, and let your heart wilt.
Don’t wait for the LORD.
I hope you’ll check out Psalm 27 and let the light be even more precious to you because of its contrast to the darkness.
Parenting: a halftime report
Our church has been going through a series this summer in the book of Proverbs, and last Sunday morning, Nate & I had the privilege of sharing what God has taught us up to this point in our parenting journey.
Although we still have a long way to go in wisdom as parents, this is what we’ve gained so far :) We looked back in time to our earliest days and dug down to the foundations of parenting, so if you’re a young mom or dad, maybe the formative lessons we’ve learned along the way can be a resource for you.
You can watch here. Click sermon archives, The Narrow Path, July 28.
Some of our favorite books to read as a family with toddler to elementary-age boys:
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
With love, Cherith
Seeing God’s Glory, part 2
God is continually pulling back the curtain on His glory, but it’s difficult to notice it in our everyday life, unless we know what we’re looking for. We saw a few examples of God’s glory gradually being revealed in the Old Testament last week, but now we step behind the veil through the person of Jesus Christ.
God’s glory in person:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14.
Jesus’ identity and character flesh out God’s glory.
After Jesus turned water to wine, John wrote, “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.”
John 2:11
In speaking of Lazarus’s sickness, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
John 11:4
Jesus’ miracles show God’s glory and point to Christ as Savior.
“And as [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face was altered and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold two men were talking with him, Moses, and Elijah, who appeared in glory…Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.”
Luke 9:29-32
Jesus’ transfiguration displays God’s glory.
God’s glory internalized:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:4
The glory of the Father raised Jesus and gives us new life in Him.
“And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18
The Holy Spirit reveals greater degrees of God’s glory in us as we become like Christ.
God’s glory in the future:
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
God’s glory outweighs suffering.
“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” Revelation 21:23,24
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
God’s glory enlightens and consumes all other glories.
May we live today, not looking for our own glory, but rather with eyes of faith set on this guaranteed glorious future.