Noise That Glorifies God

Psalm 100:1-5 KJV; 3rd Sunday after Pentecost; Noise for the sake of noise - turn it off and listen to joyful music that glorifies God.

Michael On The Way

Hebrews 13:1-7 KJV Welcome Angels! Welcome your neighbor! Welcome the Stranger!

Peace In Rough Times

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

                                                                                       (Col 3:15-16 KJV)

Some days it can be a whole lot harder to let the peace of God rule our hearts than others. Let go and let God can be a whole lot easier said than done. When troubles attack you or the people that you love so that you can think of nothing else, what can be done?

Immerse yourself in the word of Christ: turn on a YouTube sermon or just put the scriptures playing on YouTube; play some Christian music to remind you of God's grace and love; read your Bibles; but, above all pray. You can speak to God. But, remember to be still and listen for His response.

Life is not always easy. In fact, it can be pretty tough a lot of the time. When the world threatens to push the peace of God out of your hearts, remember that He loves you and is with you always. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)

God's Peace - Pr. J

In Sheer Silence

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

                                                                             (1 Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

What indeed was Elijah doing at Mount Horeb? Was he merely running from Jezebel? Was he frustrated, confused or tired and needed to leave behind his call as a prophet for awhile? After all, all that he had done didn't seem to have any kind of lasting effect on the people. Or, was he simply in need of direction; maybe just a single word, from the Lord? 

We all need direction. We all need to hear from the Lord. We may know that we need it and even want it. But, take a lesson from Elijah. You're not likely to hear His voice in chaos. It may be there; but, you're probably not going to hear it in the deafening roar of noise. You will be too distracted to listen. You are more likely to hear it as a whisper when you take the time to be still and listen for it. Be still, slow down, and listen for it.

You are more likely to hear it as you worship in the sanctuary when the only thing that you hear is the reading of the word or the preaching of the sermon when no one or nothing else is making a racket. You are more likely to hear it as you are quietly contemplating your morning devotions. 

Shut off the television. Shut off the music. Look away from your social media for a bit. Meditate on the word and listen so that you might hear the slightest whisper of the Lord. In the midst of sheer silence you just might hear the words you need to give you the direction that you desire that will remove your frustration and confusion. It is the word of God that will refresh your soul and bring joy once again to your heart and mind.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sing To The Lord

Christ Lutheran Cantata 2017

O sing to the Lord a new song;
   sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
   tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
   but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him;
   strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts.

                                                    Psalm 88:1-6 NRSV

This afternoon, Christ Lutheran, will hold their Christmas Cantata. It will be an hour of Advent and Christmas music.  "Music," it is said, "soothes the savage beast." Indeed, it can calm a uneasy spirit if the right music is being listened to. It can also stir up in our inmost being anxiety, anger, fear.  Good or bad, music helps to embed ideas and ideals into our minds. It often glorifies the escapades of humankind. 

Christian music can be a teaching tool, as well. It tells the story of what God has done for us. Christian music glorifies God. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Make A Joyful Noise

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100 NIV

I do not like noise for the sake of noise. I never listen to music at home or when I am driving. Music during worship or at concerts or at youthful events is good for me. But; normally, I like things quiet so I can actually hear things that are going on around me like sirens coming up behind me on the highway or someone at the door. Nor do I consider shutting out the sounds of God's creation nor the possibility of hear His voice as a good or a wise thing to do.

However, there is a time and a place for joyful music. I do enjoy listening to and watching music come alive as it's presented by young people that I know. They are so full of enthusiasm when they come together as a group to make music or to dance or even to skate. Music has the ability to affect our moods; our emotions. Some music can bring us way down, which is not so good. Some music has the ability to bring us up when we are down. Joyful music presented by joyful youth is especially good for the calming of our souls.

I do not care to listen to music just for the sake of having noise to distract me or fill in the silence. But, if there is to be noise, let it be joyful sounds that will gladden the heart; let it be music that will glorify God.

Let the noises be joyful songs of praise as we live in the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

God's Peace - Pr. J

You Snooze; You Lose

This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:14-20 NIV)

I am a morning person. I prefer to get up early, spend some alone time with God and begin my work day before anyone else is up to interrupt it. If I don't get enough time for devotions my day doesn't usually turn out as fruitful as it could. But, lately it seems like I am getting up later and later each day. Don't get me wrong. I am still up and about by 6:30 a.m.; but, my alarm is set for 5 a.m.. The truth is that it is also set for 6:30 a.m. just in case I am tempted to hit the snooze alarm so many times that it quits going off. The 5 a.m. snoozed alarm and the second alarm at 6:30 a.m. give me second and third and even more chances to wake up and to rise and shine.

We are often tempted to pass by opportunities to be fruitful in the Lord: to spend time with Him and with His people. God provides us with many chances or opportunities to wake up and to rise and shine. He provides us with many opportunities to love, to worship, and to serve Him; as well as, to love and serve our neighbors. There comes a time; though, in each of our loves that the opportunities will come to an end. We do not know the day or hour when we will breath our last breath. .

When our children and grandchildren were young and didn't want to get up and moving so that they could participate in some activity, my husband would often tell them: "You snooze; you lose."

Wake up, sleeper. Don't be snoozing your life away. God gives us many opportunities to live life in Christ. We are told that He delays His coming so that we all have the opportunity to turn to Him. But, don't delay. The time is now, not tomorrow to turn to Him. Who knows if there will be a tomorrow, here on earth, for any one of us?

May God help us to grab hold of the opportunities to love and serve the Lord with all our hearts, and souls, and minds; even now. “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

God's Peace - Pr. J

Covenant of Hope

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:13-16 NIV)

I have been listening to "Over the Rainbow" by Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole a lot lately. Iz was thirty-eight when he died in 1997. He had suffered many health problems during his life. In spite of his many health problems during his life, his music, especially this song, was filled with hope and with life. His music lives on.

God made a covenant with His people with the sign of the rainbow. He made a new covenant with us through the blood shed for us through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. There is always hope because we have Jesus as our Lord and our Savior.

As Hurricane Irma threatens the lives of property and many people, there is only one place that I know that I or anyone can go to in times like this to find comfort and reassurance. Only, at the feet of Jesus, can we find comfort and hope. Only at the feet of Jesus can we know a peace when danger is near.

May God grant comfort and peace to all who fear the coming days in the remembrance of the promise of life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Faithful and Joyful Worship

Worship is to be God focused. We worship God; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
No man or woman should be lifted up in worship;
but, only Christ alone who was lifted up on the cross for us.

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.
                               Psalm 33:1-3 NIV

Thanks be to God, yesterday I had the opportunity to worship with two congregations that were focused on giving thanks and praise to God. These Yoopers definitely know why and who it is that we worship. The preaching was God centered. The music; those old hymns (that so many find so boring) were played and sung as though the people really meant it. It was awesome! Bertha Hommer can make the keyboard at Zion and the pump organ at Aura praise the Lord like you've rarely heard before!

Both Zion Evangelical Lutheran in Skanee, MI (NALC/LCMC) and Aura Lutheran, L'Anse, MI (Independent Lutheran) are small congregations. A Lay Pastor Peter Suomela is a member of Zion and leads the congregation at Aura. Pastors Peter Gunderson and Jimalee Jones are the interim pastors at Zion. Zion is looking for a pastor. I served then for eighteen years and I can tell you for certain that if you are a pastor looking for a call and would like to serve in a spirit-led congregation, you might want to give this congregation consideration. It is ideal for a retired pastor as the congregation itself is very active in ministry. They will not expect you to do everything. In fact, if you think you're going to do it all, they will probably be offended. Their focus is on reaching out to all people in word and deed.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing old friends and neighbors yesterday. I even more enjoyed seeing their love for the Lord in their exuberant worship.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shout For Joy!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,  
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Psalm 98:4-6 NIV

We had a few visitors at Worship this Sunday. It was a joyful celebration which included an affirmation of her baptism by one of our beloved sisters in Christ. One of our visitors mentioned, with tongue in cheek, that we could not possibly be Lutherans. After all, Lutherans do not sway to the music nor do they tap their feet. And, yes, we were singing hymns from a Lutheran hymnal. Traditional hymns do not have to be somber all of the time. Traditional hymns can be joyfully played and sung.  After all, we do have much to celebrate!

When I think of joyful music, I usually think of David joyfully dancing through the streets as the people celebrated the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. David was definitely excited. We gather together each Sunday to worship and celebrate the awesome things that God has done for us. We who were not His people are now His beloved children.

By the blood of Christ shed on the cross for us, we have been reconciled to God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ. Our sins are forgiven and we have been made whole in Christ. That's should be enough to make us want to sing joyfully and even tap our toes before the Lord!

Shout for joy before the Lord, our King!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Use Your Gifts or Lose Them

Zion Youth, Skanee, MI (my former congregation) share their musical gifts
annually to benefit children in Baraga County at Toys for Tots concert 

"And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ..."  Eph 4:11-13

Greetings:
 
Oh, oh, I’m talking about gifts again…

I encourage you, as always to consider what your gifts are.  The church on earth grows when the children of God use the gifts that God has given them for the good of all people. The church grows when we allow Christ to work in and through us for the edification of his Body – the Church.
To use the gifts as God has given us to be used is simply a matter of good stewardship – giving to God – what He has first given us.

What are your God-given gifts?  His gifts were (are) given for the building up of the body of Christ so that we may come into the unity of faith and not just we, but all whom He has called.  Are your gifts being used wisely?  Every now and then you will hear me remind people that we need to: “Use it, or lose it!”  Not everyone likes to hear that, not even I, but, it just seems that’s just the way it works.  If you can sing, sing or without the practice you will lose the ability that you once had.  If you can teach, teach.  If you are gifted in hospitality or administration…. Well… What's keeping you from it?

What gifts has God given you to be a faithful Christian witness?  What gifts has God given you to help grow the church? Is there’s something God has been speaking to you about? 

Opportunities abound for us to use our gifts to serve our Father in heaven; to serve one another and to serve all of our neighbors.  As always, I encourage you to consider the gifts that God has given you and use them wisely that we might all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

God’s Peace - Judy