"I AM Tunes"

Psalm  42:8 "The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life." 

How do you hear the Lord's wisdom in your life, His direction, His love, His truth? How has He put things together, led you to the right people and places, given you insight?

He has given us a gift, the Helper, Counselor. We received Him, the Holy Spirit, the third Divine person of the Trinity, when we first believed in our heart that Jesus's plan is good and full of grace.

In this age of electronics and easy access, our world is a bit noisier with bells and whistles, alarms and reminders, ring tones and ear buds.  Music is easily accessed after a brief search and click of our devices.

What if God sang to us--literally out loud--with musical prompts? 

I came to this thought while listening to a speaker today at a training workshop for teachers. He incorporates a lot of  "music" instead of words to prompt his students towards a specific task. It's fun and it works!

While we might be playing the "Mission Impossible" theme in our head, God sends us the theme song from "Man of La Mancha,"  "To Dream The Impossible Dream!"

When we're facing fear, God sends us a "Gonna Fly Now," (The theme from "Rocky").

If You're feeling sad: "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

Maybe I just want to know if God really loves little ol' me, even with all my mishaps, goof-ups, my ugliness...And suddenly I hear  (You're  Amazing) ..."Just The Way You Are," (Bruno Mars).


Are you listening?  I think He truly does send us a prompt of beautiful love songs to encourage, teach and inspire us. The melody awakes us in the morning in the sunrise of His sovereign plan, it hums along with us as we hustle through our daily routines. The beat sets a course for our lives and we walk in motion to His rhythm, feeling the pulse in our own veins. Yes, He is our Grand Conductor, our Symphony Synchronizer, our Trumpeter, our Concerto Creator and our Love Lullaby. Whatever our particular song mix or genre is, God lyrics in His Holy Orchestration, His Word, inspire us to dance and move in His grace.


I took this picture of "Mickey" last week. Maybe that's you. You're standing tall trying to orchestrate your own life but really, you're blocking out the sun...THE SON!  Your life seems stuck in the shadows.

Put your "baton" of your own agenda down. Listen to the music of His love and grace. Let it fill you with notes of worthiness and forgiveness. Let it move your feet to dance and let it soothe you to rest.  He longs to write a song just for you because you inspired Him--to die on a cross and rise again, a song of transformation!  Let Him do the same for you, follow His prompts. Listen and see His glory all around you, above this noisy world! See what plays out, what unique and beautiful harmony you and God can make. (Have I mentioned my back-up singers?)  


Lord, thank you for making a beautiful song for my heart. Whenever I need Your encouragement, need to feel Your grace, know Your forgiveness and direction, be assured of Your sovereign plan, I know I can tune-in to Your "Voice," listen and hear a Song of Love, for you have created a Play-list just for me: "I AM Tunes," free, bought-and-paid-for downloads for the asking!  Thank you Lord.

(...and then the butterfly shows up on this picture I googled...God is Good!) 

I'm in the Band!

Psalm 81: 1 "Sing for joy to God our strength ; shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, strike the timbrel,  the sweet sounding lyre with the harp."

I stepped outside a little bit ago. Listening, I heard it in the distance, a sound, a certain beat that is celebratory. A sound that reverberates. It's an image the wind carries to my ears; my mind's eye sees it, the formations, the footwork, the reflections of the instruments as they turn and move.

 You know that sound.

Harkening back, it is the sound of team spirit, football games and school starting in the fall. It's a drum core, a horn section, xylophones, piccolos and tubas. Yes, the high school marching band practicing on a football field not so far away, I can hear it and it made me smile.

                                                                              ~~~

There is a rhythm in life all around us. Bees buzzing, birds chirping, rain pitter-pattering, wind rustling, dogs barking, a wave washing up to meet the shore. Nature's noise

The sound of letters being pressed on a keyboard, the beep of a notification on Facebook, the vibration of a cell phone, a CD changer--changing, the spitting out of papers on a copier. Techno tunes.

The screech of brakes, the back-up warnings of a truck, the jets overhead jetting, the train whistle, a subway sonnet, the gear change of a bicycle. Transportation tones.

The whir of a coffee being made by your favorite Barista, the sizzle of bacon on Saturday morning, the pop of kernels in the microwave, the slurp of soup, the crunch of a taco. Sustenance symphony.

The world makes a noise. Do you hear its groaning? Waling warfare, vociferous viruses, pontificating politicians, ear-piercing poverty, hollering hunger and thirst, the din of death without hope.

Turn it down!  

As a Believer, God gave us a voice, a command, to share the Chords of Christ.  With that voice, we combine with a section of instruments and create a harmony. Together, with the whole band, The Body of Christ, we can be a significant part of making a joyful noise. You may need practice, you may need to learn to read music, march in time, feel the beat, go to "Band Camp." The Director's got this; He's writing your part in as you continue to learn your song of purpose.

Turn the music of your soul up and sing His praises. God hears it from Heaven, but maybe your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends may want to listen to the way your heart beats, the sweet harmonies of Hope in the Lord God Almighty. The groaning of the world only promises to loom louder, more deafening. March to the beat of a different drummer; you never know when the hum of your heart harmonizes with another waiting to find their own song of salvation. Share the Music.

Lord, help me always to hear your voice above the noisy, clamoring world. To be a part of a grand orchestra creating beauty is a blessing. I am thankful to be a part of your "sheet music" ministry.  May I stand tall, in-line with Your Word, and use my gifts to your glory. Block the discouragement of the one who tries to trip me in my march, convince me I am out of tune.  Help all of us Lord, to listen with intensity for the part you've called us for and may it be made clear through the band members around us as we march through this symphony called life. Amen.