Tag Archives: Disciple

Music ~ Five Minute Friday

“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Psalm 59:16

Name That Tune

For the first time in a long time wrens have taken up residence in the house I have just for them. How do I know they’ve moved in you ask? Wrens have no problem making themselves known. 

Do you remember the show, “Name That Tune” where contestants challenged one another with how few notes it would take for them to identify a song? As a music lover I enjoyed playing along. You too? There are songs that even today when I hear the first few notes I can immediately start singing along with, or when listening to just a couple words of the lyrics I’m able to identify the artist, sometimes those introductory beats can take me right back to another place and time and to exactly how I was feeling when I heard it. Well, that’s how it is with a wren’s song too. It doesn’t take too many shrill notes for me to recognize the song, who’s singing it, and how they are feeling about having found their place.

Thinking about it, those around us whether they are music lovers or not should be able to identify our “tune” very quickly too. As Christians, our lives should sing a song of mercy, love, and grace on repeat.

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:3 (NLT)

When we are standing in the looooong, sloooooow line at the Wal-Mart checkout lane what tone will the audience in front and behind us overhear and identify quickly? Sitting in an overcrowded, understaffed restaurant hungrily waiting for food, who will the patrons identify as the as the One (or not) behind our words? Tired, stressed, stretched to our limit, where will our biggest fans, those who matter the most to us be taken to, a place of harmony or dis-chord? It will depend on who our heart is beating in rhythm with.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Colossians 3:16-17 (NLT)

I guess what I’m saying (and learning) is that we need to be like a wren. It shouldn’t take long for others to recognize the “new song” we sing, determine whose we are as we sing it, and that we’ve thankfully found a place provided just for us.. We shouldn’t have any problem making it known who we are: brothers and sisters in Christ. How you ask? Well, I can name that tune in one note……

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35 (NIV)

A “LOVE-NOTE” of course! And that one note my friends, will be music to the world’s ears! Let’s invite them to sing along!

Want to discover more “Music”? Click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to “sing along!”

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Only five days of April left.  If I’m going to meet the Poetry challenge I set for myself this month, I’m going to have to write a poem every one of those five days!  This poem was inspired by my little Magnolia tree.  In the process of putting in our new home, we had to take down a very large Pine Tree.  Despite the care taken by the men removing the tree, part of it landed on this Magnolia when it fell, splitting it right in half.  Of course, I (the negative Nellie I am) knew it was going to die for sure.  As often happens, I was proven wrong.  As I was admiring the blooms this spring it struck me that despite being broken and thought dead, it is bathed in beauty and living up to its potential!  That got me thinking about myself and how I offer up a lot of excuses why I can’t (or won’t) follow through on what I believe God is calling me to do and thus not really living up to my potential.  And so, this poem was born.  As I began to write, lessons I’m learning in a study of the book: “Come With Me” by Suzanne Eller also became woven into the poem….Maybe, just maybe you can relate to it too.

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20 (NIV)

Follow

We might be broken.
We might be bruised.
But that doesn’t mean
We can’t be used.

Too old? Too Young?
We really shouldn’t care.
We’re all given gifts
That only we can share.

A look at our calendars
There just isn’t space.
We say we’ll try again next time
Then resume our busy pace.

Who me? Surely not!
Isn’t she a better fit?
I could never do what you’re asking
It’s out of my comfort zone just a bit!

We have lots of excuses
When God’s voice we hear.
He’s calling us to action.
What is it that we fear?

When Jesus called the disciples
They answered without looking back.
He promised to be with them
And what they needed they wouldn’t lack.

It’s the same today, my friends
He calls; “Come with Me”!
So, up out of your chair, off your phone,
Answer yes and you’ll see.

Despite all our worries
And reasons to say no,
We have love beyond measure
And seeds of kindness to sow.

The thirteenth disciple
That is our place.
The hands and heart of Jesus
Sharing His grace.

Time is short, the need great.
No more delay!
He’s calling us to follow
Will you walk with Him today?

** You can learn more about Suzanne Eller at http://www.suzanneeller.com