Music

I really enjoy music.  I would venture a guess that nearly 100% of the people on this planet love music. I want to be quick to point out that they don’t all love the same style or kind of music. I’m a bit eclectic when it comes to music.  I like music for specific occasions. I listen to a lot of worship music. I enjoy country music when I’m cutting grass. I like classic rock often by the pool. If I’m planning and organizing my thoughts, I like classical baroque music. Some of the music genres that I’m not a fan of include rap and heavy metal. I am probably showing my age by using these genres to describe style. Just about all of our music today has sub-categories.

I love playing guitar and singing songs to honor the Lord. I also just love playing music with other people. I can still remember showing my oldest son about three chords on a guitar and watching him take off.  I am blessed with a musical family.  My biological kids all play music and can all sing. My Nica son plays the radio!

I think music is something that God really loves too. As I journey through the Old Testament, I haven’t even arrived a Psalms and I see music is part of the spiritual journey of God’s people. I have often wondered who that Asaph dude was who wrote a bunch of Psalms. It turns out that he was part of a huge musical family.  His family was responsible for playing music in the tabernacle that honored God and led people in worship. Check this out….

 ¹ David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals.

 ⁷ They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.⁸ The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student. (1 Chronicles 25:1b, 7-8 NLT)

I have had the privilege over the years to lead the church in worship. My journey started out leading student to sing around a campfire. I then swerved into helping begin a contemporary worship service at the church I was serving.  When I started attending the church where I now volunteer and serve in leadership, I led worship some there as well. In the past few years, I lead a lot less as the younger generation comes on. I light heartedly tell people that I’ve been “put out to pasture” as I’m now an old fart!  I still enjoy playing and singing songs to the Lord. My gifts (whatever they are) are for His Glory and NOT my own glory.  I am not offended that I’m not on stage more or up front leading more. I serve under others leadership in that area. I’m happy to be a door holder, chair stacker, or janitor if that is where I’m needed.

I do think music communicates my heart in a way that mere words just can’t say. Music stirs up emotions in me that are powerful. When music is used to point me to the greatness and goodness of God, I believe it brings a smile to God’s face.

Pressing On!

Dwayne