Sing and shout
While working around the house, I often start singing. When I do, Sherl goes outside. I asked, “Don’t you like my singing?” She replied, “Of course, dear, I just want to make sure, the neighbors know that I’m not beating you.”
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: “Without music life would be a mistake.” And, the Old Testament prophet Zephaniah reminds us to sing aloud, to rejoice and exalt with all our heart” (Zeph. 3:14).
Many people consider Christmas to be the most joyful time of the year. However, our Christmas joy is often attached to presents, parties and showering grandkids in gifts that make annoying noises and drive their parents insane. In contrast, real Christmas joy comes from knowing without fail that “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you and quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). Did you get Zephaniah’s visual image? Like a mother hovering over a crib singing to her newborn infant is God singing over us. Regardless if we are naughty or nice, like a good mother God continues to sing His lullabies because God loves us with a love that even sin cannot defeat.
Standing next to a woman in the hospital elevator, I looked at her fingers, and said, “Nice stones!” She smiled and said, “Thank you, I collect gems.” I said, “By the size of those rocks, it shows.” She laughed and said, “No, I don’t collect diamonds and sapphires; I collect real gems. I have a gem of a husband, a gem of a daughter, gems for friends and a gem of a pastor. People are the real gems I invest in.”
The good news is that God sees each of us as a gem. Zephaniah says that there will be a day when we will sing aloud and shout, and be glad and rejoice with all our hearts. This day has come, the angel made the announcement: “I bring you good news of great joy. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10-12). Therefore this day and every day: “Rejoice, sing and shout in the Lord, for God has found His joy in you!”
While working around the house, I often start singing. When I do, Sherl goes outside. I asked, “Don’t you like my singing?” She replied, “Of course, dear, I just want to make sure, the neighbors know that I’m not beating you.”
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: “Without music life would be a mistake.” And, the Old Testament prophet Zephaniah reminds us to sing aloud, to rejoice and exalt with all our heart” (Zeph. 3:14).
Many people consider Christmas to be the most joyful time of the year. However, our Christmas joy is often attached to presents, parties and showering grandkids in gifts that make annoying noises and drive their parents insane. In contrast, real Christmas joy comes from knowing without fail that “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you and quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). Did you get Zephaniah’s visual image? Like a mother hovering over a crib singing to her newborn infant is God singing over us. Regardless if we are naughty or nice, like a good mother God continues to sing His lullabies because God loves us with a love that even sin cannot defeat.
Standing next to a woman in the hospital elevator, I looked at her fingers, and said, “Nice stones!” She smiled and said, “Thank you, I collect gems.” I said, “By the size of those rocks, it shows.” She laughed and said, “No, I don’t collect diamonds and sapphires; I collect real gems. I have a gem of a husband, a gem of a daughter, gems for friends and a gem of a pastor. People are the real gems I invest in.”
The good news is that God sees each of us as a gem. Zephaniah says that there will be a day when we will sing aloud and shout, and be glad and rejoice with all our hearts. This day has come, the angel made the announcement: “I bring you good news of great joy. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10-12). Therefore this day and every day: “Rejoice, sing and shout in the Lord, for God has found His joy in you!”
Roger Lemke, is pastor of Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. The church is at 10360 Stringfellow Road. Call 239-283-1170 for service times and/or additional information. – See more at: www.pineisland-eagle.com/page/content.detail/id/529918/Tame-your-tongue.html#sthash.TsGMLc1r.dpuf, is pastor of Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. The church is at 10360 Stringfellow Road. Call 239-283-1170 for service times and/or additional information. – See more at: www.pineisland-eagle.com/page/content.detail/id/529918/Tame-your-tongue.html#sthash.TsGMLc1r.dpuf