GOD REJOICES OVER US WITH SINGING

What Does Freedom Mean?

What does freedom mean to you?

God sets a right spirit within us that does not use the freedom in Christ for self interest but rather for the good of others. 

God's blessings are always sent at the proper time.

God is always on time with his blessings. We are like our pets sitting and begging. But we know when the right time is to feed our pets. Trust God's timing. 

MY FAVORITE BILE VERSES OFF THE CUFF 080322 Be Still in the Lord

Being Stayed in the Lord

What does it mean to be stayed in the Lord? Perhaps we need to just sit and wait until the Lord gives us further instruction. What he intends for us will be exactly the right step at the right time. 

MY FAVORITE VERSES OFF THE CUFF 080122 Joel 2 13

Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity.  Joel 2:13NIV

 

Joel is a minor prophet but only because of the shortness of his work.  He is known for the phrase, “Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord, " which prophesied the judgment that would come to Israel and called the people to repentance.  

Jewish custom was to rip clothing as a visual sign of remorse or grief. The Israelites had not lost their acts of piety but had made those acts a show, a ritual that meant nothing ... for their hearts were far from God.

Joel’s cry is for the people to return to the “Heart of Worship.” This theme echoed in a popular chorus sung in churches today. God wants genuine, heartfelt prayer above all the trappings of religiosity.

What is on your heart today? Are you grieving?

Rend your heart and not your garments. For God is merciful and full of compassion.

 

My Favorite Verses 073122 Pro God is enough

MY Favorite Verses Off the Cuff Psalm 51 073022

ROMANS 1:20 My Favorite Bible Verse/off the cuff

 

MUSIC, ME, FAMILY, AND GOD
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 by Linda Wood Rondeau

Photo by Michael Maasen on Unsplash

MUSIC can be an important bond both in families and our walk with God.

I think I was born singing. At least that’s what my mother always said.  Although I didn’t grow up to be a famous vocalist or musician, music has been an important part of my life, a part of me I cannot deny. Perhaps why, though I’m halfway through my seventh decade, I still love to sing. My asthma has impacted the quality of my voice, but I still make a joyful noise to the Lord on occasion. I’m not the least hesitant to loudly join in corporate worship. Maybe one of these days, I’ll get back on the worship team.

And of course, music brings to mind the best memories of many loved ones now gone to Glory.

One of my earliest memories is singing with my father who played the guitar for me. Patiently, I might add. Having a strange vocal range, between alto and tenor, I could rarely sing any song in its written key. When asked to perform a solo at church or for a family get-together, transposition was a must. Dad worked with me until we managed to find just the right set of chords to make me sound like a pro.

Until later in life, I never understood the degree of talent that took. Nor the love packaged between the chords.

Family trips were filled with music, the whole family singing like a quartet. Once I begged my mother to teach me to sing alto, saying, “I sing flat anyway.”

Through all the spats and sputters of their 63-year marriage, Mother harmonized with Dad, maybe what kept them together during the tumults.   In church circles, their most requested song was “Whispering Hope.”

In family and social circles “Quicksilver” became their trademark.

I was not an easy child to raise, my rebellion evident at a young age. I think back at the sorrow I caused my parents. Perhaps one of the memories that kept me from going too far in my social temper tantrums were the memories I had of singing Sunday School choruses or the familiar hymns of the church while my mother and I cleaned up the kitchen after supper. I still sing while I load and unload the dishwasher, do the laundry, vacuum, or simply go for a walk. Singing is the way I fill my empty space, dry my tears, and remind myself of God’s patient love for me.

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