Dear Friends,
I am sorry that the new content on my site has been lacking. I have been busy editing my new book! It is called, Blogs From a Desert Place, a Devotional. It will be available at the end of this month on Kindle. Watch for the free promotion that will be available as I launch this new material. Below you will find a chapter from the book. I hope you enjoy.
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:1)
I want to learn new songs to sing, songs that please God. This will require some changes. I will have to quit singing the old songs. I will have to find new reasons to sing. My old habits will have to be changed because they did not lead to happy music.
I have spent too much of my time singing the blues about the economy. How much more content I will be when I learn to sing praises to the God who provides. “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1Timothy 6:17). Yes, I want to sing about everything I enjoy and about the One who gifts me with blessing after blessing.
Instead of singing angst ridden ballads over lost relationships, I think I will sing of my eternal love relationship with the living God. “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). To fix my heart and thoughts on my True Love will fill me with eternal songs of unspeakable joy.
It won’t be easy, but my angry refrain bemoaning the misrepresentation of our elected officials needs to stop. Alternatively, I must worship the King who reigns. “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:7-8). A song about God reigning is a declaration of peace, happiness and salvation (Isaiah 52:7). This is a song I want the whole world to know.
My constant dirge to the death of my days and years and my wailing and crying over the busyness of life needs to stop. I will choose to praise God for opportunities to show his grace, for opportunities to give my time as a sacrifice to God. I will be humming and whistling my new song in the moments, knowing he is using my gifts and talents for eternal purposes. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). Giving gifts prompts a happy tune that will be my constant companion as I give myself for the purposes of my Creator.
Lord remind me of these new songs. Let your word fill my heart and mind with bright and cheerful songs, filled with praise and joy. I pray that the lyrics will be deep and rich because the basis for the song is your unfathomable love. Let the music bubble up like a fountain from the depths of my soul as your Spirit fills my soul with endless wonder and joy.