Category Archives: Music

Alphabet Soup

I was reading through a few of my favorite blogs (listed at the left) and discovered that some have received an award called the ABC Award.  I found this a quite revealing way to write about what my Lord and Savior means to me using some of my favorite hymns. 

Almighty, Most Holy God

Because He Lives

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Day By Day

Emmanuel

Fairest Lord Jesus

Great Is ThyFaithfulness

Holy, Holy, Holy

I’d Rather Have Jesus

Jesus Lover of My Soul

King of My Life

Love Lifted Me

More About Jesus

Now I Belong To Jesus

Only Trust Him

People Need the Lord

Q

Redeemed How I Love To Proclaim It

Shine, Jesus, Shine

There Is Sunshine In My Soul

Up From The Grave He Arose

Victory In Jesus

Whiter Than Snow

X

Years I Spent In Vanity and Pride

Z

There are a few blanks because I simply could not think of a hymn that begins with that letter. 

I highly recommend trying this yourselves.  Just create an alphabetical list of what the Lord means to you.  It will surely cause your heart to stir with joy at what He is. 

Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  James 5:13b

Ah, Lord God, You are the song of my heart.  You have so blessed my world with Your beautiful music.  All praise to You my God and King!

A Candy Cane Messiah

Is Christmas to commercialized?  I think so.  Yet, if we take the time to use the “eyes to see and ears to hear” (Deuteronomy 29:4) we can find the Spirit of Christmas in a lot of things and events. 

While creating a devotional for the Spirit Sisters Bible Study based on the symbolism in the Candy Cane,  I was also preparing to sing in the Defiance College Community Chorus/TSO production of The Messiah.  As I read through the origins of the Candy Cane, and what it stands for, I was struck by the choruses in The Messiah that match the symbolism of the Candy Cane.

As the story goes an Indiana candy maker wanted to create a candy that would be his occupational witness.  He wanted the birth, ministry, and death of Christ to be easily discernible.  So…

He used pure white candy to symbolize the purity, the sinlessness of Jesus.  In the Messiah the chorus – “And He Shall Purify” (Malachi 3:3) reminds us that our offerings to the Lord are to be righteous, without sin. 

The J represents the Name.  Isaiah 6:6 and the words of the chorus “For Unto Us A Child Is Born” resound with the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.  When turned upside down the J becomes a staff.  The shepherd’s staff was crooked so the sheep that had fallen could be rescued.  Isaiah 53:6, and the matching chorus “All We Like Sheep”, helps us remember that we are just like sheep.  We go our own way, every one of us, but we can be rescued.

The stripes are symbolism of the beating He took so we could be healed.  Isaiah 53:5 says “And with His stripes we are healed”.  His blood was shed for our sins, hence, the red coloring.

As we celebrate this season let us remember the reason for the season is all around us.  HE is everywhere.  Look and listen.

Ah Lord God, bless us with the ability to see You in the trappings of this season.  Remind us that You are the greatest gift giver of all.  Help us experience the Reason in all we do.  You are the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.  Let Your Glory be seen in us.  Let Your Light shine through us.  You alone are worthy!  Grant these petitions in the Name of Jesus.  Make it so.

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

I would be hard pressed to name one Christmas song or carol that I really don’t like.  As a vocalist there are some that are hard to sing or are written in keys that are not good for me.  I could listen to Christmas music all year long.

As a student of Music History I learned that the a carol was originally a Greek word that meant a circle dance with flute accompaniment.  Later on the dance was accompanied by singers.  Somehow those singers began using songs with religious meanings and these became carols. 

There are very few known Christmas Carols before the 1800’s.  One of these is a favorite of mine called “The Holly and the Ivy”.  The religious reference in this early carol is “…and Mary bore Lord Jesus Christ to be our Sweet Savior…”  (Luke 2:6)  The chorus of this carol is a reference to everyday life and the God-created world around us.  “The rising of the sun and the running of the deer the playing of the merry organ sweet singing in the choir.”

Heavenly Father open our eyes to the mystery, beauty, and miracles of this Holy Season.  Thank You for the greatest gift of all, Jesus.