"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus."
This weekend brought central Iowa's first Winter storm of the season. Normally, weather such as what we are experiencing ensures that this stay-at-home mom stays home! But, this weekend, instead of hunkering down in our warm, cozy house, my family and me were out braving the wind and cold for the sake of... music!
As the storm blew across Iowa on Saturday and approached the Des Moines metro, I got a call from our friend Laura. Because of the weather and advisories against travel, she and her husband had ended up with four extra tickets to Saturday night's performance of the Broadway musical Mary Poppins, which is showing in Des Moines; and, they wondered if we could use them! With the impending weather, we weren't able to jump on the offer quite as frantically as we wanted to; but after some careful consideration, we said yes!!! Our kind neighbors walked across the street to stay with Isabel and Elliana; and Travis, Abel, Amariah, and I got dressed up for a night out!
Needless to say, the show was every bit as wonderful as I expected it to be. Having seen the Broadway musical The Lion King with my husband in January, I was super excited to be able to share a similarly awe-inspiring experience with our children. I think I smiled through the whole production as I sat in continual amazement of the incredible talent before us. We are so sincerely thankful for the generosity of both our friends and our neighbors in giving us this joyous and unforgettable Saturday evening.
Sunday night once again took us out into the bitter cold for the sake of music, this time on a much less grand--but still blessed--scale. Our church put together its first of what we hope will be an annual Christmas celebration, an event dubbed "Christmas Sweet." Our neighbors (the same ones who babysat Isabel and Elliana on Saturday night) attended this evening of Christmas music (and Christmas sweets--hence the name) with us, and we all had an enjoyable time.
You'll notice that the original date for Christmas Sweet was Saturday, so had it not been postponed to Sunday due to the weather, we would not have been free to take the Mary Poppins tickets! Mary Poppins says that "anything can happen if you let it." In this case of blizzard warnings and travel advisories, I'd have to say that anything can happen if the weather lets it! :-)
Thank you, Jeff and Laura, and thank you, Steve and Kathy, for giving us two wonderful and heart-warming experiences on two white and bone-chilling nights!
Music is on my mind and in my mouth today. Travis purchased Chris Tomlin's new CD, "And If Our God Is For Us...," for our family on Tuesday, and we have pretty much had it playing ever since. Worshipful lyrics set to beautiful music make for an album full of great songs. Also included with the deluxe version which we bought are four acoustic tracks and a bonus DVD with a behind the scenes interview and two music videos, all of which is totally worth the extra cost.
As much as I am enjoying the new songs of Chris Tomlin, it is one of his music videos from the bonus DVD that moved me the most. A track from his "Hello Love" CD, the song "Love" was done with the amazing Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda. As I watched these beautiful children sharing the stage with Chris Tomlin and worshiping the God of love along with him, my heart was stirred by the reality of a God who is over every tongue, tribe, and nation. What an absolutely beautiful thing to see and to hear God being worshiped in a language other than our own. It feels like a glimpse of heaven.
These are some of the popular new slogans for radio stations that are otherwise known as "Christian." And a majority of the songs they play are merely that: Positive. Encouraging. Uplifting.
I am slightly hesitant as I write this post, because I don't want to give the wrong impression that I dislike Christian music or that I think Christian music isn't a good thing. On the contrary, I do like Christian music; and I do think Christian music is a good thing. For one thing, we are called to worship the Lord in song. Too numerous to count are the Scriptures that reference "singing to the Lord," "making music to the Lord," and "worshiping Him in song." And for another thing, we are called to watch over our hearts; and choosing Christian music over secular varieties is one way we can do that. Proverbs 4: 23-25 says,
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you."
We must watch over the things we hear (as well as the things we see) because they have a great effect on our hearts--the very center of who we are. When we put into our ears and our eyes things that are holy and righteous and true (see Philippians 4:8), from our hearts will flow things that are holy and righteous and true. Similarly, when we put into our ears and our eyes things that are dishonorable and unpure, from our hearts will flow things that are dishonorable and unpure.
"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23)
A while back, thinking I was just mixing things up a little, I tuned my radio to a secular station and was listening to songs that were completely new to me. Before I realized I had even heard and understood the lyrics, I found myself singing these utterly sinful words--words that were in complete opposition to a Biblical lifestyle. As I heard this darkness coming from my very mouth, I knew that I simply couldn't allow myself to continue listening to such music, the lyrics of which were the furthest thing from holy and righteous and true.
So, back to "the better alternative" I went: Christian radio, "better" being the problem. Of late, I have become a little disconcerted with contemporary Christian music because so much of it can hardly be called Christian. The other day I was listening to our local Christian radio station and noted that only three songs in a 45-minute period even used the name God, Jesus, or Lord. In fact, had I not known I was tuned to the "Christian" radio station, I probably wouldn't have known I was listening to "Christian" music at all. Nothing set it apart from secular music save the lack of blatantly offensive lyrics. I could hardly sing along as I reflected on the fact that all I was doing was singing about feelings and notto--or even about--God. Indeed, most of the songs were just what the station claimed they would be--positive, encouraging, uplifting--and nothing more.
How sad it is that so much of the Christian music industry has become watered down to the point that it is no longer distinctively Christian. It is sure to be "positive," "encouraging," "uplifting"--and it certainly is "the better alternative"--but too much of it isn't worthy to be called worship.
My heart is swelling with thankfulness and chills are going up my spine all because of something that came in the mail today. My sweet blogging friend September recently did a giveaway on her blog, and of all the awesome things she was giving away, I somehow won the most perfectly wonderful one of them--Selah's latest CD, You Deliver Me!
I love Selah's music. In fact, a couple of the songs we used in our wedding--including the one I walked down the aisle to--were by Selah. Not only is their music beautiful, but unlike much of today's contemporary Christian music, it is also lyrically rich. Their You Deliver Me album (which I am listening to rather loudly as I write this :-)) is no different. The songs are so beautiful... so meaningful... and I am so thankful, September!
Selah has recorded some great hymns for their past albums, and I was excited to see that there are more of them on this newest one. Perhaps I am an exception amongst those of my generation, but I seem to have a new and growing love for Christian hymns. A couple months ago our church's worship pastor introduced a hymn that I don't believe we had sung in church before. With great enthusiasm and passion he told the story behind the hymn before leading the congregation in the singing of the most moving and meaningful of lyrics--far more moving to me than most of the contemporary worship songs we hear and sing today.
The day after that church service, I read this blog post by Roger E. Olson, a professor of Theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University. In it, he expounds upon his belief that "the cessation of singing hymns and gospel songs has greatly contributed to the general ignorance of doctrine and biblical images and symbols among evangelicals who grew up in the 1980s and since." He then urges music ministers and worship leaders to "re-introduce hymn singing in churches, leading them with passion and enthusiasm and commenting on the words so that people will awaken to their meanings." This was just what our worship pastor had done, and it certainly did awaken this born-in-1983 girl to the meaning of the song's words.
Indeed, my heart is thankful--not only for the gift of a really good CD, but also for the gift of music with which we are able to take God's Word and to sing it back to Him in songs of worship, praise, and adoration. What a blessing....
"The point at which many marriages jump the track is in over-investing in children and under-investing in the marriage." (Elizabeth George, A Woman After God's Own Heart (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2006), 94.)
Any mother of young children would probably agree that it can be hard to make your husband your number one human relationship. Children--specifically those of the preschool sort--are legitimately needy individuals whose needs are usually best met by one person: Mommy. Indeed, a mommy stays quite busy tending to the needs of her children alone, let alone those of her husband, her home, and herself. And in the busyness of our mommy-child relationships, we sometimes neglect the one that should come first--the husband-wife relationship.
When Travis and I were about to get married (and even on occasion since we've been married), Travis' mom would lovingly advise him, "Never stop dating your wife." Now on the tail end of spending the first five years of our marriage pregnant, nursing, and pregnant again, I have at last had a moment to take a deep breath and to more fully appreciate the wisdom of her advice. It is in good company with the teaching of Elizabeth Elliot who encourages women of the importance of developing a friendship with their husbands. Couples must realize that merely partnering in parental duties is not an adequate investment in their marriage. We live in a busy world, and intentional steps must be taken to maintain and to grow the husband-wife relationship.
One of the intentional steps that Travis and I make to accommodate our friendship is to put the kids to bed early. This gives us time to spend alone together--time where we and not our children are our focus. In fact, we frequently have "date nights" in our own basement while the kids are upstairs sleeping. We'll rent a movie, turn out the lights, snuggle up on the couch under a blanket, and just be together. (It may not involve dressing up and actually going somewhere; but it's easier, cheaper, and more comfortable! :-))
Our date night this weekend was spent just that way, watching one of the best movies I've seen in a while: Amazing Grace. From the back of the movie, Amazing Grace is the "inspiring story of how one man's passion and perseverance changed the world. Based on the true story of William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace follows his courageous quest to end the British slave trade. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense opposition from members of Parliament but his minister, John Newton, a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace," urges him to see the cause through."
My heart was truly stirred as I watched and considered the fact that not so many years ago human lives were so abused and so devalued. I found myself wondering what it would have been like to live in that day (and thankful that I didn't). And I found myself grateful for that Christian man who fought so hard to change the world.
This morning Travis and I walked into church to the indescribably beautiful sound of a choir of students who are visiting here from the Zambia International Bible College. As I, on the heels of watching Amazing Grace, watched and listened to their song of praise to God for His salvation, my heart was again stirred. I wept in thankfulness to God that because the slavery of African people--His people--has been abolished, these Brothers and Sisters in Christ could today stand before our church and minister in song of the saving grace of our great God.
From the moment I married my husband I have been thankful to God for giving him to me. But, as with any other blessing, there are times that I unknowingly slip into taking him for granted--failing to realize just how blessed I am to be his wife.
This past weekend, I listened to a song I've "heard" several times before; and as I really listened to the lyrics for the first time (with tears in my eyes, I might add), I realized once again just how thankful I am to have married a man who truly strives to be all that God has called him to be. Thank You, God, for leading Travis; and, thank you, Travis, for leading me....
Last night I dusted off my dress shoes, unburied my jewelry box, mixed up my separated-because-it-hasn't-been-used-in-so-long custom blended foundation, pulled out an almost forgotten dress, and went on a date with my husband! This wasn't just any date, though. He took me to see the Broadway musical The Lion King!!! (Can you tell I'm excited?!)
When I found out several months ago that The Lion King was coming to Des Moines, I began secretly hoping that my husband would surprise me with tickets. I never asked him if we could go. He knew from numerous past conversations how badly I've always wanted to see The Lion King; and the awesome husband that he is, I knew that he would grant my desire if it was at all possible.
Well, he didn't let me down! And neither did the show! It. was. AMAZING! The set, the costumes, the mind-blowing talent... I was absolutely enthralled by every part of it. As I watched the show, taking in every detail, I had to keep reminding myself that I was really there. I felt totally privileged to be in the presence of such extremely gifted people, and I was thankful to God for the opportunity to enjoy the talents that He has given them. It was an experience like nothing I've ever had.
I love Christmas music--well, maybe not all of it, but for sure the songs that tell of the true meaning of Christmas (i.e. the birth of Christ). Every year when I hear these CHRISTmas songs playing on the radio, I find myself wondering how many people across the globe are singing along and not really believing the words or paying their truth any attention... and how many secular musicians have recorded them just because they are traditional Christmas songs that tell a good story. Wouldn't it be awesome if people everywhere were truly changed by these words of truth which we sing once a year in our holiday cheer?
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