Do You Only Sing When You're Happy?

Apparently, the birds are under the misconception that it’s Spring outside today. They are twittering up a storm. I love to listen to them sing. It reminds me of my life.

Although they’ve just spent a brutal winter, more brutal than usual for the South, they flit around with renewed energy, ready to proclaim their joy in a warmer day.

I’ve had a brutal winter, too. It’s been one of great loss for me. But I, like those little birds, find myself joyful and thankful for the blessings the Lord has provided during my lean season. If I could, I would join those birds in the trees. I’d flutter my wings and sing at the top of my little bird lungs the unique song the Lord gave to me.

But then, maybe I am doing just that.

The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. (Song of Solomon 2:12--NLT)

I'm one of those people who doesn't keep their struggles a secret. I share them with others because I know we all struggle. 

At one of my lowest seasons, I struggled alone. There was no one to share my burden. I nearly gave up.

Then, a friend who had smiled and stayed cheerful during a season of cancer we all knew would destroy her physical body one day soon, allowed herself to cry in front of us. 

Believe it or not, that act of honesty validated my personal pain and gave me hope. 

As I searched through scripture references about singing, I noticed something I had never realized before. All of the passages speak of singing praises, thankfulness, and honor to GOD! We aren’t to sing because we are happy that something went our way. We aren’t to sing because we accomplished something great and wonderful.

We SING because God deserves our songs.

Perhaps that is why the birds sing today.

They are praising God for providing food and shelter during a difficult season.

They are praising the Lord for allowing them to survive the difficult days and giving them the hope of another Spring.

Yes, I can do that, too. I can praise Him and thank Him for bringing me through the dark, cold and scary times of my life. I can thank Him for never leaving me alone in that pit of despair. I can praise Him for the sunshine of this moment or the promise of sunshine some day.

I can even praise Him on those days when I'm not certain if Spring will come at all. Because I know one day Spring will be eternal.

3. O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
4. Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name.
5. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:3-5)

What has the Lord blessed you with today? Sing your song of praise in the comments section below.

What is Peace on Earth?

Sitting on a shelf in my little bathroom (the one closest to my desk) is a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Last year I found a plush Linus, dressed as a shepherd with his blankie on his head. I was so excited when I placed him next to the tree and squeezed the “press here” sticker on his foot. Every time I visited my little bathroom, I smiled at the scene and squeezed his foot to hear the familiar voice tell me the real meaning of Christmas.

Now, I understand the memory available on these little guys is limited and they couldn’t record the entire scene, but the more I listened, the more troubled I became. The edited version of the entire scene, something all writers must deal with, seemed to change the focus of the message.

“For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people and on earth peace, good will toward men. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Do you see what I mean? They left out the part about the baby Jesus and focused only on the peace on earth part. The more I pressed his foot and listened, the more I realized how like our world this is. The masses are eager to spend their money on gifts, decorate their homes lavishly for holiday parties, and maybe toss some loose change into a Salvation Army bell ringer’s bucket as their good deed for the season. But, they leave out the baby Jesus. 

Peace on earth sounds like a good thing. However, the peace spoken of at Christmas is possible only because of the baby. Don’t let the Christmas lights blind you to the Truth. God sent His Son on Christmas, as a baby. He is God and man. He is the Prince of Peace.

We can only find peace by accepting his promise to forgive all of our sin. We only need to believe he will. That’s faith. During his ministry on earth, Jesus healed many people of physical sickness. All they had to do was believe he could do it. It’s the same with our spiritual sickness, sin. Just believe the Savior Jesus has the power to forgive our sin and bring us peace. Peace is healing from sin.

           

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

(Luke 2:10-14)

Do you have peace this Christmas season? Would you like to have the peace that defies human explanation and is oblivious to the confusion and tumult of the world around us? What do you think peace really means?