WATCHWORD:
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is He Who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:1-3
1 Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord! Give a joyous shout in honor of the Rock of our salvation! 2 Come before him with thankful hearts. Let us sing him psalms of praise. 3 For the Lord is a great God, the great King of all gods. 4 He controls the formation of the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains; all are his. 5 He made the sea and formed the land; they too are his. 6 Come, kneel before the Lord our Maker, 7 for he is our God. We are his sheep, and he is our Shepherd. Oh, that you would hear him calling you today and come to him! Psalm 95:1-7
Meditation:
Facing the Music
Ever listen to some popular music on the radio and hear a song that, at first, seemed almost like a hymn, but then you realized that you were listening to, maybe, Casey Kasem and the 40 hits of the day. At that point, you might have dialed it out and moved on.
But the fact is that some of the most beautiful songs that we view as faith-based, like Amazing Grace, Ave Maria, You Raise Me Up, The Prayer, all spent some time on the Top 40 charts. All were celebrated, probably without a thought about God or faith. Yet, who knows, seeds may have been planted through song.
Paul Simon is a singer, song-writer, philosopher. So many of his songs are familiar to us. However, I think we would be hard-pressed to find one that would fall in such categories as Hymns or Praise songs. Although, some of his stanzas could easily be the introduction to a homily or a sermonette. For example, this verse from “Slip Sliding Away” contains ideas that we embrace. God has a plan for us and often His plans and ours don’t quite mesh. We may think we we are getting close to what God has in mind for us, and then the way is not easy to negotiate and we slip into old habits. Can you see that?
God only knows God makes his plan
The information’s unavailable, To the mortal man
We work our jobs, Collect our pay
Believe we’re gliding down the highway
When in fact we’re slip slidin’ away
Can you see that, slipping into comfortable habits, we focus on one thing and give up other things. The Pandemic has wrecked havoc on church attendance. Too many of us find the comfort of our living room, watch a streaming service, and call it “church”. What we have left behind is, in fact, “church”. Not the building, not the preacher and His/Her sermon, but the power of Christian fellowship, of worshipping our Lord, together. Have we downgraded sacred communion? I wonder. How about the conversations that reveal hurting friends and the needs of others in our community. Yes, maybe we are “slip slidin’ away”.
You would think that a song like “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is ready made for a message. I don’t know what these verses say to you, but to me it seems like my Lord and Savior is reaching out in the fog of a day that is not going well. When I feel like I am all alone and can’t seem to get beyond it. Then, as I call out to Him, He comes and equips me to get beyond the rough stuff. He comforts me and he instills in me the peace that only He can give. He is like a bridge over the troubled waters of my life. Can you see it in the verses I have listed in the Bulletin Board? Sure, it is there.
So, who are we, any more? These are pieces of “the way it used to be” that weren’t that bad and maybe we should get back to some of it. Home churches, small groups, fellowship, embracing and supporting one another, lifting up the weak, and telling the truth, in all things. Our prayers need to rest in such as these. God is still in charge. That should give us peace. Amen and amen. So be it.
Bulletin Board:
When you’re weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
“I Can Only Imagine” A Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by Your side, I can only imagine what my eyes will see when Your face is there before me. I can only imagine, surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for You, Jesus, or in awe just be still? Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine.
I can only imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing before You. I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship you. I can only imagine. Standing in your presence, Lord, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I even be able to speak at all? I can only imagine — I can only imagine. Amen.
