“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6 NKJV)
A faithful servant, one who earned the title of Deacon Emeritus, s gifted saint could not sing “My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me” without shedding a few tears. It was evident, every time he sang that solo, he was not just rendering a selection listed on the order of service, but he was standing on a truth personally experienced throughout his many years. Evident was the fact that this was more than a song as the tears streamed down both his cheeks as if they were in a race to see who would journey the distance from his tear ducts to the bottom of his tested over time face. His emotions could not be held back, as his quiet crying continued from one verse to another. Brother can cry! It was apparent that this Deacon Emeritus could identify with how the Lord had seen him through various types of times in life, good times, and bad times; see him through, whether he was peacefully traveling through safe times or rowing through stormy times that we all face in this life. He conveyed a message that communicated a truth to every listening ear in the sanctuary: God will never leave or forsake His chosen. Oh yes, this faith-tested saint was not just singing a song with his melodious voice. He was magnifying the Lord with his gifted voice. He was conveying a truth that everyone in the sanctuary, or even outside the church building, they can find reasons to rejoice and not to worry because his singing was uplifting and undeniably encouraging to one’s soul, “On land or on the stormy sea my heavenly father watches over me.” I believe that this Deacon Emeritus served a purpose every time that he sang his song. He internalized the meaning, of course, but also, simultaneously, he had an external impact on the minds of worshippers, stimulating their thought to conduct a persona review and conclude with the recognition of the truth that they could count on God wherever they may be in life. Amen@
A member of the same local church that the Deacon Emeritus attended, surely a dedicated saint, also made an impression, not from the choir stand, but from the pews weekly. She was worshipping the Lord. It did not matter who was around or who would let the tempter move them to assume a criticizing nature of her worship. Nothing in her immediate surroundings was going to distract her or diminish her releasing her emotions every week, at the same time every Sunday when the congregation stood and sang a doxology, right after the call to worship. When the worshippers got to the part in the doxology where the lyrics say, “Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” she would shout as if it was a planned utterance. But listen, her shouting was not for show. She was not concerned that some would think it was a put on. This was no result of her rehearsing a routine. She was for real. She was getting her praise on. Her weekly message was a shout of joy, a release of personal praise that prepared others in attendance, to engage in worship and meet the Psalmist admonition, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” This sister in the Lord could not be found guilty of drawing attention to herself. No sir, no ma’am! She was calling attention to the fact that God is worthy to be praised. It did not matter what the prior week’s experiences were. Whether she had gone through tough times, testing times, or times filled with swift transition, her shout would not be silenced. It did not matter if she had experienced problems of if her predicaments had prevailed, her persistent from of praise would never be postponed. She praised the Lord! I believe, as when the Deacon Emeritus sang, this saint served a specific purpose.
Personally, I believe that God has a general purpose for us all everywhere we go, and He also has a specific purpose for us to fulfill each day, including this Monday. Maybe it will be for us to let our light shine bright! Maybe it will be to give Him praise, seeming out of nowhere! Maybe it will be to tell someone about our personal experience in the sanctuary yesterday and relay how it propelled us to stand firm in our faith. There is also a chance that the way we unabashedly, unashamed, are to give evidence that we too trust in God, wherever we may be in life, knowing that we too have reason to give Him the praise and give Him all the glory that He is due. It could be our content expression that conveys that we are not worried about tomorrow, for we know that the Lord is watching over you and me. It could be a sound of praise that comes out of our mouths as we individually think about God’s goodness to us as we are walking among our peers and even people we have never met! Don’t hold back your song or your shout, and don’t order your tears of joy to stay back! Serve your purpose on this day, and each and every day. Stay God-conscious friend! Be blessed!
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King