Sweet Sound

There's nothing that sounds sweeter to me than the voices of my children singing worship songs from the back seat of the car. And today it was one of our favorites, "Strong Enough to Save," by Tenth Avenue North.

You fought
but you were just too weak
so you lost
all the things you try to keep
now you're on your knees, you're on your knees

But wait,
everything can change,
in a moments time you don't have to be afraid,
'cause fear is just a lie
open up your eyes

[Chorus:]
And He'll break
open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the One the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you

[Verse 2:]
Look
now is not too late
lift up your head
let the rain fall on your face
you're not far from grace, you're not too far from grace

[Chorus:]
And He'll break
open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the One the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you
[Repeat]

[Bridge:]
I know the weight of this world can take you down like gravity and I know the current of yourself can take you out, out to sea but hold on, hold on

[Chorus:]
And He'll break
open the skies to save
those who cry out His name
the One the wind and waves obey
is strong enough to save you

When Faith Wears Thin

A friend mentioned a Twila Paris song on facebook today, and I pulled up a few of her melodies on youtube because I hadn't heard them in a while. I have said many times that there has been a Twila Paris song for every season of my life thus far. Typically, she releases them a year or so before they reach and anchor me. Perhaps her lifewalk with Christ is a few paces ahead of mine. Regardless, her songs are milestones the Lord has often used to encourage and even navigate me on this narrow path. 
Do I Trust You is one of her earliest, and it touched me in a powerful way as a new Christian. Listening to it again today, some 20 years later, I remembered that sweet wonder I had in Him, in all His awesomeness and limitless power and love. And I realized that I have lost a great deal of my joy somewhere along the way.
I know much more of the Word than I did at the age of 16, when I first heard that song. Sadly, I also know more of this world. Some of what I know, I wish I could forget. Life can sometimes wear thin patches in your faith that aren't neatly mended by "doctrine and theology." I think that's why the lines of Do I Trust You struck a chord within me again today. I think you'll understand what I mean if you listen to it, so here's the song, and here are the lyrics.

New Year's Day Tuning

The years go by and the piano sits there, unplayed. Then one day you realize that the note you knew was C is now sharp. As you play that recital piece you still remember from the sixth grade, you realize that every note is sharp and dissonant, and playing it is no longer pleasurable.

As I'm writing this entry, my piano is being tuned. Yes, on New Year's Day. Do I have a great piano technician, or what?

Tuning a piano is a long, complicated affair. Lots of terrible, discordant pitches come out before the right note is isolated and locked into place. Then the tech moves on to the next key, and you hear the same cacophonous sounds, until that key's true note is found. Two hours this man has been tuning my piano, making up for my failure to keep its tune maintained over the last few years. Had it been regularly tuned, this would be over in an hour. But as things are, the technician has gone over each key, not once but thrice, in his attempts to get my poor pianoforte back to where it should have been, and he will have to return in a few months for another tuning to achieve concert pitch.

Neglect will do that to a piano.

The same thing happens to our souls. When we fail to stay in tune with our Creator, we eventually become unpleasant to hear. But when we are in harmony with Him, in His Word, walking in His Spirit, the words we speak are like spiritual music, bringing glory to Him.

It's so much better to stay in tune than to neglect our souls and then require a major tuning. And I can think of no better way to start the New Year than getting in tune with God...and then letting Him use us every day so He can keep us that way.

used by permission
Christian Devotions Press
Copyright 2009