May 5, 2026 – Singing
There was much singing and praising (after a bit of whining) as we approached and then played in this fun place in the Vicenza, Italy mall!
Streams – 2 Chronicles 20:22 – “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” Through selected sources, Cowman encourages, “Oh, that we could reason less about our troubles, and sing and praise more! There are thousands of things that we wear as shackles which we might use as instruments with music in them…. [Makes me think of trying to quiet a fussy baby to settle in for a nap. Singing often helps. On this visit with two of our grandchildren, I’ve learned about a new kid cartoon show that is a spinoff of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. They have so many catchy quick songs to help when we are sad or frustrated and need to be calm, plus many more.]
Cowman continues, “…how much more joyful would be their lives, if, instead of forever indulging in self-revolving and inward thinking, they would take their experiences, day by day, and lift them, and praise God for them. We can sing our cares away easier than we can reason them away. Sing in the morning. The birds are the earliest to sing, and that birds are more without care than anything else that I know of. Sing at evening. Singing is the last thing that robins do. When they have done their daily work…they sing one song of praise.”
Simpson concurs about positive ways to start the day, “God is waiting this morning to mark the opening hours for every ready and willing heart with a touch of life and power that will lift our lives to higher pleasures and offer to our vision grander horizons of hope and holy service. We shall not need to seek far to discover our risen Lord. He was in advance even of the earliest seeker that Easter morning, and He will be waiting for us before the break of day with His glad ‘All Hail,’ if we have only eyes to see and hearts to welcome and obey Him.”
Power – We can make excuses about our attitudes and our problems and our sins, like Adam and Eve did in the garden (see Genesis 3:12-13); or, we can choose more positive, healing options, Joyce points out, “People make excuses for their sin all the time instead of simply admitting it, confessing it, and asking God to forgive them for it. Excuses can easily become lies [or worse], causing us to break the commandment that tells us not to lie (see Exodus 20:16…. You can easily find a reason for every error, but it is better to take responsibility for your actions. Remember: ‘The Truth will set you free.’ (John 8:32).”
Utmost – 1 Peter 4:17 – “For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God.” Chambers reminds us that, “The Christian worker must never forget that salvation is God’s thought, not man’s….Never preach the experience; preach the great thought of God behind….we are preaching the good news about God…. [It helps to remember this during conversations with people who have declared that they do not believe. We are not responsible for their salvation, just that they hear the good news.] Never sympathize with a soul who finds it difficult to get to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to find out the reason why it is difficult, but so to present the truth of God that the Spirit of God will show what is wrong…. If Jesus ever gave us a command He could not enable us to fulfill, He would be a liar; and if we make our inability a barrier to obedience, it means we are telling God there is something He has not taken into account. Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God.”
