A New Song to Sing

I want to be a singer of new songs.

A new song can’t be kept in.

It has to burst out and be heard.

What it says is relevant and important ...right now.

For you and others.

 

A new song isn’t just a silly poem.

It’s full of life and liberty.

It beckons for people to listen.

It has to be released.

A new song brings change to the atmosphere.

It has an inviting personality.

It isn’t negative or humdrum.

It begins, starts, initiates, a happy dance.

A new song marks a new beginning.

It says “This is a new day.”

It causes movement in our bodies and souls.

Others listen and join in.

What in your life is asking for you to sing?

Where do you need healing?

What feels trapped and is begging to be uncaged?

Are you desperate for breakthrough?

Sing, my friend.

Just sing a new song.

Sing out of your pain until you can feel peace.

Sing in the darkness until you can see the light.

Sing for your freedom! Sing for your joy!

Just sing.

Paul and Silas were beaten and then imprisoned in chains...but they didn’t give up hope…. they sang!

King Jehosophat’s soldiers were facing an overwhelming army of enemies...but they didn’t fight….they sang!

Mary was young, single, and miraculously carrying the son of God….but she didn’t worry about what other people might think...she sang!

It’s no coincidence to me that these examples all resulted in the same thing…..

a mighty display of God’s power on this earth!

Paul and Silas' songs to heaven caused an earthquake that broke off their chains!

God used the army of Judah’s praise and worship to ambush the enemy and defeat them!

Mary's song of thanksgiving to God gave her hope as she went through her pregnancy and eventually gave birth to the Savior of the world!

Find your song and give it a name.

Claim God’s promises and set them to a tune.

You’ll be amazed at the freedom that will come.

Let’s give God the glory for all He has done in our lives today.

And sing a new song about it!  
 

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.”- Psalm 40:3


  

Hope Smiles

Hope has a lingering effect on a person.

She is not easily forgotten.

Because she stands out.

And, many times, she stands alone.

Hope embodies an undeterred belief that there is a good ending to the story.

Your story. My story.

And despite the unexpected plot twists, genre changes, and lack of character development, Hope remains when all else fades away.

She gives us a reason to see the best in the worst situations.

She is the promise of the rainbow after the rain.

Sometimes, though, we can’t seem to get enough of Hope by ourselves.

We may feel like a deflated balloon and need a breath of fresh air to keep us afloat.

And many times in life we need to meet a new face with a new idea.

A leader to inspire the next chapter of our story.

A communicator that casts vision and brings a welcome change.

We all need this person to nudge us along.

We all need someone to believe in.

What does this beautiful beacon look like?

Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and Mother Theresa are all familiar agents of Hope.

But you know what? She could look just like you or me.

And she often does…

She is strong in her faith even when it seems like her prayers have gone unanswered.

She is willing to give what she has, but wise enough to give what is best, not necessarily what is easy.

She stands up for the rights of the weak and oppressed without concern for whether or not her political party supports it.

She is honest, real, and vulnerable with other women about her struggles and does not hide behind a mask.

She motivates her followers to resist the temptation to give in to cultural norms by demonstrating love of her own uniqueness.

She is courageous when it looks like all hell is breaking loose around her by grabbing hold of her fear and wringing its bony neck.

But most of all, more than any of those things, she lives a smiling life in the face of frowning circumstances and people.

Because that’s what Hope does.

She smiles.

She doesn’t let the pain of today take away her ability to laugh at tomorrow.

Hope leads us into uncharted waters with a life raft on board in case the boat we’re on sinks.

And she fully believes the boat will stay afloat.

But if it doesn’t...if it goes under, Hope smiles and puts on that life vest.

Then she hands you one too.