\n\t\tSing with Heart and Mind\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\tPastor Don Carpenter\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\tSing! \/ 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 5:19\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\tAccording to Newsweek the stethoscope, commonly used by doctors to listen to one\u2019s heart, is due to become obsolete. A new invention unveiled recently by the Heart Association is a microphone that can record the sound waves from within the heart on a mike\u2019s ceramic plate. This tiny microphone can be slipped through the veins right up into the heart itself and the vibrations are amplified as sound or as a diagram on a picture tube.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\tWhat if there were a mic, not for your blood pump, but for your heart and soul? What kind of sounds would it pick up? Would your heart be always ready to give an answer, a testimony, a word of praise or encouragement? We are told to always be ready.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t1 Peter 3:15<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tBut sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tWe are made ready when we sanctify or set apart God in our hearts. We get ready by being in the word and in prayer every day. We get ready when we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in Church. We are also reminded that we can minister to our hearts, make sure they are ready, by singing both publicly and privately.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tSongs are soul food. Songs are tools God uses to catapult truth from our brains into our very heart and soul. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t Your heart and mind require a good, balanced diet of gospel truth that will build you up for your working week, your times of trial, and for each season of life. The lyrics of the songs we sing in our churches and repeat in our hearts find their way into shaping our priorities, our behavior, our loves . . . into the quiet space (or not so quiet, if you have kids) of the car journey on a Monday morning, into the language of our prayers as we fall asleep, into the answers we give \u201cfor the hope that [we] have\u201d (1 Pet. 3:15). It always strikes us in church prayer meetings how often we hear people use phrases in their prayers that come straight from the hymns they sing. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \tThe truth is that the songs we sing on Sunday stick with us\u2014and so they shape us. It\u2019s been said, rightly, that you have the people when you have their songs, perhaps even more than their sermons. That\u2019s because truth soars on the air of a great melody. Just as food is not simply enjoyed just because it is edible, we don\u2019t enjoy songs just because they contain truth, but because they are artistically beautiful and satisfying\u2014they captivate us in a deeper and more durable way. Such songs thrill our minds and hearts. We can\u2019t wait to sing them, and we never forget them. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \tThroughout the centuries the people of God have in huge measure learned their faith through what they sang together. Eat good soul food on a Sunday and you will find your soul growing and thriving through the week, and through your life. Here\u2019s how that happens. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t1 Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2017). \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tSinging Takes Sunday\u2019s Truths Into Monday <\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tFiles away the messages of the lyrics into our hearts and minds\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tMotivate us.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tHelp us remember scripture\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tHelp us when we want to communicate the Gospel to a friend.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t\u2022\tEvery day we hear the sound of wisdom and of folly.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t\u2022\tSongs of the Lord helps us hear the right voice above the world\u2019s song of seduction \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tProverbs 4:23<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tKeep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tNothing in my hand I bring Simply to the cross I cling Naked, come to Thee for dress Helpless, look to Thee for grace Foul, I to the fountain fly;Wash me Savior or I die (Augustus Toplady, \u201cRock of Ages,\u201d 1763)\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPhilippians 2:7\u201311<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tBut made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tAnd being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tWherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThat at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tAnd that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tWe were condemned and hopeless \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tHope came in the form of the Son of God\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tHe made Himself nothing\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tHow He became obedient to the death of the cross\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tHow he conquered sin and death \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tFriends, if our singing is not impacting how we process life\u2014if it is not strengthening us, training us, encouraging us, and comforting us, then we have not unwrapped the gift that singing is to us. We\u2019ve been playing with the wrappings. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tMost of us sing at times in our week, or hum a tune that reminds us of its lyrics. Be singing what you sang on Sunday. Be singing the gospel. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tSinging Sustains You In Every Season of Life<\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tWe need to sing the whole counsel of God.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tActs 20:27<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tFor I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThe Book of Psalms is the only Inspired Hymnbook. It is our guide and challenge as to what Hymns are to cover and what songs should be in our hearts.\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tA Vision of Who God is<\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 75:1\u20132<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tUnto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: For that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tWhen I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 23:1\u20132<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThe LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tHe maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 15:1\u20132<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tLORD, Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tHe that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh the truth in his heart.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 2:1\u20134<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tWhy do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThe kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tLet us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tHe that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 29:1\u20133<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tGive unto the LORD, O ye mighty, Give unto the LORD glory and strength. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tGive unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThe voice of the LORD is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth: The LORD is upon many waters.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 56:8<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book?<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tHow to Deal With Real Life<\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 13:1<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tHow long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 16:9\u201310<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tTherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tFor thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 18:33<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tHe maketh my feet like hinds\u2019 feet, And setteth me upon my high places.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 103:14<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tFor he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 88:18<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tLover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tPsalm 16:11<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tOver One Third of the Psalms are Laments<\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThe Psalms tell us to sing when we\u2019re happy. We have freedom to dance with exuberance, to shout loudly, to sing and play music with artistic excellence, to celebrate our victories. But we must not only sing songs that help us when we\u2019re happy. We can also sing because we\u2019re sad, and we must also sing of Christ when we\u2019re sad. We have freedom to weep, to pour out our souls to a God who hears and who acts. We sing for our brothers and sisters in those moments or seasons when they cannot. We sing, as the Psalms train us, to help us bring all of our lives, failures, successes, losses, gains, dreams, and ambitions into gospel perspective. Our singing can prepare us for every season of life, and sustain us through every season of life. We don\u2019t need a musical escape from our lives; we need to gaze on the Savior of our lives\u2014our refuge and help and comfort. 1 \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t1 Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2017). \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tSinging Reminds You of What God Has Done In Your Life.<\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tLamentations 3:21\u201323<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThis I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tIt is of the LORD\u2019s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. <\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tThey are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tGreat is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;there is no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;as Thou hast been Thou forever will be.Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness.Morning by morning new mercies I see;all I have needed Thy hand hath provided;great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.(Thomas Chisolm, 1923)1 \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t1 Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2017). \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tSinging Keeps Your Mind on Eternity<\/strong>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tJeremiah 17:7<\/em> KJV<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tBlessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.<\/em>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tSoon and very soon.. \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tI\u2019ll fly away \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tI\u2019m kinda homesick for a country \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tIt will be worth it all \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tFace to face I shall behold Him \t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tI am Going to a City \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\t \u2022\tSomeday the silver cord will break and I no more as now shall sing\t\n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tKeith\u2019s grandfather used to arrive at Sunday worship a good forty-five minutes early. He would sit down in the place where he always sat and would flip through his hymnal and pray as he prepared for the service. Those songs held him. They taught him. They rehearsed the truth for him. They kept him looking forward to what was eternally real\u2014what had always been true from before the foundation of the world, and what would remain being true for the rest of his lifetime and beyond. And when he was in his nineties, and was unable to remember his own family\u2019s names, much less accomplish even the most basic, everyday task, he could still recite or respond to the words and melodies of those hymns. \n\t<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those were the songs he had sung and carried with him throughout his life. Locked inside the folds and wrinkles of his long-term memory, he was able to retrieve them when everything else had become confused. And they brought him considerable peace, even at the most difficult stages of his declining years. For him, as for many, life\u2019s greatest battles were at the end. He had his songlist for that time prepared, and it carried him into glory. Like him, we need to sing the songs now that we want to grow old with\u2014songs that will lift our hearts and sights to eternity and our eternal Lord when earthly life begins to slip from our hands. Like him, we need to sing those songs with others in our churches, that they, too, may look to eternity every day, including their last day. May we, like him, fall asleep with gospel songs on our lips and awake to the sounds of heaven singing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n * Material taken from SING by Kristyn and Keith Getty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\t\tExported from Logos Bible Software, 11:42 AM February 19, 2021.\n\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sing with Heart and Mind Pastor Don Carpenter Sing! \/ 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 5:19 According to Newsweek the stethoscope, commonly used by doctors to listen to one\u2019s heart, is due to become obsolete. A new invention unveiled recently by the Heart Association is a microphone that can record the sound waves from within the … Continue reading Sing With Heart and Mind<\/span>