"Music to Inspire" Corner: How Can I Keep From Singing?

"Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us."

~Martin Luther~

Music and singing are an absolute delight for me. I can't imagine a world without them. The wonderful thing is that I believe God thinks the same way, too! He created music and gave us voices to sing. He wants us to make music for Him and to sing to Him day and night like it is in Heaven. Heaven itself is music, glorious music! The angels before His throne praise, worship, and adore Him day and night with music and song. The saints in heaven also sing a beautiful song (see Revelation 15:3). The Bible is full of songs and psalms and exhortations to sing and make melody to Him. Playing music and singing was central in the worship of the Lord in the Temple. There were orchestras and choirs. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to praise the Lord  and to speak to each other 'in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord' (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV). It also says that God is 'enthroned in the praises of Israel,' His people (see Psalm 22:3 NKJV). 

Music is a gift from God to mankind. Good, wholesome music and singing can be very powerful. It sets our souls sailing to the Heavens. It gives voice to the deepest feelings and emotions of the soul and heart in ways that plain, spoken words alone sometimes fail to do. I personally find that God ministers to my heart in very special ways through music and song. I think that our inner desire for the transcendent, for that 'thing' that is greater than us...that which draws us in and takes us to greater heights, above this earthliness of things...gives us the awe and the wonder; shows us the Glory of Him Who created us and made us in His image. Yes, something that inspires us...

That's why I've decided to join Joy's 'Music to Inspire' series (Fullness of Joy). I think it's a great way to share with you my love of music and singing. 

I play the guitar...though, I'm not that good at it as yet...still working on those sticky bar-chords! However, what I love to do most is sing. When I do, I just 'feel His pleasure', as Eric Liddell  says in the movie Chariots of Fire!! So, join with me as I share with you the songs that bless me. 

[Note: The music I'll be sharing will include hymns, songs (including those that are 'overtly' Christian and those that are not necessarily so...those wholesome, beautiful 'secular' ones, too), movie soundtracks (though that does not necessarily mean I've watched or promote the movie itself), and good, fun folky music!]

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For my first post, I'll share with you two beautiful songs from Libera, a beautiful boys choir in London. 

The first one beautifully expresses why I often feel that urge in my heart to sing...'The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart/ A Fountain ever springing;/ All things are mine since I am His,/ How can I keep from singing?'...Yes, how can I keep from singing? How can you?

"How Can I Keep From Singing?"

by Robert Wadsworth Lowry

My life flows on in endless song, 
Above earth's lamentation.
I hear the real though far-off hymn, 
That hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm, 
While to that rock I'm clinging, 
It sounds an echo in my soul,
How can I keep from singing?

What though the tempest round me roars, 
I know the truth, it liveth, 
What though the darkness round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm, 
While to that rock I'm clinging, 
Since love is lord of heaven and earth, 
How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin; 
I see the blue above it; 
And day by day this pathway smooths, 
Since first I learned to love it.

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, 
A fountain ever springing; 
All things are mine since I am his, 
How can I keep from singing? 
Singing?
Singing?

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The second song is also from Libera. 

It's a song of praise.

I love this verse especially...

We hear a distant music
It comes with fuller swell
For the angels here are human
Not the shining hosts above
For the drumbeats of the army
Are the heartbeats of our love

"Exsultate!"

There's a light upon the mountains
And the day is at the spring
When our eyes shall see the wonder
And the glory it will bring

Et laudate Domino in laetitia

[And Praise the Lord with Joyfulness]
Et cantate Domino gloria 

[And sing 'Glory' to the Lord]

Saecula et saeculorum
Alleluia 

[Through Endless Ages, Alleluia]

Hark, we hear a distant music
And it comes with fuller swell
Tis the glorious song of heaven
And our fears it will dispel

Et laudate Domino in laetitia 

[And Praise the Lord with Joyfulness]
Et cantate Domino gloria

[And sing 'Glory' to the Lord]
Saecula et saeculorum
Alleluia

[Through Endless Ages, Alleluia]

Exsultate Domino omnis Populi
Alleluia 

[Rejoice in the Lord, all ye nations, Alleluia]
Jubilate Domino omnis Terra

Alleluia 

[Be joyful in the Lord, all ye earth, Alleluia]

Et laudate Domino in laetitia

[And Praise the Lord with Joyfulness]
Et cantate Domino gloria

[And sing 'Glory' to the Lord]
Saecula et saeculorum
Alleluia

[Through Endless Ages, Alleluia]

Angeli et archangeli, psallite et laudate 

[Angles and Archangels, sing out Your praise]
Angeli et archangeli, psallite et laudate

[Angles and Archangels, sing out Your praise]In hymnis et psalmis et canticis 

[In hymns, in psalms, and in songs]

We hear a distant music
It comes with fuller swell
For the angels here are human
Not the shining hosts above
For the drumbeats of the army
Are the heartbeats of our love

Exsultate Domino omnis Populi
Alleluia

[Rejoice in the Lord, all ye nations, Alleluia]
Jubilate Domino omnis Terra
Alleluia

[Be joyful in the Lord, all ye earth, Alleluia]

Et laudate Domino in laetitia

[And Praise the Lord with Joyfulness]
Et cantate Domino gloria

[And sing 'Glory' to the Lord]
Saecula et saeculorum
Alleluia

[Through Endless Ages, Alleluia]

Angeli et archangeli, psallite et laudate

[Angles and Archangels, sing out Your praise]
Angeli et archangeli, psallite et laudate

[Angles and Archangels, sing out Your praise]
In jubila

[In joyfulness]

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