WHERE IS THAT SINGING COMING FROM?

by Tara McClenahan

Last week I was getting Little Man ready for bed and putting on his jammies. He hadn’t had a nap that day (something we are struggling with since taking away the pacifier) so he was grumpy and fighting me and I was quickly losing my patience! Then a thought popped into my head: “I can sing to him!”


I’ve sung to Little Man since he was in the womb! I love to sing and was on my church’s praise team for almost six years including while I was pregnant. I made up a song when he was a newborn and would sing it to him every night as I was “loving him down” to sleep. The song is what he calls “Bye-o Bye-o Baby” (and he requests it OFTEN!).


I started singing this song in a soft voice to my uncooperative toddler and it had an almost instantaneous effect! He immediately stopped squirming around, visibly relaxed every muscle in his body and his eyes became droopy. WOW! I should find a way to bottle this!


It did get me to thinking about this verse in Zephaniah 3:17:


“The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”


I was blown away – God sings over me! Can you picture that? Even when we are fighting and grumpy and uncooperative, He shows His love and sings over us! And when we stop long enough to listen, we too will relax and allow Him to do the work He wants to do in us.


Are you out of sorts? Fighting against something? Distracted? Too busy? Overwhelmed?


Listen….God is singing over you!




Tara McClenahan is a devoted mom to a two-year-old “little man” and enjoys discovering how God has “packed his suitcase”. As an associate with iBloom, she has a heart for inspiring, encouraging and equipping moms to become “Proverbs 31 mamas” and raise their children according to Biblical principles and guidelines using the Bible and other tools. Tara adores falling leaves, sweatshirts, Starbucks White Chocolate Mochas and the first curly BBQ chip from the bag! Make sure to visit Tara’s website to download your free Christian mom resource!

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THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26 (NIV)

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SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

There's just something about the old hymns that reach down into the center of the soul and spirit. The Old Rugged Cross was my Mom's favorite hymn. I would guess that of her as she was a very humble and deeply spiritual woman. The words to this song are rich with praise and worship to the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us and our acceptance of that sacrifice. Let's open our hearts to true worship and we read and listen to this great hymn. God bless, Bobbi


THE OLD RUGGED CROSS


On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.


Refrain


So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.


O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.


Refrain


In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.


Refrain


To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.


Refrain




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SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

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NO MORE CAFFEINE

Some years ago, I had switched from being a 5 cup a morning coffee drinker to a 2 cup green tea drinker. For whatever reason, over the last 3 years or so I have gone back to the coffee, only about 3 cups a morning.

However, my body is not handling the caffeine like it used to do. I have been praying and asking the Lord to show me ways to reduce my stress. I've been looking with blinders at my time schedule only. Yes, there is still some work to be done there. But the Lord is showing me clearly that the caffeine is directly affecting my nervous system and creating anxiety.

Therefore, this was my last day for coffee as I know it. Both my husband and I will be making a pot of green mint tea every morning. We don't drink soda pop anyway, so that won't be another change we have to make. We do drink water throughout the day.

I want to give thanks and praise to the Lord for answering my prayer and for allowing me to look with openness instead of insisting on my blinders, that He is showing me how to get the stress out of my life and that the stress comes from many sources. I'm looking forward to feeling better with this change of habit, after the headaches from the withdrawal go away. The word "withdrawal" should be a clue that caffeine is not good for me.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

The Lord Is My Shepherd,

I shall not want.

He maketh me lie down in green pastures.

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil.

For Thou art with me,

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

Thou anointest my head with oil.

My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-Psalm 23 (KJV)

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PRAISE TO OUR GOD

Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
Make his praise glorious!
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
That your enemies cringe before you;
All the earth bows down to you;
They sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name."
                                 Psalm 66:1-4

Visit Spiritual Sundays for uplifting and

inspiring worship.