Of music, hail and love

Of Music:
(Composed by me today)

Have you ever had times in your life that were both incredibly busy and incredibly wonderful? For me, this perfectly depicts the last two weeks.

From our phenomenal Father's Day concert with The Celebration Singers of Central Arkansas to, in my estimation, our very best Summer Music and Drama Camp ever, the beautiful sounds of musical offerings to God have surrounded and saturated my mind and my heart.

I wish I had words that could fully describe for you the immense joy that watching our young people create such God-honoring offerings of praise brings to my heart. It is undescribable in its depth and breadth and pushes my heart to a capacity that I never thought possible. I wish I could give you all just 10 seconds of that feeling, and I pray that you have something that even remotely compares to it in your own life.

Thank you, students and children, for pointing us to the Throne of God...and for turning mere carbon dioxide into memories that will last a lifetime.

"I will praise You, O LORD, with all of my heart" (Psalm 9:1)



Of Hail:
(Said by Cody van Scyoc yesterday)
"Golfball sized hail? ...REALLY? I mean, REALLY?"

Of Love:
(Written by Charles Wesley in 1747 about the greatest love of all)

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav'n to earth come down.
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling; all Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit into ev'ry troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit; let us find Thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver, let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish then Thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee.
(now here is my favorite part)
Changed from glory into glory 'til in heav'n we take our place,
'til we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

Think about it...there will be a day when music will be perfect, like we cannot even imagine...and we, having been changed from glory to glory, will be enraptured in total wonder, total, love and total praise. What a day that will be!

Not too sure about the hail part. :-)