the blessings of music

Yesterday we went to a nursing home to visit with some dear senior saints.  We were there with several other people from the church to sing and share with the people in the nursing home. We handed out the songbooks to everyone and started singing some 'good old' hymns.  What a delight to sing praises to God together with these seniors.  One lady in particular caught my attention as she said she didn't need a book, because she knew all the songs by heart.  And she sure did know them as I saw her sing along with each song.  As we finished Amazing Grace, I couldn't help but comment on the last verse where it says "when we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise then when we've first begun".  I turned to the ladies next to me and said, "can you just imagine this incredible massive choir singing God's praises together on the other side of eternity?"  They both smiled and commented on the fact that we would be there forever and that we wouldn't be stuck in wheelchairs.  We will receive a new body!  That is surely something to look forward to, especially for those who are suffering from so many physical and mental limitations. 
We also sang a song most of us have learned as young children. "Jesus Loves Me".  So simple, yet so profound.  I recalled a story I had heard about a famous theologian who had a tremendous grasp of the Scriptures.  He had studied many years, and was a sought after speaker.  One day, someone asked him what the greatest theological discovery he had made during his life.  He thought for some time and finally stated, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!"  All of his years of study and meditation had left him with one indelible impression.  The song he had learned as a small child, burned in his mind and the simplicity of this truth jumped to the forefront of his mind after he was confronted with this question.

As we were ready to leave we shook hands and many expressed thanks to us for coming.  But I was the one who was thankful as they blessed me with their joy in singing and reciting Scripture from memory.

Did you know that we have a God who sings over us too?  I love this verse in Zephania 3:17
"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."