“Lift up your heart, lift up your voice.”
“Lift up your voice and with me sing.”
“Sing from your heart; let your praises be ringing”
“Sing praises to Him.”

The tradition of singing in the Presbyterian Church is part of our heritage. The Reformed Church cut itself loose from the Latin hymns and adopted the Psalms as the sole medium of church praise. Over the years the church has integrated Scripture and spirituals into the music library that be used in service. Today’s Presbyterian Church sings over 250 different hymns and spirituals in a year.

Singing is a way for Christians to open their hearts and praise the Lord. However, just singing will lighten your heart, put a spring in your step, a smile on your face a helps you see your purpose. Part of God’s purpose is for you to sing joyously. If you can’t sing or don’t have the confidence, hum along or whisper the words until you feel the spirit move within.

David, the writer of many psalms, described God as a “man after his own heart” and sang many praises to God even in the toughest times.

Life’s challenges can rob you of your song when you need it most. Don’t let that happen! A song can bring a renewed sense of peace and a feeling that God is near. Try singing a new song.

Look up the lyrics to a favorite song or learn the words to a new praise song. Sing it joyously to God!

“I will be happy because of you; God Most High, I will sing praises to you name.” – Psalm 9:2 NCV Photo by Muppeto

"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together." - Woodrow Wilson.

Friendship is Fellowship. Fellowship & Popcorn? Sure!!!!


One fellowship event the youth group does is Movie Night. The teens bring snacks to share with each other. One teen brought something new and was a hit. Try this recipe with your youth group or any gathering!

Cinnamon Popcorn Crunch

Ingredients:
11 cups popcorn, air-popped -- unsalted
6 1/2 ounces mixed nuts, dry-roasted -- 1 can salted
1 pound light brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup -- or maple syrup
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Prep:
Mix popcorn and nuts in large buttered bowl. Combine sugar, syrup, butter or margarine, water, salt and cinnamon in saucepan. Heat slowly to the boiling point, stirring until sugar melts. Cook to hard crack stage (290-295º F). Pour syrup in a fine stream over popcorn and nuts. Stir until popcorn and nuts are evenly coated with syrup. Spread out on large buttered surface or waxed paper. Separate into bite-size portions with forks. Cool.

Serves: 34 (1/2 C servings)

Life isn’t easy and Christian life is no exception. God knows us; He knows we have questions, doubts and fears during hard times. He’s there with us through it all. He’s watching us and waiting for us to realize He can handle our hard questions. He wants us to ask them, to draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

When difficulties come into our lives, we can pull away from God and try to “fix” things on our own or we can stop running around and let God step in. We can seek answers to life’s hard questions by searching Scripture as well as asking God through prayer. The secret is… we have to offer Him the opportunity to answer. Open our hearts, our minds, our eyes, and our ears.

I have a favorite image of God in my head: while we’re running around like crazy trying to solve our problems and going nowhere, God is standing in the doorway watching, waiting for us to sit down and be still so He can do his work. Let’s sit down, be still, ask the hard questions and then let him do His work.

Take your toughest questions to the Lord today. Ask him to reveal his purpose for you through these puzzles and challenges of life so your relationship with Him can grow stronger.

The spiritual man tries all things (he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things). – 1 Corinthians 2:15 AMP

Belief; according to Webster, belief is the conviction of truth of some statement.

While discussing the Parable of the Mustard Seed with a group of children we talked about the fact we can’t physically watch or see the seed grow, I asked how we know the mustard seed will grow into a large plant. One child simply said, “Because we believe that it just will grow!”

During our discussion, we applied that idea to the Easter Story. I loved how the children reacted. They all agreed that even though we personally didn’t see the resurrection, somebody did and those people shared what they saw. Now we just purely believe that it happened. They also stated because Jesus taught us to be good and died for our sins, we can grow into helpful Christians and share what we believe. I noted how the words believe and grow travel hand in hand.

Listening to children, I believe makes one wiser. I have since said the Apostles’ Creed and it feels different. I think my belief is stronger from my conversation with a group of children whose eyes have not been clouded with politics, war, and other problems.

I challenge every Presbyterian to think about the Easter Story; know why you believe in the Resurrection; say the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles’ Creed. Feel yourself plainly believe and the joy in your heart will grow.

MUSIC

Music (noun) Origins of the word are found all over Europe, dating back to the 13th century. One definition is: the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity. Another is: the vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony.

Keeping in mind, I grew up in the Presbyterian church I have noticed Presbyterians like to think of music as a response which engages the whole self in prayer.

According to the Presbyterian Book of Order, “music can unite the faithful in common prayer wherever they gather for worship”. Outside of church the youth will sing praises and play music for the Lord at camps and retreats; thus creating a bond between each other and God. Many people of all ages will attend concerts and feel uplifted by the wondrous sounds made by those have been entrusted with such gifts.
Also according to the Book of Order, the primary role of the choir and other musicians is to lead the congregation in the singing of prayers. Instrumental music is considered a form of prayer since words are not essential for praying; God listens to one’s heart.

My church has been blessed with a very talented and gifted man who is the Director of Music and is considered a special member of my church family. Make sure you take some time to get to know the Director or Minister of Music in your church.

The music played during the service is carefully chosen. It is not a cover for silence, it is not for entertainment. Close your eyes the next time you listen to the choir sing or instruments play. Feel the music. Let the melody slip into your ears, dawdle in your mind, and touch your heart; let your toes tap; let your fingers strum your knee.

Let the Holy Spirit fill you.

4 Corners - a fun game

"Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next." - 1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

When I'm teaching Sunday school or an after school program, it is sometimes necessary to let the children exercise. 4 Corners is a favorite game the children like to play. I originally was taught the game when I was in Sunday School and learning about the disciples. We would play the game to learn the names of the first four disciples of Jesus.

How to play:
Write the names Peter, Andrew, James and John on pieces of paper. Tape one name to each of the four corners of the room. Invite someone to stand int he center of the room. That person closes his or her eyes and counts slowly to ten. The other students go to one of the corners of the room. The person in the center, with eyes still closed, calls out on of the four disciples' names. All the students in that corner must sit down. The game continues until one person is left standing. That person moves to the center and the game begins again. If no one is left standing, select a new person to stand in the center of the room.

This is a great game for church activities! Try it at an indoor church picnic or party. You can even use it with the neighborhood kids in the summer. What better way to spread the news!

Yucky weather = good books

Living in Michigan is making me begin to get a little tired of the "white stuff". When hubby builds a cozy fire in the fireplace, I can't resist curling up on the couch with a blanket, a good book, a cup of tea (a dog or two, and throw in a little boy).

Henry Ward Beecher said, "A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors."

Through the centuries, great thinkers have left behind a legacy enlightening readers to great truths or at least long thoughts. Leaders of faith often faced persecution, trials, and tribulations. Reading about someone's faith and redemption can help you find your own purpose and strengthen your own experience with God. Great literary works of faith give fresh perspective and another way of looking at what you believe.

Part of God's purpose for you is to learn from others. Pick up a great work and peel back back the truth on the pages one layer at a time; drink it in, and apply it to your life.

Pick up a copy of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity or John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. Personally, I love to spend an afternoon exploring the shelves at Barnes & Noble or my favorite Christian bookstore for the latest releases.