How can I Keep from Singing?!

I sing. Mostly, to the Lord God Almighty. When I walk. When I clean. When I drive. And yes, most definitely in the shower. All my JOY Choir members can testify to my mantra of singing in the shower…

Today, after swimming, as i usually do, I continued singing a hymn, yes, in the shower. “My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation. I catch the sweet, tho far off hymn that hails a new creation.”

As I began the chorus, another lady joined me singing alto. Lovely!!

As I began the second verse, another lady joined in with tenor! Even more lovely!!!

I was so enraptured, I kept going. And they stayed with me, all of us humming the words forgotten, but blessings pouring down, how could I stop?!

When we did, the silence beckoned and I began, “Oh how I love Jesus…” and they joined right in with their lovely voices and parts and hearts and I was filled with JOY!

So now I know two new lady-friends. One of them turned out to be the great-grandmother of one of my kids in JOY Choir!!

I didn’t learn hymns growing up. But I’m learning them now. Not changing and rearranging, but rather appreciating the four-part harmony of the original. I’m teaching them to all my children, so they can sing with their grandparents, continue traditions and have special songs to sing together.

I sing. “No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging. Since love is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?”

He will take you back. All the way.

This fall I have had the privilege of teaching 7th & 8th Grade Girls Sunday School Class. The weeks went by quickly and I find myself missing them. Who knew I could have so much to tell them! Actually, I prayed much for the Holy Spirit to do the talking.

Today, I’m realizing how difficult it can be to keep our minds following God’s Spirit, even though we love Him, praise Him, trust Him, follow Him, seek Him, we slip away from Him into the abyss of life and our thoughts are distracted from Him.

Then, realization! I said, one day, “Come back to me, Lord.” And He clearly said, “Karla, I’m right here with you, as always. YOU come back to ME.”

But that darn devil can sure start whispering. “See?! You can’t stay with God….you don’t really love Him all that much, or you wouldn’t slip….look at what you’ve done/haven’t done….”

So I had to smack Him down. “Get behind me Satan. Your thoughts are NOT God’s thoughts. SHUT IT!”

Then, I had to speak God’s Word of truth: “I am a child of God. God loves me. God understands me. God forgives me. God is my helper.” I’m back!

All this made me think of my girls. How they were fairing. How their days are going. Are they saying, “Good morning, Lord. I love you.”? Are they, too, slipping into the abyss of life? Are they remembering to smack those devils off their shoulders and talk out loud to Him like Jesus did? Are they writing in their journals and reading past entries for their own encouragement?

I don’t know. But God knows. What I can do is pray. Write. And press on. Keep encouraging them and anyone else who needs to remember and get back to binding up with the mind of Christ.

Confession. Forgiveness. NOT condemnation. NOT guilt. Just the JOY of the Lord. Strengthening my soul. Filling me up. Strengthening YOUR soul. Filling YOU up. If you want. I definitely want.

Exodus 16

When the Biblical Storyteller’s Guild could not fill a request, I took on the task of memorizing Exodus 16.

On  Sunday, September 14,  St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Wiliamsburg hosted me to tell the story.   I loved meeting the warm, friendly people there and enjoyed a dramatic, relaxed storytell.

                                                        setting out from Elim

My contact person and new found friend, Ann Myer, is writing curriculum for her congregation/youth/children emphasizing old testament in order to become more familiar with the stories.  In addition, she sets up activity centers for the children after the story!

I didn’t get a picture, but I was impressed with some guys at the lego center building a bushel basket, representing an ephah!

I hope to have another opportunity to share God’s word through dramatic storytell in the near future!

 

Earthen Vessels

I have a devotion book that took me to II Cor. today and that took me back to a little tune that I wrote with guitar, years ago. I never did anything with it. Indeed, I forgot all about it.

The spirit brought it back and I thought to myself, you really need to finish what you start! So. I got on my computer; wrote the melody; got my guitar out; and then…

It started out as an easy voice & guitar…then, hmmm, more voice parts….recorder would be cool…I think we need some piano….ooooo!!–cello. ok. That little tune morphed!

I can hardly wait to share, so I emailed all my contenders (haha) for parts. The hard part for me, now, is waiting for it all to come together. And….how do I ever go to sleep NOW?!

JOY Choir in March

Today JOY Choir sang in both services.  I am truly blessed to be working with these kids.  I had many comments of the JOY they brought to our congregation and I add, to myself, as well.

We sang “Oh, How I Love Jesus”.  Many people were very happy to hear them sing an old favorite of their childhoods, but I have to confess, not of mine.  My dear friend, Lila Mae, taught me this song a year or two ago, along with her stories of singing with her children.  I was happy to learn it.  I had it tucked away in my mind to use with JOY Choir sometime, and the time finally came; God’s timing, I believe.

Oh, How I Love Jesus!!  Because, He first Loved me.  Good to know.  He Loves me.  He Loves you.  He Loves us all.  Read John.  Believe in Him today.  Tell Him you Love Him and believe in Him.  Seek the One and Only.  We sing because we’re happy!

 

 

 

 

Merit Bookstore

Thank you to everyone who came out to Merit Bookstore to purchase “Praise Unto The Lord” and have it signed!

Here’s the table:

 

And here are the girls, who came to sign and keep me company in the morning!

 

Je regret not to get the other two in the afternoon!

Remember, you can go online to buy at create space:  https://www.createspace.com/2199448

JOY Choir

JOY Choir is named to bring people the JOY of the Lord.  However, I have found in these last few years that this choir of Kindergarten-2nd graders brings ME the JOY of the Lord, as well, every single week!  The JOY of the Lord is our strength and I teach that to all my children.

This Sunday, we will sing at Avante Nursing Home with Chorister’s Choir.  We will sing some of the songs we have been singing through-out the year.  Sometimes, it is hard to be in the environment where people may not be able to communicate, move, or look happy.  So, we think on “The JOY of the Lord”; bringing that JOY to people in their hearts.  Look to the inside, not the outside.

JOY Choir will sing one song of their own:  “Joy is like the Rain”  I wrote a little glockenspiel part.  Here we are practicing:

 

 

What a blessing to be working with Lenora, who directs Chorister’s Choir!  It is so enjoyable to have a true friend to collaborate ideas with and cheer each other onward!  She has been a vital part to me in writing and recording children’s scripture songs!

Lord, bless all my readers!  Have a JOYful day!

 

 

Now Buy Online!

You may now purchase “Praise Unto The Lord” online! This is the address:

https://www.createspace.com/2199448

Even though this whole project is technically through Amazon, I found out that by going through create space instead of the usual Amazon address that I will receive a royalty of $3.45 instead of 55 cents!

Thank you for supporting me! I’m working on the MP3 now.

If you live nearby, you can send me a message on facebook and I will bring it to you!

Blessings and ((HUGS)) from me!

THEY’RE HERE!

The wait is over and the CDs are here!  God is SO very faithful to me, answering the prayer of acknowledging His power to get them here according to His will.  And here they are!  I never doubted they would come before the 14th.

You can email or message me on fb, or go to Weaver’s Flooring.  More options to come 🙂

The words of my own songs of scripture encourage me:  Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you….Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and lean not to your own…For I AM your God…I will help you…

Sometimes, I uplift myself with Maria’s “Confidence”.  And I have changed it from:  “I have confidence in confidence alone, besides which you see I have confidence in me” to “I have confidence in confidence of God, because I can see He has confidence in me”

I hope you all will get one  and I hope these songs build you up spiritually.

While I am waiting…

Well, the CD was ordered, the release/signing reserved at Blessings Bookstore…the CD production backlogged, release/signing cancelled…communique CD shipped…God’s hand is in this project everywhere I look and so….

While I’m waiting….

We are directing final touches, rehearsals and sharing our Christmas Program:  “A Christmas Carol”.  Chorister’s Choir, JOY Choir, and other children from Sunday School classes are all participating in drama and song to share the good news of Jesus’ LOVE, KINDNESS, and SERVING OTHERS.

This past Wednesday, we shared at Patchwork Pantry: 

This song is a doo-wop entitled, “You gotta have HOPE”  The HOPE that comes from scripture that gives us the message of salvation for tomorrow, for today and for our yesterdays.

The next appearance is on December 15, 5 pm, Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.  If you are in the area, come!  You will receive a blessing through these, God’s children!