Here’s Looking at You
The days after Christmas and before New Years take on a different rhythm. While going about the business of cleaning up, storing away, and getting rid of unused and unnecessary items that have surfaced, I am sifting and sorting through my memories. New ones joined many years worth and I realize they are all treasures to be kept and pondered over.
Song brings back memories as vividly as most anything for me. Not that we are musical and have picturesque sing-alongs but the ones sung at Christmas always stir reminders of times and places, people and faces.
My daddy liked to sing “O Christmas Tree” in German. His grandmother taught him as a little boy when being a German immigrant was a vulnerable position to be in. He would always tell us to “never forget where you have come from.” When my grandsons start to sing “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” I remember the verse I sang in my 5th grade Christmas Program as clearly as if it were yesterday.
“When I was a seeker, I sought both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me, and He showed me the way.”
How precious of the Lord to put those words in my mouth before I had a clue what they would mean to me. How do I know it was Him? I know because those words still move me deep in my inner being and I have an inner witness in my spirit. I continue to seek Him after all these years, need His help more than ever, and can declare He has never, ever failed to show me the way!
These words underscore the power of a testimony put to music.
When a note or two of the song “I Love You Lord” begins to play I have a collision of very vivid memories and all the emotions that go with them. I see a beautiful group of fellow believers begin to transition from fellowship to worship as we prepare to study the Word. It was a rich season in many of our lives and not only a warm memory, but a future investment in eternal life.
I also remember a beautiful October afternoon when my heartbroken family stood in the field where we buried James, our son. After the words of commitment were shared, after our friend sang Amazing Grace in his soulful deep voice, our little family circled under the tent and all we knew to sing was, “I love you, Lord.” We sang it to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
Why write about songs and memories today?
Because we are looking toward a new year and while we will bring memories of the past with us, we are instructed to sing new songs to the Lord. (Psalm 33:3; 96:1; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10)
As we look back over 2022, and prepare to seek Him night and day in 2023, I want to encourage you to take some time and begin to write down some phrases, some words, and some new songs of praise to the God of your salvation. He is always at work in our lives and because we know and experience new mercies every single day we wake up, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us write an original, never heard before song of praise that flows from our heart to God’s.
We can look toward this year with hope and expectation if we will take the time to glorify and magnify and honor the new things God is preparing for us in this new year.
I can’t sing, I can’t write music, so don’t get hung up here. The song is being written in your heart, maybe on paper, maybe to be shared, but above all, to be offered as a sacrifice of praise to Him. Your song is creating memories of the inexplicable goodness of God toward you and it is the most profound expression of personal worship you can bring.
With a grateful and humble heart I rejoice over the goodness of God to me and my family. His faithfulness has been poured over our lives every single day of this year. We do not deserve and have not earned His kindness but because He is true to His word, He has shown us, and sometimes carried us every step of the way. As we face this new year, only He knows what it will hold for any of us, but by faith we can declare He is Lord of all, and we believe He is doing new things in our lives for our good and His glory.
