Thankful Thursday - June 19, 2008

"Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy." Psalm 33:3

I am thankful for the music that God has given us! Music has always been a large part of my life and I am blessed almost daily by something I hear on the radio, on CD, or a song my kids are singing around the house.

I grew up in a musical family. My mother has played the piano since she was a child. She taught piano lessons in our house as I was growing up and has played the piano in most of the churches we attended while I was growing up. My father grew up playing the trumpet in band and then was a high school band director for a number of years before following God's calling into full time music ministry. My grandparents also enjoy music in many ways, as well as many of my aunts and uncles. So, as you can probably guess, music has always been around me and is something that I cannot imagine being without.

As an adult I have found that music is such a powerful force for me in my daily walk with the Lord. There are so many wonderful Christian artists and so many different avenues for finding and playing their wonderful songs of worship and praise. It provides for me a wonderful way to praise and worship God in my car, as I clean house, or just as I sit and meditate on His Word.

One of my favorite times to worship and spend time with God while listening to music is in my car as I travel to and from work each day. Not only is this a wonderful blessing on good days, but it provides me a great source of strength and comfort on those not so good days.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of music and all the ways it has been, and continues to be, such a special blessing in my life.