 Remember the Harmony Valley Singing School will begin at Bethany on Monday, June 18, starting at 8:00 a.m. It will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 19-20. Classes start at 8:00 a.m. and go until 12:00. Lunch served and then informal teaching for awhile in the sanctuary. Paul tells us not to be drunk with wine wherein in excess but to be filled with the Spirit. Part of that filling is singing with our God-given organs (our voice) and not a man made instrument. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Eph. 5:19). When we gather together to worship the Lord, we are to come before His presence with singing as this is a part of the worship service. David said, “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing…Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:2, 4). We need to sing the best we can, but let us remember that this is not only an audible experience but a heart-felt experience, making melody in the heart. When the heart is cheerful, the result is a great blessing for the child of God. Solomon said, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” (Prov. 15:13). “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Prov. 17:22). May the Lord be praised in all our endeavors and not man as we are commanded in the scriptures to give all the glory to the Lord. “Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (I Chron 16:27-29)–June 9, 2012–Elder Larry Wise
