By: "Bro.Larry"
Have you ever had one of
those nights where you can't
sleep because you're restless
and disturbed but you have no idea
what you're disturbed about?
Maybe you are feeling a bit
down and can't sleep? But
you can't put a finger on what
the problem is?
I have found that instead of
searching for answers
(which might not come
anyway) a good thing to do
is to communicate with God.
Notice I said communicate,
which means it's a two-sided conversation. It's good to
talk to God, but in the
stillness of the midnight hour it's
also a good time to listen.
It's a good time to talk to God
in a different way than normal.
What I mean is to talk to
God as you would a friend. Not following a format is more
personal. Will you figure
out why you're disturbed?
Maybe. If you listen, there is
no limit to what you might
learn. In times like this it's good sometimes to even listen
to one of your Southern
Gospel tapes. Sometimes we
respond to those songs
better when we can feel them.
Sometimes the message we
hear is just what God wants
us to know. I've had several
times where I would listen to
a song but I really didn't
hear it until one of those
nights that
I was down.
God uses many ways to
communicate with us.
Sometimes
when we experience one
of those disturbing nights that we
don't even know what we're
disturbed about, maybe that's
the time God wants us to
listen. We spend so much time
trying to answer all the
questions in life and maybe i
nstead of doing all that mind
work we need to simply
listen. God
has a way of clearing out
our mind and giving us rest.
We just need to let Him do
that and listen. If we quit
trying to have all the answers
and let God handle it, those
disturbing nights might become
a thing of the past.
*********************
Fan Fair is an outreach
of The
Larry Mullinax Ministries
of Perryton, TX. For more
Information about our
ministry, please visit our
web site:
www.thelarrymullinaxministries.com
For prayer and other info,
email us at: staff@thelarrymullinaxministries.com
*********************
Triva Question: I have been a member of the
Florida Boys for over 50 years. I founded the
group and have seen many great singers come
and go successfully in my years. Who am I?
Shape Note Harmony
Opal Harris
SHAPED NOTE HARMONY
BY: OPAL HARRIS
I HOPE ALL HAD A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS. I haven't been to many singing due to the cold weather and my friend or should I say my enemy Mr. Arthritis. I've lots of time to think about old times and singing schools. As a child, I attended several singing schools in my church and other community churches. These were held in the summer and usual lasted ten nights. There was a lot of music theory taught, but the predominate thing for me was learning to sing Do, Re, Mi by the shaped notes and counting the measures. Learning to count is a very important part of gospel music, and it sets apart singers and musicians who have not had this training. At one time Texas had three music publishing companies that published gospel music, but today only one remains. When I attending singing school whether in Texas or other states, there were books printed in shaped notes from Speer, Leoma, Cumberland, Jeffress and Tennessee and Vaughan music companies. All of the singers who direct are free to choose a song to sing from any of the books. We had several of the best pianists in gospel music and enjoyed our singings as much as the Homecoming Singers. I'm glad they are still part of gospel music today, and teaching a new generation of singers and musicians. One of the things that a singing school does is give you confidence. When you know what to do with your hand and where to pitch your voice, when to sing or rest, and what to do if you make a mistake, you are on you way to success!, especially with the Lord on your side. Remember to Keep on Singing-----call me with your news @ 939-634-9688 or email me @fiddlesticksharr@aol.com
"REMEMBER TO KEEP ON SINGING"
OPAL
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A SONG!
by Rev Lamar Denby
"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and trust in the Lord," (Psalm 40:3).
Attending church revivals, homecomings, and gospel singings with my grandmother, Lela Wilburn Denby, was a big part of my upbringing. She once gave me a LP by The Happy Goodman Family for attending a two week singing school to learn shape notes. I'm thankful for the seed she planted in my heart.
Songwriters and singers like Dottie Rambo, the late Rusty Goodman, Aaron Wilburn, Bill Gaither, and Gerald Crabb, and others have written some great songs for the Lord. Songs that lift up Jesus and His power to heal, save, and deliver. Anointed songs that tell of the Cross, the Blood, and the empty tomb. Gospel songs!
In a revival service at a church in Mississippi, just before I was to preach, a lady stepped to the platform and sang "He Looked Beyond My Fault And Saw My Need," a Dottie Rambo favorite. As she was singing, the Spirit of the Lord fell in that place like I've not seen in a long time. It was awesome! I preached that night from the Gospel of St. John chapter eight where Jesus said to the adulteress woman, "Neither Do I Condemn Thee: Go, And Sin No More." In the Altar Call many came forward weeping and broken before the Lord, and a woman whose sin was the same, trusted Jesus and was saved. God used a song!
At Boles Field Arena, near Shelbyville, Texas, on a Friday night, The Stanley's closed their part of the crusade with Trish Harvill singing the song "Four Days Late," written by Aaron Wilburn. You could feel the mighty presence and power of God in that stadium as she sang about Jesus being on time and raising Lazarus from the dead. I preached from Acts 4:8-14, a message titled, "Jesus Can Make You Whole," and a young man who was bound by alcohol came down and received the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart and was immediately saved and set free. At the end of the service his entire family was saved. God used a song!
I fear the Church today is moving away from anointed gospel music and preaching. In its stead we are placing music and preaching that appeals only to the flesh. It is nothing more than cheap entertainment. Like David, the sweet singer of Israel, we must thirst for the living God and desire His presence and power. We've got to have a song!
Lamar is the Senior Pastor of Highway Baptist Church in Huntington, Texas, where he has served since 1984. The Lord has opened doors for him to preach the Gospel in many churches and public arenas such as amphitheaters, high school auditoriums, and civic centers. He has shared the platform with nationally known Southern Gospel artists like The Toney Brothers, The Southern Plainsmen Quartet, and The Stanley's.
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