…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).
I gaze out at the gathering of residents as they are singing along with the prelude, “…and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own…!” Their faces radiate a reverent peace as they worship the Lord, thanking God for His blessings and faithfulness in their lives.
These residents’ worship is a beautiful testimony that our faith can be vibrant in every season of life. God Himself promises, “even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4).
I have a lot of “favorite” parts of my job as the Pine Haven chaplain, but singing the classic, timeless hymns with our residents is surely near the top of the list. I shared recently with our residents that we would be updating our yellow songbooks to include some additional hymns. Suggestions immediately came from the audience: “make sure to include _________!”
The fact is, many of our residents barely even need songbooks because the words of these hymns have been written on their hearts since they were children. What a Friend We Have in Jesus; How Great Thou Art; Holy, Holy, Holy, and so many others – they are great reminders of God’s greatness, faithfulness, and grace to every generation. And then there’s “Jesus Loves Me” – we first learn it as children in Sunday School, but we never outgrow its message, do we? And our residents sing it from the depths of their hearts.
Something happens when we fix our eyes on God and sing His praises. It puts everything else, even the storms and challenges of life, in perspective. God is good! He is faithful and majestic, and so very worthy of our worship and praise.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him (Psalm 40:3). Praise the Lord!
God’s blessings to each one of you,
Pastor Andrew
Pine Haven chaplain
