Tag Archives: Hearing

Be Careful Little Ears . . .

29 Jan

Child Covering Ears

“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.”
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (KJV)

We recently moved to a small town in northern Arizona. It’s right next to another small town, 25 miles from a bigger town, and 35 miles from the small town I work in. In all of these small towns you can count the number of radio stations on one hand, and they all play Country-Western music. Once in a while a classical station fades in, and hightails out just as quickly.

There are wonderful Country-Western music artists and their songs depict hope and joy – and if it wasn’t for, well . . . let me tell you a story. When I was little, both of my parents were alcoholics. A paycheck meant for food, rent and utilities was spent at the Longhorn Bar. Many nights my brother (2 years my younger) and I huddled together on the floor of the car, windows up, doors locked, drunks banging on the side of the car yelling “Hey, there’s kids in there,” the red neon longhorn sign lit up the parking lot . . . and Country-Western music permeated the air.

When I was giving birth to my oldest son, things started going terribly wrong and I was wheeled into the operating room for an emergency C-Section. One of the technicians saw what was happening and took her cassette player, put the earphones over my ears and turned on the soothing music of a popular artist so I “couldn’t hear the cutting” that they were about to do. I suspect it was also so I could not hear the concerned conversations of the doctors as they struggled for 3 hours.

To this day, when I hear Country-Western music, or a song by that popular artist, I shake. The trauma has associated itself, deep in my subconscious, with that music.

I will never forget the years I spent in a large choir in a big church in Phoenix. Because of the spiritual relationship each choir member had with Jesus, even during practice the anointing fell and filled the building. The anointing chased away the daily worries, concern for unpaid bills, strained relationships and fear. The anointing bathed those who entered with peace and broke their hearts for more of Jesus.

That anointing built up during the service worship and it was common to see dozens of people at the altar, calling out to God. There were shouts of praise, sobs of release, prayers of forgiveness and a crescendo of peace.

I have made a choice to only listen to music that worships God; to music that brings the anointing, to music that encourages and bring peace. I’m so thankful that even though I live in a little town with limited radio choices, I have an MP3 player that sings to my spirit and orchestrates my day.

There’s an old song that starts “Oh, be careful little ears, what you hear. Oh, be careful little ears, what you hear. For the Father up above, is looking down in love, so be careful little ears what you hear.” Why? Because it gets deep down into our Spirit and attaches our soul to the . . . pain? Fear? Trauma? Or, to the anointing; hope, joy and faith?

My Jesus, my choice is to always bathe in your anointing. Please prick my heart if I am ever tempted to stray. Let me be an example to a hurting world of how to turn to You and Your presence through worship music and a humble heart. Selah!

By Linda J. Humes

Written 1-29-2012

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The Music of Life

7 Feb

 

music of nature

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”      Isaiah 55:12 (KJV)

I recently watched a movie called August Rush.  It was a delightful story about a young boy, given up to an orphanage as a newborn, who grew up in the orphanage hoping and believing that one day he would find his parents.

The unique thing about this young boy was that he could hear the music of life.  Everywhere he was he heard music; the music of the tree leaves moving in the wind, the music of the grass in a breeze, the music of the water in a brook, the music of a fan turning, the sound of a bus starting and braking in traffic, the cars moving in rhythm to the traffic lights; music – everywhere.  I thought I was the only one!!

I have a difficult time keeping track of the time of day.  I surround myself with clocks to help me stay on task.  Each clock has its own unique tick and movement.  As I sit here writing, there is a beautiful clock above my monitor, pink roses surrounding the numbers, making a loud rhythmic sound.  I can hear music in my head that encompasses that beat and enhances that tick.  Not a song that I’ve heard before, or one that can be sung, but a tune to be hummed and explored.

Outside there is an explosion of music.  I live far out of town and the birds, each species, has their own distinct sound, pitch and rhythm when they call, fly or perch.  The insects have their own sound (especially the mosquitos).  Walking on the ground has its own sound.  The beat and tone of a gentle rain, and the loud and specific crash of heavy rain.  The sound and beat of the waves hitting the shore, some peaceful and gentle, while others loud and angry.  The crisp and shocking sound of thunder.  The light tapping of the hens pecking at their food and the smooth hum of a generator running in the distance.  It all has its own sound.  The wind, gentle or at gale force, has a specific and unique sound, rising and falling, rising and falling.  All of these sounds blend together into a wonderful symphony of musicians calling to God with their joy, exclaiming His glory!

God made everything to sing its own story to everyone and everything around.

Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.  They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.  The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.   Psalm 65:11-13

God used some of those songs to bring joy to us, His children.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.   Proverbs 18:4

God also uses these sounds and songs to warn His people of danger or when to wait for His signal before going forward.

And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.   2 Samuel 5:24

He made a complex and intricate rhythm to every aspect of earth and man, creating a beautiful and perfect harmon, if we would only spend time listening.  Listening, something we take so little time to do, especially if it doesn’t advance forward our day.  Listening, not just hearing, not just being present – Listening.

God gave us this amazing and miraculous life filled with music and beauty and wonderful other people.  He could force us to slow down and listen, but it would not hold the incredible enjoyment of experiencing it out of true worship.

Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.   Psalm 98:8

I challenge you to turn off the noise and listen for the music.  Walk outside in the early morning or late night and listen to the birds and insects singing.  The trees will rustle in the cool breeze.  There will be a rhythm of the vehicles traveling nearby.  Footsteps on a walk will have a beat all of their own; unique.  Your own heartbeat and breathing pattern sings in unison with each other.  Can you hear it?  Even when we don’t listen, they sing.  They offer up their worship to God when they are being completely ignored by everyone on earth.  They sing, in their own special sound, their own special beat, their own special pitch; they sing.  It is time to join them.  Sing!

Thank you God for allowing us to hear the perfect music created by and dedicated to You.  Help us to hear this, Your wonderful and excellent gift.

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