Singing from An Old Songbook

I've been sitting at the piano going through an old songbook we sang out of when I was a child. Oh the memories that flood my mind.  As I played and sang I started thinking...Anyone that's having a rough day, and this life has them down, needs to read the words to the songs in an old songbook. They'll remember "that blessed hope" and how wonderful it will be when we get on the other side!  They'll remember that even though this life has its problems..."It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!"  What a grand homecoming we're going to have!  Im just...thinking out loud and dreaming about my future home.  

A Time Well Spent

As I was getting ready to go to bed tonight, I felt drawn to sit down at my piano. The songs that flooded my mind and got my fingers to "tickling the ivory" were:

Everybody Will Be Happy Over There
Until Then
I Want to Go There
Lord, When Are You Coming?
I Want to Hear Your Welcome

Once I started singing, I didn't want to stop, so I kept playing and singing for awhile. The longer I sang, the more "homesick" I got for Heaven. I want to be ready to meet The Lord when He comes to take us all home.

There's something great about letting your "soul" sing. It lightens your load. It re-focuses your mind. It brings to remembrance the one thing that's most important, and keeps Heaven in view. Oh yes! I had a wonderful time as I sang. My voice isn't as strong as it once was, and at times it struggles to reach a note, but my heart had no problem of reaching into the heavens. Then, I felt Him walk into MY world, and I had the desire to grow closer to Him!

Just Sing!

I've lived a long time, and I do not remember hearing people talk about the "old vs. new" songs as much I hear now. I'm really getting kind of tired of it. :-) Not wanting to get into a discussion about it, please. It's just an observation I've been thinking about. I have decided to go to church, worship God from the depths of my heart, and if I don't know the song, and really don't even like the style of it, what does it matter? If I focus my attention on HIM...I will be doing well. If I can't...then...I'll figure it out at that time, but my worship doesn't depend on anyone else and what they do or don't do. Let's live for God with gladness, and let everyone around us know that we're not "gripey guts"! I say all of this with love, kindness, and goodwill toward my fellow travelers. I will close with this song that is "old, yet new if you've never heard it"... ;-) "I feel like traveling on...I feel like traveling on. My heavenly home is bright and fair, and I feel like traveling on." If the trumpet sounds tonight I will see you all on the other side and we will all be singing a NEW SONG...

P.S.   I really think it is a ploy of the enemy to get us distracted from our worship!  We can get so wrapped up in things we don't like that we become focused on that one thing and lose the meaning of true worship!  

 

Songs I Remember

I was rummaging through a box tonight and ran across an old songbook and while thumbing through it memories flooded my mind. One time when Keith and I were sitting in church together and the congregation was singing "out of the songbook", Keith leaned over and said, "Linda, let's sing it EXACTLY the way it's written." We both were in choir at school and knew how to read music, so we began. Oh my word! We weren't too far into the song when we realized our Pentecostal congregation wasn't singing the song the way it was written. We almost couldn't sing for laughing, because we sounded REALLY OFF from everyone else. I tried hard NOT to laugh for fear of being "called down" by Daddy, but it was impossible. I'm glad we weren't caught that time!

As I was looking through the songbook I had so many wonderful memories of singing around the piano with Grandpa Pound leading our family in song making sure EVERY part was sung. I saw him go find Mother in the house, take her by the hand, and start leading her through the house. I heard her giggle and asked, "Daddy, where are we going?" (I'm sure she already knew) Grandpa didn't answer, he just kept walking taking her straight to the piano. He then motioned her to sit down, and then he sat beside her. He had already picked out a new song he wanted her to learn and play for him. She started playing, then I heard him stop her and say, "No, that's not the right timing." They worked at it until they got it right, and the most beautiful music would come from the living room. In a little while Grandma would go sit on the couch with her "tatting" and listen and "tat". As a little girl I would come in and stand by the piano and watch Mother's hands sweep across the piano keys. I LOVED listening to the piano as Mother played, and loved hearing her and Grandpa sing! There are so many memories of when the family came together for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I can hear the Pound Family singing as if it were yesterday. Grandpa took the lead, or whatever part wasn't being sung, Mother sang alto, C.W. lead or tenor, and Uncle James sang bass. Those were glorious times in a little girls life.

Some of the songs I saw in the songbook I remember learning for the first time around the piano at Grandpa's house, then we would go to church in Bloomington, CA and Grandpa would teach it to the congregation. What fun we had! If Grandpa didn't hear EVERY part he would stop everyone and point out the people he knew should be singing lead, alto, tenor, and bass, and make sure they knew their part, THEN we could sing the song. The singing was like Heavenly music. I wish I could explain to you how I felt as a little girl when I would hear and sing with Grandpa leading the congregation.

Does anyone remember these songs?

1. I Have Found the Way
2. I'm On the Stairway to Heaven
3. When I Reach That City
4. Let Me Walk In the Light
5. The Love of God
6. When the Redeemed Are Gathering In
7. How Long, O Lord?
8. Living By Faith
9. He Is Coming - Vs. 1 When the Lord went back to heaven to prepare for us a place His disciples stood and gazed yup in the air....
10. Thank you, Dear Lord - Cho. Thank you, thank you dear Lord, for all you have done for me; You rescued my soul from the bondage of sin, and gave me victory.
11. I Know I'm Saved
12. Joy Bells In My Soul - Cho. Waves of glory, wondrous glory, Over me like the sea billows roll; And the joy bells, mighty joy bells, Keep a song ringing out in my soul.
13. Way Up In Glory Land - Cho. When I get inside the portals, way up in glory land. I'll sing and I'll shout hallelujah, way up in glory land.
14. In the Sweet Forever - Cho. In that beautiful city (beautiful city) Of the sweet forever (some happy day) Where the river of life (where the river of life) Goes ebbing by (goes ebbing by) We'll look upon the beauty (look upon the beauty) that fades no never (fades not away) And happy we''ll be (and happy we'll be) While the ages fly. (while the ages fly).
15. Take the Name of Jesus With You - I loved it when Daddy would sing this song at the close of the service, just as everyone was starting to gather their things together and head home.
16. I Want To Hear "You're Welcome"
17. I'm Bound for That City
18. When I've Gone the Last Mile of the Way
19. He Saved My Soul - Vs. 1 The Savior said come follow me and from your sins I'll set you free. He saved my soul, from sin and shame. When I bowed down upon my knees and cried "Dear Jesus, save me please." He saved my soul, O praise His Name.
20. When Our Lord Shall Come Again

I've gone through about half of the book and found some of the ones I remember so I'll stop now. If you happen to be one of the ones who remembers these songs, I know you're having your own special "memory moment". There was something about singing these songs that made our spirits soar and our hearts were made glad. Or, if it was a song about "being ready to meet Him" then you were made to think about your soul, and see if you were "right with God". There were many nights during "song service" conviction would come sweeping through the congregation and I had such a longing to be SAVED! Other times when we were singing about "being brought out of sin" and "what the Lord had done for us", there would be a great excitement feel our hearts, and there was dancing in our feet, because we had been "set free". I get excited remembering the great times we had in the presence of the Lord. I still get "happy" (as the old timers called it) when I go to church and we sing the songs of the redeemed! There's nothing like being in a Pentecostal power-packed service!

New Kind of Feeling

I'm going to say right up front that I'm sure there's not too many people that will understand what I'm going to write. Now...I've really got your curiosity up! It's really no big deal, but to me a "new kind of feeling" hit me this week.

As you all know, I LOVE to TRAVEL! I'm also one that doesn't get too attached to my houses. Ok...I can hear some of you ladies now as you catch your breath, and I see you shaking your heads! Unlike most ladies I have known in my life, I actually have no problem letting someone come into my kitchen and allowing them to organize it the way they think it ought to be done. I have moved several times and I always welcomed the help of unloading boxes and putting things away. I guess one reason why it didn't bother me to have someone else "organizing my kitchen" is I knew I could go into my kitchen and put things where I wanted them, if I wanted it different.

When we moved into our last house in Wichita Falls I had two interior decorators come in and decorate it. They asked me what I liked, and my answer to them almost made them faint! I said, "You know...I really don't know what I want. I just want you to decorate my house. I want it to be beautiful and when I walk in I want to like it!" They couldn't believe I wasn't going to tell them what I wanted. I figured that's what interior decorators were FOR! I had too many other things on my mind to have to worry about decorating a house! Are ya'll still breathing????? They were thrilled that they had free-reign in my house, and were so kind to tell me that if I didn't like something I could take it down, put it in the corner, and they would pick it up! I did exactly that. They left a price list of all the things they used and I decided what I wanted and didn't want! It was GREAT!

When I moved to Lufkin and bought a smaller house I was so afraid all my pretty things I had bought 3 years earlier would not fit. I was very surprised when most everything I bought, flower arrangements included, fit beautifully!!! Talk about excited! I was one happy lady! Some of my furniture did not work, but that was okay, because we were starting a brand new "style of living" in our "patio home". It is very cozy and I enjoy opening the blinds in the morning to look outside at the beautiful trees, and I love watching as the birds and squirrels play around the trees. I've even had beautiful humming-birds at my bird feeder! It's a very lovely setting and it brings peace to my mind.

Now for that "new kind of feeling" I have been experiencing...

As I walked through my house this week, I realized that I am really getting attached to it! I've talked to ladies through the years that they HATED being away from home, and to be very truthful, I really didn't understand it! Any time I could be on the road for a few days seeing the beauty God created was always wonderful to me. Now...this week, I had a "lonely feeling" go through my heart when I thought about leaving my HOUSE! I'm still trying to decide if I like that or not. As much as we travel I really don't want to start wanting to be home when we have to be gone!

I wonder if the way I've been feeling is how we all should feel about the "home" we have never seen before. Somehow, I get a "new kind of feeling" when I think about the "home" that is waiting for us, and I feel "homesick" to go. I've been traveling here a long time, and have friends and family that are waiting for me. Jesus is also there and He's wanting to see me. This "new kind of feeling" that surrounded me this week is making me think a little differently now. I understand a little better what the "longing for my eternal home" feels like.

Daddy and Mother used to sing a song that I have loved through the years. I can still hear their voices from the living room as they sang:

I've got a longing. I'm homesick to go!
To a land without heartache, no sorrow, or woe.
There's nothing but trouble in this world below.
I'm homesick for Heaven, I've got a longing to go!

There voices were strong and I could feel the passion they had for Heaven. Then Mother went into a different tempo and they continued:

Lord, when are you coming?
Lord, I've waited so long.
Come and get me Jesus.
Lord, I want to go home.

Footsore and weary. Lonesome and blue.
Homesick for Heaven and my Savior, too.
I've been reading my Bible.
'Bout a land beyond the blue.
Come and get me Jesus.
Lord, I want to go home.

I love the words to that song! But, more than the words I LOVED the presence of God I felt as they lifted their voices as one. Yes, I've got a "new kind of feeling", but now that I think about it, it just might be more about Heaven than it is about my "earthly home".

My Heart Sings

Last night we went to the Installation Service for Pastor Jeff and Lee Jones. The presence of the Lord was felt throughout the service. One of the ministers that was introduced sang the chorus of this beautiful song: "Just to Walk With Him". My mind, my heart, my soul was like a sponge as I recognized the words to this song has been and still is my very heartbeat! I don't want anything to take the place of my time with Jesus! Here are the words.

Just to walk with Him means everything to me.
Just to know He's there and His hand is leading me.
Though the world may pass me by, go their way, let me be.
Just to walk with Him means everything to me.

For the last few days my heart has been singing songs of "yesterday", and as I sat at my piano here in my home, I felt the strength and power of the songs that kept flooding my mind. As I would sing I felt His presence come close.

I've been on the mountain with Jesus.
I've been in the valley so low.
But not one time has He failed me.
When to Him with my burdens I go.

So let me walk with you Jesus.
Don't ever leave me alone.
For without you I could never.
No, never make heaven my home.

Then...

What can He do with a life that's steeped in sin?
What can He do with no hope of life within?
Lift up the fallen man, out of the sinking sand,
Through Calvary's saving plan.
That's what He can do!

What can He do for you? Low helpless, sad, and blue?
He'll do what other friends can never do.
He hears each time you pray.
Drives all the doubts away.
Turns darkest night to day.

That's what He can do.

Who wouldn't want to serve Jesus Christ? He NEVER goes back on His promises. He has been what He said He would be in my life!

I could go on and on "singing" these songs because they are in my heart and I love to sing, but I will stop for now. I trust you all have a wonderful Sunday in the presence of the King!

Oh, I just can't stop without this song that came to my mind. It was written by my dear friend: Bobbie Shoemake

It won't be long now, 'til we see Jesus.
It won't be long, 'til He appears.
The lights of glory are shining brighter.
And I just feel it won't be long.

When the trumpet sounds, I will meet you all on the other side! We just might hear it this week!

Won't we have a time when we get over yonder?