Welcome to my blog, or should I say to the ramblings of an old man. I doubt that my ramblings are of much value, but at least I have an opportunity to share them.  So, please be kind and humor me. If nothing else of value stands out in these thoughts, I hope that you at least sense the value I place on a daily walk with the Lord.  That walk is what has provided me with motivation and a sense of purpose throughout my lifetime.  My prayer is that you, too, are experiencing this direction and joy in daily living which is available to everyone who puts his trust in Christ.  So, thanks again for joining me.  Please don't go without leaving some comments here so I can get to know you better as our paths intersect today in this blog.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Sing Along



        For most of my life I have been involved in sharing the Gospel with children.  In junior high I began helping to teach a Good News Club. In senior high I led the children's department in our Sunday School.  After I graduated from college and was married it became a joint ministry as my wife and I again led the children's department.  We then began a family ministry that lasted over 25 years.  And finally we organized and led an Awana ministry for about 32 years.  But health issues have now limited us to prayer support and supplemental help in Awana.   But we have many good memories of those years.
          An important part of our ministry was always music.  We loved to hear the children sing enthusiastically and often do motions. We taught many Bible verses by putting them to music.  We still remember dozens of those,  But times have changed and now most of the singing is done to tapes, videos or computers.  Our songs and methods are seldom used by teachers today.  I guess they are too old fashioned for students and teachers today.
          A few weeks ago we were stopped at a traffic light near an elementary school. The crossing guard was preparing for school dismissal and he walked in front of us carrying a cardboard stop sign.  Suddenly many memories came to my mind and many of the choruses we loved to sing came back to me.  So I've decided this week to share some of them.  If you are old enough to remember them, sing along.  Here goes.


 Do you remember the red stop sign and the green go visuals?
Stop; and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me.
Stop; and let me tell you hat the Lord has done for me.
He forgave my sin and He saved my soul,
He cleansed my heart and He made me whole.
Stop; and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me.

Go and tell the story of the Christ of Calvary,
Go and tell the story of the Christ of Calvary:
He'll forgive their sins, He will save their souls,
He'll cleanse their hearts, He will make them whole.
Go and tell the story of the Christ of Calvary.

How about the watch visual?  This chorus was sung to the same tune.
Watch and be ye ready, for the Lord may come today.
Watch and be ye ready, for the Lord may come today.
He will come again In the clouds for me
And take me home for eternity.
Watch and be ye ready, for the Lord may come today.

Do you remember the motions to either of these?
Running over, running over
My cup is full and running over
Since the Lord saved me
I'm as happy as can be
My cup is full and running over

Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away,
Every burden of my heart rolled away.
Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away,
Every burden of my heart rolled away.
Every sin had to go,
Neath the crimson flow, HALLELUJAH!
Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away,
Every burden of my heart rolled away.

And here is another favorite also sung with motions.
Deep and wide
Deep and wide
There's a fountain flowing deep and wide
Deep and wide
Deep and wide
There's a fountain flowing deep and wide

Here's one that the kids really sang with great enthusiasm.  And what a great testimony it was.  I often wish I could hear kids sing it once again.
I'm going to heaven, can't wait!
Going to see Jesus, can't wait!
Heaven is wonderful, bright and fair,
Praise the Lord I'm going there.
I'll be there for ever, can't wait!
Going to leave never, can't wait!
And I know I'll not be very late,
'Cause I'm going to heaven and I can't wait.
I'm going to heaven,
And I —- can't —- wait! (can't wait!)

I think my favorite chorus with motions was this one - and we used to make up all sorts of extra verses for it.
Jesus is the Rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
Jesus is the Rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
Jesus is the Rock of my salvation
His banner over me is love
His banner over me is love

* There's one way to peace through the power of the cross

* He's the shepherd and we're the sheep.

* He's the vine and we're the branches.

* I love Him and He loves me.

* He brought me to His banqueting table.

* He is preparing a home for me

Then how could I skip this one which the kids also loved to sing?
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart,
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart to stay.
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my h e a r  t!.
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.

*   I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,

*  i have the peace that passeth understanding

*  I have the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer down in the depths of my heart.

Now how many did you remember?   Maybe someday I will do this sing-along once again for there are many more from years ago.  I pray that kids today will have memories of these truths from the music they sing today.  Let me close with the one that we always used in Awana just before our award time.

God is so good
God is so good
God is so good
He's so good to me
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