Sing!

“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary; 
praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works; 
praise his unequaled greatness!
Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; 
praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; 
praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; 
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!” - Psalm 150 NLT

A few years ago, after practicing my girls AAU team as we prepared for some upcoming tournaments, some guys I know who have started a band were rehearsing some songs in one of the rooms just off the gym. So, Ellie, Abbie, SG and I decided to sit in and listen to their country flavored sound for a while.

It served as a great reminder to me of how much I loved music and how much I missed singing. It took me back to the days when I used to sit in on a set or two with some guys who would play the beach circuit from Destin to Pensacola. And it reminded me of the years I sang on Praise Teams in Pensacola and Tallahassee.

I could play basketball in front of thousands of people with no real nervousness once the game started. I could speak before hundreds of people with nary a butterfly in my stomach. Yet even though music has always been a big part of my life, singing always made me nervous and self-conscious. Until I would/could finally relax and just sing, and enjoy the song, the moment.

My friends with the beach band made that easy for me. Just knowing they were there with me and were ready to fill in if I stumbled on a word or lost my key. They allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and enjoy the song, the moment... and realize I could sing a little bit, if I had the confidence. Those moments with the band allowed me the confidence to sing in public. And to sing with confidence whether with them or on my own. Sing like I would in the car or in the shower.

My Worship Leaders and bandmates made it easy for me, allowing me to just sing as if I was singing for the Lord, with no judgement (I was already my own worst critic). They allowed me to sing as if there was no one else in the room. And to have confidence that I could sing with the other singers and, with the right sound guy, blend in just fine... They would allow me to even fight my nerves and my confidence, and sing a solo from time to time without completely embarrassing myself or the Praise Team

As I sat and listened to my friends sing and play that night , Psalm 150 again came to mind. Reminding us to sing. Maybe not in public anymore, but to sing as “everything that has breath sing praise to the Lord”... to dance like David danced... to worship Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength... with a new song in my heart and on my lips.

He wants us all to make joyful noise to the Lord... Sing... and Play... and Dance…

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem