And be sure to read the PS.

Wednesday   10-14-15  High in the Sky heading to SFO from Spain

Scripture reading:    Neh 11-12   Ps 1   Acts 3

S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Neh 12:46-47  The custom of having choir directors to lead the choirs in hymns of praise and thanks to God began long ago in the days of David and Asaph.  NLT

O.  Brother Nehemiah set it up.  Two coordinated, trained choirs took opposite routes on top of the newly completed walls of Jerusalem... they sang praises to God as they went and finally they met and marched together to the temple. There, under the able leadership of their respective choir leaders, they sang their hearts out in praise to God Who had brought them out of captivity and into a new life of His service.

Young and old had heard of the great choirs directed by King David and his music author and director, Asaph.  Now the sounds of victory and praise echoed over the surrounding hills. 

A.  I am an old man now, they tell me, but I remember songs from my youth.  I remember singing in the 1,000 voice Billy Graham Crusade choir in Portland, Oregon, directed by Cliff Barrows.  We sang “My Sins are Blotted Out, I know” and “How Great Thou Art.”  I sang tenor.  We had practiced for months in smaller groups for the big event.

P.  Lord Jesus, somewhere down in the depths of my soul old songs still play their tunes calling up rich memories and deep seated emotions.  Now my old voice can’t belt it out in song like back then.  But soon... and very soon I plan to get a new set of vocal chords and maybe I’ll get to sing tenor with the backdrop of heaven’s musical instruments.  What a day that will be!  Amen.

Ralph

PS.  Some of you may recall that in December 2014 I had lost my singing voice and had only a scratchy speaking voice left.  Finally in February the specialist told me he had examined my vocal chords and there was permanent damage.  He said some people in these cases choose an operation, but he did not recommend it... since it might even make things worse.  I could not even hum a tune.  Felipe squeaked when he tried to sing.  I returned to Argentina in early March anyway... and some visiting youth from Redding Bethel prayed for me.  Within three days I knew God had definitely touched my vocal chords.  I went on to preach 59 times in the following three months.  Now I have just completed driving a rented car 2040 miles, visiting Argentine missionaries serving throughout Spain and preaching 24 times in 16 days... and my voice feels as strong as the day I started.  To God be the glory!