Music for Sunday 17 January 2010
January 12, 2010 by Rob Westwood-Payne
Filed under News, Random Jottings
The Songsters will sing Your grace still amazes me, in our morning meeting.
St Paul wrote: “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
It is difficult for us to fathom the grace and longsuffering of our Lord. We find ourselves equating God’s patience with that of mankind, limited and partial. But it is the unlimited patience of the Lord that gives us hope–hope that while we are changing and growing, He will continue to love and befriend us.
How many people do you know who say, “I just can’t live the Christian life. I don’t have what it takes to be that good.”? We should assure them that’s exactly right! Not one of us has what it takes in ourselves to “live the life”; that is why we need a saviour. Face it. If we could do it by ourselves there would be no need for Jesus. But we can’t. That’s why He came to earth—to empower us to do what we could not do on our own.
Even when we continue to wrestle with old habits, bad attitudes and jaded hearts, God’s love for us never wavers. Our weakness makes God’s unlimited patience all the more evident. The apostle Paul, including himself among those who tried God’s patience, said he was shown mercy as “an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
This is not a crutch we lean on as an excuse to sin. Rather it is the understanding that even though our best is not good enough He doesn’t give up on us. He is changing us by His grace.
“Oh God, I am thankful for Your unlimited patience: you never give up on us but have high hopes and plans for our success. You see us as victors and overcomers in this life, and we are…by Your Spirit that is at work in us even now, causing us to talk, walk, and act like You our Father.”
Now that’s amazing!
In the evening meeting we will sing one of our favourite songs – Richard Smallwood’s Total praise.
World-class composer, pianist and arranger, Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of gospel music. He can impeccably blend classical movements with traditional gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood’s alone. A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honours; Dove Awards and a Grammy also attest to his talents. At age five, he was playing piano by ear, at seven, began formal training, and at eleven, formed his first gospel group.
Richard’s music has never been confined to any one artistic genre. His song, “I Love The Lord” crossed onto the big screen when Whitney Houston sang it in the film, The Preacher’s Wife. The same song was also used in the tune,”Dear God” by R&B artists, BoyzIIMen on their CD, Evolution.
This song, which has become a standard in churches around the world is based on the words of Psalm 121:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore”.
We use this song as a fitting end to many of our concerts.
Why not join us for our meetings at 10:30am and 6:00pm at The Salvation Army, Meredith Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5EP.
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Rob Westwood-Payne grew up in The Salvation Army at Norwich Citadel. He left Norwich to study at the University of Warwick and became fully involved in the music centre there culminating in his conducting Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to a full house in Symphony Hall in Birmingham. He also transferred to The Salvation Army at Coventry City, where he became Songster Leader at the age of 21. He was made Songster Leader at Cradley Heath in April 1998 shortly before marrying Gail in the following October. He is a former leader of the West Midlands Divisional Youth Chorus and is currently Programme Director at the West Midlands Divisional Summer School for The Salvation Army. He is an Associate Solicitor in the Licensing Team of a national practice based in the south west.