December 23, 2024

Girls with Swords: Chapter 11 Weekly Review – “Sword of Song” (with a SURPRISE Guest!!)

 

Welcome to Campground USA

Log Cabins, Nature Trails, Canoes,

Paddle Boats, Bikes, Fishing

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Sing unto the Lord a new song!”  Did this group ever worship the Lord in song this week and bring joy to Campground USA!  Music, music, music could be heard blaring from our cabins, and women singing all up and down the nature trails as they went on their morning walk.  Guess who else was singing with us?  Why, the birds, of course!  They seemed to be saying:  “It’s about time you all joined in with us!”

Even the other campers didn’t seem to mind the sound of music and songs filtering throughout the campground.  Yes, music is a universal language everyone seems to relate to.  But, as a sword??  Who would have thought?  I can’t wait to see how my girlfriends explain this one.  Let’s check them out!

Teresa

Lisa begins this chapter with the introduction of a truly amazing sword.  (The flamberge, which means “flame blade.”) This sword causes vibrations which loosens the opponent’s grip and causes them to lose footing.  The vibrations give the sword-bearer the upper hand. 

The same thing happens when the created ones praise the Creator.  The power is in the praise.  Lisa says, “as we singespecially when we sing the Wordthe airwaves begin to vibrate with sound, and the grip of the enemy slips as the friction between light and darkness increases.”  

When we sing praises to God the Father, the Creator, we join our vibrations with other humans, animals, and His creation to return thanks and worship to One worthy to be praised.

Jennifer

Exodus 15:1-2 says:  I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise Him – my father’s God, and I will exalt Him!

This song marks the origin or beginning of songIt came after the Lord had just parted the Red Sea for the Israelites allowing them all to cross; then the water rushed back into place, sweeping the Egyptians away with it. 

Music:

  • draws us closer to our Creator
  • it invites Him into our space and allows Him to work
  • provides a means of coping with a difficult life situation
  • declares our trust in the One who is trustworthy; the One who loves us beyond comprehension; and the One who seeks to meet our every need in His perfect time
  • God is magnified, His dominion is declared over our situation.  As He inhabits the praises of His people, we are before Him even as He is within us.  Our hearts begin to swell with His courage as they overflow with gratitude.  (Lisa)

Lift your voice to the King.  He is waiting to hear your voice!

Tonya

Isaiah 54:1 says: “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. (NKJV)

Just as Lisa has described it:  “The sounds of music helps to create a type of joyful strength and the ability to remind us of just how awesome the Most High is.”

There are times in our lives when we need to pick up our sword of song, we need to wield it, shout and sing.  The song of battle needs to be one of our tools as a warrior of Christ, and as a girl with a sword.

Diane

There are some things I feel compelled to share with you about this chapter.

1.  Revelation 4:9-10  Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

The first time I read this passage —-

  • It helped me solidify who God is in my life.  He is worthy of all of my praise, glory, and honor.
  • It challenges me to make sure that in everything I do, there are elders on their knees in Heaven worshipping our One and Only.

2.  Music invites your body to move, but remembering all that God has done for you will move you.  (Lisa) It will move you out of darkness!

3.  The song that moved me out of some of the darkest hours of my life is:

I love you Lord, and I lift my voice

To worship you, oh my soul rejoice.

Take joy, my King, in what you hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.

4.  Is the song you sing every day the life you live for God? 

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After Diane spoke, I stood before the group and spoke.

Ladies, I believe the Sword of Song has touched all of our hearts in a powerful way.  Tonight, as we enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, we are very blessed to have a very special Guest; one of our very own GCH group members leading us into God’s presence.  

Would you please welcome Coleen Hayden and her husband Robert, as they minister to us in song. Coleen is our Prayer Ministry Leader, and we just love her to pieces!  Sing to Him a New Song!

Thank you Robert & Coleen for blessing us with such a beautiful song!

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Let’s Pray: 

I come into agreement with Diane’s prayer that seems to sum up the whole chapter.  I thank You for orchestrating the songs of our lives.  Help us to play back to You the music You created in our souls from the very beginning.  I pray we desire to bring You praise and glory and honor.  I thank You for the melody You are playing in our lives.  Help us to always let our lives be a sweet, sweet sound to Your ear!  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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About Martha Bush

Martha Bush — Blog Contributor
Martha has been married to her amazing husband for 46 years. Together they have two grown daughters, and three grandchildren, of whom she is very proud of! She lives in Orange, Texas. Martha has been involved in ministry with her church for 20 years. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, walking, and playing with her grandchildren.

Comments

  1. I love the fact that worshiping the Lord in song is not only soothing to the soul but also powerful against the enemy! (Ex 15:1-5) That makes me want to sing even more!
    Thank you, Coleen and Robert, for ministering to all of us and to the Lord this morning! That was beautiful! Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, I will sing a new song to the Lord that is a sweet, sweet sound to His ears.

  2. Coleen and Robert ~ thank you. That was a great song. I so appreciate that God can hear our hearts because I cannot carry a tune in a bucket, but He knows I sing to Him silently. I am so happy that this was an easy chapter because I was very distracted this week. Martha great review and as usual all the blogging ladies, great job. Thank you.

    • coleen hayden says

      jackie, aren’t we ALL so thankful that it is a ‘joyful noise’ rather than perfect pitch that He desires from us? 😉

  3. Love seeing you and Robert, Coleen <3. Beautiful way to start the day.

    • coleen hayden says

      thank you, jennifer…hoping you were able to sing your praises along with us! <3

  4. Oh sweet, sweet Coleen, oh how beautiful to see you and your husband worship in song! Beautiful — absolutely beautiful. Tears of joy rolling down my face. Thank you and Robert for our blessing today, and thank you Jesus for Robert and Coleen.

  5. Coleen and Robert has certainly ministered to us today in song. But, I think that there is a bigger picture going on here that could be a message for all of us. When Coleen was asked about singing on the “website” she immediately said, “yes” without any hesitation. That just tells me that out of our obedience to the Lord, no matter what it is, He has a plan in mind that will bless others as she and Robert has done today. To God be the glory. Thank you Coleen.

    • You are so right, Martha. There was no hesitation at all, In fact, Coleen shared with me that she and Robert believe that singing unto the Lord is what God has called them to do! What a beautiful song they both are!! How sweet it was to hear that beautiful voice, Coleen!!! Truly truly BLESSED my heart!!!

      • coleen hayden says

        mwah! yay! always thankful when He takes our efforts and turns them into blessings! <3

    • coleen hayden says

      i was surely hoping that He did have a plan in mind, martha! thankful that we obeyed and, most especially, that He blessed y’all through it! 1 Samuel 15:22 ‘Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…’ <3

  6. Sherrie Y says

    Amen! That was awesome – what a great way to start my Friday!

  7. Coleen & Robert this was AMAZING ministering to my heart. Sing to The Lord a new song – remembering that the old song has passed away. 2 Corinthians 4:16 – So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

  8. What joy to see Coleen and her Robert sharing their hearts through song! Thank you so much for your willingness to share your gifts with us!! Martha, you crafted a splendid closing as usual! God has blessed you all abundantly and we are blessed by your obedience in sharing! <3

  9. Shari Zupan says

    LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing and hearing Coleen and Robert singing to the Lord and sharing that with us. So very blessed and going out into this day singing a new song to the Lord. God bless you Coleen and Robert! <3

  10. coleen hayden says

    thank you, martha, for such a sweet recap of our study this week! hasn’t it been such a joyous one? mrs. bevere has offered so many different ways for us to consider our ‘sword’ as we have gone through this study over the past eleven (! 11 !) weeks but i have been most strongly moved by ‘the sword of song.’ <3