I am always amazed at the power of music.

It can cause us to dance or reduce us to tears.

It can instantly bring us back to a place and time of yester-year.

It has the ability to join the voices of complete strangers in beautiful harmony.

This weekend music got to me in all of these ways.

On Friday night, we went to Music in the Park downtown:

The town of Pleasanton is brought together every Friday night in the park where bands come and play and people sing, dance and just enjoy each other’s company to the music.  Friends and strangers alike are united for a night by the power of music.  Even those who can’t sing, sing loudly.  Those who can’t dance, dance unashamedly.  Pride and fear melt away in the presence of good ol’ rock and roll and sweet jazz and blues.  The familiar songs of the past, those classics that have touched all ages, still have the ability to stir memories and make even the stodgiest get their groove on. 🙂

As I observed and participated in the magic of this phenomena, I found myself with the goofiest of grins on my face.  Enjoying the experiences with a sense of its simplicity, yet the wonder of it all.  (And the musicians were amazing!)

On Saturday, Mark and I attended a wedding in the wine country of Napa.  It was the perfect setting outside and the weather couldn’t have been better. Beautiful. Once again, to set the mood, music, of course, was playing in the background.  A string quartet brought us the music that reminded us of the significance and emotion of the occasion.  Music that stirred memories and emotions from the past.  A mixture of sweet tears and sweeter smiles….

At the reception, a band was playing in the corner, setting the stage for dancing and singing along.  No one was immune to its power.

At church yesterday, music again did its thing.  Voices raised to praise the God who created it in the first place.  The notes giving added strength to the already impactful lyrics.  Every beat adding emphasis.  Its the music that allows us to memorize each word and bring those words back to mind when we need to remember them later.

I love music.  Even as I write this, I am listening to my “writing music” – solo piano music.  It spurs thought and creativity.

God loves music, too.  Google “verses about music” and you’ll come up with more than 200 references to it in the bible.  God created it for its beauty, its power, its ability to communicate, its comfort.  He also gave it to us as a gift to be offered back to Him.  When we sing about Him, to Him, for Him, with Him, He enjoys it as a “sweet fragrance”.  It’s God’s idea of “aroma therapy”.  Sweet to the soul.  (Every time I light a scented candle and breathe in its fragrance, I want to remember this.) And I don’t think He just sits and listens to it.  I think He dances, too. 🙂

Add a little music to your day, today.  Watch what happens when you starting singing and tapping your foot.  It’s powerful stuff….

Psalm 150:4 – Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

Psalm 40:3 – He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.