singing diary
Singing in Brandon today, at the place where they have me once a month, and call me ‘Gospel Billy’.
I enjoy visiting this place; the staff are wonderful and the residents ‘love me’, I’m told (“They love you!”)
Today I’m focusing on the life of Jacob, son of Isaac, brother of Esau. I mention Jacob, son of Isaac; just 2 members of the audience recognize those names. I introduce grand father Abraham, a few more faces light up. When I link Jacob’s name with the name Esau (as in Jacob & Esau), several more people recognize which Jacob I’m talking about.
The life of Jacob is a remarkable life, you quickly realize when you start looking at all that happened in this man’s life. So much conflict, so many struggles, such inner turmoil, but eventual victory and blessing came his way, big time. So much to learn from this remarkable life, it’s a joy really, to sing about certain moments in his life, and tell some of his adventure. Where do I begin? Where do I stop?
I decide to begin with the ending, and to tell my lovely audience how Jacob finished his days. (In Egypt, out of all places.) From his ‘retirement’, if there was such a thing at that time, I have Jacob looking back over his life. My elderly audience is loving it; they can, simultaneously, do the same. Looking back at great times, and at crises; turning point in life.
An amazing turning point in the life of Jacob was when he ran for his life, away from his brother Esau who had pledged to kill him, and away from his parents, who were such conflicted people. While Jacob is on his way to ‘the old country’ to go & live with his mother’s family, he has a remarkable dream. I should also explain that, I believe, he is feeling very vulnerable- could be attacked and robbed at any moment. On top of that, I believe, he is feeling really low about himself. He has just cheated his brother out of his elder son, first birth right, and cheated his father in giving him this blessing that was intended for Esau. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jacob felt that even God was displeased with him, and that he (Jacob) was heading for punishment.
That night, while he sleeps, God surprises Jacob with an amazing dream about a (grand) staircase (Jacob’s Ladder); the heavens open up, and angels are going up & down (to attend to his needs?!). At the climax of the dream The Lord appears and speaks to him (read Genesis 28: 13-15), a remarkable blessing that is very much in line with the way God has spoken to Abraham years earlier. Powerful events! This is history in the making! When he wakes up and remembers the dream, Jacob realizes ‘that God is in this place, and I didn’t even realize it!’.
While these events are very special & unique, there is much we can relate to. For instance the realization that ‘God is in this place, but I wasn’t aware of this!’ God is much more (wanting to be) involved in our lives, if only we’d be more aware of it, and let Him in.
This blessing came to Jacob at a moment when he least expected it. It says SO MUCH about God’s grace! God’s plan is way above our little schemes down here. Jacob had a first hand experience of that.
So I sang, for the first time in public, the song: Angel Whispers. What a delight to have been given this song, and to get a chance to sing it in the context of telling (some of) the story. Listen to the text of the second verse (if you read & speak it aloud, you’ll be able to hear it!):
I’ve had my share of visions, but hope soon go dim/ who do you place your trust in, when you fear for life and limb?/ So it takes a dream to waken me, and your presence to surprise/ loved, accepted, chosen, as I look into your eyes.
The chorus goes: Angel Whispers, from an ever open heaven/ what a new lease of life my soul has been given/ Angel Whispers, mercy abound/ what a new lease of life, my heart has found.
Lyric written by Phil Thomson, friend in the UK.
After Jacob, I moved op to Jesus, and woow, as soon as I introduce the King of Kings, fresh light falls into the room; it’s like electricity in the air. He is SO DYNAMIC; can’t be compared with anyone.
Before I know it, I’ve gone over time, so I have to drop a couple of items I was hoping to do, and head for the finale, which often is: Touch Eternity. Such a blessing, this song; the sweet Spirit of the Lord always moves through this song, washing His eternal love over the people. They have loved it, and tell me ‘how wonderful I am’. I keep telling them, it’s the presence of God that they’re sensing. When the Spirit of God is present, angels are around whispering messages of love & liberty into people’s ears. I call those messages: Angel Whispers.
