One evening this summer after mowing the lawn and a quick shower I came in to sit down after a long day and there was a program on TV that I had never seen before.  At the moment I can't even remember the name of the program.  Songs were played and sang and the contestants were to know the correct lyrics to the next line of the song when the music stopped.  This would require that the contestants know the lyrics of many different songs from different eras and many different styles of music.

About ten minutes into the show I realized that I wouldn't have made it through the first round.  I didn't know many of the songs and if I did recognize the tune I had no idea what the lyrics were.

Music is an important part of most people's lives.  Styles and preferences range from the classics of Mozart to the modern day bass pounding rap that rattles the frame of many younger peoples' cars and my brain as they pass me on the road.

Music has always been a huge part of my life.  I grew up in the home of a man that could play about anything you'd put in front of him and he taught my sister and I to sing at a very early age.  Regardless of style or preference, music impacts all of us.  There are songs that remind of us of special times in our lives, special people and the lyrics of certain songs give us hope, courage and inspiration to make it through difficult times in our lives.

Through the months of October and November the messages in our worship services will come from the Old Testament book called the Psalms.   For practical purposes, the English title of the book means "Book of Songs."  The traditional Hebrew title of the book is "Book of Praises."  The book of the Psalms is more than a collection of praises, songs and poetry.  It is a collection of prayer, praise and insightful truths about God and the role He plays in the world and in our daily lives.  We need to know these songs so when the tune of every day life plays out, we not only know the lyrics but we know the truth of the song.  Many pop culture song writers have tried to capture the role of God in the world today.  Some reflect the accuracy of the Bible and some are just wishful thinking.  The beauty of this collection of songs is that it captures the best and the worst of man. 

It reveals the confessions of gross sinners, the restless moments of doubters and the jubilant moments of the most heart felt praise to God.

These songs remind us that we are never out from under the watchful eye of God and that He even sees our unformed bodies in our mother's womb.

There are so many more songs that we need to know from this store of treasure than the fact that God is our shepherd.

At least 6 times in this song book it tells us to sing or play a new song to the Lord.  These are song we need to know.  The Psalms are songs that can change the course of your life, soften your heart and give you peace of mind.

I don't know who penned these words but I conclude with them,

"Without a song the day would never end; without a song the road would never bend; when things go wrong a man ain't got a friend, without a song."

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.  Psalm 32:7 NIV