Handel Visits Idaho

This past Sunday night, Michelle and I were able to take Josie to Anam Cara perform Georg F. Handel's great "Dixit Dominus". It was composed in 1707 when Handel was 22 and was his first great work. It is based on Psalm 110

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.
He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.

We love the music of Handel, Chopin, Bach and listen to them often, but it was special to hear this performed live. Wonderful!!!

One of the greatest challenges I personally face as a Christian living in such a beautiful place, is that I am daily confronted with the work of a great and majestic God. I stand in the pulpit each Sunday and proclaim that I believe and have my faith in this great and wonderful creator. I am continually reminded through God's creation of what that confession demands. How is my confession reflected in my daily life and in my worship?

Each Sunday at sunrise, I take a short drive outside of Ashton on my way to turn on the heat at our church building. Oh, the amazing sights that I have seen as I watch the sun rise behind the Tetons or beautiful crisp breezes blowing off early morning fog on the Henry's Fork river. This is the work of the hands of the great God we gather to worship each Sunday. What great works, elaborate harmonies, from gifted musicians this God deserves. I have never heard with my longing ears worship worthy of our Saviour. Handel's "Dixit Dominus" is close and it makes me long for, with all my being, that day when all the hosts of heaven lift their voices to the Lamb and Him who sits on the thrown. I LONG for that day.

So when our small church fellowship gathers on Sunday morning and I have finished with my Sunday morning drive, people will probably not hear Handel or Bach but I hope they will hear worship through song and prayer offered in deep humility, reverence and godly fear, along with great Joy for the privilege that God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ to sing His praises as a church family each Sunday. It is also why there are tears of joy in our eyes as we sing songs like...

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
by Charles Wesley

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.

"The true province of landscape art is the work of God in the visible creation, independent of man"

Asher Brown Durand