Kris and Kell had spent the last night in Nebraska in a hotel, they got caught up on sleep and were washing their clothes. Suddenly there was a pounding on their door! Kris and Kell both ran and opened the door and there was a person dressed in a fancy uniform standing in the hallway. This person opened their mouth and began to sing to Kris and Kell; it was a singing telegram! The person sang about going to the home of country music in Nashville Tennessee! When the song was finished, the person gave an envelope to Kell and then ran away!
Kell tore open the envelope and found that they had reservations for four nights in a nice hotel in Nashville and reservations to go to the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and to a place called Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Kris and Kell were so excited that they quickly packed and jumped into their rental car and headed for Tennessee!
An hour later, Kell suddenly yelled, “Kris, turn the car around! We left our clothes in the washing machine in the hotel in Nebraska!” It took them another hour to get back to that hotel, and they were relieved to find that no one had taken their clothes! They yanked their wet clothes out of the washer and spread them out all over the inside of the car so that they would begin to dry! Kris said, “Well, we sure turned this into a misadventure! Now we are two hours behind schedule, I hope that we have not ruined our whole trip to Nashville!”
They had no more misadventures, but they did not arrive in Nashville until just after midnight! They were so tired, they thought that they would not be able to enjoy Nashville at all!
The next morning, they were still tired, but they got up and ate breakfast. Kell looked at their reservations and saw that they were going to the Grand Ole Opry that day. Kris said, “Country music is not my favorite kind of music, I hope that I can endure this day!” Kris and Kell were surprised! They had a wonderful time at the Grand Ole Opry! The building was incredible, and they got to see many performances that day!
They found that they enjoyed the performances of the country singers, and there was even a performance by a Christian singer! The people were very friendly, and it was easy to relax and enjoy the time! Kris and Kell forgot about how tired they were, and they enjoyed the day!
The next day they had reservations for the Ryman Auditorium. When they got there, they found out that this auditorium used to be the Grand Ole Opry building! This was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until the new building was finished in 1974.
The thing that Kris and Kell noticed most about this auditorium was the incredible sound! You could almost hear and feel the incredible history of this place! Kris and Kell enjoyed the performances at this auditorium even more than they had enjoyed the Grand Ole Opry! They did not want this day to end, they felt sure that this day was the highlight of their time in Nashville!
The next day they had reservations at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Kell said, “I wish we had gone to this place on the first day, and went to the Ryman Auditorium today, I wish we could have saved the best for the last day. I think I am going to be so disappointed today!”
Kris and Kell were surprised! They loved Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge! The building was three stories tall with a stage on every floor. The stage on the top floor was an open-air stage on the roof! There is live music on every stage all day long! A woman named Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess had bought the building in 1960 and called it ‘Mom’s. A while later Tootsie hired a painter to paint the outside of the building. The painter made a mistake and painted the building orchid (light purple). People loved the color, so the name was changed to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.
Tootsie’s was very different from the other two places that Kris and Kell had visited. This Lounge was much smaller, and the performers were not well-known, they were just starting out and trying to get recognized as good musicians.
When Tootsie first opened her lounge, she made a special effort to reach out to musicians who were just starting out and helping them. Many of the famous country singers got their start at Tootsie’s Lounge. Tootsie has passed away now, but her lounge continues to help new musicians get started. There is a wall in the Lounge that has pictures of the many famous singers that Tootsie helped over the years.
Kris and Kell had so much fun at Tootsie’s Lounge! They got to meet and interact with these new musicians. Who knows, someday maybe one of the performers that Kris and Kell met will become a well-known star! At the end of the day, Kris and Kell both said that that this was the best part of their trip to Nashville!
Lesson Learned about God
Kris and Kell agreed about what they learned in Nashville, it was all about the music! Kris said, “When I came here, I did not think that I would have a good time because this city is all about country music, and that is not my favorite kind of music, but I was so surprised! The music of this city has a way of just getting inside you and making you feel good! We heard and saw all kinds of musicians, from those that are very famous and super talented to those who are just starting out and maybe do not know if they have enough talent to make it as a musician. It was all so good!”
Kell added, “I agree that the music in this city is special, but I also remember that it was God who invented music and made it such an important part of our lives. People all over the world have one thing in common; all people enjoy music! There are many very different styles of music, but all music touches people deep down inside of them and can encourage them and change their life!” Music is also one of the ways that we worship God. Music allows us to express the deep love and the deep feelings that we have toward God. Music also encourages us in our walk with God.
It does not matter if you are super talented or if you have no musical talent, God wants to hear your song! Our worship to Him is very pleasing, even if the people around us do not appreciate our musical efforts!”
In Churches there are also many styles of music, not everyone enjoys and appreciates the same type of music, but God enjoys and accepts all of our music that is directed towards Him!”
In the Bible in Psalms 100:1-2 it says:
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy.
In the Bible in Psalms 47:6-7 it says:
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise Him with a psalm.
In the Bible in Psalms 104:33 it says:
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!
In the Bible in Psalms 95:1-2 it says:
Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to Him.
In the Bible in Psalms 147:1 it says:
Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!
When there is a chance to sing to God, join in and make music to the best of your ability! God deserves all the praises that we can give to Him!
Report to the grandmother:
- At the travel agency – God has a good plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11
- Florida – God is watching over us, we do not need to be fearful. Psalms 23
- Wisconsin – Temptations. I Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 14:12, I John 1:9
- Minnesota – Never take your eyes off Jesus. Matthew 14:22-33
- Kentucky – God’s Word (the Bible) is the truth! John 17:17
- Louisianna – Choose Heaven and the Tree of Life. Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:27 thru 22:5
- Illinois – God is in control. Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28-30, Proverbs 16:9
- New Mexico – God is our place of safety. Psalms 46:1-3, Psalms 91:1-2, Psalms 18:1-2, John 14:1-3
- Alabama – Training for heaven. I Peter 1:18-21, I John 3:2-3, Ephesians 5:1-2, I Peter 2:21, II Timothy 4:6-8
- Georgia – Sin erodes a person’s life and brings death. Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 3:22-25a
- Texas – Jesus offers abundant life. John 10:10, Mark 12:29-31.
- Kansas – Humans are filled with hatred and evil. Genesis 8:21-22, Romans 3:21-25a.
- South Carolina – Reminder of the Crucifixion. Isaiah 53:3-9
- Arkansas – Jesus is Crowned with Glory and Honor. Hebrews 2:9-10, Revelation 19:16, John 11:25-26
- Idaho – Times of Refreshing. Acts 3:19-20a, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 40:28-31
- Washington State – Obeying God is Important! James 1:22-25, James 4:17
- Oregon – Do not let your first love for Jesus erode. Revelation 2:4-5a, Psalms 51:10-12
- Ohio – We are secure in God’s hands. Isaiah 41:13, Psalms 139:9-10, Psalms 73:23-28.
- Iowa – God is in control: Past, Present, & Future. Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 4:8.
- South Dakota – Believers are the family of God. Ephesians 2:19-21, John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:5, I Thessalonians 5:15-18.
- Indiana – Win the Race! I Corinthians 9:24-27, Matthew 25:21
- Michigan – Cost of following Jesus. Luke 14:27-33.
- Missouri – The Book of Life. Revelation 20:11-15.
- New Jersey – The Light of the World. Philippians 2:14-15, Matthew 5:14-16.
- New York – God will meet our needs. Philippians 4:19-20.
- Pennsylvania – A special place and rest in heaven. John 14:1-3, Hebrews 4:9-10
- Montana – Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. John 15:5
- Alaska – Jesus is the light of the world. John 1:4-5, John 8:12, Revelation 21:23-27, Revelation 22:5
- Maine – God’s Holy Spirit is like the wind: invisible, powerful and always working! John 3:8, Acts 1:8, John 14:26, Romans 8:26-27
- Massachusetts – God is preparing a special place for each believer. John 14:1-3.
- Maryland/Virginia – Perfect love overcomes fear. I John 4:17-19.
- Washington DC – Communion. I Corinthians 11:23-26.
- Virginia/West Virginia – Baptism. Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12-15.
- Delaware – Jesus is returning. John 14:2-3, I Thessalonians 4:16-18, I Corinthians 15:51-53
- Rhode Island – Believers are like a lighthouse. Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:14-15.
- North Dakota – Dealing with temptations. I Corinthians 10:13, James 1:13-15.
- Colorado – Faith and Trust. Hebrews 11:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 2:8-9.
- North Carolina – God guides and protects Believers. Psalms 23:3-4, Psalms 37:23-24, Isaiah 41:10.
- Connecticut – The Bible is true. John 17:17, II Timothy 3:16-17, I Peter 1:20-21.
- New Hampshire – Only God gives a meaningful & fulfilling life. Ecclesiastes 12:8-10, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
- Vermont – God is changing Believers. I Peter 2:21, Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 2:10.
- Wyoming – Believers will get a new body. Philippians 3:20-21, I Corinthians 15:42-44, II Corinthians 5:1-4.
- Oklahoma – This earth is not our home. Philippians 3:20-21, I Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:16.
- Nevada – Faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23, II Timothy 2:13, Luke 16:10, James 1:12
- Nebraska – We are migrating to heaven. II Corinthians 5:6-8, Hebrews 9:27-28.
- Tennessee – Sing praise to the Lord! Psalms 100:1-2, Psalms 47:6-7, Psalms 104:33, Psalms 95:1-2, Psalms 147:1