My elementary school education was in a little Seventh-day Adventist Church school, called Adventist Union School. My teachers were very conservative and laid a strong foundation that rock music was not God’s music. I was in the band that sometimes did modern songs and I had accordion music that had “Rock” in the title of many songs. But, I saw the difference between the sacred and the common.
In Academy, I was exposed my Freshman year to riding with a senior that loved to play his rock music. The next year or two, I had to ride with my brother who did the same. I hated the music. I was determined to stay loyal to God. When I got to drive, I was now in charge of the radio and it stayed off. I had the opportunity to give the pastor’s daughter a ride to school and she was constantly on me to turn on the radio. I was disappointed that I was being tempted by her to play the music of the world.
Fast forward to college and now I was learning to sing the contemporary Christian music of Evie and Amy Grant. I got invited to go to a Friday night concert given by Evie. She sang so beautifully and I was not disappointed. The next concert was also on a Friday night and I went to hear Amy Grant. Someone had a book with pictures of her dressed in modest dresses with the country girl look. Was I ever surprised when she came out on stage in tight pants and became an instant rock star complete with moving all around the stage? The audience raised their arms in praise to who…God? I went to one more concert that my friend said would be so spiritual. Again, it was on a Friday night. Benny Hester sang a rock concert plain and simple. After entertaining the youth with his rock music that contained Christian words, he had an altar call and many went forward. That was the last “Christian” rock concert I attended.
My time in college was beating down my standards and for a talent show, I got this idea to have the pretty girls do a fashion show to the music “She Works Hard For Her Money”. Another friend and I would pretend to be photographers. I can’t imagine how the deans of that Christian college allowed such a thing. A day or so later, I was sitting in my car and I started to think that there would really be nothing wrong with me listening to the radio. I wondered what I could listen too. As my hand reached for the knob to turn it on, there was a strong impression in my mind saying, “Don’t do it!” I chose to obey the voice.
My sister, Trina, was singing and writing songs. I hadn’t written any songs except for taking a worldly Dr. Pepper Song and putting Christian words. I asked God for the gift to write songs and to be able to sing for Him. After college, I drew closer to God and He opened up the light on being on a plant-based diet. I could now sing better without a lot of mucous caused by drinking milk and I had a clearer mind. I also learned about God’s principles of dress for Godly women.
I had a friend that was memorizing scripture. I just couldn’t seem to retain it. I got this idea to put the words to music. My first attempt to memorize took on the whole chapter of Ezekiel 9. This was such a serious chapter about the end time sealing of God’s people and the slaying of the wicked.
I only have this one recording of me singing it that I know of. This song was recorded when I was 3 months pregnant with my son Isaiah with accompaniment by Ritchie Carbajol. He had me modify it a little so it had more variety. I lost all 8 of my tracks and I was left with singing along with myself or singing Acapella. I decided on singing along, so it isn’t the best but you get to hear Ritchie’s musical creativity.
In writing the song, I prayed for God’s help, and then I took one phrase at a time and tried to find a melody that matched what the words were saying and the mood portrayed in the words. Since it had very serious words, it was in a minor key. I sang each phrase over and over until the words and melody were in my head and then I would go on to the next one. I didn’t write it down or record it. If I forgot the melody, then I figured that God would bring it back to me, or He would give me a better one. I hope you will be blessed and also take seriously the message of this chapter.
All the videos with me singing are posted on my YouTube channel Singingwaters. Please feel free to subscribe to it. If you liked this song and would like to hear it without me singing along with it, you can hear it at this link. https://tamaraluevano.bandcamp.com/track/ezekiel-9-kjv If you choose to download it for a donation of $2.00 or more, it includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. This is a very important end-time chapter that should be put to memory, so download it to your phone so you can begin memorizing.