This past Sunday we had a guest speaker at our church. We’ve been going through a series called, From Our Family Room, where we have a discussion format rather than a traditional sermon. The topic for the week was leadership, and the guest speaker shared a word with our church. She said that we are a worshiping people and that when we sing the song of the Lord it glorifies Him and others draw near.
I’m not the greatest singer. I can carry a tune, but I am very timid if ever I need to sing something by myself in front of others. Get me in my car with the radio blasting and I’m a rock star, but that’s different.
The idea of the song of the Lord being within me translated more in my mind to writing. I haven’t been doing much of that lately. I feel all stopped up inside. A large part of that has been the fear that what I have to say has already been said by others in a far superior manner. That has kept me from allowing more than the faintest trickle of words out. I’ve even noticed that in my conversations face-to-face I’m more hesitant to open up my mind to others.
There has been a prompting as of late to reclaim my voice, hone my skills and not waste the talents that God has given me. Our guest speaker even referenced it on Sunday; that it doesn’t matter the amount of talent you have, it’s what you do with it that counts in God’s eyes. I’m not quite sure where to go with this, but I feel God prompting me to join my voice with others again and share the song He’s placed within me.
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I’m often afraid to say something that I feel has already been said in what I feel was a more superior way! So glad you shared five minutes with us today!
Hi Julie Anne! 🙂 I just read a post that Jon Acuff wrote in 2008 about not using our gifts. It gave an interesting perspective on it, too. There’s definitely something stirring. Now to just get it out. 🙂
Your words have encouraged me, edified me, and inspired me in the time I have had the privilege to know you and call you my leader. Please, do not remain silent. Your words are far too important, especially to me. “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” -Romans 12:4-5
Thanks for always being do encouraging to me, Amanda! I am so glad God brought us together. 🙂 Your words have been very powerful in my life.
“…when we sing the song of the Lord it glorifies Him and others draw near.” Oh so true! His song through us is hard to resist. I find myself drawn to others that are following Him. I know it is challenging to find our own voice in writing, but if we do it to first glorify Him then we can’t go wrong. So looking forward to hearing more of your song friend! Blessings!
Thanks Wendy!
Melissa,
Jumped over from Lisa Jo’s and enjoyed your thoughts … as for the fear … when we remember that the voice we are joining in on is heard and felt by the One who created us we need not fear!
Blessings, Beth
So true! Thanks for sharing that, Beth. 🙂
I miss your writing, Melissa, I’m so glad you’re coming back to it. Maybe what you say has been said before – there’s nothing new under the sun, after all – but we all read different people – I read you. You’re one of the very few blogs I’ve actually subscribed to. Why? Because I find your writin fresh, funny and honest. I feel like I get to know you through your words – and no-one else on earth was created like you!
Don’t hold back – I can’t wait to hear what God’s been teaching you in your latest adventure – do tell! xx
Hi Jennie! Thanks for that compliment. I appreciate you sticking around through the hiatus, and hopefully I can start sharing more of what God’s been doing. 🙂
It’s good to see you back! I know how you feel about being “stopped up” recently. I haven’t done much writing for similar reasons until just this week.
Really? What helped you get back on track? It’s been a year for me. 🙂
I often remind myself of the quote…”Use the talents you possess, for imagine how silent the wood would be if the only birds that sang were the best.” I felt much like you have described over the summer and wrote only here and there. I kind of had to jump back into community with the #FMFparty and somehow there I felt encouraged to let my voice rise again. I do hope that you will find that same freedom….
We miss you!! Come back!!!
Hey Melissa! Just dropping a note to say I miss you and your {writing} voice. I hope you’re having a good fall!