Do I Sing to Encourage Others, and Do I Encourage Others to Sing?

I have been working on trying to write this post up for a couple of weeks now, and each time I would get time to sit and try to process the thoughts it just didn't work out. I'd fall asleep, or get side tracked with other things; but here I am now trying to process what message I got from it. 

Earlier in February, I woke up to two different songs; but the one that I was hearing as I got out of the bed was Rockin' Robin. It was released in 1958, the author used a pseudonym of Jimmy Thomas. It was made popular sung by Bobby Day. It reminds me of the songs my mother played for me on the LP's that she still had from her youth, even though I don't believe it was one that she had on an album, to play for us. 

(taken from Google)

In reading through the lyrics it tells a story of how the robin has a song to sing and while the swallow, chickadee, owl, crow, raven, buzzard, and oriole are all mentioned, they enjoy hearing the song of the robin and they are cheering on the robin to sing their song. All the birds on the street "love to hear the robin go tweet, tweet, tweet."

My first thought was "Why does everyone like to hear the robin sing?" According to my Google search, "the robin's song signals the arrival of spring, warmer weather, and renewal. It is one of the first to sing at dawn and the last at dusk, it brings peace, optimism and comfort."

Then I looked to see if there was a "story" behind the writing of the song. Well the story says that the author's wife was being kept up at night by a bird singing in a tree outside their window. Then it happened over enough nights that the husband ended up writing the song. He didn't think enough of it to put his name on it, he used his mother-in-law's name. =) The bird that was singing and keeping he and his wife awake was not a robin, though. It was a mocking bird, and the author's wife wanted him to get the bird to hush up. He didn't have the heart to, because the only way he could was to "throw a rock at it." 

So- it is said that the robin's song, that everyone on the street loved to hear, signals arrival of spring- a season change. Then that it brings peace, optimism, and comfort. The mnemonic of it is "cheerily, cheer up, cheer up", according to AI overview on Google. 

(Shutterstock image)

Then my question to myself was this- "Do others enjoy and want to hear my song?" Does it bring peace, optimism, and comfort?" This makes me think of 1 Corinthians 14: 3, which says this, "But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them." (NLT) One who prophesies... 

But what does it mean to prophesy? A lot of people get pictures like from movies, when some old, stern looking, sour puss, got up and spoke about doom and gloom and terrible things coming. Now, I am not saying that sometimes a prophets message doesn't speak of difficult things coming. I am however, saying that a prophet speaks the heart of the Father to his children through others. Since it is coming through people, when you receive something, you still need to pray on it, seek the Father's wisdom and guidance. But my definition of the word "prophesy" is simply sharing a message from the Father's heart to others, according to the guideline in 1 Corinthians 14:3. So, it will strengthen, encourage, and comfort them. 

The information about robins also says that they are one of the first to sing at dawn, and the last to sing at dusk. The robin praises from first sun up to sun down.

Psalm 113: 2-4 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens." (NKJV)

If the robin can praise the Lord from sun rise to sun set, do I?? If not, what is holding me back? Often times it is because I am looking at the wrong thing. I am looking at my troubles, not at the One that can fix it. I am looking at the aches and pains, not at the Great Physician. I am looking at things around me, not at the One that holds it all in His hands. God help me to keep my eyes set on You. Psalm 42: 5 - "Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." (NKJV)

The Passion Translation says it like this- "So then, my soul, why would you be depressed? Why would you sink into despair? Just keep hoping and waiting on God, your Savior. For no matter what, I will still sing with praise, for you are my saving grace."

 No matter what, do I sing with praise?? I know that answer, for me; and I am trying to improve the number of occasions where I do sing with praise, no matter what, instead of being depressed or simply complaining. What does complaining do?? It glorifies the problem over the Problem Solver, and I don't want to do that. =) 

Now, in the story of the song, he changed the bird type from the one that was waking, or keeping them awake. It was actually a mocking bird. NOW- the mocking bird gets such a bad reputation for "mocking". But in looking up information about the mocking bird they are really quite amazing. 

(Birdsandblooms.com)

Mocking birds are known for copying songs of other birds and even for copying the noises of car alarms and some machines. I have heard some people talk about how much they don't like mocking birds, and I was probably one that said that at some point in my life. I have learned a lot since then, and my attitude is a bit different. Think about how much intelligence this bird needs to be able to mimic so many different songs/noises. "Bird Brain" is something people use to put others down about how smart they are- but WOW! Trying to think about this to make it a bit more relatable, as my husband said, it is like someone that can speak up to 200 different languages! A mocking bird has this huge repertoire of songs for a few different reasons. It is for mating, for defense and it is a territorial thing, too. Another things that makes a mocking bird stand out as different is that it sings even in the night. Remember, it was the mocking bird that was keeping the song's author and his wife up at 2:00 AM. The robin sings from dawn to dusk.

I was telling a friend just the other day how at one point the songs we sang at a church I attended, we had to memorize, if we wanted to sing along. They were the scripture songs and choruses. We didn't have song books or hymnals at this church, so we had to learn the words. It was really good for me, and many of these songs are still very much a part of me. I grew up in a church with hymnals, and we listened to a lot of southern gospel, I mean a LOT. That included groups like the Bill Gaither Trio, or the Rambos, Doug Oldham and many other groups like that were very common sounds in our house. I loved hearing the beautiful harmonies often to hymns, and song stories- but all pointing to the cross and to what the Lord has done, can do, and will do! Then there was 2nd Chapter of Acts that put out their recordings of the hymns. I possibly wore out a couple of cassettes (yes, I know that dates me a bit, but that is what we had at the time, and listened to often). So, my heart and memory has many songs memorized, but there are some that I sing to him that no one else knows, because they are Mary Beth originals. 

I love how songs can speak so many different things, though. They can speak of love, of need, of gratitude, of battles and or victories won or not. They can be almost like a good book and carry you to a place you need to be. Like the song that was popular back a while ago, Thank You.  Listening to that, you can envision the story as it unfolds. Or even Carmen's song, Lazarus, Come Forth, or The Champion. Lately, I've been reminded of some songs that were written and recorded by Twila Paris, most recently her song, How Beautiful. It quotes part of Isaiah 52: 7, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (NKJV)

So, the mocking bird may copy others, but so do I. I sing the old songs that I've memorized, I sing along with the newer songs that I have heard and they speak to me. I have a very long list of songs. If you look at my play lists, of which I have quite a few, one of my longer play lists has 159 songs in it, that translates to just over 15 hours of music! Each song speaks of something different to me, and as I play it, or sing it, it may speak something different to me each time. I could listen to it the same time you do, and we can both get a different message from the same exact song. Because the Lord can use anything to speak to what we need to hear at any given moment. So, while Rockin' Robin took me down this path today, if I hear it again it may speak something else to me, even though I'll remember this message, too. 

What is my take away from all of this?? 

Each person has a song. Sing it! Don't worry about how it sounds, it will bless, and encourage someone, so don't hold it back.  Be the message others can read.

2 Corinthians 3: 2 "For your very lives are our "letters of recommendation," permanently engraved on our hearts, recognized and read by eveybody." (TPT)

Each person has a story that can be told (sometimes sung) live it, speak it, or sing it! 

Psalm 66: 16-20 "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me!" (NKJV)

Even the psalmist in the above passage couldn't stop telling of how God heard his prayers, and answered them. How much more should I?

Father, thank you for the way you share your heart. Thank you for speaking to me through songs that may not be normally thought of in that vein, but that you opened so much to me. Help me to share. Help me to live the testimony and to use words when needed. Help me to encourage, strengthen and comfort others in sharing your heart with them. Help me to speak in the language of Your heart that will speak to the one intended to hear the message. <3 Help me also to encourage others to sing their song. 

Do I Hide What Makes Me Special?

 Well, they said we were in for another storm. They said we'd have about 6" of snow. They said it would be strong wind and COLD. They were right about the wind, they were right about cold, but here our snow fall was less than they said. I do know places that do not normaly get snow did. So, I've been praying for those that have been without power or struggling to keep warm through this; so the Lord to help them through this.

However, during this time of being inside a bit more than normal due to the weather, I ended up seeing something that made me think, and it kind of got me a bit excited. I am going to do my best to describe a video I saw that started me down this trail. 

Picture a video that starts in the hallway of a fairly average looking home, and travels through it. The screen reads something to the effect of "The Christmas Gift that Kept Giving This Year." Then it shows a mother and her children moving around and then mom is taking sheet rock off, what looks like a knee wall and we see that it is actually the railing and spindles for a beautiful bannister for the stairs and the landing at the top of the steps. You see her removing a sheet of luan that has been covering antique solid wood doors that just need to be cleaned up and maybe a coat of paint, and you see her removing sheet rock from walls and exposing bead board underneath that is in beautiful condition other than being cleaned up. I watched it again, and shared it with my husband. He asked me "Who would cover up all that character?" I agree? Who would cover up all the parts that make it different and unique? Those add beauty and value to the home, as well as come character. But then this thought hit me. So very many people do just that. In living life we notice a piece of us that is very different. Something that we do that makes us stand out from others can sometimes make us feel weird, so we cover it up and/or bury it, so it isn't seen. It embarrasses us, or makes us uncomfortable, right?

How often have I tried harder to "fit in" than I was meant to? 

How often have I allowed what someone else thought of me, or how I act, cause me to shut that down?

How often have I thought less of me, because of what someone else said, or what I thought they thought about me?

How often have I allowed the wrong voice to shut down part of me that is meant to shine?

How do I see myself??

Sometimes those voices came from people that I honored as an authority in my life. Sometimes they were from "friends". Sometimes the thoughts are whispered into my ear as what someone else is "thinking" and it is simply a ploy of the enemy to shut down something in me that the Father created in me.

Psalm 139 speaks about how I was and your were created in every detail by the Great Creator, our Father that dreamed up every little detail about me. He knows every details about me, He sees me as beautiful! Psalm 139: 13-16- "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (NLT)

He made ALL the delicate parts. As a person that has worked with crafts, and decorated some cookies and cakes and even candies. Sometimes in the making and putting things together - the details can seems tiny, sometimes so small they are hard to see. I may even need to pull out a magnifying glass to see it well. But when God put me, and you, all together. All the cells, all the arteries and veins, the organs, the bones & cartiledge, not to mention how all the systems work together and how the neurons and everything fires. He knew the way you would think, He created your sense of humor, and how You would give and receive love. 

I know that keeping our perspective of things God focused is important, but it is also important to have a God focused view of myself makes a huge difference, too! If I listen to and believe the negative talk from the enemy in my ear, OR that he speaks through others that has all the potential to distract me and pull me away from the destiny and purpose God has for me. 

I ask myself occasionally if I am looking at myself and my life through the Father's eyes. Do I only measure myself by what I do, what I've learned, how I feel? 

I don't always see the depth and breadth of all that I am experiencing or feeling or seeing. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that we see through a glass darkly, or dimly (depending on the translation). Then Isaiah 55: 8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."(NKJV)

So, I ask for the mind of Christ, and for Him to share His thoughts about situations, and for His wisdom and leading to get through the circumstances that I can't see the way through. I ask Him what He sees when He looks at me. I ask Him to help me see through His eyes. 

In listening to the wrong voice, or hiding the parts of me that I see as something too different and I try to hide it. not only am I burying a "talent" but I could potentially be hiding a part of me that could make them more comfortable, or see that as a connection between us, giving an open door for a relationship or a way to encourage them. 

The servant that buried his talent, said that he knew the master, and told his version of how he saw the Master. So the master acted like the servant expected and took what He had given him, and sent him away. I don't want to take the talents that the Lord has planted inside of me, and bury them. I don't want to hide what He's given me. I saw a picture a few years ago during the holidays, and as I am talking about not hiding what He has put in me.  I took a quick snap shot of it, and my feeling has been since I saw this that we don't have just a season to sparkle, but that we should sparkle each day. (Yes, even the men!) We should sparkle with all He has put in us.

Lord, thank you for all the thought you put into creating me. Thank you for all you packed into me as you created me.  Help me not to hide it. Help me not to listen to the voices whispered in my ear, or what others may think, or even say to shut me down, or sow worry or fear. Remind me that what you put in me is there for a reason and  it can open doors to reach others, and be a wonderful chapter in my story of how You have worked in my life. Help me to sparkle for You, help me to use all the talents You have given me and use them to Your glory! =) Thank you, Lord! 

Do I Have A Poverty Mindset?

This post has been in process for a few weeks, but I felt it was still important to finish it and publish it. 

Our holiday season has been a bit different this year, as both my hubby and I were hit with a pretty severe cold that kept us home for a few days. Our outings were fewer, and some even postponed as we were home resting more than what may be our normal practice. However, we were still able to visit with family and friends once we were no longer contagious. It felt like a much more laid back season and I am so grateful for that.

It gave me time to watch a classic that I hadn't watched for a couple of years. I got to watch It's A Wonderful Life. I love this one, and have found myself thinking about it a few times since I watched it this season.  In the movie, it tells the highlights of the life of George Bailey's life. It shows his life had touched so many, even though he didn't feel like he had been successful, or made a difference at all. His dream had been to go to school and become an architect or builder and to travel to so many amazing places. However, due to many different circumstances, going to college and traveling abroad didn't happen. 

While I'm watching it, I saw a picture in the movie that I don't remember ever seeing before. It was a place in the office to honor George's father, Peter Bailey. Peter and his brother started the business and at this place in the movie, he has passed away. His picture was hung there, and a quote from him was under it that says this, "All that you can take with you is that which you have given away." - Peter Bailey (It's A Wonderful Life)

(Image from hyperpix.com)

In reading this quote I am reminded of Acts 20:35b, "You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'." (NLT)

I know that this season (Christmas time) helps to emphasize that some, and I know the pressure to give more than you may be able to afford is a struggle for many. But I hope you can hear the basic heart of what I'm saying with this.

During the Christmas season, a large focus is on giving and receiving "things", but giving should not just happen during the holidays.  Some of our friends and family have decided to focus on experiences- they saved up and took a really nice trip all together. That was making memories all together. But each person needs to do what works for them.

This quote though definitely caused me to examine my heart and habits, "Do I give?" and in asking that, it also leads me to think about WHAT I can give. I think that often I automatically associate the word "give" with money. I see those standing at the intersections, and on the street corners with their signs asking for a job, for food, for money to help them. Some of the signs spell out they are a veteran, or they are homeless, and the list goes on. Then there is this voice in my head telling me that if I give them anything, they may just use it unwisely. (Like I'm always a wise spender. LOL) If I feel the nudge to give, I will, if I don't, I don't. I am responsible for doing what the Lord desires, not what they do with what they receive. I remember hearing a song years ago, and I can't seem to find it, but the beginning of it said sometime to the effect that all that I am and have was given to me by the Lord. The main theme that I seem to remember is all that I am, all that I can do, and all that I have is because of Him. His grace allowed me to be born, and kept me alive this long. He gives me each breath that I take, He keeps my heart beating, and my mind and body working. I need to steward and guard them well, but also know that it isn't because of me. It's all because of Him. Even if it money I earned, I couldn't have done it, if He didn't give me the strength and wisdom and knowledge to do what is needed to earn it. So, when He is asking me to give, obedience is the best way to go. He may not be asking you to give money, it may be the time to help someone with errands; or to sit with someone for a time. It may be to use a skill I have that they don't. There are many possibilities but giving is always a blessing not just to the receiver.

It is more blessed to give than receive- but we also have to be open to receive in order for others to be able to give, right? 

It goes back to giving still though, and the association with money that can be such a hurdle to so many, including me.

Money seems to be a sore subject. That feeling comes those that have felt to take a "vow of poverty" to those with a "poverty mindset". The vow of poverty, in my experience has often been related to those from the Catholic faith but it could be more. The "poverty mindset" is described by Kris Vallotton as "A poverty mindset can trap you into thinking there are limits on what you get to have. As a result, you can be jealous of anyone who receives something that you don’t have. This seeps into all aspects of life including work, friends, and positions within the church." (taken from https://www.krisvallotton.com/8-steps-walking-poverty-mindset) Many seem to feel that having money is because you are greedy. Many seem to think that money is filthy, it is bad, it is evil. I don't want to have this mindset.

This verse to verify the above sentiments. 

1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

They quote it saying that money is the root of all evil, but the verse says, "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (NLT), "Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble" (MSG). 

I looked it up in quite a few translations, and most of them say it pretty much the same way. This made me think, what are my thoughts about money? What is my mindset? Money is simply a tool that can be used in many ways. I work to earn it, and I am occasionally given some as a gift. From there, I either deposit it into the checking or savings account, then it may be spent or invested. Some will hopefully be left for my children/grandchildren to inherit when I finish my time here on the earth; but having it allows me to do things that I would not be able to do without it. But if I love money, and that is all I want- that is when the problem with money enters the picture. As we serve Him, keep our eyes on Him, have our focus on Him, the "things" are simply things, or tools to be used for blessing others.

But, nothing I have, or have earned can be taken with me when I die, right? That is part of what Peter Bailey's quote speaks about, and these verses cover it, too. 

1 Timothy 6:7 "After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it."

Psalm 49:17 "For when they die, they take nothing with them. their wealth will not follow them into the grave."

Both of these speak to not being able to take anything with us into Glory, but this isn't just speaking about money. Like the quote from the movie, "All you can take with you is that which you have given away." 

You are born with gifts and talents, and your learn skills as you grow. These gifts, talents, and skills are all valuable, too. Giving is not just about financial aid. It is about making an impact, making a difference and helping. Love and compassion, kindness, mercy, hope, encouragement- these can also be shared and given away.

I remember our church hearing of someone that was in need of some groceries, so we'd have a "pounding". Each family would bring "a pound of this, and a pound of that" and all that each brought would go to the family in need. Reading stories, or listening to my grandmothers speak of times when the neighbors knew of a family that was ill, or facing difficult times, and everyone would chip in with prepared meals, or rides to appointments, or whatever they could do to make a difference and to show them they mattered. Some communities all chip in to help build buildings on their neighbor's property; some have groups that make blankets/quilts for the family that is expecting a new little one, some communities/groups that take turns making meals for a family facing illness/or a new baby in the home and mom can't be on her feet for a bit. 

Why does it feel so hard for me when I hear someone asking me to give? Why is it sometimes really easy and other times not? As mentioned above in Acts 20, I know it is more blessed to give than to receive.  I know that Jesus said in Luke 6: 38, "give, and you will receive. You gift will return to you in full- pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." (NLT). I believe sometimes it is that it is not a time for me to give to that reason/cause; and other times, it may be my attitude or mindset. It is then MY responsibility to get my spirit, and listen for what HE is saying and act on it. 

Lord, as I have been working on this post for about a month, and trying to make sure that it makes sense and flows with Your Word, I want to thank you for helping me with this one. Break off any poverty mindset that I may have. May my heart and my attitude be right when it comes to money and when someone asks for donations, or help. Help me to be willing to give as You lead, and to trust You in it all. Thank you for all you have given me, and created me to be. Help me to bring honor and glory to You as I walk this out in my life. 

(All photos found through Google.com)