I was reading through FB posts just now and I saw an advert for a free belly belt to the first set of people who did whatever they had to do. My first immediate thought was really negative and the words that ran through my mind is that nothing is ever really free. People say its free, but there is always a catch. How cynical of me. How sad the thought. So that is the first part of my post.
The second part is people who want something for nothing, or little to nothing. I joined a group of people to bid services in the form of writing and my time. I found that many of the people seeking to hire me, and I did get three offers of jobs, along with someone else who wants me to bid for their project so they can possibly hire me. I was horrified at how little is being offered in the form of pay. It felt insulted in a way that my time, something I will never get back was so undervalued.
So, I am sitting here thinking about it and all of a sudden scripture, God''s Word, comes to mind about the freedom I have in Christ. Do I believe that? If so how does it relate to these situations I encountered today? After all thinking the mind of Christ after Him is one of my chief goals. In the first situation, I see that many things in life are indeed not free. Every once in a while something will come along that is, and that is a complete blessing and reminder that God gives grace to the needy. Even salvation isn't free because God Himself had to pay for our freedom. Its free for us, but we do have to actually receive the gift.
In the second situation, I recognize that most of these people offering some form of pay for services are giving out a small slice of their pie so that the writer gains something, and so do they. It is an unfortunate thing that, like many jobs, the pay isn't enough. There is no malice intended, nor insult either. Its just people who have a task to get done, who need some help in an expertise they don't have and have sought to fill the gap by hiring people with expertise to get it done.
So, there is such a thing as for real free, but its rare, and when its given, its a little miraculous event, something to praise God for. Its okay that most things in life cost something because it does cause us to appreciate what we have more. One of my lessons for the end of an strangely odd day.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Creating a Song is Like a Fish Bowl
When you have a fish bowl, the wonderful thing about it is that you can see your beautiful fish inside swimming around in the water. There is some intrinsic pleasure in having a fish or two to watch in their natural environment. Those fish are in there swimming around letting it all hang out for everyone to see.
The creation of a song is very like that as well. I have always loved words and rhyming and singing them is something I have always enjoyed. Music is in my heart, though I do not sing that well. I am also horrible about remembering the words to songs. I will sometimes burst out in song and sing part of it correctly, and then make up the words for what I cannot remember. Its an ongoing joke with my husband and son. I just let me hang out and let the song in my heart expose what I am thinking about and how I am feeling. Its not always pretty, and its not always smooth, but then life isn't either so it just fits right.
My joyful noises are always to the Lord and so, when I get teased, even when that teasing hurts my feelings a little bit, I remember who my song is about, and that He is my focus. I am really singing to Him and about Him and so if no one else likes it, well I know He does, because its sincere. I want my songs that pour out of my heart to be like a fish bowl. Clear, simple, and with the ability to openly see all that is going on inside me.
If you have a song in your heart to the Lord, or words that you want to say to Him or about Him for His glory and your blessing, don't hesitate to let it out. It reminds me of Matthew 5 verses 14-16, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Isaiah 55:12 shares, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." When we create a new song, one that glorifies the Lord, worships Him and shows our lives as open and clear as a fish bowl is to its viewer, then we become a source of joy and light to our Creator, and to all those around us and that is always a good thing whether we have all our words right, or even whether we are very good at singing at all. Let your joy pour forth in ways pleasing to our Lord so that all those around us will glorify Him right along with us!
The creation of a song is very like that as well. I have always loved words and rhyming and singing them is something I have always enjoyed. Music is in my heart, though I do not sing that well. I am also horrible about remembering the words to songs. I will sometimes burst out in song and sing part of it correctly, and then make up the words for what I cannot remember. Its an ongoing joke with my husband and son. I just let me hang out and let the song in my heart expose what I am thinking about and how I am feeling. Its not always pretty, and its not always smooth, but then life isn't either so it just fits right.
My joyful noises are always to the Lord and so, when I get teased, even when that teasing hurts my feelings a little bit, I remember who my song is about, and that He is my focus. I am really singing to Him and about Him and so if no one else likes it, well I know He does, because its sincere. I want my songs that pour out of my heart to be like a fish bowl. Clear, simple, and with the ability to openly see all that is going on inside me.
If you have a song in your heart to the Lord, or words that you want to say to Him or about Him for His glory and your blessing, don't hesitate to let it out. It reminds me of Matthew 5 verses 14-16, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Isaiah 55:12 shares, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." When we create a new song, one that glorifies the Lord, worships Him and shows our lives as open and clear as a fish bowl is to its viewer, then we become a source of joy and light to our Creator, and to all those around us and that is always a good thing whether we have all our words right, or even whether we are very good at singing at all. Let your joy pour forth in ways pleasing to our Lord so that all those around us will glorify Him right along with us!
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