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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I Hope You Sing




So there I am standing in front of 2,000 people ready to sing my solo at church. It started without a hitch, 1st verse…2nd verse and chorus…all was well until after the 2nd chorus and into the key change. This is when the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir surrounding me would have been just fabulous. But, there was no choir, there was not even a blue-haired Grandma willing to toe the line with me. Nope, not a one.

Oh, those blasted key changes! Key changes always unnerved me, I was just a little unsure about jumping that note up all by myself onto that next ledge of melody. So, I gave it my all and guess what? I slipped right off the ledge of melody into the miry pit of sour notes so bad that they only dreamed of the day they could be harmony. It was not pretty. At that moment, I knew I had a choice…either run sobbing from the platform crying the ugly cry or keep singing. I chose the latter.

In those milliseconds of time that seemed an eternity, I heard in my heart “don’t stop, these words are too important and need to be sung.” So sing I did. I found the right notes and kept on going. I chose not to let fear and humiliation determine the outcome of this moment. I knew the verse “God did not give me a spirit of intimidation” so I knew that God would want me to press on.

After the service one of the pastors told me that a gentleman had come for prayer and gave his heart to Jesus. He said that the words of that song had impacted him and his decision to choose life that day. I can’t begin to tell you how my heart jumped a beat!

That’s what happens when we lay down our pride and let God use us in whatever way He sees fit. I don’t say this to sound like- oh I have it all together ~blah, blah, blah, but I want to encourage you to put away the fears of what other people will think, and do what God calls you to do, no matter how foolish it could make you look. After this incident, I felt that I truly understood what it meant to be a fool for Christ!



1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you
were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you.
27 Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in
order to shame those who think they are wise. And, He chose those who are
powerless to shame those who are powerful.
28 God chose things despised by
the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing
what the world considers important,
29 so that no one can ever boast in the
presence of God.
NLT

There is was no boasting in my performance, but I am willing to sing off key any day if someone can find the Lord in spite of it. I hope that I inspired you to push past your fears and let Him shine through you any way that He chooses!
I hope you sing.


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14 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

God bless your precious heart.

November 3, 2009 at 2:36 AM  
Blogger A Stone Gatherer said...

Thanks Sue, that's a good reminder!

November 3, 2009 at 5:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this read.

November 3, 2009 at 5:36 AM  
Blogger Melissa in Mel's World said...

You are too cute...I can not imagine you singing off key, but I know that we have all been in a spot where we fall way short and God works through us anyways...how incredible is that?

xoxo,
Melissa

November 3, 2009 at 6:22 AM  
Blogger LisaShaw said...

I'm sure that you were an absolutely blessing to the LORD's ears and to others. Your heart is good!

Blessings,
Lisa

November 3, 2009 at 6:32 AM  
Anonymous Lisa (in texas) said...

wow...i am just totally in awe of how God uses us...in spite of ourselves. Thank you for sharing your story.

Amazed by Him more & more,
Lisa (www.osothankful.blogspot.com)
(www.ourwayswithourkids.blogspot.com)

November 3, 2009 at 8:19 AM  
Blogger Goosegirl said...

Beautiful. And I have been where you were. It is soooo hard to keep going. But when we let go of our pride, and offer our broken selves to God to use, He does. Tonight I will be singing a song that I was given only 3 days ago, and it is not in my usual style. But my worship pastor chose it for me and feels it is what the Lord wants. I am nervous, which is unusual for me. But I also want to be open and available for the Lord to speak through me. Of course I pray I do not mess up and make (what I would feel would be ) a fool of myself. But God's ways are so much higher than mine. I can feel my stomach acid churning away. I pray the Lord uses me tonight as He used you in that song.

November 3, 2009 at 9:57 AM  
Blogger Praise and Coffee said...

Goosegirl, I'll be praying for you, just give it to God!!
I hope you sing :)
Sue

November 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Yea...been there.....Every time I hear Holy Ground, it brings back memories of me totally forgetting half the words in the middle....yea...we have to choose to continue...

November 3, 2009 at 2:51 PM  
Blogger Kela said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

November 3, 2009 at 6:33 PM  
Blogger Kela said...

Key word(s): Choice/Choose. Victory or defeat. Confidence or cower back. Sometimes the consequences of making a different choice aren't harsh but at the moment it can feel that my very being is rebelling one way or the other. Always following God's leading will bring Him the glory, thus blessing me more than I could ever imagine in return.

Thank you so much Sue for that perspective and thought. :) <3

November 3, 2009 at 6:35 PM  
Anonymous Debbie said...

Wow. This is such a great message to perfectionism (not that I struggle with that...) God so doesn't want perfect - he wants our willingness to be used - just as we are - and what a blessing to be used in a way to lead someone to a personal relationship with HIM. That's what our service is all about!

November 4, 2009 at 8:53 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Wonderful post! It is hard to push past our fears, something I still need to learn to do. Thanks for sharing your story.

November 4, 2009 at 11:12 AM  
Anonymous Denise Miller Holmes said...

A common lesson at public speaking seminars is not to stand there hoping they will love you. When you focus on the message, you'll give a good speech. It sounds like you pulled yourself out of an insecure situation by focusing on the meaning of the song and what message God wanted people to hear. That is so hard when things are going awry. Good job. Thanks for the lesson, Sue!

November 4, 2009 at 2:35 PM  

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