singing praises
I often get the comment that the name of my blog is good and really describes me. I find that a comfort and see it as a positive note. I have always loved singing. I remember being really young and pretending my hairbrush was a microphone and that I was this hot well known singer. I took an interest in music as a young child, probably due to my sister's influences and her taking piano lessons. I never had the opportunity to take piano lessons only because when I was younger, my eyesight was really bad and even glasses wouldn't help me learn to read notes. I remember my sister practicing her piano and I would just make up any song to sing at the tune to what she was playing. As a child, I played by ear/sounds of notes. I never did learn how to fully play the piano well but I didn't care...I was just glad I could play a tune. Now, I can read music somewhat but still mostly play by ear just because I have done it all my life. I'm teaching myself guitar as well and have been enjoying playing and learning chords, etc.
As I said before, as a child, I loved pretending to sing in front of an audience. All my songs were hymns that I sang and attempted to fiddling around on the piano. I doubt I was a good singer as a child because, believe me, I found tapes in the basement of my singing. yikes! But then I thought how innocent I was as a child who was 6, 7, 8 years old. Although I wasn't a Christian at that age, I loved singing hymns...it was a hobby. Now I am an adult. I am part of my church's worship team and enjoy singing more and more each day. I love learning new songs and learning how to control my breathing as I sing. I have never taken lessons and wish I could, but that's beside the point. Just because one is not blessed with a beautiful voice, doesn't mean you can't "make a joyful noise" for that comes from the heart. God calls us to make a joyful noise to Him; we are called to serve Him and honor Him, and come before His presence with singing...singing from the heart. I've been doing a lot of focusing and thinking these past weeks being at home and not being able to work full time yet. My thoughts has often shifted towards singing praises to God. I have taken some time off from my duties on worship team (since February) because right now, my health is not up to par and I don't want to chance having to commit to practice and 2 services on Sunday. What I have been reflecting on is how can we honor God? Sure we can honor God in what we say and what we do throughout the day. I have been listening to a lot of praise songs and other Christian songs on my iPod and I enjoying singing along. I truly miss being on worship team because I love being able to use my talents to serve God's people. I sing a lot at home and it really helps me put my life into perspective and to see all of God's work in my life and not focus on the negative or "bad" things in my life right now. People ask me "how are you" and I reply truthfully. If I am not feeling well (for example, my stomach is flaring up), I say "I'm struggling with my stomach issues today.....but at least my shoulder doesn't hurt me much!" I get chuckles from people because (I guess) they don't expect an answer like that. Even how we speak should be joyful and honoring to God. I have learned not to let the negatives out weigh the positives in my life; I rather focus on what is the good in my life and just trust that God is in control of the negative. Sure, it's hard sometimes. I struggle a lot physically, more so since the beginning of the year. It is tough and sometimes I can get depressed and feel negative about my health, but I hate feeling that way; then again, it's human to feel that way. I'm also not saying we should never feel weary, sad, depressed, etc because God gives us those emotions for a reasons. We just need to rely on Him and only Him to get us through the trials...we can't handle it ourselves and we should try not to complain. It's dishonoring. We live in a cynical world, but that shouldn't be a hindrance on what our attitudes should be. One's attitude mirrors whether or not there is full and complete trust in God and whether or not we can continue to sing praises to Him, even in our darkest trials. I admit, sometimes it is hard to sing praises to God when one is down or depressed, but trusting in God and believing the words "when I am afraid I will trust in You; in God whose Word I praise" is important.
Every time I see my nieces, they remind me of the idea behind, "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". My youngest niece Caaitlyn LOVES to sing "Jesus Loves Me This I Know". Just hearing her sing those words melts my heart because she sings it with such enthusiasm......If I don't sing it the way she sings it (very exuberantly), she will say "no this way" and wants me to sing it with a lot of excitement....what a great picture "a joyful noise". Miranda also loves to sing. She dances as she sings....she teaches me how to sing songs she learned from her Christian preschool. She adds life to the words she sings and you can tell...........she really loves learning new songs. I absolutely adore any child singing praises to God. It's such a beautiful picture and sometimes it is from children we learn things....and it's not just in song. I absolutely adore hearing my nieces pray. Their prayers are short....yet so innocent. They ask God what they want, and thank God for what they have and who they have in their lives. How many times do I remember to do that? Praising and thanking God certainly is a joyful noise in God's eyes.
So, the idea behind the name of my blog? It is a reminder to make a joyful noise to God. Every word of thanks and praise shows your heart's attitude and feelings toward our Father in Heaven. Everything we say or do should be a reflection of God's love. God's love.....never ending, unfailing. Doesn't that give a reason to make a joyful noise?? I think so!
As I said before, as a child, I loved pretending to sing in front of an audience. All my songs were hymns that I sang and attempted to fiddling around on the piano. I doubt I was a good singer as a child because, believe me, I found tapes in the basement of my singing. yikes! But then I thought how innocent I was as a child who was 6, 7, 8 years old. Although I wasn't a Christian at that age, I loved singing hymns...it was a hobby. Now I am an adult. I am part of my church's worship team and enjoy singing more and more each day. I love learning new songs and learning how to control my breathing as I sing. I have never taken lessons and wish I could, but that's beside the point. Just because one is not blessed with a beautiful voice, doesn't mean you can't "make a joyful noise" for that comes from the heart. God calls us to make a joyful noise to Him; we are called to serve Him and honor Him, and come before His presence with singing...singing from the heart. I've been doing a lot of focusing and thinking these past weeks being at home and not being able to work full time yet. My thoughts has often shifted towards singing praises to God. I have taken some time off from my duties on worship team (since February) because right now, my health is not up to par and I don't want to chance having to commit to practice and 2 services on Sunday. What I have been reflecting on is how can we honor God? Sure we can honor God in what we say and what we do throughout the day. I have been listening to a lot of praise songs and other Christian songs on my iPod and I enjoying singing along. I truly miss being on worship team because I love being able to use my talents to serve God's people. I sing a lot at home and it really helps me put my life into perspective and to see all of God's work in my life and not focus on the negative or "bad" things in my life right now. People ask me "how are you" and I reply truthfully. If I am not feeling well (for example, my stomach is flaring up), I say "I'm struggling with my stomach issues today.....but at least my shoulder doesn't hurt me much!" I get chuckles from people because (I guess) they don't expect an answer like that. Even how we speak should be joyful and honoring to God. I have learned not to let the negatives out weigh the positives in my life; I rather focus on what is the good in my life and just trust that God is in control of the negative. Sure, it's hard sometimes. I struggle a lot physically, more so since the beginning of the year. It is tough and sometimes I can get depressed and feel negative about my health, but I hate feeling that way; then again, it's human to feel that way. I'm also not saying we should never feel weary, sad, depressed, etc because God gives us those emotions for a reasons. We just need to rely on Him and only Him to get us through the trials...we can't handle it ourselves and we should try not to complain. It's dishonoring. We live in a cynical world, but that shouldn't be a hindrance on what our attitudes should be. One's attitude mirrors whether or not there is full and complete trust in God and whether or not we can continue to sing praises to Him, even in our darkest trials. I admit, sometimes it is hard to sing praises to God when one is down or depressed, but trusting in God and believing the words "when I am afraid I will trust in You; in God whose Word I praise" is important.
Every time I see my nieces, they remind me of the idea behind, "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". My youngest niece Caaitlyn LOVES to sing "Jesus Loves Me This I Know". Just hearing her sing those words melts my heart because she sings it with such enthusiasm......If I don't sing it the way she sings it (very exuberantly), she will say "no this way" and wants me to sing it with a lot of excitement....what a great picture "a joyful noise". Miranda also loves to sing. She dances as she sings....she teaches me how to sing songs she learned from her Christian preschool. She adds life to the words she sings and you can tell...........she really loves learning new songs. I absolutely adore any child singing praises to God. It's such a beautiful picture and sometimes it is from children we learn things....and it's not just in song. I absolutely adore hearing my nieces pray. Their prayers are short....yet so innocent. They ask God what they want, and thank God for what they have and who they have in their lives. How many times do I remember to do that? Praising and thanking God certainly is a joyful noise in God's eyes.
So, the idea behind the name of my blog? It is a reminder to make a joyful noise to God. Every word of thanks and praise shows your heart's attitude and feelings toward our Father in Heaven. Everything we say or do should be a reflection of God's love. God's love.....never ending, unfailing. Doesn't that give a reason to make a joyful noise?? I think so!
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