Just

I had choir rehearsal earlier tonight, during which my wonderful director was talking to us about phrasing and musicality and such, said something that struck me as a new concept:
"Don't ever just sing."
Don't ever JUST sing. Ever. You don't have to be a singer to know how often people JUST sing. We'll be walking around mindlessly singing the words to a song that is stuck in our head, or halfway singing along with the radio in the car. Even the church worship leaders do it sometimes- they've sung a particular song so many times that it loses meaning. The words aren't sung with any emotion or conviction anymore. They evoke no response from the singers or the listeners. The same thing happens with certain prayers, bible verses, blessings... sadly, it happens with a lot of things in church.
Not just church though. A lot of things in life become routine and mindless. We don't have any feeling in regards to many of our activities. I think that needs to change. Don't ever just sing. Don't ever just ____.
Teach
Learn
Play
Create
Eat
Give
Buy
Live
Do you get what I'm saying here? When a choir sings with a true idea of the lyrics, when they put emotion into their voices- the effect can move an audience to tears. Think about what would happen if you put that much feeling into everything you did (I don't think it would be too hard, let's face it, we're emotional beings). Let yourself feel. Be motivated by something. ANYTHING.
If you're going to study, study with a hunger for knowledge and understanding. If you're going to run, run to win. If you're going to donate money, do it because of passion for the cause, not obligation. If you're going to teach, teach in such a way that you convey all the emotion you feel for the subject. If you're going to eat, sleep, or receive any other gift, be THANKFUL.
Even with things that you don't choose to do- do them with a desire to grow and mature. Do your best, because you'll be stronger when it's over. They are the tasks you've been given, do them to glorify God.

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Thoughts on a Wednesday Night

You should know, I'm very energetic right now. This generally happens in the middle of the school week just around the time I should be heading to bed. I think that during times like these I just want to be heard. So, after loudly singing Veggie Tales songs to my family for a half hour, I decided blogging might be a better way to get my "voice" out there (don't worry if you don't actually read my blog- I'll never know and I'll still feel like someone is listening). I'm also blogging tonight because I haven't in a really really long time and I have SO MANY THOUGHTS stored up in my brain right now. I don't know that all of them are ready to share, but we'll see how it goes.

Thought Number One:

A person's personality never quite fits in with life. It's interesting, cuz we all have very different personalities, but we all struggle with some aspect of ourselves (like being really hyper when I should be sleepy). I think God made life so that it's not quite suited to what we want and need. That way we want and need HIM! It's pretty hard to make life go perfectly for you, Type A personality or not. Sometimes I think we need to accept that a situation just isn't gonna work out for us. Then again, determination is important. Ah, it's all a balance I guess. But what if the thing I'm bad at is balancing?? Agh! :)

Thought Number Two:

Jacob was reading from this book "The Heart of the Artist" on Monday at Whiteout rehearsal, and the author had some pretty good points about being an artist (go figure). He/She mentioned that to improve as an artist, we need to continue to experience and take in good art! I like that idea cuz I like art. I want to go to more concerts, art exhibits, dramas, whatever. Good art is so amazing. The author also said that we can experience art that isn't Christ- focused even if our area of art IS Christ-focused. It can still give us ideas on how to connect with an audience and try new methods, etc. So GO EXPERIENCE ART! (Oh, and invite me along please :D)

Thought Number Three:

I don't have a thought number three yet. So I'll improvise. Umm... why is life so busy? Do you ever wish you lived in a different time period? Which one? I wish I lived in the Depression Era, or in the early nineteenth century. Oh goodness... I can just feel someone reading this and starting to fall asleep, or wishing they could fall asleep. Sorry! I feel like all this writing is cliché and tacky. Blah :P

Thought Number Four:

Somehow I managed a fourth thought even after a lame improvised third! Okay- how do you decide who to be friends with? Not that there's a limit, but you know how there's those people who are just casual acquaintances and those people you're super close to? Why is that? The Bible tells Christians to love everyone, but I've been told that doesn't mean "be friends with everyone." I mean, some people would just never get along with me enough to be my friend! Can I still love them? Are you friends with people who are similar than you, or different? Or both?? If you're like me and you're friends with all sorts of different people, what's stopping you from befriending someone who you think is a little weird? What is your standard that you compare "weird" people to anyway? Yourself? Maybe it's YOU that's weird! Is there someone that you want to be friends with but you're not? Well get going!

Thought Number Five:

Last one, I promise. You should read The Message bible. It's really good.

"Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" Romans 15

If you read this entire thing, congrats! Oh, plus Jesus and I love you! And YOU'RE WORTH IT!

lots of agape love and hugs forever,

k (: