So, I did a thing earlier this month.
When I was in sixth grade, I joined Introduction to Orchestra and chose the cello 🎻. I LOVED playing it, and because we tested weekly, I can use the word “often” - I was chosen often to be first chair. I LOVED playing the cello.
I found it challenging to transport.
Because I was young and very impressionable, I listened to a classmate, who suggested it was hard to move around my cello on the bus. I allowed myself to get self-conscious, and decided to ditch the cumbersome cello for the flute.
I went on to play flute in 7th and 8th grades, then traded in my tiny instrument for my invisible one, my voice. 🗣 I joined high school chorale and have been primarily singing since then.
But I LOVED playing the cello, and put it on my bucket list when Shana was born.
Fast forward to now, where the kids attend Worship Arts Studio, at Bethel Baptist Church in Yorktown. And - guess what - they have a cello teacher.
So I’ve dusted off my muscle memory, discovered my fingers don’t move like they used to (yet), and have enjoyed experiencing this instrument and its rich, deep tones. It’s week 3, but I’m playing notes and using both my hands. We’re not on the bow, yet. I’ve been enjoying experimenting how to touch the strings to play a tone full of vibrato. How fun!
I’ll keep you updated. And maybe I’ll even share a tune with you!
Beware the one who tries to kill the body but can’t kill the soul.
We are in a REAL battle for our existence right now. Movies are made of this, though now I believe those movies were made to PROGRAM us for this time!
Christ Himself says we are to beware the enemy of our souls, because he can kill the body but can’t kill the soul. But boy is he trying!
Humanity is fighting. All the scourges we’ve learned about over time (which – are they true? Did they organically pop up? Were they manufactured, as this one was?) are converging on humanity for such a time as this. What will we do with it? Will they be successful? Not if we have anything to say about it!
How do we not let them kill the soul? We’re trying hard to keep our bodies alive, but man, are these mongers going after our souls! How are you fortifying your soul? Have you noticed all these things? What kinds of questions do you have? How do you get them answered? What do you do when faced with the terror that just seems to come out? What’s going to happen? We have so many questions.
I wager that one of the things this enemy feeds off is our fear. Why do I say that? One instance for every day of the year, 365 times, the Bible cautions against fearing. That’s SUPER comforting to me. Makes it seem like besides physical elimination, FEAR can lead to us losing our strength, leading to the potential of losing our spirit. Jesus advises the disciples in Matthew 10:28 to ultimately fear God, who can destroy the soul and body in hell. Ultimately, we are NOT to fear man or any evil works, but to fear God.
That gives us a SUPER different vantage point than I think most of us have been taking. Try this on for size – look OVER the ensuing battle TO God. I know it sounds weird but remove yourself from the fray. Look to God for strength. Reminds me of the time in Exodus when God told Moses to raise the staff and have the Israelites look at it. When they looked at the staff, they were ok. When they took their eyes off it, chaos ensued.
Where are you on a scale of 1-10 related to how fearful you feel right now? Take a mental inventory, and commit to reading ONE Bible verse addressing fear, per day, for a couple of months. Start HERE with Alyson's "Write 'Fear Not' On My Heart" journal. I do not receive any compensation for referring you to her site.
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We have been endeavoring to live fully into the lives God has given us. Jesus Christ Himself says Himself in John 10:10 that He gives us life and more abundantly! He called us to live NOW. He didn’t call us to have to change so that we can avoid life. What is that ABUNDANT life supposed to look like, during "unprecedented" times? How do we hold out for and manifest hope!?
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