the importance of you

"You are your own worst critique."

We've all heard the phrase before. After watching American Idol, I would beg to differ. I'm sure most of the show is all an act, but there are plenty of people who have big heads and no talent to hold them up. There are points in time where I think I'm not good at anything or mediocre at a bunch of different things and every once in a while I'll believe that I'm really good at something. I think we realize our greatest flaws when we meet someone or discover something new. We compare and contrast what we possess with them, deciding whether or not we rank higher or lower. This is ludicrous. God has given each of us talents and abilities, uniquely fashioned to fit and be used within His body - 1 Cor 12. I like to look at it as one giant puzzle. Every piece is necessary to make the masterpiece complete. In a 1000 piece puzzle you could have 999 pieces and yet there would be a hole, which would stick out like a sore thumb.

Recently, I've been convicted of a couple things. One is faulting myself that I'm not that great of a guitarist or pianist - do I practice? Never. What excuse do I have? You are right... none. Could I be great... maybe, maybe not, but I think I've spent more time and energy complaining that I'm not good instead of actually making time to practice. My second guilty obsession has been putting down my vocal abilities. If there was one thing that has not changed since I was a little girl, it was my love and passion for singing. Even when I was told I couldn't sing at all or I never sang the song right, I still loved it and persevered right pass all the negative comments. If there was a place to sing, I was singing. If there wasn't a place to sing, I made one:) I'm not sure why the very thing that I love, I would ever lower to a level it did not belong.

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
-1 Timothy 4:12

Paul wasn't address the age of a person, but pointing out that God would use them even though the gifts, talents and abilities were not perfected. And by "no one", he is talking even about putting down yourself. God has given me a gift. It is beautiful. I am absolutely honored that I can glorify His name every Sunday at Mosaic in worship. I don't think I can even begin to express the joy it brings to be able to make my heart an audible melody for God to hear and for the ears of His people.

My point is, there will always be opinions. It doesn't matter how many compliments I get or whether or not I think I sang a song well, but it is all about God being glorified, being an open vessel for Him to speak through my lungs, and for this, it can be nothing but beautiful.