Musical FISH

As you may have noticed, I have chosen my One Word for 2011 as being FISH. (Faithful In Serving Him)

Well, I have been thinking a lot about what that means lately.  I think part of being Faithful, and looking to Serve, is choosing to do the right things.  Choosing to do what Serves Him, rather than what I want.

Let me give you an example.

Music. 

I love music. 
I am not a very musical fish.

But such was not always the case.  Once upon a time, when I was very young and still cute, I used to sing like an Angel-fish.  I had a beautiful voice.  However since then, my voice has abandoned me, and despite all my best efforts, I have never managed to teach myself to play any musical instruments.

I can tap out a few tunes on the piano, and I have tried on about 20 or 30 occasions to learn how to play the guitar. 

Why?

Because chicks dig a fish with a guitar, don’t they?

But mostly I fail.

I have just never been very musical.

 

I am also not very good at leading worship.  I have tried a couple of times, and it just never works.  It feels awkward, and not really very successful.  I know God is in control, and it is not about me, but…

It doesn’t work.

I am however, very good at planning and presenting lessons, and designing Bible studies.  I can spend hours in preparation for a fifteen minute session, or do an hour impromptu lesson with no fear or nervousness, and people will say it really helped them to learn more about God.

I think if I spent an hour a day playing the guitar for the next year, I could probably get quite good at it.  Possibly even better than some of the worship leaders I have heard.  I probably could invest that time into improving my musical abilities.

But it won’t help me to become a better worship leader, I don’t think.  I know worship leaders who can use their gift to bring people right into the presence of God.  That is what they do with their gift.  I don’t think he has called me to do that. 

Let us say my musical ability is a 3 right now. 
In a year I could make it a 6.

If my lesson planning is a 5, then with an hour a day, I could make it an 8 by the end of the year.

I think God would rather I improved myself in the areas where he wants to use me, rather than in the areas that are just about making myself look/feel cooler.  I could make myself into a
guitar-playing fish, but a real FISH would use the time to equip himself for service.

And that what being a FISH is all about.