By Kristine John
In my teenage years, music was a powerful influence in my life.
I would spend much time pondering the meaning of lyrics, and if they were meaningful to me, I would then memorize them so that they would always be a part of me.
As I have "matured" (and had multiple children) the luxury of pondering over the lyrics of a song is gone.
In fact, I am lucky if I can catch the words of the chorus...let alone the general meaning of the entire song!
I'm more influenced by the meaning of the song than how it sounds, and without spending the time to understand a song, I don't gain the same level of power from a song that I used to.
It is because of this fact that I have not made music a high priority in my life.
(Although I hadn't ever spent the time to contemplate why...behold the power of writing!!)
Sunday, however, I was deeply touched during our rest hymn.
(Funny, how even with kids crawling and walking all around me on the bench I was able to catch the power of these words.)
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I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go
Verse 2
Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now in the paths of sin
Some wand’rer whom I should seek.
O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,
Tho dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet:
I’ll say what you want me to say.
[Chorus]I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
I’ll be what you want me to be.
It made me think a lot about not just the spoken word, but of the written word, and how often lately I have felt compelled to send someone a note so that they understand that their life is having an impact on mine.
I truly believe that the Lord has a purpose in giving me the ability and desire to write...and although I have struggled to find the specific path He desires me to take, I am finding that if I daily try to do His will, I end the day feeling as if I have accomplished something.
It may not be a "big" thing in anyone else's eyes...but when I say what He wants me to say, I know I have been an instrument in His hands, and I want to do more.
I truly do want to be what He wants me to be.
(originally posted 4-17-2007 on my personal blog)
I have come to believe (reluctantly) that words have power in and of themselves. Accordingly, I too have begun to write little notes to speakers who touched me or a specific lesson someone gave, even to my HT for a blessing. I have discovered that these notes are treasured far more than the spoken word. Truly words have power. Aren't we blessed to understand this as writers?
ReplyDeleteAmen! The power of words is incredible. I know I have a couple of personal notes glued into my scriptures. They were written to me and had such a profound impact on me, I keep them there to remind me that we have angels about us all the time.
ReplyDeleteI also am keenly aware that the words we just think have more power than we can imagine.
Interesting. I have been thinking along the same lines- I'll say what he wants me to say.
ReplyDeleteI just finished two big projects and stand on the brink of deciding my next direction. I have about 10 ideas but pragmatically had lighted on one that wouldn't gel. This morning I was praying about it and felt I had chosen the wrong one, that the Lord wanted me to work on another. It's funny that He would care, but apparently even in our hobbies, He is watching, directing and loving us.