Sally clapped and raised her right hand to bring her Sunday School class to order. Within seconds, her students silenced and straightened in their chairs.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Miss Vincent,” they said in unison.
Sally smiled. She loved these children. “Today we are going to talk about what you want to be when you grow up. Any ideas?”
Hands shot up.
“Tommy?”
“I want to be the boss in a really tall building.”
Sally’s eyebrow rose. “Why?”
“Because my daddy says that will make me rich and I will get to tell everyone else what to do.”
The students giggled.
Sally sighed.
Why did parents feed their children rubbish like this?
“Tommy, you know God uses all of us in different jobs. It doesn’t matter if we’re the boss or if we take out the garbage.”
Tommy’s eyes widened. “He does?”
“Yes, He does.”
Society tells us if we climb the infamous corporate ladder and be the big dog, we’ll have everyone’s respect, be rich, happy, have the best-looking spouse, the biggest house, and the list goes on.
Why do we get caught in this trap?
We should know better by now.
Why can’t we just keep it simple? Why do we think we have to reach for the highest accomplishment to be successful? I’m not saying it’s not important to set goals and strive to be the best we can be, but that doesn’t make us a better person. Better than our neighbor, co-worker, or the person sitting next to us at church.
We need to remember God uses all of us. It doesn’t matter what job we have, if we can sing a solo, or write the next best-seller. What matters is our heart. What we do for Him while we’re here on earth.
When I first heard the Booth Brothers sing the song I Played in a Band and Sang in the Choir, I couldn’t get the tune out of my head. That’s a good thing.
It has a great message. God will use all of His people because we all can play in the band and sing in the choir.
We just play different instruments and sing different parts. It doesn’t matter that we’re not the same.
He doesn’t want us to be. He wants us to be different. He wants us each to do our part.
My favorite line in the song is “Every once in a while I started a fire!” When I hear them sing it at their concert I can’t help but pump my fist in the air at that line.
I want to start a fire. That’s why I write. I want God to use my writing…to give me His words. I’m a simple person with simple words. I pray they touch the lives of those who read them.
That’s my heartfelt desire.
What’s yours?
What part do you play? I’m speaking figuratively here of course. Share how you want God to use you.
I Played in the Band and Sang in the Choir (Written by Larry Gatlin, Bill Gaither and Henry Slaughter)
Come on…get up and clap. You can’t stay seated when you hear this song!! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. 😉 Enjoy!
P.S. I get to see the Booth Brothers this Friday night in Toronto! Can’t wait! Maybe they’ll sing this song. Pretty please, guys? 😀
(Click on the link below.)
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=09ME2CNU
I hope this doesn’t sound boastful but, at this season in my life, I believe God has called me to write. I realized this after lots of prayer and wise counsel. And He’s expanded it beyond writing stories to include teaching and coaching, mentoring and guiding. He opens new doors in these areas all the time. I rest in the peace of this calling even in the hard times when I remind myself–and Him–that this was His idea.
Thank you for this thought provoking-post, Darlene.
Hi Henry! That doesn’t sound boastful at all! God is using you big time. That’s exciting! Thanks for your comments.
Thank you for sharing that! I loved it!
Anna Pollock
Thanks, glad you liked it. 🙂
Amen Sissy! I love this song too!
They sang it last night! I pumped my fist in the air a few times and couldn’t stay seated!! 😀 Thanks Jim for putting it in the line up!
What an incredible blessing to hear the Booth Brothers for the first time. This song is wonderful and I couldn’t keep this Baptist touché on the chair… I was moving and a shaking.. AWESOME!!!! And the song She still remembers Jesus completely touches my heart with my Dad in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s. God bless you Dar… I had fun with you both Friday night
I’m so glad you were able to come hear the Booth’s! They have such an amazing ministry. I love that they’re genuine on and off stage. I agree….my Baptist roots start to turn Pentecostal on that song. 😀 I just can’t help but be “moved” by the Spirit! LOL! Thanks for coming. It was fun having you there.
P.S. I totally understand where you’re coming from re your Dad. It’s tough. That song says it all. Love you xo
This got me thinking of the song “Pass it on” from the 60s and 70s that goes “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” So hoping that you ARE that spark in the “fires” in the lives of folks around you everywhere you have influence. Love the Booth Brothers too!!
Hi Linda! Yes, I remember Pass it on. Loved that song. It brings back memories! The Booths are great, aren’t they? Thanks for stopping by. God bless!