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| Mountain Ocarina ~ Courtesy of Faithwalk Photography |
Knowledge
The more I learn about the structure
and mechanics of music, the more my enjoyment of music – both in
listening and creating – grows. Music is built on very precise
mathematical structure and it is that very structure which gives music
such a colorful range of beauty and creative freedom. Most of all,
the structure and splendor of music declare the glories of God
and His power to compose both steadfast order and captivating
beauty.
Discipline
Every musician you admire honed their
skill through discipline. They may be intelligent. They may have a
special talent with which they were born. But I guarantee the ship that
sailed them to where they are today was discipline. They had the
dedication to learn their craft for hours upon hours, weeks upon
weeks and years upon years. Old-fashion consistency is like a muscle
that must be exercised and taking the next step in our musical skill
is a fantastic way to work that muscle.
Joy
Music is the voice of joy. It gives
rest to ruffled minds, peace to stressed circumstances and cheer to
discouraged souls. And the sweetness of it is, we don't have to be
concert musicians to enjoy this blessing. I am far from being an
accomplished pianist or Mountain Ocarina player, but I'm often drawn to my
instruments to relax after a hectic day. And this is true for others as
much as for ourselves. Few things lift my spirit like walking through
the house and hearing the rhythms of my brother's soothing guitar or cheery
notes from my sister's fiddle. Like His creatures, I believe the Lord
delights in hearing His children rejoice and music is a very natural
outlet for making that joyful sound.
Fellowship
The sweetest advantage to growing our
musical ability is the fellowship it creates with our fellow man. Music is
like a newborn baby: everyone is drawn to it and delights in its presence.
Music helps bridge the gap between strangers and friends, making it an
excellent tool for ministry. It is also a skill we can teach others. This in turn opens the door to witnessing and discipleship opportunities making an eternal investment in their lives. A joyful young lady who develops
her musical talent will discover many open doors to
minister and build relationships that would otherwise be closed to
her.
Taking our musical skill to the next
level requires work and dedication, but the rewards are well worth
it. It brings depth to our character, edifies our families and
blesses those we are able to touch through ministry and
friendship.
I enjoyed this article for obvious reasons! It was such fun to read and reminded me again of this precious gift that God has given me! :)
ReplyDeleteI would add a fifth blessing--and that is, the opportunity to BE a blessing with music (which you mentioned in "Fellowship"). I cannot even BEGIN to describe the HUGE blessings God has given me because He has given me the gift of music and allowed me to use that gift to bless others.
And I'm very grateful to be on the receiving end of that gift though our piano lessons! :) "It is more blessed to give than receive" sums up the ministry of music beautifully because it's a blessing that blesses the giver as much as the receiver. Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Amanda!
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