Monday, January 24, 2011

i'm working on a song...

and even though i know in my heart what it's about -
i can't for the life of me put it into words.
words seem to fail me a lot these days.
it's all tiny grasping fingers - comforting meetings between me and my littlest friends in the night and watching the shades of black shift to grey as i wish for just a few more hours of sleep... i'm in a season of clinging toddler arms, folding big heavy bodies on my lap and not saying a word because maybe they won't want to climb on my lap next week. My days are full of reading - and being read to, of math and correcting writing samples. There's no end to the food being prepared and consumed - both the physical, spiritual and emotional kinds of nourishment... It's no wonder that words have deserted me - it's all gratitude, emotion and fleeting images... but still - this little song keeps begging to be written... The music came easily - the theme - even the title...
But it's the threads of ideas that seem impossible to sort into any kind of a semblance of order.
Can i ask you a question?
What does it mean to you - to be, "used by God"...?

12 comments:

Alicia said...

Big question... I would say that it is spreading His word, love and hope and showing others the way to Him through you and your actions.

paige said...

alicia - you're brave to be the first one (only one?) to comment 'cause i left that pretty broad didn't i? *thank you*
i think what you're describing is a big part of what i have been thinking - of being used simply by *being* His...
There's something that speaks to the value we place on humanity when it's hard to identify the 'least of these' being *used* too... i can't quite put my finger on the rabbit trails my thoughts take tho...

Anonymous said...

To me being "used by God" is allowing ourselves to be open to Him everyday, everywhere. Its getting to know Him and His still small voice daily and asking "what can I do for you today?" I do believe God can and will use us for His purposes if that is what we desire and ask daily. In or out of home, in every different way imaginable I guess.
For me, I like to "go big or go home", but He doesn't always have that in store for us. Only He knows the big picture and I think if we are open to His picture and to do a little "piece" each day, than that is "being used by God" whether it is out on the mission field, healings, miracles, a listening ear, a helping hand, encouraging word... etc. etc.
That's my take on it.
Carlee

mamalena said...

OK...I might just make a start here...and continue on an email...haha...because my thinking is a little herky jerky.

The phrase "used of God" reminds me of a song I used to sincerely sing at an earlier stage of my spiritual evolution...ha. The words were, "To be used of God, to sing to preach to pray; To be used of God, to show someone the way...etc." I think this is honestly what I and many others thought it would look like to be "used" of God.

Now I think a little differently. I think that everyone who chooses in even the smallest way to live out of Christ's life rather than their own is being used of God. You feel a sharp, unkind response rising up and you exchange it for the soft answer that turns away wrath. That kind of thing....

Everyone can be used in this way. It is making your choices based on "Your Kingdom Com" rather than on *Me*. I know that this probably isn't taking it directly where you are wanting to go... but it is a beginning to put everyone on the level where they can be used...in simple ways; seeing a need and doing a small act of service; sacrificing their own comfort for the comfort of others; involving themselves in the misery of others; We can be used even by NOT doing things. Not participating in vulgar communications; not being destructive; not crushing people with our contempt and condemnation... etc.

Ha....I have a feeling though that you want to go even deeper... to the person who may be in a "vegetative" state...but who knows for sure what might be going on on some spiritual level....within the person themselves...or more obviously in those who are given an opportunity to sacrifice their lives in serving such a one. All these are in some way being used of God. Ha...I could ramble forever....

When we pray the Lord's prayer, "Thy will be done"...we are lining up our own will with His... If the prayer is more than just words...we will be used of God...just by means of who we are becoming in whatever place or position He has us.

I was struck reading the 14th and 15th chapter of John with the number of times Jesus says, "if you keep my command/teaching/word..etc" Then in 15:12 He states directly "THIS is My commandment: that you love..." so at the end of the day, of course Alicia is right. If we are learning and practicing His kind of love we are being used...and the more we are consciously faithful at this, the more useful we become...

HA...you might have to write a whole 'nother song...

mama

mamalena said...

Yes...what Carlee said...in the first paragraph...."Zechariah 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice..."

OK...I'm done.

paige said...

maybe it's not something that can be expressed in three verses and a chorus - when it encompasses every act of our lives - our willingness to act in agreement with Him - our very *being*...

Erik said...

This is a BIG question Paige but I'm going to maybe prod it a little further if I can. If we want to ask the question "How can I be used by God?" We need to also understand the relationship we have with him in a "Kingdom" perspective!

God is not just our friend and neighbor; he is our Lord and Righteous Ruler. He is our King and Life Commander. In that sense we might have a different perspective to who we are; at least in relationship to him. It's not always about what we want or choose to do; it's what we are Called, Commanded, and perhaps in a more Biblical sense... Commissioned to do! (Check out this video Paige: http://youtu.be/flRRjOvtPhE)

In some sense of the Biblical picture we might say we are all slaves in the created sense. The question might then be less “What is a slave?” (although we could explore this too!) and more, “Who or what is our Master?”; “Do we have a good Master?” and so on. I would like to find some Biblical examples but I must confess I am short on the time for this; sorry Paige.

Just some quick thoughts off the top of my head Paige! Bonnie’s calling me off to dinner though now so I’d better run/roll. Let this question sit with me a little while and I’ll try some other thoughts! :)

deborah said...

I've thought this out a bit...and honestly haven't come up with much that's deep or profound in any sense. For me it is simply (though not always 'simple' to do or be) open to Him - wherever and to whomever that may lead - basically the same as Carlee's answer.
Oddly enough though, this is one thing that I have been really wrestling with God in my own life...how do you want me to be used? where? what? etc etc.

paige said...

deborah - funny - that's exactly where the *inkling* for this song came from. i was reading something that actually, Erik wrote - & it resonated with me. It was more than just an openness or wilingness to be used... it was a *desire* & a *longing* to be used & i thought to myself - that must be from God - & yet where do we go from here?

Alisdair said...

Being used -- maybe being in the right place at the right time? Feeling you should give someone a certain amount of money - and when you do, finding out they were praying for that exact amount for a specific need. That's the sort of thing I think of -- like one of our former minister's said "Too Odd Not to Be God" moments in our lives when there is no other explanation but that God arranged for certain things to happen.

I think sometimes we figure that unless we are Billy Graham or some big Christian singer or pastor of a huge congregation, that we can't be "used" of God. But there is the wife with a non-Christian husband loving him into the Kingdom or the person looking after orphans - they are being used of God in their own way.

It's a very broad topic!

One of the Hemmerling girls wrote a song, many years ago, that Double Portion still sing called "Choose Me, Use Me."

Good luck with getting your thoughts to gel!

Thanks for the "food for thought!"

Saskatchewan Cousin

Carol said...

I think most of my thoughts have already been said, better than I could say them!
I wish I could hear you sing and play the song once it comes together!

Lori-Dawn said...

Love what Carlee wrote! Same with your mom! they couldn't have said it better, how I feel "being used by God" is defined.

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