Full Heart: Part 2
Wednesday’s are sneaky. Before we know it, it’s mid-week and we are still trying to gain traction. Well, here are 3 ways I have found that add to my sanity in the midst of chaos and help me to stop spinning my wheels. No news flashes…these are things we forget have the power to turn around our attitude, our outlook, and our day.
Singing. It doesn’t matter if we sound like a raucous foghorn, sing anyway. It’s not how we sound it’s what the activity does for our insides. The type of songs we sing matters though. My favorite song use to be “Born to Lose,” which is a good song except it was my life-theme…not so good. So I traded it in for a new song, “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me. Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see. Opens prison doors sets the captives free…I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.” (I think its called “River of Life” I’ve been singing it for over 30 years.) Much more life-building. Great tempo and its heart lifting. Singing our heart out is free and it can add zip to our skip! I dare you to try a rousing chorus of Zippity doo dah and just see if you don’t feel better. Go ahead Sing!
Sense of Humor We did not think up laughter…its instinctive. God knew we would need to laugh till we cry and cry till we can laugh again. Singing and laughter are emotional valves that release stress so we don’t implode. And humor helps us not take ourselves and life so seriously. I don’t advocate frivolity, but I certainly applaud hilarity. It’s okay if you are not naturally funny, just rent a funny friend. Or invest in a Ken Davis and Anita Renfroe dvd. Funny is everywhere. Follow Sheila Walsh on Twitter she’ll make you laugh a stitch in your side. Humor lowers blood pressure, improves your blood circulation, and increases your attitude of gratitude. Go ahead Laugh.
Solitude “Be still.” Not easy for some of us. Too much inner clanking. I am learning that when I am at home with myself I will be at peace wherever I go. And that kind of settledness comes in the still moments, so we can carry it into the fray. Christ-centered intimacy protects us in the midst of life’s brutality, prepares us for people encounters (of the strangest kinds), and prevents us from believing this life is all about us. Practice sitting in silence. All electronics off…even music. You will note if you’re like me twirls of thoughts, at first. Gradually we learn to focus on the sweet whisperings of the Holy Spirit. We’ll recognize His voice by the things he says. He will bring our attention to Christ and promote goodwill in our heart toward ourselves and others. Sh-h…Be still.
What is your favorite song to belt out? How long has it been since you laughed until you cried? Have you learned that “still waters” are a friendly place to be?
I love to sing too, and it DOES help!! My favorite is, “It Is Well! With My Soul.”
God created us to worship, and when we sing, we connect with HIM such an intimate way! Before I knew Jesus, I was a performer, mostly musical theatre…and singing always lifted the blues, but now with Jesus? Man oh man, how SWEET!!! The words have REAL meaning… Pinky, “It Is Well with My Soul” is my fave, as well! Patsy, thank you for your faithfulness to answer God’s calling on your life to encourage us ladies!
I have found that I can sing without opening my mouth, it is inside of me. Doesn’t bother anyone else with my bad sounds and is very gratifying. It’s like praying without speaking, no one knows but me and my Lord. I love to hear good singing and have a chance to hear it often. Don’t know why I started singing in my heart but I really do enjoy it. Can do it anywhere and any time. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I sing to the Lord in my heart and peace is the result.
This is going to sound crazy but I really believe it to be true. The Lord will literally wake me up in the middle of the night with songs in my head. It happens all the time and it’s usually different songs. And as I am hearing the music I think about the person that I should be praying for. It started when a little boy I was praying for was near the end of his life. God would wake me up all the time in the middle of the night to pray for Curtis. And almost always the next day his mom would tell me that he had a bad night. She’s in Illinois and I’m in North Carolina. He’s been with the Lord for over a year now and I still get woken up all the time. I hear music and I know to pray or just be still and listen. Thank you Patsy for your sweet words this morning – you have blessed my day.
Patsy, a lady after my own heart! I SING: in the shower, wherever I am, God puts a song on my heart, only parts of a song and then I fill in with either made up words Then there is the computer, I rush and google in a few words and BEHOLD! it spits out the words I need.(hmm of course, I put them safely away never to be found the next time the Lord tells me to SING! Blessings to you! I have heard you speak, read your books. Never heard you sing!!!!! Hugs. Judi
I love to sing “Lazy River” by Bobby Darin or “River of Dreams” by Billy Joel. I am a music teacher, so the singing part comes pretty naturally. I also love to laugh, and Carol Burnett can always make me feel better. The last part I struggle with. I have trouble turning my brain off.
Your blog today was the second time I have heard “Be Still” in the last 16 hours. The first was from a dear friend as she asked me to wait while she put her baby down for a nap. At first I thought it was so that I wouldn’t make any noise, but in my heart I knew she was speaking to my spirit not my physical body in that moment. I guess I had better listen. No sure what it will look like for today, but I will take some time to be still.
Lord,
I pray that you will be with Patsy as she and the Women of Faith team prepare for the events this weekend. I pray for peace and wisdom for each of the speakers. Banish all fear and doubt from their minds.
In Jesus Name, Amen
I love to sing Grace, grace, God’s grace. It reminds me who is in control. When my grandchildren are here, we sing all Michael row the boat a shore, and dance around the table. Makes all our hearts full of life, and then we thank God for each other.
Thanks, Patsy.
Today it has been Revelation Song.
My laugh was at a very unusuall name my niece chose for her new baby (to myself, not aloud.)
Being still . . . don’t I wish. Tonight at small group is probably as close as I’m going to get this week.
I LOVE this post!! Song – Thy Word…gives me goose bumps and inspiration every time. Being still = I need to learn this one. Like you said, thoughts love to swirl around and I get into trouble when I allow them to swoop through the cavern that is my brain. Perhaps I”m just not sitting still long enough to let them pass. Thanks Patsy!!
Hi Patsy,
I have to admit that different praise songs float through my head at different times of the day….so I don’t have one particular one. But the last time I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my seat was when I heard you at a Women of Faith Conference in Orlando, FL. You make me smile and laugh at some of your descriptions of life. I need chuckles like that often…so I try to make light of the goofy things I do myself. It helps! As far as solitude, I am a big believer in that one. I need a certain amount of quiet time to just sit and listen to the Lord. If I don’t get that quiet time, I do not manage things well. Thanks for sharing and caring Patsy! God bless!~
My Dear Patsy, You made my vacation this year when I saw you at Chico’s in Franklin the day before your birthday. I think my husband is a bigger fan of your than I am. Thank you for sharing your time with us. I am a out of tune singer. I love to sing all the time much to almost everyone’s distress. When my grandchildren spend the night they want me to promise not to sing “Rise and Shine and Give Lord the Glory, Glory.” So I tell them if they get up the first time I won’t, guess what they never get up the first time. It is so funny, my little Megan was at school the other day and her music teacher said to the class that they were going to learn that song and she raised her hand and said, “I know that song my grandma sings it to us to get us out of bed when we stay at her house, but know I can learn how to sing it in tune.”
My husband said the last time I came out of surgery and they were trying to wake me up I told them I was awake and did they want me to sing them a song and the nurse said yes and I started to sing them a Patch the Pirate song called “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me.” I love children’s songs, I love Bill and Gloria Gaither songs, Gospel Music, Sandy Patty, and the old hymns. However, God forgot to give me a voice that could stay on tune. But when I am at home or in the car I sing at the top of my lungs praises to the Lord and I think the Lord is tone deaf because He only hears the sweetness of my praise.
Again Patsy if was so wonderful to meet you in Franklin and just to talk to you like you were my neighbor. May God bless you this coming year. I will not see you at WOF this year because you were in Iowa last year. Please go back the way it used to be. Miss not seeing you every year. If you are ever in Stuart Iowa 30 miles West of West Des Moines off of 80 stop by we will be living in the apartment above the funeral home. It is beautiful. And everyone knows where we are. Pastor Clara Dvorak of the Menlo United Methodist Church.
I try to wake up every day about 15 before I need to be up. Even if I go lay down on my couch and close my eyes again, I spend some time in prayer and meditation. Since I’ve started, I hate beginning my day any other way! God uses that stillness to teach me or just remind me how much I love Him!
That was a good post Patsy! Singing has been around before creation if we look back in scripture! It has a deep way of speaking to us where words can not. I was here in my office reading it and applauding your thoughts! Cheering you on! I turn my cd pages to southern gospel to get my body moving and I dance away! Thanks for all you do!
Thanks again Patsy! I couldn’t wait for this second part. I haven’t been able to sing for about 6 months because of the sadness in my heart. As for laughing, I miss it and when I do it does feel so good. And for being still, I can’t shut this brain of mine off long enough to hear the Lord. It’s about time for all this to stop! So look out family, just warning them! I want the joy of the Lord back and I want to laugh and to hear God. I am going to purpose to at least be quiet and sing today. If that brings on the laughter then I will really win this battle that has been taking my joy! I love you dear girl-friend! You are a blessing and God send to my heart!
The song I love to sng and that I sing often: His Eye Is On The Sparrow – and I pretend I sound just lime Sandi Patty when I sing it.
Laughed until I cried with my 15yo daughter two nights ago.
Haven’t mastered stillness, but am better at it thAn I was even 5 yrs ago and working on it!
Jesus lover of my soul. Somewhere over the rainbow Reba version.
I can’t remembered a time I laughed so hard. I was just asking God to
Do something funny in my life and make me laugh. I need it!
Thank you, thank you dear lady for a wonderful conference experience in Las Vegas! Your humor, your twinking eyes and your fiesty little heart made me laugh and made my day! Bless your soul!