Croak Away!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! (Psalms 100:1)

When we lived in South Florida, Richard and I would often go canoing down the Loxahatchee River. I loved when we would first set the canoe out in the early morning.  At first it just seemed very quiet... but then you would hear it... the awesome chorus:  birds, frogs, crickets, alligators, the splash of fish jumping and birds diving and the gentle breeze rustling the trees.  None of the sounds by themselves is very impressive.  But if one of the sounds were missing, well, it just wouldn't be as perfect.

God wants ALL his creatures to participate in the chorus of life.  He didn't tell the frogs to remain silent because they make an ugly croak.  Even an ugly croak sounds beautiful when it is combined with the individual songs of the other creatures.

So who are we to tell someone their song is too ugly to contribute?  Of course, I'm speaking metiphorically.  I can't imagine a Christian telling another not to sing!  But unfortunately, we know that some Christians tell other Christians that they can't serve in their own unique way.  Some tell divorced people they can't assist at communion (or sometimes even take communion).  Some tell women and/or gays they can't preach.  I know of a women whose pastor found out she had had a few drinks at her friends' wedding and took away her Sunday school class that she had been teaching for years.

God called the frog to join the chorus of life.  God did not even tell the frog to change his song first.  He just commanded him to join in and give it his best!  And when we do, the results are beautiful when combined with the rest of the chorus.  We all sound like frogs in some areas of our lives.   Hopefully we are listening to where and how he wants us to apply our songs.  God called me to write devotions.  I'm sure of it.  We cannot tell another that God did not call him/her to where they feel called to sing.  That is between them and God.

Father,
Help us to know where and when to sing our song and teach us to allow others to sing when and where you have asked them to.  Amen.