A Message for Speakers from a Mocking Bird

A Message for Speakers from a Mocking Bird by Stephanie Shott

The other night I dragged my hubby to the back yard to reveal my freshly spray-painted work of art. While standing in front of the garage door admiring the fact that I had actaully completed something somewhat crafty, we heard what sounded like several different types of birds singing in the distance.

My man (smart like he is and with an affinity for birds) informed me that it was a Mocking Bird. Just one bird. I was a bit baffled. How can one bird make such a variety of sounds? I honestly didn't get it.

He then continued to explain that Mocking Birds don't really have a voice of their own - they mimic what they hear instead. Thus the name, Mocking Birds.

Of course, my mind went to the many practical and spiritual parallels found in that one little natural fact. And since my previous post was about overcoming our fear of public speaking, I figured I'd use a couple messages sung from the Mocking Bird to speak to the lives of those called to speak.

So let's learn what we can from Mrs. Mocking Bird:

1. Have your own voice. While it's important to learn from others, it's equally important to be yourself. I mentioned this the other day, but as those who are called to speak, we must speak with the voice God has given us - not just mimic others. As much as I love Beth Moore, I'm not her. I can't sound like her, I can't act like her and I can't be her. I have to sing my own song, speak my own messages and use my own voice. I was given my own unique voice and I need to be busy honing it to be the best 'me' I can be.

Learn from others but don't try to be who they are. Don't try to be your version of someone else... just be the best version of you that you can be and let God use you like no one else.

2. Make His message yours. On the flip side of the whole Mocking Bird illustration is the fact that as speakers we are called to be a voice... Jesus is to be our message. Our goal is to do everything we can to be a voice that allows the Lord to speak from His heart to theirs. We have no voice but His. We have no words but His. He is the message we speak and the song we sing. Him. His message. Not our own.

So while on the one side of the Mocking Bird illustration we need to be careful NOT to be like our fowl feathered friend, on the flip side, we are.

Now, sweet speaking friends, we have two lessons we can learn from the Mocking Bird. So, what about you? Do try to make your own unique voice more like others? What do you do to assure that the message you speak is not your own?

Thank you Stephanie for allowing me to share your post!

Blessings,

Kelly

EASTER – A TIME FOR NEW LIFE

The weather here in Alabama has been phenomenal! I think in Alabama, “old man winter” forgot to visit the South!

Spring is in the air! The clocks have “sprung forward” and it is harder to sit behind a desk and work when the desire is to break loose and be outside.

Spring brings on things I’m not so crazy about, like spring house cleaning. If you have begun this process, you are way ahead of me! I must admit that if I’d clean the windows inside and out, I’d have a crystal clear view of God’s beauty and the sunshine would be able to shine through.

Outside during the spring you can see and hear all the beauty of the earth. The trees are budding, the grass is turning green, the bulbs poking up through the ground, the flowers are blooming and the birds are cheerfully singing.

I actually lived out “a time for new life” when my oldest daughter was born in the Spring, and on Easter in 1977.

Spring is here in all of its glory and nature is taking its course toward renewal.

Spring to me is also a wonderful time to re-examine my life’s purpose and determine how I can make it better. I have a wonderful personal life with a fantastic husband, children, and grandchildren. I would not change anything in my wonderful “blended” family world.  No doubt God knew what He was doing in my life!

Have you ever asked the question, “What is my real purpose in life”?  Accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior unveiled to me my true purpose and meaning for life, but throughout the year I need to re-examine this purpose for living and discover how I can do more. Spring always seems to be the perfect time! The hard part is keeping focused on a daily basis and act on things I can do to the point where I become that purpose.

Shortly we will celebrate Easter. We will see people in Church we have never seen before. We will see new Easter outfits and children will be running around looking for hidden eggs to put in their baskets.  There will be family gatherings and plenty of good food, but does anybody take the time to think about what exactly we are celebrating?

As we gather together on Easter Sunday we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells the story of Jesus Christ rising from the tomb on the third day and taking His place at the right hand of The Father. We will be celebrating that morning when Jesus Himself walked out of the tomb.

Now that's something to celebrate, isn't it?

BLESSINGS,

KELLY

Book Review - Heart of Gold

First I must admit this is the first time I have read a Christian Novel, so I did not know what to expect. I had a difficult time getting into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed it.

Heart of Gold is written by Robin Lee Hatcher and published by Thomas Nelson. It's a sweet western story about a young woman - Shannon Adair - and her minister father. They move from the Civil War torn south to the wild west, gold country to be exact. Though Shannon is resolved that she will not fall for a man who isn't a southern gentlemen, she finds that sometimes God has different plans, plans that might include a rough stage coach driver. Most of this book seemed very predictable in where the plot was going and how it was going to end.

Robin Lee Hatcher mentions the Lord many times in this story, not leaving the reader to guess at whether this is really a Christian book or not. It definitely is. I was quite pleased with the scripture passages that were present throughout the book that remind us of God’s faithfulness.

If you like Christian fiction, you will probably like Heart of Gold.

I received this book for free from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.

QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO ANGER

Have you ever said something out of anger that you wished you could have a “do-over” and had given yourself time to think before you spoke? I think most of us have!!

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from James,  “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

This verse always reminds me of “stains”, spiritual stains that occur when we do not abide by this verse, quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger; Stains that hurt us and hurt other people. Spiritual stains can cause others to see us as not being the Christian we are trying to reflect.

The verse is very clear in saying that you should first listen before speaking or becoming angry. Seems easy enough, don’t you think?

Have you ever wondered if Jesus ever got angry?  There are several instances in the Bible when Jesus became angry. In Matthew 21: 12-13, Jesus was angry at all who were buying and selling in the temple, and in Mark 3: 5, synagogue of Capernaum, he was angry over the Pharisees’ lack of faith.  His anger was pure and completely justified because it was concern for God’s holiness and worship.

 There are sometimes good reasons to get angry, but I believe James is reminding us to consider these reasons carefully and not to “fly off the handle” as that kind of anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

The virtue of listening before speaking, and took me several years to learn!  When you are speaking you are not listening, not only to other people but also not to the Lord. This brings about several of my favorite verses, Proverbs 10:19 – “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Or, Proverbs 12:18 – “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” And, Proverbs 13:3 – “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”

Is James saying that anger is wrong? I don’t think so. It is an emotion that we can not help, but we can control. Anger, as many of us know, can lead to sin and evil. Words might be spoken that can tear down a relationship in seconds.

Saying “I’m sorry” does not always turn around the words said out of anger. Sometimes listening and hearing the other person’s point of view helps us to see other ways to handle a bad situation. Remember these verses?

Proverbs 14:17a – “A quick-tempered man does foolish things,”

Proverbs 29:22 – “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.”

Anger accomplishes nothing positive in either person.

I think James is saying that what you do not say is more important than what you say. Your actions speak louder than your words.

It has taken me over 50 years to realize that the “good life” is not succeeding in a career, taking expensive vacations, driving the latest sports car, or having money in the bank. All these things are great, but it is not the “good life”.

The “good life” is peace of mind. Knowing that I was considerate of others, that I stood by faithfully when the chips were down financially, that I teach at Church to maybe make a difference in a child’s life, that I sponsor a child in poverty to make her life a little easier, that by studying Gods word, I have learned to forgive, and to let my love for the Lord shine in the midst of everything I do.

I still can’t help but ask the question, “Why did it take me so long in life to realize how simple life really is?”

Remember, quick to listen, slow to speak and even slower to anger. This will bring you rich soil in which to grow.

Blessings,

Kelly

READ THE BIBLE

These baby owls are in a planter on the deck across from us in Orange Beach, AL!