Music to energize

What is your favorite song that gives you energy?

That is the NaBloPoMo writing prompt for today. My answer? I don't know. I can't name just one song. I listen to Contemporary Christian and Country on a regular basis and there are lots of songs that uplift and energize me.

Lately I have been leaning more toward the Country music. I take spells like that, where I only want one type of music. I used to feel faintly guilty for my love of non christian music. Like if I wasn't listening to hymns I was headed straight to Hell.

Then last year I read "The Shack" (a really great book, by the way) and something in that book changed my attitude about my music choices. If you aren't familiar with the plot, it's about a man who has a visit with God in a shack in the middle of nowhere. (If you want more, read the book). At one point God is listening to something really funky and not at all "christian" and the man questions the choice. God explains that He/She (read the book!!) loves all types of music, because He/She looks past the words to see the heart of the musician.

Now, I'm not God and I can't see the heart of the musician, but I can listen carefully and look for the message in all types of music. I can listen with an open heart and let the music renew my spirit. And if it doesn't renew me or bring joy and energy, I turn it off. There are blessings to be found in all types of music, not just hymns or "christian" songs. You just have to look.

Sometimes it's the words that appeal to me (Thompson Square's "Glass", for instance) and sometimes it's the beat (Tim McGraw's "Truck Yeah"). So, I won't feel guilty about my music choices anymore. I'm not going to worry about being judged for being less than the perfect follower of Christ because someone else doesn't see what I see in a song (a silly thing to worry about, but I have).

Music is a beautiful gift from God. There are many types of music and many types of people who enjoy them. The important thing isn't what you listen to, but what you take from the experience. Are you being uplifted, energized, filled, and blessed? If the answer is no, then change it. Find the music that speaks to you, and fill your life with it.

A love note from our Father

In other news, if you missed yesterday's One Word announcement, click here to see what in the world I am talking about.

My word in Faithful. Last night I was thinking about my word as I waited for sleep to come and I realized there is a very practical area of my life that needs some faithful attention. My blood sugar. See, I am a type 2 diabetic, one who hasn't taken a blood sugar reading in at least 2 months. I hadn't even realized it had been so long! Now, before you panic, my sugar levels are pretty stable. But that doesn't mean I don't need to check. It's a tool to remind me to take care of myself, if I don't use it I slip into bad eating habits and my numbers creep up.

So, just to keep me honest and accountable, I will be adding a blood sugar reading to the end of my posts a few times a week. This is more for me than you, so feel free to ignore it! :)
Today's (fasting) # is 123. Given the late dinner and the carbs involved, I am very surprised it wasn't higher!

Okay, that's all for today! Now, let's go make it a great day!!