Just a quick update on this story...I still have that beautiful painting in my office, and I still look at it from time to time and remind myself of this Psalm and give thanks for the job that I still have. There have been "moments" throughout these past few years when I needed something pleasant to remind me to be thankful for my job...and for God's daily provision. Sometimes I just have to break forth and sing to the Lord a new song...I still can't play the piano.
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| The picture in my office |
(This was originally posted back in March of 2010, right after I started work here) Psalm 33:1-3 "Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy."
My friend Laura will appreciate this Psalm as it relates to my being able (or NOT able) to play a piano. You see, Laura and I shared a very similar experience. We were both new pastor's wives many years ago...and we were each asked the very same question (in different places and different times) as our husbands were being interviewed for their first ministry position. The question that was directed to me from the ladies of the church was, "Do you play the piano?" I fearfully responded, "No, I do not play." (Fearfully because I feared that if I couldn't play the piano, my husband might not be called to be the pastor of their church). The woman who was in charge of the interrogation was rather alarmed and said, "But our pastor's wives have always played the piano!" I laughed then and said, "Well, if you like singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or singing hymns to the tune of "Chopsticks", I'll be happy to play for you, but that is all I know how to play!" In my mind I was thinking how interesting it would be to sing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" to one of those tunes! Somehow my husband was still called to be the Pastor of that church, so I guess my piano skills weren't really all that important after all!
I thought about this story after a little trip this morning to my new place of employment, which happens to be at a church. The women of the church were having a yard sale, and one of the items for sale was a beautiful painting of an elegant room in which stood a baby grand piano and a lovely golden harp. I fell in love with that painting, and just had to have it for my new office. Much to my great surprise and pleasure, the kind ladies of the church who were in charge of the sale gave me the picture with their blessings. We immediately hung it on the wall where I can view it at any time during my hectic day of work and pause to "praise the Lord with the harp" (in my heart) and "make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings". I don't believe I will be able to "play skillfully", but I can surely give a "shout of joy", for "praise from the upright is beautiful"! I wonder if praise from the baby grand is just as beautiful as from the "upright"! (Upright piano, get it? :))
Yes, I am singing this "Psalm of Joy" tonight...joyful that God has heard my prayers...joyful that He is indeed filling my heart with joy as I embrace this new calling in my life. Now if He will just help me do the work that He has given me to do, I will definitely give a "shout of joy"!
"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!"
Here are some other things that I enjoy looking at in my office when I need to
give my eyes and my mind a break~
Here are some other things that I enjoy looking at in my office when I need to
give my eyes and my mind a break~
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| My Victorian Garden Tea Set...which I purchased from our church Yard Sale the first week I was here! Quite a discovery! |
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| Chinese crock...and the Bibles of course! The Chinese Crock was another church yard sale find! |
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| Angels watching over me! I hope you've enjoyed this little tour of some of my favorite things in my office! Be blessed today, my friends! |
I love this story. It's kind of like, "How can you better serve us?" and the reverse with your new postition, "How can we bless you?" You know you are where you belong! PTL!
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love this adventure we are enjoying together?!
ReplyDeleteYes, Rhonda, I do...sometimes it takes maturity to finally reveal the deep friendship that had its roots in our "infancy", developed during our adolescence, and is now blossoming in our "old age" into the meaningful relationship that God had planned from the beginning. There is something so comforting about sharing life's joys and sorrows with tried and true friends who "knew you when"...there can be no pretense or facade with us...Yes, this is a marvelous adventure!!! I'm loving it!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post Pamela! As you know, I too was asked that question the first time the "new pastor's wife" was introduced to our little church. So funny, but at the time it made me feel even more inadequate for the job. I had to scramble to think of other things I could do there. Ha!
ReplyDeleteYour office items are pretty, isn't it fun to find a great deal that you love?
It's too bad that we had to "scramble" to feel like we were meeting their approval. My interrogation did not stop with the piano...it went on to ask if I could lead the women's missionary prayer fellowship, and then if I could lead VBS. At the time I had a 6 month old baby and two other boys aged 6 & 4. My hands were quite full already...but God gave me grace and wisdom and strength to learn and do the other things they expected. It was quite a learning experience for me. In the long run, it was a good thing...but at the time it put me into extreme panic mode... I still had not learned the magical word "no".... :)
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