Your Opus - By Debra Courtney

Burlington Free Press

 "...your voice is unique, and it is sweet to God's ears." Song of Songs 2:14 

Any woman who has the courage to believe in her music “Opus” (her work) inside her will write the music for her orchestra, but must to turn her back on the audience to conduct the instruments that brings HER VOICE. "Neglect not the gift that is in thee..." 1 Tim. 4:14.

This is really a word that speaks to me and rings true to who those who know who they are and who’s they are and what their “Opus” their work is. But some of us don’t. 2013 was a mixture of breakthroughs, delays and contradictions for many of us. Like the noise of an orchestra tuning up.

 If we want to orchestrate heavens symphony we must be willing to turn our back on things and some people on the earth. Sometimes God puts His people into a thing called “transition processing.” It is a place where we go into our own “wilderness transition” so we can find GOD’S VOICE and FIND OURS! I have experienced this “transition” even all the while being surrounded by people. Have you?

It takes courage for us to believe in the music, the “Opus” inside us, the instruments that we bring together and surround ourselves with so we can conduct the symphony we need to hear, and to be faithful to write it out accurately so that others can hear it also. 

When we are true to the one thing that we alone were created to do, we tap into an inner strength, not in and of ourselves, but an inner helper, an inner comforter, what could be called a “Spirit of Truth” that we are doing the right thing, even when nobody around us fully understands where we are at. This “place” of being is the most powerful in the world. It is an aspect of “God Speaking” out through the uniqueness of His design as he created us that we are exhibiting.

DESIGNED for PURPOSE and DRIVEN by PASSION

If driven by purpose without passion our work (our Opus) is average and never the best. If driven by passion without purpose, we are pleasure seekers (sensualist). If driven by both, we are a creative force in a uniquely designed universe waiting to cooperate with us and to bring us all into all that we were designed and destined to be.

I like what Steve Jobs said, “To design something you really have to get it! Be passionately committed to thoroughly understand something. The design of the Mac was not in how it looked…it was how it worked.” 

It is not so much what people think about us that matters, it’s what heaven knows about us that matters! Use the criticism to your advantage. In fact get on the positive side of it.

"Poverty and shame shall be to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he that heeds reproof is honored." Prov. 13:18.

The notes erased, marked through or scratched out on the paper of our lives are ugly – however stay with it, because when the 'Opus" is finished the melody is beautiful.

Forgetting those things in the past and pressing onto the greater achievements of the future. The symphony you will conduct with all the different talents of the orchestrate (instruments)that shows up in your life can change everything in your future. It's your choice. It's your "Opus".  Be that instrument in the Redeemer hand.

Bound in Chains - By @Lori_Kennedy

Photo By Amelia Grace Photography

Bound in Chains

By

Lori Kennedy

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.  But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.  Friends, don’t get me wrong:  By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus.  I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”  Philippians 3:12-14 (MSG)

“I know the worst about you, but I also see the best in you.”  This quote is from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young on July 7^th.  There is such truth in this statement!  Our Creator knows everything about us – both the good and the bad – yet still He loves us!  His desire is for us to grow in Him.  One thing author Andy Andrews says in his book "The Noticer" is to take a good honest look at yourself and ask yourself, “What is one thing about me that others would change if they could?” And then work toward changing that one thing. 

God does know the worst about you, but He desires that you be the best you can be living with the Holy Spirit inside of you.  You can UN-learn the habits that you’ve learned as coping mechanisms.  You don't have to keep yourself bound in chains that you’ve created for yourself.

Circus elephants are trained by being bound in chains.  Once they realize they cannot get away, their chains are removed, and they will not run.  In 1967 in Germany, there was a circus tent fire, which wounded and killed several elephants, who were free to run but didn’t recognize their freedom, even to the point of death.

Has God called you to something today that you have been running from due to chains that you have perceived bind you?  What you have been called to, you will be led through.  And if God is for you, who can be against you?  So, throw off the chains and run toward the prize – the destiny that has been prepared for you before the foundation of the world.