VIRTUOSO

There was a period in my life that I immersed myself in the study of giftedness. As the director of gifted education for our school district in Texas, I was sent for much training to learn more about how people think; to see the many ways that people can be gifted; to comprehend the joys and challenges that come with giftedness; to understand that one can be gifted and still have a learning disability; to see some truly gifted people at work - some who became my mentors.

I soon found out that our little school system had one of the largest populations of gifted in the state of Texas. Among my students, I saw amazingly different gifts: one could read at the age of 18 months; one could lead any given group with remarkable inspiration; several could do high level mathematics without knowing how they did it; there were artists, poets, musicians, inventors, authors, critical thinkers, creative thinkers... Over the years that I was there, I had the students learn/experience using their gifts via a program called Future Problem Solving. It was beautiful to watch them see community problems and then harmoniously use their gifts to solve those problems. The year after we moved away, some of them went on to win the International Competition of Future Problem Solving.

More amazing to me, was that many of these young people were part of the church group who my husband, Steve, preached for. I saw young people who weren't leaders at school, yet once they became christians were gifted by GOD in leadership or administration among GOD's people. I also saw those who were not in the "gifted program" at school becoming "spiritually gifted". Young people, no matter what their abilities or disabilities, who would give their lives to JESUS and be given spiritual gifts by Him to minister in His Kingdom.




This week, I have seen women, no matter what their giftedness, striving to listen for a song that GOD has given them. Have you noticed the comments?

• GOD gave Brenda and Lexi songs to calm Lexi.
• GOD gave Stephanie two songs: Somebody Prayed for Me (after someone actually prayed for her online); then, through the challenges of another week-He's Still Working on Me.
• GOD gave Carla a song during the same week that her baby dropped and the birth of her third child is around the corner: "I've Got Confidence...God is going to see me through..."

I can just imagine JESUS starting His Sermon on the Mount with "a one, a two, a three, a four..." I can imagine Him thinking that if His followers, who each have been gifted by Him, would learn how to start each new day with His first 4 points, His first 4 steps, His first 4 Be-Attitudes...much like a master choir or orchestra...oh what sweet family harmony we would make! There is something about the blending of gifts led by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD that makes for amazing harmony! We are His instruments! He made us AND wrote the song!

Today, please read what is below before listening to the song:




SONG: VIRTUOSO

(meaning: Highly Gifted Master; Ace; Champion;
Savant; Sensation; Superstar)

GOD, You are my VIRTUOSO!

1. I am selfish...LORD help me to be selfless....poor in spirit...

2. I am sinful...I confess my sins to You, LORD, thank You for seeing me sinless by the blood of Jesus...I mourn for the lost...

3. I want control...LORD, help me to give the control to You...lead me, guide me, live right inside me...submissive...power under Your control...meek...
4. I am hungry/thirsty...LORD, let me feed on Your righteousness...satisfied...


R-"Blessed are the Poor in Spirit...those who Mourn...those who are Meek...those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness..."

E-God, I know that the words above come from the first verses in Matthew 5, as You began Your Sermon on the Mount. If I keep reading, then You tell me why these things are important in verses 13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

A-Jesus shone His light by living the Be-attitudes. His light automatically illuminated because He was: Selfless! Sinless! Submissive! Satisfied!

P-God, You made me. You've gifted me. You know what is best for me. You are the Virtuoso! Thank You for giving me a song to sing! I'm listening...






WORDS TO SONG VIRTUOSO
BY DAVID PHELPS...youtube link below:

1. A handful of dust...a worthless piece of clay

And you breathed the breath of heaven

Then there was a soul : the heart, the hands,

the voice that could sing of your perfection.

Life is a symphony that only You can play

You know I can hear it through the madness everyday

CHORUS:

Virtuoso! Virtuoso!

This heart is Your instrument! This life is Your song! Virtuoso!

2. There isn’t a note of mediocrity in all of Your creation.

And, all the beauty we create with human hands is only imitation.

Thunder crashes, waves crescendo on the sand...

The wind that’s whispering can only be Your hand

CHORUS: Virtuoso! Virtuoso!...............

3. A timeless melody of beauty and emotion...

Perfect harmony - inspiring true devotion...

No one else can play its chords so graceful, yet so strong.

You made the instrument and wrote the song!

CHORUS: Virtuoso! Virtuoso! Virtuoso!.....

CHORUS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt3zvmBL-Pc&feature=related


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