Using Our Talents for God: The Two Most Important Factors

One of the most important factors in learning to sing, play, or do anything musically, is to have a desire.  Most people are not born with a desire to do anything but gratify themselves, and so a desire for good must be developed through outside influences.  Nathan watched a friend develop a talent to sing, and he decided he wanted to do the same.  He had a desire to sing and use his talents.  So what did he do?  He went to his friend’s voice instructor and took some lessons! 

This brings us to the next hidden, yet perhaps by far the most important, factor in learning to play or sing: hard work.  Few people who are regarded as talented are really all that talented.  They just have a seed of talent, and have developed it through hard work.  Nathan took his hard-earned money from burger-flipping at McDonald’s and literally put it where his mouth is.  He began investing in voice lessons.  But more than that, he began to practice.  Practice, practice, practice!  He had very little raw talent but had a desire to learn.  He translated that desire into work, cold hard work.  And through all that work, he developed a tremendous singing voice! 

Some of the more talented people seem to not have to work so hard, but they do have to work.  When I was in school, I was a B-average student.  In order to get an A in almost any class, I had to work like crazy!  I put more work into my A’s than a lot of my classmates did, but we both ended up with A’s in the end.  And I developed something more important than just a good grade – I developed a character of diligence which those who are highly intelligent many times never develop.

So don’t be discouraged if you have very little talent or genetic background.  If you have a desire to learn and are willing to work hard, you can do whatever God wants you to!  After all, if I can get A’s, and if Nathan can learn to sing, then you can use your love for music to be a blessing to others.

The Two Obvious Facors

Yikes!  I had no idea it has been two weeks since I last wrote!  My sincere apologies for not posting sooner!  I had the stuff already written, but with preparing for a two month trip, the guys being home, internet troubles, a cantankerous computer and a middle-aged brain, I lost all presence of mind.  Hopefully, it will not be so long until the next post! 

When questioned about developing musical abilities, most people think of the two most obvious factors: genetics and talent.  Though genetics and talent are important, I hope and pray that by the time we are done with this series, you will realize that these are not the deciding factors in whether or not you use your talents for God. 

Genetics plays a large part in whether or not someone can sing at all.  At least one of us comes from a long line of folks that sang either professionally or performed in some capacity or other, though I did not discover that until just recently.  The fact that we went ahead and began to sing without any previous regard to genetics shows that it isn’t as important as the next obvious factor, talent.

Talent, the ability to pick out notes and match them with your voice, is a nice thing to have.  It’s what makes singing fun and not all work.  Nathan, a young man in my home church, couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket for years.  But through singing lessons, he was able to take his tiny little bit of talent and develop it.  Though he had very little going for him genetically, he had the two important hidden factors, and now he has a wonderful voice.

Next: The Two Most Important, Yet Most Hidden Facors

We are madly scrambling to prepare for a two-month trip beginning Friday, so if I don’t post until next week, you’ll know why!

Learning to Use Our Talents for God – Introduction

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you my latest project, How We Learned to Use Our Talents for God.  Often I am asked how we came to be a singing family, and so I’ve decided tp prayerfully write down how God led us to where we are today.  Though we are nothing, the Lord can use us.  Lord Willing, we will be recording our fifth CD soon.

George approached me as I was standing around talking after the Sunday evening service.  After we exchanged greetings, he looked at me and said, “Now, I have to ask you: how did you get your kids to learn all those musical instruments?  And how did you teach them to all sing together like that?”

Suddenly I was at a loss for words.  How can I explain in a few words what has taken years to work on?  “Well,” I replied, stalling, “I don’t quite know how to answer that question.  Some of it is genetics, but a lot of it is desire.  They really wanted to learn and to sing, and so we worked on it,” I finished lamely.

George’s question got me thinking.  As I thought about it, I realized that many people have asked me the same question, and I’ve never given a very good answer.  So I talked with my husband about it, and together we reminisced through the process the Lord brought us to make us into a singing family.

You see, we didn’t start out as a singing family, recording CDs and singing at local churches.  It was a growth process the Lord put us through to make us what we are today.  Though we’re not really special, maybe the things the Lord has done with us will help you to realize that, if God could use the Raubs, he could use you, too!

next post: The Two Obvious Factors

A Wonderful Week!

We had a simply wonderful visit with Kathryn, Matthew, and little Matt.  With the boys, er, young men around, it was the whole family all together again, for the first time in two years!  Now I know why my mother cherished those times so much.

Stephen’s graduation went very well, if I may say so myself.  His speech was excellent, Kathryn and Matthew’s special song was very touching, and My Beloved’s message was a blessing.  Even the food and fellowship afterwards turned out well!

Thank you all for your patience with my absence.  Rest assured that I definitely enjoyed myself, and am ready to get back to normal – whatever that is!  J