Riches and Praise

Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise,

Thou my inheritance now and always,

Thou and thou only first in my heart,

High King, of heaven my treasure thou art!

 

 

       I have been thinking about that part of this hymn a lot lately.  Especially when I see shows like America's Got Talent or The Voice.  People who go to those shows to display their talents and hopefully win approval, put so much importance in "man's empty praise" and the money they will get as a result.  And when I see that I can only think of that hymn. 

       Recently I went to a talent show and did my best to give my best to all the people there.  I am sure I thought about this hymn then also.  I didn't win that show or place at all but I was invited to another one 2 weeks later.  Now in preparing for this next one (which I am very excited about) I have been asking God "What do You think about this?  Is this ok with You?  Am I only heeding riches and man's empty praise by going to this?"

      Before all this happened, I had been asking God to let me do more with the gift of and passion for singing that He had given me.  This came up and I think there is something to be learned through this.  I wondered if this might be something God let happen so I could make a choice between His praise or man's.

      Last night as I was praying about this and thinking about riches and praise and my will not to heed them and wondering if I should call the whole thing off, I felt like God said "All glory to Me and all money to Me"  So then I said to God "If I win the praises of the judges, all glory goes to You because You made me and my singing voice and gave me this opportunity to go there.  The money will be Yours only and I will give it where You lead me." 

 





 

So to Him be the glory and power and praise!

Amen










I see people and the things that happen to them.  Things that change their lives.  Things that make them look different or make them unable to walk or unable to talk.  It's often difficult for these people to accept these drastic changes in their life - some might call them tragedies.  It is often difficult for them to believe that this would happen to them.  Hearing these stories, I realize that anything can happen - to me - just like those people.  I realize what great gifts it is to be able to walk and dance and talk.  I cannot imagine what it would be like if I could not express myself.  I would have to cling to God if such a thing happened to me.  Just like anyone else things can happen to me as suddenly as they did to people I know.  But for now, I am grateful.  I am grateful that I can see and that I can move and that I am beautiful.  If something were to happen to me, I do not know how I would respond, if I would be disbelieving or depressed, but I hope that I would take it in stride as a part of God's plan for my life - part of my life.  For now, though, I am grateful for what I have.