Sitting on the dresser in my bedroom is a small figurine of a little girl with blonde hair. This trinket literally came from a dollar store and has been on my dresser for fifteen years. Scattered around the room in which the figurine sits are much more expensive items. Yet, the little blonde girl is so precious to me that she sits front and center on the dresser.

One might wonder why I would display a one-dollar knickknack that actually looks like a one-dollar knickknack. Here is the story.

When our first grandchild was born, we were thrilled. Madison Elizabeth Benton came into this world and my heart melted. One of my greatest desires was that this baby girl would love me deeply. As a baby, Madison lived nearly nine hundred miles from us. I used every frequent flyer I had going to see her. God even blessed me with a couple of speaking engagements in Wisconsin which enabled me to see her for a few days. Madison’s family also visited us when they could. At a very young age, she knew who I was, and we cultivated a close, loving relationship.

Once while visiting in Alabama, Madison went with Papa to the dollar store. She saw the blonde-girl figurine and just had to buy it for me. She presented it with such love, and I showed her where we would display it so I could think of her every day. Madison is now nineteen years old and the little blonde girl still stands on my dresser. It does not matter to me that it is not a Hummel figurine worth thousands of dollars. What matters to me is the love behind the gift.

Some people have million-dollar voices, and some of us screech out the lyrics of a worship song. God does not sit on His throne accepting the worship of only those who have marvelous voices. He does not turn His head when the screechers lift a voice of worship. All God hears is the love behind the song.

Nowhere in Scripture does it say you need musical skills to sing to the Lord. But in several places, it commands us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Musical talent has nothing to do with personal worship to God. God wants us to find such joy and excitement in Him that we cannot contain it. I have been known to walk around my house and sing rather loudly when it is just me and God.

When I think about the Lord
How He saved me how He raised me
How He filled me with the Holy Ghost
How He healed me to the uttermost
When I think about the Lord
How He picked me up and turned me around
How He placed my feet on solid ground
It makes me wanna shout

Hallelujah thank You Jesus
Lord You’re worthy of all the glory
And all the honor and all the praise
It makes me wanna shout
Hallelujah thank You Jesus
Lord You’re worthy of all the glory
And all the honor and all the praise

My singing may not be joyful to anyone in earshot, but it is perfectly joyful to my soul. No rocks will take my place when it comes to praising my Beloved!   How about you?  Are you are singer or a screecher?  It doesn’t matter at all.  Lift up your voice to the King of Kings who hears it in perfect pitch!

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.” – Psalm 100:1