Shame of Thought

It is a hidden fact that most of us, at some point or another, have stood in church singing to the Lord while realizing that the person next to or near us was singing horribly or off-key. We automatically hear them and think "Oh my gosh! I know they are worshiping the Lord, which is awesome, but man oh man, I wish they would sing quieter!" I think we try to deny we think or feel this sometimes, but honestly I think we all have thought and felt it before. I found two Sundays ago thinking the same thing as one person started singing VERY loudly and VERY off-key. Now, I am definitely not a great singer, but of course I cannot hear myself like I can hear them, plus I do not sing that loudly sometimes because I know I sounds horrible. While I though about this some more, God revealed something very clear to me that Sunday morning and afternoon. It was NOT them who was wrong for singing off-key loudly but it was ME who was wrong for not singing off-key loudly. I know that sounds goofy but stick with me for a minute. God says in several areas of the bible what is required of our singing to Him:
*O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. -PSALM 95:1
*Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. -PSALM 98:4
*Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. -PSALM 81:1

Of course I could go on to list MANY more but I do not have the space to do so on one tiny blog. However, if you notice in all of these passages He calls us to make a "joyful noise". Now, with some people they would argue that singing off-key is NOT a joyful noise, but I respectfully disagree. What constitutes a joyful noise? Are we the ultimate judge of this? Who are they singing to? God's view of joyful noise is not based off of sound, but is based off of a worshipful heart. Sometimes God gives people a musical gift, which is amazing to use for His glory, but He also calls ALL of us to worship Him with our hearts and voices. This women who was singing out loudly had a heart of fire for worshiping the Lord while I was sitting there thinking about the literal sound of her voice...this thought is astounding, embarrassing, and disappointing. We need to stop looking down at other people or judging their gifts, talents, accomplishments, personalities, looks, etc. and instead start looking up to the Lord in worship with a heart of fire like this lady had. Isn't it amazing that hearing her voice that Sunday morning brought such revelation, joy, and growth in my walk unbeknown to her?! I encourage all of you as I am also going to be working on this, to do just that and to grow in worship with the Lord. Next time you are at church, shout out praises and song to Him regardless of what your voice sounds like, for to Him it will be the most amazing and "joyful noise" in all the heavens. And of course, BEWARE of sitting next to ME..for I will indeed be taking this lesson to heart and BLARING my voice from the pew! :]