IN VOICE     An Article For Singers and Musicians Written by TMG Signed Christian Blues Recording Artist, Julie Tussey Proverbs 18:16 in the Amplified Bible says "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men."  I love this scripture!  With singers a dime a dozen I  want my gift to make room for me!  When we serve Jesus he always makes a way for us.   Myles Monroe teaches that "what you were designed to be known for is your gift".  If you are called to be a Singer or a Musician then your gift is music and/or singing.  Therefore it stands to reason that this gift of music and/or singing will bring you before great men.  This is only fulfilled, though, if you give yourself to developing the gift of God in you.  That means hours and hours of practice and work.  I know I just said what is commonly considered a cuss word to some people, the word “work”, but I have to tell you that even after 30 years in music ministry and 4 written and recorded CD's  I still work on my voice.  I love Prov.18:16 because it promises an end to the vision in our hearts of singing and ministering to people;.the ultimate reason we do all that we do...to share Jesus!   We cannot expect to find ourselves ministering "before great men" or coming to their attention if we have not honed and crafted the gift Jesus has given us.  We, as Psalmists, Singers and Musicians, must give ourselves to praise and worship and sing, sing, sing, play, play, play.  The more you practice and get skillful in your gift, the greater effect you will have.  Jesus intends that your "gift" will make room for you.  Even the world will make room for you if you are great at what you do. They will listen and if you are on your game you will be singing the gospel to them!   I remember when I first started singing in church.  I found the scripture that said "faith without works is dead".  Well believe you me I had a vision in my heart of how I wanted to sound, how the anointing would fall and bless people, how I would record CD after CD and at the age of 18 years old I was not skilled enough vocally to fulfill that vision. But I did believe with all my heart that Jesus was calling me to fulfill that vision...I had faith.  So I took God at His word and began to apply "works" to my faith.  I began practicing every spare moment I could.   I bought soundtracks I could not sing and sang them literally for hours.  I would work and work on my voice while I ministered to God at the same time!  I'm here to tell you Jesus met me there and in 6 months time my range tripled and I learned to control my voice.   If we want to fulfill the dream and desire in our hearts and truly be a blessing to the Body of Christ with our gift then we must give ourselves to "work".  Work on your gift, improve and be the best you can be.  Then, and only then, your gift will bring you before great men...and God will make a way for you!  Right now Gary and I have 4 CD's available.   From the time I was 24 yrs old, when I recorded my first CD, I have always made my soundtracks available to others.  All of our songs are on soundtrack and available for others because I believe so strongly in this principle.  It is good to get the tracks of songs that minister to you and stretch you!   If you apply works to your faith and be prepared, at the most unexpected times, God will bring you "before great men".  I can't tell you the times I was visiting a conference or large meeting when the preacher who was ministering noticed me and asked me on the fly to come up and sing!  Well I was ready.  I had my tracks in my purse, I knew my lyrics, I had practiced my vocal, I was prepared!  This has  actually been one of the main ways Jesus has given me personal promotion for the last 30 years.  As a matter of fact I won’t ever go to church without having at least one song ready to go.  I’m even prepared to sing and preach and minister the entire service, at all times!  You have to think bigger, think beyond where you are and be ready for God’s “suddenly” in your life and ministry..  You must be prepared for theses "gift making room" opportunities.  Winston Churchill said it like this, "There comes a special moment in  everyones life, a moment for which that person was born...when he seizes it, it is his finest hour".  Be ready for your finest hour and Jesus will be glorified!