In Our Music, God

By Ruby L. Agnir

This book is a set of inspiring and counsel-laden meditations, combined with relevant quotations and scriptures. A lady with many talents, Ruby L. Agnir shares her thoughts and experiences with those who, like her, are recipients of Gods gifts. Believing that God gave at least one special skill to every person, she encourages everyone to identify that skill, hone it, and use it to the Glory of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453561416

Ruby L. Agnir

Refining her many special gifts and then dedicating them to the Giver, Ruby L. Agnir’s accomplishments by age 70 include: College instructor of speech, theater arts, and music education courses; Minister/Director of Music of mainline churches; Member, American Guild of Organists; Member, American Choral Directors Association; Church Organist (regular and supply) here and abroad; Soprano Soloist for churches, fraternal organizations, and community choruses; Instructor, voice, organ and piano; Composer, vocal and keyboard music; Founder and Artistic Director of Green Room Players, a community theater company – whose proceeds donated to non-profit organizations include $9,000 to ALS research; Published author of poems, Prisms (2008), plays, Fairy Gifts (2010), and meditations, In Our Music, God (2011). Retired and residing in Wesley Chapel, Florida, Ruby continues to use her talents in her church, community, and fraternal organizations. She is currently the director of the Celebration Choir of Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel. A lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) and American Mensa, she is also a member of Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America (LOSNA).

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by Ruby L. Agnir.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4535-6140-9

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4535-6141-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

73820

Contents

Scripture quotations are from various versions of the Bible.

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PART I

DISCOVER YOUR GIFTS

GOD DID NOT PASS YOU BY

IS SPEAKING YOUR SPECIAL GIFT?

YOU MIGHT BE GOD’S ARTIST

EVEN AN AMATEUR CAN GLORIFY THE GIVER

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OTHERS

BLESS YOUR CHURCH WITH

YOUR FINANCIAL SAVVY

ADMINISTRATOR FOR GOD’S CHURCH?

ARE YOU AN EMPATH?

THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT

OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM

PRAYING OUT LOUD

GOD WANTS YOU TO USE YOUR GIFT

IN WHAT FIELD LIES YOUR TALENT?

GOD’S PLANS FOR YOU AND YOUR GIFTS

PART II

IS MUSIC YOUR

SPECIAL GIFT?

MUSIC TO GOD’S GLORY

OUR GIFT OF MUSIC

A CUSTOM-DESIGNED ME!

RETURN YOUR GIFT TO GOD

THE SPIRIT WILL LEAD US

GOD LOVES YOU AS YOU ARE, BUT . . . 

MORE GIFTS?

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF USING ONE’S TALENTS

MUSIC IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

MUSIC SOOTHES THE SAVAGE BREAST

TO TEACH AND ADMONISH

MORE USES OF MUSIC IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

YESTERDAY’S MUSIC CONTINUES

MUSIC IN WORSHIP SERVICES

THE CHURCH CHOIR:

A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASS

JOYFUL MUSIC

MUSICAL PRAYERS

THE KING OF INSTRUMENTS

SERVANTS OF GOD THROUGH THE AGES

GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER

A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHURCHES

CONCLUSION

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B

APPENDIX C

APPENDIX D

Scripture quotations are from various versions of the Bible.

Scripture references marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Scripture references marked TNIV are taken from the Holy Bible, Today’s New International Version®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan.

Scripture references marked NKJV are from the Holy Bible, New King James Version © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Scripture references marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1077, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked ASV are taken from the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible. It is in the public domain.

Scripture references marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version. It is in the public domain.

Scripture references marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.

Scripture references marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NCV are from the Holy Bible, New Century Version®, copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked CEV are taken from the Holy Bible, Contemporary English Version®, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Non-scriptural quotations are from various sources, such as the Internet and Free Quotations. They are either in public domain or their authors are unknown or undetermined.

DEDICATION

This book is lovingly and gratefully dedicated to my parents, the Rev. Roman F. Ordinario and Tereza Rubio Ordinario; and to my early music mentors, Dr. Flora Zarco-Rivera and Miriam G. Palmore. These four special people, who have already gone Home, were the ones who instilled in my young mind this precept:

All talent comes from God and must be developed to the optimum, to the end that it be ‘returned to God’ by using it to His glory and for the good of His children. Remember that people’s applause must only be second to God’s approving smile.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank:

The American Guild of Organists for inspiring their members to choose church-related careers, ad majorem Dei gloriam;

My former voice students, who choose to be soloists in their church choirs, as well as in their community choruses;

My former organ students, who continue to enhance their churches’ worship services with appropriate music;

My daughter, Rowena Rantanen, for following in my footsteps as she continues to apply God’s gifts to the service of churches and the children of her community;

My husband, the Rev. Dr. Federico I. Agnir, whose talent-filled life was dedicated to the Lord even when he was in his mother’s womb, and for once again helping me with his computer savvy to properly submit my materials for publication;

And to everyone who was blessed by the Lord with special skills and is using them, not only for pleasing self and fellow humans, but more so for glorifying the Giver.

For all these, to God be the Glory!

73820-AGNI-layout-101310-low.pdf

FOREWORD

While I was writing this book, I worried that you, my readers, would see only a hint of arrogance or lack of humility. Neither of these was intended. The Lord chose to bestow on me many blessings, including special skills. His munificence is what motivated me to write this book.

At various points in my life, I could identify with many of you who fall under any of the following categories:

(1) You don’t think you have any talent.

(2) You think you might have some kind of talent but you haven’t discovered it yet.

(3) You can identify your special ability, but it is too undeveloped you’d rather keep it hidden away.

(4) You want to develop it but you don’t know how and where to begin.

(5) You see that others have the same talent, and in your eyes they are so good you’d be indulging yourself in a losing competition.

(6) You have developed that special ability, and you have realized that it gives you, your family and friends much pleasure.

(7) You have already seen what good things your ability can