Make a Joyful Noise Part Two

I have been thinking more about Pastor Davis's sermon.

So many times I have wanted to show more animation when I speak. Far worse, so many times when I desperately needed to speak, I said nothing.

This is going to change.

I know to promote my book, I must learn to speak. Not just to say I wrote a book, or talk about my new experiences, but to deliver my content so skillfully that as soon as I open my mouth, people will stop and listen.

Pastor Davis speaks without any fear. He raises his voice to a level most people only reach when they're at their wits' end, only Pastor Davis is in control. He is joyful. He can shout and yell and you want more!

I want to learn how to speak with that kind of intensity. I have been taught to be meek and quiet. I'm not really that meek, on the inside. In the Biblical sense I want to be meek. Yet some people have looked at me as someone they can take advantage of because I'm so nice and forgiving. They count on my voice staying within a soft, comfortable range or not speaking at all.

Sometimes I think I'm weak. Sometimes I have been weak.

But this is what I say to that:

I got up early on a Sunday to go to a church  by myself, where I am the racial minority, and I enjoyed it!

I wrote a whole memoir about the most difficult challenges of my life, and even though I may not have a big following yet, I sent out a book proposal to an agent anyway, because I know my value!

And I will be returning to the Calvary Baptist Church, because I intend to study all the best speakers I can. I am committed to as much study and practice as it takes for me to effectively speak.

I may have once been one of the meekest people you ever met, but I am becoming one of the strongest voices you'll ever know!