This is for all my little sisters in music.

 

First, embrace your own uniqueness. In a world full of copycats, be an original.

 

You have a Maker who designed your voice intricately. It is one of a kind, but often I see many mimicking others instead of blazing the trail with their own beauty.

 

You won’t find a Dolly anywhere else, and you won’t find a YOU either.

 

Refrain from altering who God has made you and the sweet specific sound He has placed within you.

 

You have been called to release what others cannot. So, if you’re always releasing a copycat sound, then we actually are missing the YOU that we need in the body of Christ. You are a little piece of Heaven in God’s trusted hands.

 

I had to let Jesus unveil who “Shelly” was and how exactly I would “sound” through music. Of course, that has changed throughout my years, but mostly with new seasons with the Lord.

 

He used all the musical influences of sound that I have admired my whole life. I’ve learned He doesn’t much like boxes, but we tend to love putting people in them when it comes to music. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

 

Follow Jesus…He knows exactly who you are.

 

Never sell out for crowds, the “American Idol” world, or what we’ve come to know as “The Voice” expectations.

 

Lean on THE VOICE and lose every other American Idol. Be true to who Christ says you are and choose to serve Him alone.

 

You’ll have to learn to swim upstream and use a lot of “NO’s.” This industry draws many away from the ways of Jesus, and if you have a bent to clamor for attention, you’ll find yourself headed down a slippery slope.

 

I never found what I was looking for when I sang for the world and myself. But when I gave God the gift back that He, in the beginning, gave to me, it was a game changer for me and the Gift-Giver.

 

Don’t prostitute your gift for accolades, applause, Facebook followers, or TikTok views. It all burns up in the end.

 

Stick with Jesus. He holds your life and purpose in His hands. To move out from under His designed ways of holiness and righteousness will put you in harm’s way. He is here to protect you, and He is absolutely jealous for you.

 

So hey little sis…

Be all the YOU God designed you to be.

And if you haven’t met the Music Maker, Himself, JESUS, then you’ll never find out who you were really formed to become and what you were created to do on the earth.

 

So start there.

Know Jesus…first.

When you find Him…you’ll find YOU.