EUGENE ORMANDY was conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra for 44 years.
He was born in Budapest. He could identify symphonies at 3 years old, could play the violin at 4 and at just 5 years old, he became the youngest pupil in the history of the Royal Academy of Music in Budapest. He performed in major concerts when 7 and at 10 years old he was performing for the Austria-Hungary royal family. He gained a Master’s Degree at 14. He moved to America when he was 22 years old. He became conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra and then its musical director for 44 years. (1936-80)
In 1970, Eugene Ormandy cried as he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian award in the United States)
“for bringing to each performance
something more precious than his great gifts
– HIMSELF –
and the rich experiences of his life.”
“Giving himself” was an apt description as he poured himself into the music, giving the “Philadelphia sound” a definite distinctive.
At one performance, while pouring himself into the work, he dislocated his shoulder.
Dare I ask,
Did I ever dislocate anything in my service for Christ, who GAVE HIMSELF and HIS ALL for me?
Did I ever give so much of myself that I was completely lost in His cause?
If we are ‘born of the Spirit’ we should be ABLAZE for God.
We should have a LOVE that GLOWS.
We should believe with a FAITH that KINDLES.
We should SERVE with a DEVOTION that CONSUMES.
We should REJOICE with a JOY that RADIATES.
We should HATE SIN with a FIERCENESS that BURNS.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
BE STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE,
ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD,
for you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price.
Therefore, glorify God.
Words from Mr Anon:
# If one tenth of what you believe is true, you ought to be ten times as excited as you are!
# A zealous Saviour should have zealous disciples.
# One live coal can set a whole stack on fire, but one who has no fire in himself cannot ignite others.
# Enthusiasm makes ordinary people extraordinary.
And one from Jim Elliot, missionary killed by Auca Indians:
Am I ignitable?
God deliver me from the dread asbestos of ‘other things’
Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit, that I may be a FLAME!
Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord, Burn and wear out for Thee.
Don’t let me rust, or my life be a failure, Dear Lord to Thee.
Take me and all I have, dear Lord, And get me so close to Thee
That I feel the throb of the deep heart of God
Until I burn out for Thee.
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
Oh what a powerful word Angela! Praying this final prayer with you!
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Oh to feel the throb of His heart . . . THEN we would be more willing to burn out for Him! We are one day closer!
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God, Himself, became man and then as a sinless sacrifice gave HImself for us…. when I consider this my sacrifices for Him is no big deal…. there is no comparison. Lord bless.
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I am reminded of the Frances Ridley Havergal hymn:
Thy life was given for me; Thy blood O Lord was shed,
That I might ransomed be, And quickened from the dead.
Thy life was given for me.
What have I given for Thee?
O let my life be given; My years for Thee be spent;
World-fetters all be riven, And joy with suffering blent.
Thou gav’st Thyself for me.
I give myself to Thee.
Our service is a privilege and a joy – and we can never outgive God.
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What a message! What a blessing! Angela, thank you for sharing such a powerful word, for such a time as this! As I read, I thought about the many destructive fires, which are setting all in their paths ablaze, all over the country! If the body of Christ was ignited and blazing for God, those in our paths would also ignite, and burn fiercely for Jesus! God bless you! Wonderful post!
Paulette
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I have been praying for those affected by the fires, Paulette. Memories of the tragedy here in Australia, where whole towns were literally wiped out and around 100 lives lost, flood back. Such a tragedy!
As you say, fire spreads – and spreads quickly and effectively. If only we were so ablaze that we ignited others, and fires spread rapidly! I believe time is running out and we need to warn everyone before it is too late. We are one day closer. May we shine for Him and light many fires.
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Amen, Angela!
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Ah Mentor Angela, you have given us a post and a half, with a challenge and an offer . ..to live our lives fully unto Him. No regrets that way, is there? Dislocated, uncomfortable, stretched and set on fire . .. may this be us, His people, and gladly so. Thank you for stirring me and humbling me today . .. for Jesus! God bless you as you go all out for your amazing God! You are an inspiration to us!
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Ah Debbie, the challenge goes to all blood-bought children of the living God. Time is running out. What is a ‘dislocated shoulder’ or a rebuff or ridicule or whatever, when the eternity of those we meet is in jeopardy. We are one day closer, and when that day comes it will be too late for those who have not submitted to the calims of Christ on their lives.
May we ‘get so close to the throb of the deep heart of God’ that we burn out for Him.
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Angela, this post is so blessed! I pray daily for the Body of Christ to rise up exactly as you wrote and quoted others. We definitely need to “GET FIRED UP FOR JESUS”!! We all (His disciples and children of the King) need to speak the truth of the Gospel in love— with a “brightly” lit candle. After all, we are as Jesus told us “the light of the world”!!Thank you for sharing this.
Many blessings dear sister
Stephanie
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Thanks Stephanie. This world is sooooooo dark and getting even darker. It is way past time for God’s children to stand up and let their light – the Light of Christ within them – to shine out into the darkness: to shine so brightly that they have no option but to admit that God is alive and working in their midst.
We serve an amazing God!
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God bless you richly, Angela
Thank you for this wonderful post. You make me think and pray and think and pray some more…
“Did I ever dislocate anything in my service for Christ, who GAVE HIMSELF and HIS ALL for me?”
Blessings
ann
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I can’t watch videos with my connection, Ann, but the lyrics shown say it, don’t they? “So what could I say, and what could I do, but offer this hearty, oh God, completely to you”
And the best part? We lose nothing when we give our all, because He always outgives us and blesses us more and more and more.
What an amazing God!
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The apostles were a zealous bunch. They never pass up an opportunity to spread the gospel. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” Revelation 3:19). “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).
I thank you so much for sharing. God blesses.
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Yes, the apostles were a zealous bunch, and so should WE be. After all the Lord has done for me I should be 200% sold out to Him and zealous for His service. He gives and gives and keeps on giving.
What an amazing God!
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