Grateful

For those of you who read my blog, I want to express a deep, heartfelt thank you.  We are all on a journey, and we see the hand of God in various ways.  On days like Thanksgiving, when we begin to list the myriad of blessings we’ve experienced, we realize God is, and always has been, ‘driving the bus’ of our lives and leading us.  Nothing can take away the experiences we’ve had with Him, and we’ve grown in ways we can’t measure.

It’s days like Thanksgiving we can take a step outside from ourselves and see a life – our life -  far from perfect, that is being transformed by the deep love of God.  He is forming us for good works – many of which we don’t even know about.  He leads us into relationships, many of which we can celebrate today, and these lives touch us and help us grow as well.

Thanksgiving is an opportunity to slow down and remember who we are, where we are, and the amazingly gracious God we serve.

One Thing

John Mulinda is a Ugandan minister. There is currently a great move of God among the nations of Africa – many people are being saved.  Pastor Mulinda has been asked to share what’s happening in Africa with churches in the United States, since so many churches here have dropped in attendance.

Pastor Mulinda says that churches in America try to do too many things.  Church-going Americans try to do so many things in the name of Jesus that sometimes they miss the one thing they are each supposed to do.  Some of us are better at some things – others are better at other things.   Churches are no different.  He said we each must seek the Heart of God first, and then go after the thing we were made to do.   Not only that – we should also seek Him for the way to do it.  Sounds like a lot of listening to God.

Sometimes in all our busy-ness we, as individuals, avoid listening to the One who made us.  It’s a little scary – allowing God to interrupt our routine.  If you currently do not have a church in which to serve, perhaps this is your opportunity to hear God.  The One Who operates with perfect clarity of mind has made us each so marvelously different – so He can accomplish different parts of His plan through each of us.  

The Trees of the Field (Isaiah 55:12)

We drove to the country the other day.  We arrived at our favorite spot – it’s an A-frame display home, and around the back is a walk-out porch that gives you the feeling of living in a treehouse.  And this particular treehouse is completely engulfed in forest – you can’t see anything but trees all around you – all shapes and varieties, and you can tell they’ve been there a long, long time.

The trees we were surrounded with were old – someone who knows more about trees could probably give me an idea of the age, but suffice it to say they have been here long before we have been.  Their roots run deep into the earth, and their branches provide shelter for the birds.  As the leaves rustle in the breeze, no one can ignore their presence.  As the wind moves the enormous trunks they become a formidable force in nature, and we take notice (anyone who has had a large tree fall into their yard knows this). 

Yet, for my husband and I, there was something very calming about the trees that day in the country.  We had recently gone through some significant change in our lives, and it did us good to be surrounded by trees.  Why is that?  I believe God provides reminders in nature that we are not alone – and there is a stability and endurance in the natural world no one can deny.  He’s placed everyone and everything here for a reason.  He’s placed these giant graceful objects in our path for us to notice.  Trees are not ‘doing’ anything and yet amazingly they are being used by God. 

Have you met people who affect you in this way – it’s not in the ‘doing’ but in their being, that you sense God’s purpose?  Maybe you are that person to someone else.  Remember that as you lead in worship this weekend.

Driving People to Distraction

A worship leader’s worst nightmare is looking out upon a staring, lifeless congregation.  It will happen to all of us somewhere along the line.  When it happens what’s your first inclination?  Chastise them …  reprimand them … BEG them to sing?

Our primary job as worship leaders is to invite others to participate.  When people enter the doors of the church they are, on some level, hoping to encounter God, and to encounter others who are worshipping.  Our intent is that we direct them toward that opportunity – not away from it – removing the distractions.

Every church has its own culture and style of worship.  What about your church?  Are people actively worshipping in their own way?  Below are a few words of advice that can facilitate heartfelt worship in your church.

Before entering the church building this weekend take time to thank God for this opportunity to serve Him as a worship leader.  Allow Him to wash over you – bask in His presence.   Realize God is about to use you to impact others – there is no greater calling.

Take a good look around you when you lead, and allow your attention to move from your needs to the needs of those in the room.  Make eye contact with a few individuals in the pews, at various spots in the room.  Look at others on your team.  Eye contact and body language (and the lack of it) can speak volumes to people in the pew.  If you are genuine, people will be encouraged to enter into worship.  Not every moment in worship is perfect for hand clapping – enter into the words of the song and you’ll know what to do.

Do you know the song you’re singing?  Has it become a part of you?  Musical mistakes are not nearly as distracting as a face buried in sheet music.  Your church might have projected song words on the back wall – even so, burn that CD and sing along with it in the car.  Don’t rely on anyone else on the team to pull it off.  When you’ve prepared yourself and that moment of doubt steps in, close your eyes and trust that the words will come to you.  ‘God does not give us the Spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.’

There have been ‘God moments’ in worship when I have been so moved I couldn’t sing – standing and lifting my heart to God was all I could do.  Honor those moments when they happen – and respect individuals in your congregation who are experiencing those moments as well.