I had the privilege of being in the music ministry for about 35 years. It was an amazing thing to be able to lead in sharing the love and presence of God through music. Music reaches down to our souls like nothing else can. While we may not always be able to remember a verse we read, the words of a song that touched our hearts can stay with us for a lifetime, lifting us in times of need and refreshing us from the inside out.
Standing onstage, leading worship, I've had the opportunity to witness the touch of music upon many people. Some people were fully engaged from the moment they walked through the doors of the church, high school auditorium, cafeteria, etc. It was as if they looked forward all week for the chance to be able to worship! They worshipped fully with hands raised, joyful faces, eyes closed. Others, would, hesitantly, clap along with the faster songs, and when the slower songs began, their eyes would close and you could tell they were in their own private worship time, oblivious to others around them. Still others, you could tell, came in carrying the weight of their world on their shoulders. For these people, it was a struggle just to come to church...just to put one foot in front of the other. I've seen what happens when the words of a song are exactly what that person needed to hear at that moment. The silent tears and the look of peace upon their faces. There was a comfort that was happening, a refreshing. Then there were others that sat with their arms crossed, faces set with a look that said, "try and reach me if you can." Sadly, these people don't realize all they are missing out on. For whatever reason, they've chosen not to engage. The music might be "too loud" or the church "too non-traditional" or the people "disrespectful because of how they're dressed."
Worship isn't about "others" or the "type of service" or even about "church" or "religion." Worship is about spending time with the One who loves us more than life, itself. It's a "one on one" relationship. When we spend time, one on one, with our Abba Father, we are spending time in the presence of love, being loved, being encouraged, and reminded that there is One who is greater than all the things that are happening in our world and He is more than able to handle all of it.
When we spend time in worship, we are not only worshipping Him, but His Spirit is ministering to us. We all need to be nourished, to be refreshed, to feel joyful and alive. When we sing, and engage, we are awakening that part of our souls. It doesn't matter what kind of voice we have. I cannot tell you how many times people have said to me..."I can't carry a tune in a bucket. If I sang, the people next to me would tell me to be quiet." To these people, I would say, don't you know that God knows the voice he gave to you? Your voice is music to His ears. Your singing is for your relationship with Him, not for the people next to you. To the people sitting next to that person, I would say, "If you are listening to the person next to you, you are not fully involved in your worship. Every voice is a sweet sound to His ears. Tune in to God and tune out to what's going on around you."
Music can minister to us wherever we choose to worship. We can be in a car, singing along as loud as we can. We can be at home, singing along while we're cleaning. We can be at work with our music playing softly in the background, when a favorite song comes on and just washes over us with peace. Sometimes, just reading the lyrics to a song, can minister to us. It doesn't matter where we are, because wherever we are, He is.
Find a song that really means something to you, that touches your very soul. Write down the words, sing it, listen to it. Engage, sing, and connect to your Father who loves you dearly and loves hearing your voice. You will be refreshed, you will be renewed, you will be ministered to.
Jamie Grace has written a song called "Beautiful Day." It's all about taking the time to "get your worship on." Take time today to "get your worship on."
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday, August 3, 2014
What to Do When Your "Happily Ever After" Isn't
What do you do when your "happily ever after" doesn't turn out that way?
We grew up reading the fairytales and watching the Disney movies. There's the whole "prince" and "happily ever after" thing in each story. Sure, sometimes there's a wicked witch or an evil stepsister, but the story always turns out wonderfully, in the end.
The thing about those stories, is that they're not real life. Real life can be messy. Sometimes, there seems to be more "wicked witches" than "happily ever afters."
I think we really want to believe in the fairytale, in happy endings, and when things don't turn out the same as in the story we've written for ourselves, it can really get in the way of a true happy ending.
For those of us who have had a bad relationship experience in our past, we may need to examine the fairytale that might still be alive in us. If we don't, we may be in danger of repeating the story, much like the "Groundhog Day" movie. Are we still looking for the fairytale or the prince, the one who meets all of our needs and always tries to make us happy?
Relationships are made from real people with their own stories, coming together to join those stories and write a new one together. There simply are no "fairytale" people who live their lives completely for the other person's fulfillment, to ensure their happiness. (And if there were, we really wouldn't want that).
It is perfectly fine to look for someone who has the "good" qualities on our "list." We just have to be careful not to "write them" into our fairytale. Even if they really were a prince or princess, they will not always act in a "fairytale" way. Sometimes people act more like "wicked witches" than "princes or princesses." (We have only to look in a mirror on some days to see it in ourselves, right?)
So what do we do when our "happily ever after" wasn't?
The first thing we need to do is to appreciate and love who we are. (If we cannot do that, how can we expect anyone else to?) The God who created all things, made each of us. (See Psalm 139:14). He loves us and made each of us unique with our own "good" qualities and gifts. We are simply amazing! He also has good plans for us. (See Jeremiah 29:11). You see, when we truly love and appreciate who we are, there is no end to the possibilities and plans for our future!
The second thing we need to do is to "rewrite" the ending. "How can I do that?" you ask, "the relationship is already over." Once you figure out that the "ending" is really the "beginning," you can write your new ending according to how you want your story to go. The relationship may be over, but your new life is just beginning. What would you like to do? How do you want your story to go? It is your chance, to be your own author, to write a new story.
"Happily Ever After" isn't just a phrase at the end of a fairytale, it can be how you choose to live your life, going forward. Life isn't a fairytale, but it is "your" story. There may be wicked witches, evil family members and trolls, but there could also be "fairy godmother-type" people who love you and are a blessing to you. How you choose to live your story is up to you.
How will you write your "happily ever after?" Make it an amazing, interesting journey. Fill it with people and things you love. Love yourself and really "live" your story, starting today!
...and she lived happily ever after!
We grew up reading the fairytales and watching the Disney movies. There's the whole "prince" and "happily ever after" thing in each story. Sure, sometimes there's a wicked witch or an evil stepsister, but the story always turns out wonderfully, in the end.
The thing about those stories, is that they're not real life. Real life can be messy. Sometimes, there seems to be more "wicked witches" than "happily ever afters."
I think we really want to believe in the fairytale, in happy endings, and when things don't turn out the same as in the story we've written for ourselves, it can really get in the way of a true happy ending.
For those of us who have had a bad relationship experience in our past, we may need to examine the fairytale that might still be alive in us. If we don't, we may be in danger of repeating the story, much like the "Groundhog Day" movie. Are we still looking for the fairytale or the prince, the one who meets all of our needs and always tries to make us happy?
Relationships are made from real people with their own stories, coming together to join those stories and write a new one together. There simply are no "fairytale" people who live their lives completely for the other person's fulfillment, to ensure their happiness. (And if there were, we really wouldn't want that).
It is perfectly fine to look for someone who has the "good" qualities on our "list." We just have to be careful not to "write them" into our fairytale. Even if they really were a prince or princess, they will not always act in a "fairytale" way. Sometimes people act more like "wicked witches" than "princes or princesses." (We have only to look in a mirror on some days to see it in ourselves, right?)
So what do we do when our "happily ever after" wasn't?
The first thing we need to do is to appreciate and love who we are. (If we cannot do that, how can we expect anyone else to?) The God who created all things, made each of us. (See Psalm 139:14). He loves us and made each of us unique with our own "good" qualities and gifts. We are simply amazing! He also has good plans for us. (See Jeremiah 29:11). You see, when we truly love and appreciate who we are, there is no end to the possibilities and plans for our future!
The second thing we need to do is to "rewrite" the ending. "How can I do that?" you ask, "the relationship is already over." Once you figure out that the "ending" is really the "beginning," you can write your new ending according to how you want your story to go. The relationship may be over, but your new life is just beginning. What would you like to do? How do you want your story to go? It is your chance, to be your own author, to write a new story.
"Happily Ever After" isn't just a phrase at the end of a fairytale, it can be how you choose to live your life, going forward. Life isn't a fairytale, but it is "your" story. There may be wicked witches, evil family members and trolls, but there could also be "fairy godmother-type" people who love you and are a blessing to you. How you choose to live your story is up to you.
How will you write your "happily ever after?" Make it an amazing, interesting journey. Fill it with people and things you love. Love yourself and really "live" your story, starting today!
...and she lived happily ever after!
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