Live Love

I have had the opportunity of having many spiritual conversations over the past few weeks. I've been surrounded by a more than usual number of people who either don't believe, or are disillusioned with the Church.

It's been an interesting journey. I've prayed to God for opportunities to share my faith journey. I've prayed for opportunities to listen to theirs. I've prayed for openings to share Christ. What I've discovered is that it takes time to build trust in a relationship. But, nevertheless, God has worked through these conversations. He's taught me a LOT about listening over the past few weeks. He's reminded me that I don't know it all. I know what matters--that Jesus Saves. But, I don't have "it" (walking "the Way") all figured out.

This morning, after much wrestling with God throughout the night about a variety of topics, He gave me one verse. It's a verse I've known practically my whole life. But it's one that in its simplicity is a hard thing to live out. In Mark 12:28-31, the teachers, the ones who KNEW the law, came to Jesus and asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is most important?" Jesus answered them, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. THERE IS NO COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE."

Simple words to live by, and yet so profound. First, we are to love God. If we line up our lives according to our relationship with Him, all else will fall into place. Secondly, we are to love others as we love ourselves. THIS IS HARD! I can't tell you how many times I want to curse people for simple things like the way they drive or because we don't share a similar viewpoint on things. It's so easy to fall into the trap of making man our enemy. We only have one enemy, and we need to be reminded of that. Satan lurks around every corner waiting to trip us up or keep us from winning another soul to Christ.

I love these words of scripture in Mark because they help us prioritize. First, God. Then, man. I have to admit, as a worship leader, that's a difficult thing. We hear so much from people about styles of music or things they like or don't like. It's an easy thing to fall into the pitfall of pleasing man over God. And yet, there's nothing satisfying in pleasing man when it's not God honoring. Just look at the leadership of David and Saul. Saul spent his kingship trying to please man, and failed miserably. David was "a man after God's own heart." As a worship leader, I hope that is someday said of me. "I am a woman after God's own heart." So, this scripture teaches us about priorities.

Finally, the focal word for me is "love". The world has polluted this word. People equate "love" with "lust", "sex", "greed". They've cheapened it. But God, as usual, has such a much higher goal. We are to LOVE the Lord our God! That means living in a daily relationship with Him. I live next door to my neighbor, but I don't talk to her everyday. I care about her, but I'm not growing daily in my relationship with her. God desires us EVERY DAY...EVERY MOMENT. He calls us to be "living sacrifices", to "pray without ceasing," to be carriers of His message of love and grace. Part of being in that oh so special relationship with Him is loving others...yes...even the difficult ones. Even the ones who cut you off in traffic or steal your parking spot. Even the child who calls your kid a name, or the person who criticizes you without any thought or idea of the "big picture". We are called to LOVE. We are called to lives bearing witness to the love of Christ. We are called to LIVE LOVE!

A simple scripture. A challenging message. Please pray for me as I attempt to live this out. I'm praying for you as you do the same! It's not easy. It's messy. But, it's the highest calling:
Love God, love others.

Power Sources

Daryl B. is a “jack of all trades.” He does sound, video, editing, producing. He helps people with their computers, coaches his girls’ team, fixes cars and is a wonderful husband and father to his wife and girls. I remember several years ago calling Daryl and asking him to come fix my computer. My keyboard that entered music into my PC wasn’t working. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get my Finale program on my computer to recognize it. I’ll never forget Daryl walking into my office that day. The first thing he checked turned out to be the culprit.

IT WASN’T PLUGGED IN!

Somehow, the plug had slipped out of the wall. I just assumed it was still connected and never even thought of checking something so simple.

I tell this story because I think it often times parallels our Christian journeys. There are times when we get frustrated and work and work to find solutions, when the simple answer is, “we’re not plugged in” to the right source. We’ve lost our intimate connection with the Father. I think this is particularly challenging in American churches. Especially Baptist churches! We are so geared towards service that sometimes we get used to operating out of our own strength, which fizzles out. We have to constantly renew our spirits and our work by daily, unbroken time with God. “Pray without ceasing.” “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices…” “…be transformed…”

Secondly, we need accountability. As much as I had tried to figure out the problem with my computer, I was focused on the wrong thing. I was messing with the software when it was the hardware that was the problem. I needed Daryl’s eye to come in and see the problem and show it to me. We need people in our lives who can do that for us spiritually. We need people we can trust and confide in. We need people who can see with a clearer vision that we are capable of at the time, and who can help us correct our course.

Lately, I’ve gone through such a time spiritually. I’ve felt anxious and worried. I finally realized that I wasn’t plugged in to the right source. It wasn’t that I was being intentionally rebellious or committing awful acts. It was simply that I was relying on the wrong things to sustain me. I was relying on my own strength, my own intellect, my own schedule, etc. I was relying on ME. That’s quite a poor substitute for God’s unyielding power! As anxiety, insecurity and doubt crept into my life, I began asking lots of questions from people I trust. Through their loving accountability, God cleared my vision and helped me get plugged back into a vibrant, growing, intentional relationship with Him. It has been amazing how that slight course correction has turned the things in my life that were becoming work into joy!

So, I want to encourage you. As worship leaders, it’s easy to get focused on the tasks at hand. But to be effective, we must first and foremost focus on the Father!

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6