Do you like lightning storms? I have to admit, I love’em. I remember one time in particular there was a lightning storm across the Bay of Fundy. It was so neat to stand safely on the shore looking across at the storm. This past month, there was some crazy lightning storms. When lightning strikes, there is no doubt what has happened.
I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit? Some believe that seeking direction from God is a series of lightning strikes. You’re “hit” with an unmistakeable sense of God’s leading. There have been times in my life when this has happened. When God’s direction was very clear and in retrospect I saw how God used those decisions in a powerful way.
However, I also know, that there have been times when I’ve been “waiting for lightning” that never came. In making one decision I have clear direction as to what I should do…and other times I pray and read and listen and there’s no lightning. Am I doing something wrong? Do I just need to pray more and listen more and read more? Well, sometimes the answer to that question is “yes”. I do need to take more time. But I wonder if the excitement of getting hit by lightning can make us believe that this is how God always talks to us…and we question whether God is talking at all if our hair isn’t singed.
The terms that are used for our Christian journey are walk, follow, seek, led…none of these words imply getting hit by “lightning”. After all, scripture encourages us to listen for that “gentle whisper”: http://bible.us/1Kgs19.12.NIV. We need to be careful to not get desensitized or blind…because God still speaks through lightning sometimes! Look at the life of Paul: http://bible.us/Acts9.3.NIV
Being led by the Spirit is a daily walk. There are times of waiting and seeking, there are times of stepping out in faith with confidence (and sometimes uncertainty), and there are times of lightning. I have found that sometimes waiting for lightning paralyzes me with inaction. Lightning may strike…but may God find us walking and seeking in daily obedience when it does.
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“Others” by Israel Houghton.
I’ve been listening to this song lately and am struck by the lyrics.
“I feel responsible now that I have seen”. Have you ever had those moments when an image, a conversation, a video, an article, a book…caused you to say something like, “someone needs to do something about this.” If we open our eyes and ears, there are people in need of God’s love all around us. I’m reminded of the greatest commandment. ”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.” Mark 12:30-31, NIV We have been loved by God, not so we can hoard His love, but to spread it. The song says “So I want to love like You love. Love like You love. Want to love others the way that You love me.” Wow. Do I allow God’s love to flow through me in this way?
“Because we all were born, to live for more than this.” We are God’s children, adopted into His family. And each of us has a huge amount of potential. I’m reminded as I think about our church’s KidStuf program presenting last Sunday, the potential in each child to make a difference in this world. Perhaps you’ve heard the quote, “Set yourself on fire with passion & people will come for miles to watch you burn.” I know I’m sometimes content being a spark when God desires for me to be set ablaze with passion and love for others. ”However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV
Let’s not settle for ordinary. We have been created to be extraordinary through God’s work in us! How are you letting God use you in His church?
(Source: youtube.com)
“May showers bring June flowers.” Ok…so I don’t have the phrase quite right. It should be “April showers bring May flowers”, but with all the rain these past few days, I’m sure we’ll get more flowers growing in June as well.
One of my favourite quotes; also relating to growth; is “I’m not into change for the sake of change, but healthy things grow, and growing things change.”
Are you healthy? Let me be more specific. Are you a healthy artist? If your answer is yes, then by nature you will also be growing as an artist. Are you growing?
I’m reminded of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25. Here it is in “The Message” paraphrase.
14-18“It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.
19-21“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’
22-23“The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’
24-25“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’
26-27“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
28-30“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’ (Matthew 25:14-30, The Message)
I pray that God would give us courage to step out for Him. It’s not always easy. Especially as artist, we often put our hearts out ahead of us with our art…which makes us vulnerable. But pushing forward and growing deeper with God, and honing the skills and talents He has given us is essential for our growth as artists, as people, as a church…we should always be changing. Not because we like change. But because we are striving to be healthy.
Should I be stepping on my own toes?
Growth | Relationships | Spirit-Led | Commitment | Leadership
-JM
Video shown on Mother’s Day at Centennial Road Church.
On this election day, I remember my missions trip to Peru. The nation was in the midst of a presidential election at the time. Around the city of Lima, there are huge, barren hills, and on these hills were huge messages relating to the election. In a nation like Peru; especially considering it’s history over the past few decades; the results of the election could have plunged it into disaster, or stayed its course of stability.
Three Things
1. Go Vote! While in Peru, I was reminded how blessed we are in Canada to live in a land where we have stability, security, opportunity and prosperity. Our system isn’t perfect. Our politicians aren’t perfect. But in my opinion, not voting dishonours the sacrifices made for our freedom, and mocks those around the world who desperately want a nation like ours.
2. Give Thanks! Election day is also a reminder to thank God for our nation and the freedoms we enjoy.
3. Pray for our Leaders! It’s obvious why many completely stay way from talking about politics with friends or co-workers. Very few things can polorize people like politics can. We each have different opinions and arguments why our way of thinking is best. I’m reminded of 1 Timothy 2:1-3. This is from the Message paraphrase:
“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.”
Whatever the outcome of today’s election, may we be a people who pray for our leaders. Notice this verse doesn’t say, “Pray for the governments who honour God,” it just says pray for our governments. These verses deserve some reflection, especially considering the governments in power at the time they were written. There are times to stand up to our leaders when they don’t honour God. But prayer for our leaders, whether we agree with them or not, should always come before, during and after such action.
I pray God would continue to bless our nation and give wisdom to our future leaders.
Vote. Give Thanks. Pray.
-JM
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Worship songs can be funny when taken out of context. I’m reminded of a teen in Digby who was singing a Vineyard song while shopping entitled “Set Me On Fire”. Suddenly she realized what it must sound like to someone who didn’t know the context of the song.
Have a great day everybody!
-JM
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Today I listened to a testimony by Steve Bell. A Canadian singer/songwriter/storyteller. He said something that is worth some reflection.
“I think what I don’t like about the title Christian artist is that it sort of implies, just because of the history of Christian music, it implies almost a propaganda approach to music. That I’ve got a message. That I’m going to use this music to accomplish something in the listener. Whether it’s a theological point, or a feeling or a particular emotion. And because Christianity has really used music over the last, especially over the last century, more as propaganda than art. That’s what I don’t like. I’m an artist, I want to be a singer/songwriter. The fact that my music comes out Christian, is simply because that’s who I am. Not because I have an agenda for my work. My first and primary calling isn’t to be a good artist. Any good artist is going to be true to who they are. I happen to be a Christian, so it seems fairly logical that that’s going to come out.” -Steve Bell
I’m not sure personally, if I would go quite as far as Steve Bell does. But there’s some things here to consider. Sometimes in the church, we use music to communicate certain truths. For instance, our children sing songs designed to instill specific biblical values. We choose worship songs to communicate certain biblical truth. Christians have been doing that…well, always. Read or sing the Psalms. But I do believe there is a give-and-take between the concept of good art and as Steve Bell says, “propaganda”. Yes, music is a tool…but we need to use the tool well. I think sometimes in the evangelical church (in it’s most broad sense), we get the message way out in front of the art. People…especially non-Christians, sometimes see this as “cheap” art. True art comes from the heart. If our heart belongs to Christ, our art will be genuine and better received. Whether we sing, play or paint…we should be genuine.
So, my question to you is, “Are you a Christian artist, or an artist who is a Christian?”
Something to think about…
-JM
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Teamwork. Together we can accomplish more.
When I was in college, I had the opportunity to visit Peru on a missions trip. One, of many highlights, was traveling up into the Andes mountains. I believe they said we traveled over a mountain pass that was 13 000’ high. Beautiful.
Mountains can represent the high points of our life. We even use phrases like “mountain top experience”.
On that trip to Peru, I will never forget riding on a rickety old bus loaded with people (both inside, and on the roof), on a single lane dirt road cut into the mountain side with no side rail…and a thousand foot drop to our right. Talk about scary!
Mountains can also represent the obstacles in our way. We may face something so big that only a mountain can describe it. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20).
Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
What does a mountain represent to you? God gives us “mountain top” experiences so we can take them with us into the valley. When you face a mountain of an obstacle, know that God can move it as we trust in Him.
-JM
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Yesterday was my sister-in-law Kelly’s birthday. And we were able to celebrate it with her. I thought about what a blessing Kelly has been to our family. A few years ago, my brother Mark went through a difficult divorce (I suppose what divorce isn’t difficult). It was tough to see the pain the divorce brought to Him and my nieces and nephew. But now, to see how God has brought a new partner into my brother’s life who loves him, loves his kids and loves the Lord…that’s a blessing!
It was a reminder to me to be thankful. If you’re like me, you can get consumed with the busyness of life, the stress of conflict or the pain of loss. It’s easy to forget to be thankful and trust God.
Matt. 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matt. 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matt. 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Even if you find yourself in a difficult time…seek His kingdom. God is good and can handle whatever we face.
-JM
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