A friend of mine reintroduced this song to me recently and it basically says it all. It’s from 1978 and I believe it carries the same power and passion that it did then. Enjoy!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd9MaBu3gAg]
I hear the term “in my life” a lot. We sing praise songs about Jesus being a part of our lives. We ask God to help us with our lives. We want Him in our lives. We say things like “I want more of you in my life.” I was thinking about that yesterday, and something occurred to me…
What about God’s life? I think all the time about Him being a massive part of my life but, could I be a part of His? Maybe that’s what I should be praying, “God, can I be a part of your life? I don’t want You to be someone that I just drag along with me as I journey towards eternity. I want to accompany you on Your journey.”
My desire is to go where He goes and do what He does. I’m happy to be His second fiddle any day. I’ll be His Tonto, His Chewbacca, His Bucky, or His Robin any day if it means I get to hang out with Him and be a part of His life.
“What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.” – Psalm 84:4
A few weeks ago, I was talking with a young guy who occasionally attends our Friday night prayer meeting. There’s something about the kid that’s a mystery to me. I don’t know where his church home is, he walks to prayer even in bad weather, and he always has plenty to philosophize about. I’ve never seen him with any friends, he’s a bit socially awkward, and I gathered from talking to him that his parents are no longer together. It’s not unusual for him to look like he just rolled out of bed and came in the clothes he wore the day before. Brennan Manning would describe him as a genuine ragamuffin.
When I asked this young man how he was doing, his answer really penetrated me, “Jesus has been especially loving to me.” Pause. Jesus has been especially loving to me? Without a car, money, or friends and Jesus has been especially loving? Shame on me. How many times have I questioned His love while enjoying so much more? How many times have I felt distant from the savior because of self-pity and ingratitude?
The last time I saw this guy, he was worshiping his heart out. It put a huge smile on my face to watch him dance, shout, clap, and run around the room in celebration of his especially loving savior. Some might say he’s in his own little world, but it’s a world I wouldn’t mind living in to experience an especially loving Jesus.
Every Friday night I lead a community prayer meeting for college-aged young people. It’s often times a powerful experience of praising God and crying out to Him for our homes, our community, and the next generation. There’s something about being surrounded by all that raw passion, as the praise team plays and the group unashamedly demonstrates their love for God, that I never get tired of.
A few weeks ago, a young girl came to the meeting and introduced herself to me. As we talked, she explained to me how she really loves God but felt awkward with outward demonstrations of praise. It was unnatural for her to lift her hands, dance, and shout. I told her that was OK and that there was nothing wrong with giving praise to God in a quiet manner.
Tonight, at our meeting, I felt a particular leading from the Holy Spirit that He wanted to do a work of freedom in the group. The majority of our meetings are very outward focused as we intercede for the community and our nation, but tonight was different. God wanted to do something in us. There was shame, guilt, addiction, and other chains that needed to be broken so we could go out from there and help set others free.
During our time of praise, I caught something in my peripheral vision. Around the corner, out of sight from most of the people in the room, was the young girl I met a few weeks ago. And she was dancing! As the praise team played, “Halleluia, Halleluia, King of Kings, Lord of Lords I am yours” She was swaying to music with her hands in the air and her face lit up with redemption! I looked and knew she was experiencing the love of the one who loves like no other. It was her and The Savior and all else was strangely dim.
What a beautiful thing to see The King dancing with His daughter. I have to admit, it inspired me. Where, in my friendship with Jesus, could I benefit from stepping out of my comfort zone? And what a stirring I felt to experience His intimate touch.
So thanks Invisible Dancer. You helped me experience God tonight, even as you experienced Him in a new way!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, a lot of people were set free tonight from the things I mentioned earlier. It was awesome!
Thanks for checking out my new blog. A while ago, I felt The Lord nudging me to communicate about the power of the invisible church.
So often, in our Western church culture, we look to the platform ministers, the professionals, the staffers, and the rock stars and think, “If only I could do something great for Christ the way they do.” We mistakenly believe that greatness equals recognition, credential, or even fame (why the word “fame” is even used in ministry is beyond me!)
Don’t misunderstand me, I am NOT against platform ministry, Christian recording artists, or conference speakers (I’m a licensed minister, public speaker, and conference goer myself). It’s just that I’m convinced that, when we all arrive in eternity and our eyes are opened, we’ll find that the greatest works were done by people we never heard of. That the greatest impact was made by the Average Joes, the Nobodies, and the sea of nameless, faceless faithful ones who gave what they had because they were crazy enough to believe they could make a difference even if they never took up any space under the spotlight.
My hope is that this little blog might inspire Everyday Saints to write history with their prayers, their passion, and their partnering with God’s activity on the planet. Please don’t get upset with me if I go off topic, post pictures of my kids, or just rant about something really random. After all, I’m just a regular person like you.
Just don’t forget, we’re regular people who happen to reflect the Glory of The God of the Ages!
At the foot of the cross.
