“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  

We may try to determine our course, but He is the One who determines the steps along the path.  Will you trust Him today to be Your Leader?

I was reading this devotional the other day and EVERY WORD jumped off the page.  This is from the book “Come Away My Beloved” by Frances J. Roberts.  It is written in prophetic language:

“Hold fast, for I am with you: stand still, for I am your God.  Be quiet before Me, for I have arranged all things for you according to My good will, yes, according to My eternal purposes.

For I have purposes and plans and desires which reach far beyond your present view.  You see only the immediate situation, but My thoughts for you and My planning for you embrace eternity.  Yes, you are in My hand.  Rest there, and leave all else to Me.”

His thoughts and ways are so much higher than we understand.  AND He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!  Sounds more fun to me.

Yet all this time, God is calling us take off the “mask” – the imposter – and to come openly to Him.  God longs for us to know in the depth of our being that He loves us and accepts us as we are.  In Him there is life, our passion is rekindled, and our union with Him is His greatest pleasure.

As I’ve been studying this book, I’ve been praying these verses constantly:

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:7-14

Relationship with the Living God is the greatest “success” we can achieve in this life!  We must not buy into the lie that we are not “worthy” of God’s love.  We must learn how to receive this transcendent love that unlocks our souls.  In Him all joy and peace is found.  He loves us just because He loves us.  It’s not based on what we’ve done, or who we are, or how much we’ll do for Him in the future.  He just delights in us and wants to spend time with His children!  We are not distant relatives or acquaintances – we are His beloved children.

I’ve been learning just how much God’s love is different than human love.  It’s not conditional, He does not harbor bitterness or resentments towards us, and He doesn’t get tired of being around us.  God is love.  He is what love is supposed to really be.  I can’t wrap my mind fully around His love, but don’t you just want to live in it and enjoy it?  Don’t you want to just dance with Him and talk and be with Him?  He adores you.  He takes great delight in you and rejoices over you with singing.  This is our God.

I’ve been studying a lot about worship here at Fuller, and I’m learning so much about the “heart” of the artist (or musician).  Actually, one of the books we have been studying is The Heart of the Artist by Rory Noland.  Dare I say next to the Bible, it is my favorite book?!  It is all about the “health” of our hearts as leaders, character issues, and what it means to be in worship ministry.  I highly recommend it!

A few months ago, I performed some music at a Fuller-sponsored coffeehouse event.  When I got to the venue and looked at the keyboard that was provided, I decided that it would be best to have my keyboard from home.  So my friend let me borrow his jeep and I picked up my keyboard and supplies from my apartment.  But unfortunately, the event started earlier than scheduled, and I didn’t get to do a sound check.  So when it was time for my set… I just jumped in and went for it.  One of the first songs I sang and played was “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman.  I have always been struck by the power and eternal focus of these lyrics…

I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering; a child of mercy and grace
who blessed Your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy

That is just the chorus, but I encourage you to find the full song on iTunes.  It has a beautiful piano part, too, which is amazing!  Anyways, since I wasn’t able to do a sound check, I got a little thrown off and was having a hard time “settling in” on stage.  Usually I can do that pretty quickly, but it just wasn’t happening this time.  Ugh.  Do you know that feeling?  Can I just stop and hide please?  Fortunately, God gave me the grace and equipping to move on, share some of my original songs, and finish the set.

So a few days after that, I was beating myself up through unrealistic high standards.  But God was gentle and wanted to re-adjust my perspective.  He reminded me that I’m not supposed to be singing for man’s approval.  I sing, perform, and lead worship for His glory.  If I’m constantly striving for man’s approval, am I truly serving God? (Gal. 1:10)  He reminded me that I am sharing music to an audience of One.  And the fact is that He loves my offerings – no matter if they’re “tarnished” by my unreachable, high standards of excellence.

Then today, after I had somewhat forgotten about that night at the coffeehouse, I talked to my friend who was there – also a musician.  I mentioned to him how I was slightly upset with my music that night, and he then told me about his friend who was there who’s best friend had just been murdered that weekend.  She was not a Christian, and when I started singing “Legacy,” it was so powerful that she had to leave the room and go outside.  Wow.  Talk about God putting me in line after beating myself up over that song.  He was ministering through me in ways I could NOT EVEN SEE that night…

I’m convicted and reminded at how this directly correlates into worship ministry.  At a conference I recently attended, I heard Tommy Walker say something that really impacted me.  In discussing the importance of consistent faithfulness in ministry, he said, “99% of what we as worship leaders do Sunday to Sunday, week to week, is invisible.”  As worship leaders, we are responsible for ushering in His presence and welcoming His healing power into the room.  He then touches the hearts of the people that need His specific voice, answers, love, and gentelness.  He is the One who does the ministering through us.

Oftentimes, we cannot see what is going on inside people’s hearts and minds during worship.  Every so often He gives us “glimpses” of what is happening, but ultimately we must trust and have faith in the fact that we are working for “eternal treasures” and purposes.  This leaves no room for selfish gain or “mapping” of “success.”  We should not strive to gain riches or approval from man where “moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy.”

Satan wants to tempt us as musicians to be glamorous “stars,” completely excellent, and the best at our craft.  But I believe God is saying to this something like…

Offer up my gifts in the best way you can, and I will multiply what you have and increase what you offer me in ways that you cannot even see.  My thoughts and ways are so much higher than yours.  I just need willing and able servants.  Be my instruments.  Be my vessels.

Our response needs to be one of humility, constant surrender, perseverance, and faithfulness in whatever He has called us to do.  When that is the posture of our hearts, I believe we can await God’s response…

Well done, good and faithful servant… I am pleased with you.

That is the accolade, affirmation, and response we are ultimately striving for.  Let us each leave our own legacy on this world that points to Jesus Christ.  He is our audience of One.  He alone is worthy.

“Crazy Dreams”
Carrie Underwood

Hello you long shots, you dark horse runners
Hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers
Hello you wild magnolias just waiting to bloom

(Chorus)
There’s a little bit of all that inside of me and you
Thank God even crazy dreams come true

I stood at the bottom of some walls I thought I couldn’t climb
I felt like Cinderella at the ball just running out of time
So I know how it feels to be afraid
Think that it’s all gonna slip away
Hold on, hold on

Here’s to you free souls, you firefly chasers
Tree climbers, porch swingers, air guitar players
Here’s to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms

(Chorus)
There’s a lot of wonder left inside of me and you
Thank God even crazy dreams come true

Never let a bad day be enough to go and talk you in to giving up
Sometimes everybody feels like you
Oh, feels like you, just like you

I’ve met some go-getters, some difference makers
Small town heroes, and big chance takers
I’ve met some young hearts with something to prove

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.  It will make or break a company… [an organization]… a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.”

- Charles R. Swindoll

“Wide Open Spaces”
Dixie Chicks

Who doesn’t know what I’m talking about
Who’s never left home, who’s never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl’s dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn’t yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won’t be coming back with the rest
If these are life’s lessons, she’ll take this test

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, “Check the oil!”
Mom stares out the window and says, “I’m leaving my girl”
She said, “It didn’t seem like that long ago”
When she stood there and let her own folks know

She knows the highest stakes (repeat)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

For my Early Church History class, I was able to choose my own topic for the final research paper, so I wrote about “Women in Christian Leadership in the Early Church.”  I learned so much from the lives of women such as Marcella, Paula, and Thecla.  Against the odds of their time and culture, these women gained esteem through their fervent commitment to the Lord and the ascetic lifestyle.  They served Him faithfully and studied His Word with immense dedication.

For my Spiritual Traditions and Practices class, I completed a final paper on Mother Teresa.  As I was writing the assignment, her words and life seemed to illuminate off the pages.  Her living legacy left me in awe.  I was both inspired and challenged; encouraged and convicted.  What a privilege it was to study such an amazing woman of faith.

Mother Teresa was a truly remarkable woman who left a lasting legacy through her faith.  Every time she saw a need, she did something about it.  She was straightforward, courageous, uncompromising, bold, and challenging.  She was never afraid to speak her mind before any audience, even if – and perhaps especially if – that audience seemed to disagree with her.  Her fight for peace was equally bold.  Wherever she went, Mother Teresa emphasized and insisted on the unity, love, peace, and joy that must exist in the life of the family.

Why did Mother Teresa leave such a lasting legacy?  What made her life stand out?  To me, it is because she embraced and chose to live a contemplative active lifestyle. She maintained a healthy, fervent prayer life that facilitated her movement and inspiration for action.  This integration of the two sides of spiritual life – the contemplative and active – was for Mother Teresa her way to live the Gospel here and now.  Mother Teresa translated the Gospel into a language of action.

As promised, here are other quotes from her Essential Writings book that really moved me.  I hope you are also changed by her words and the influence of her life.

“A vocation is simply a call to belong entirely to Christ, with the conviction that nothing can separate me from His love.  A vocation is an invitation to be always in love with God and to give witness to that love always and everywhere.”

“A vocation is a gift of Christ.  He has said, ‘I have chosen you.’  Every vocation must really belong to Christ.  The work that we are called to accomplish is just a means to give concrete substance to our love for God.”

“We need a pure heart, a heart that is filled with nothing but Jesus.”

“The work He has entrusted to you and me is nothing more than putting our love for Him into action.”

“The time we spend in having our daily audience with God is the most precious part of the whole day.”

“Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love.  Joy is a net of love by which we catch souls.  Because we are full of joy, everyone wants to be with us and to receive the light of Christ we possesss.  A sister filled with joy preaches without preaching.  Daily, we pray, ‘Help me to spread Your fragrance – Yours Lord, not mine.’ ”

“The more we receive from our silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.  Silence gives us a clear vision of things… the essential thing is not what we say, but what God ways to us, and to others through us.  Jesus waits for us in the silence of the tabernacle; He listens to us and He speaks to us; He loves us and makes us capable of loving Him and of bearing witness of Him to the world.” – Mother Teresa

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.  If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all His mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, ‘jump,’ and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.  If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere.  So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always ‘me first,’
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.  Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit.  We know only a portion of the Truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete.  But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-10 (The Message)