"Bring On The Rain"As I was writing a letter to God (if you haven't noticed i enjoy writing), this song came on my iTunes which was interesting for two reasons. First off, it's lashing outside right now, but i'm in the conservatory, which is basically a room made up completely of windows (even the ceiling/roof of the room). Secondly, sometimes the weight of reality hits me and i start to hyperventilate (even if it's just in my mind lol). i have to admit, i see myself as quite ordinary, but i realize my circumstances are anything but that. i am recently graduated from university, doing mission work in a country 3,000 miles away from those i've grown to know and love deeply over quite a bit of time, i'm living on faith and the support (financially and spiritually) of loved ones, and the person who began encouraging me to do this type of work with my life in the first place (my mum) died a mere two and a half years after i decided to do ministry. Funny how friends back home have always kept my mum in my life by mentioning little things like "when it's raining that's your mum, proud, wishing she could be there walking beside you" or "find the brightest star. Yeop, there's your mum smiling down on us." Now i know these things are not true, simply a comfort to the heart, but i find it no coincident, God knew what He was doing, when He brought me to Northern Ireland where rain is the season...every season and the stars shine bright with the absence of "city lights" like i'm use to back in the States. i love that through nature God continually reminds me of His love for me and the fact that i'm not alone. And because of that, this song encourages me to stay strong, keep truckin', and know that tomorrow's another day. Glorify Him by the blessing of another day :)
(feat. Tim McGraw)
Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war ('cause)
[Chorus:]
Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
It's almost like the hard times circle 'round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated,
And I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing - but I'm not dead, no ('cause)
[Chorus]
I'm not gonna let it get me down
I'm not gonna cry
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight ('cause)
Tomorrow's another day
And I am not afraid
So bring on the rain
[Chorus]
Bring on the rain; bring on the rain
Bring on the rain
Bring on, bring on, the rain
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Bring On the Rain
Sunday, September 4, 2011
(what if you're) The One.
After the evening service today, as I was riding in the car with some of the young people, a song came on by Brandon Heath called "The One" that really grabbed my attention. Because of this i wanted to give a few of the thoughts that ran through my head as i delved over the lyrics later after our car ride...
How many times have we each known someone to be at a conference, heard a compelling sermon/talk, or talked about "what if" circumstances only to let that enthusiasm fizzle out, let that dream slip through their fingers because of a few struggles in the planning process? Personally i see this happen too many times. But i feel that if we truly grasp what God is capable of and simply become vessels for Him to use there would be no other reaction than lights shining uncontrollably, dreams would come under His authority and flourish, and faiths would be sprouting insanely because of the lights shining so bright and the dreams becoming reality and doing what they were meant to do, bring glory to God.
The kind of series the church is doing on Sunday evenings is opening our eyes to the truth of God being a hands-on God and how His people (from the congregation) are being hands-on Christians; how they are being God's hands literally all over the world. Last week my friends Alisdair and Jane talked about an organization in Uganda that they helped with called New Beginnings, which was started by a man in a nearby town, actually. It is an orphanage where they not only come to do physical labor, but also to teach the children and show them love and care through songs, lessons, and activities. This week, there was a group that went to Spain to do physical labor and build relationships with the young people in the area as well as my friend Catrina who went to Uganda (separate from the previous group) to do work as a physio with children who are dealing with different ailments. This section of the song reminds me of the struggles and difficulties people have around the world. Because i have a westernized mindset i have to admit i can forget about "others" and focus on myself and only those with whom i'm in constant contact, but it becomes comfortable. This life isn't meant for us to get comfortable because we're only passing through. The way i see it, we should really make a dent in the world rather than brushing it off that those around the world are struggling and it's not my struggle as well. Let's get comfortable with being uncomfortable, touch the lives of those around you that are seen as "untouchables". What a place this world would be if we looked out for those who struggle to look out for themselves.
"If I see one more light that's fading, Hear about one more broken dream, Pray for just one more faith that's dying, It's one too many"
How many times have we each known someone to be at a conference, heard a compelling sermon/talk, or talked about "what if" circumstances only to let that enthusiasm fizzle out, let that dream slip through their fingers because of a few struggles in the planning process? Personally i see this happen too many times. But i feel that if we truly grasp what God is capable of and simply become vessels for Him to use there would be no other reaction than lights shining uncontrollably, dreams would come under His authority and flourish, and faiths would be sprouting insanely because of the lights shining so bright and the dreams becoming reality and doing what they were meant to do, bring glory to God.
"And if I see one more child walking, Just one more mile for water, If I wait one more minute longer, It's one too many"
The kind of series the church is doing on Sunday evenings is opening our eyes to the truth of God being a hands-on God and how His people (from the congregation) are being hands-on Christians; how they are being God's hands literally all over the world. Last week my friends Alisdair and Jane talked about an organization in Uganda that they helped with called New Beginnings, which was started by a man in a nearby town, actually. It is an orphanage where they not only come to do physical labor, but also to teach the children and show them love and care through songs, lessons, and activities. This week, there was a group that went to Spain to do physical labor and build relationships with the young people in the area as well as my friend Catrina who went to Uganda (separate from the previous group) to do work as a physio with children who are dealing with different ailments. This section of the song reminds me of the struggles and difficulties people have around the world. Because i have a westernized mindset i have to admit i can forget about "others" and focus on myself and only those with whom i'm in constant contact, but it becomes comfortable. This life isn't meant for us to get comfortable because we're only passing through. The way i see it, we should really make a dent in the world rather than brushing it off that those around the world are struggling and it's not my struggle as well. Let's get comfortable with being uncomfortable, touch the lives of those around you that are seen as "untouchables". What a place this world would be if we looked out for those who struggle to look out for themselves.
"When I think of what could be, If we let our hearts believe, That it takes just one, Just one could turn this all around"i'm not saying by any means that i am turning this world around, not on my own that's for sure, but with His Holy Spirit in me He definitely can do work. But i pray that God use me among other "ones" to turn this world around because when they turn, they'll come face to face with a God who loves them, has His arms open wide, waiting for His children to come running back to Him after falling astray. Being in Northern Ireland, people back home find it an odd place to do mission work, but the way i see it, where our feet tread, whether here or "home" there lies our mission field, our battlefield. The best part about this battle is that we know the outcome, we know we have the victory, but bringing others into that victory, that is my desire and my hope for my life and other Christ followers. These lyrics remind me to Dream Big because God's Bigger!
"And if we're living history, How will they think of you and me, If it takes just one, just one, What if, what if, what if I'm the one? It takes one, takes one, one, It takes one, takes one, one, It takes one, takes one"Take a self inventory on your life (as i have been doing recently). Thinking on my thoughts and actions, heart and how i've been conducting myself. What we do today will be in history. Maybe not in the history books, but it's going to be in the past, something of yester-years. The only thing here that i challenge you to do is expand on it and ask not only how people will think of you, but how, because of you, they will look at your Christ. Are you even doing anything for them to think about Christ and how, if at all, He should impact their lives? We may only have one life, we may only live for yet a brief moment in history, but many who impact the world die young, but it can be said by most for many like that that while they lived, they sure did live and they usually lived for more than themselves. This world would look completely different if we could look beyond ourselves and our own "needs". What if, for that person who serves you and knows your order by heart, you could be the one to introduce them to Healing, Hope, Love...God?
"If I hear one more widow crying, 'Cause there's no one by her side, And if I see one more family breaking, It's one too many"The heartbreak of these lyrics is all too true no matter where a person is in the world. Widows are left alone with the pieces of their lives shattered around them. Families are torn with no hopes of being restored. Has Christ not called us to be His hands and feet, helpers to those in need, a comforter to those with heartache. God's heart breaks along with us in our pain, so shouldn't our hearts break when those around us experience heartache and turmoil?
"If there's one thing that I'm sure of, If there's one thing that I know, You could be one in a sea of faces, Or you could be one more chance for hope"Ask yourself, are you one in a sea of faces or one more chance for hope? God can use you, never doubt that, but you've gotta be willing. God's got a game plan, but it's one thing to watch on the sidelines and cheer, it's completely different to be on the front lines. Are you on the bench or the front lines?
"I see a nation without any walls, A beautiful haven for one and for all, I see a day when people are free, When shackles are broken and fall to the street, A voice, a cry, call out from on high, The first one of many, go lay down your life."This is a beautiful depiction, let's make this a reality. Be the one. It can all start with you and end with many shining in His glory because you chose to see that which is greater as worth more than living for self.
"It takes one, takes one, one, (What if you're the one)...
Friday, September 2, 2011
Tell Them. Tell Them Now.
Have you ever been talking with someone and given them a compliment, some words of encouragement, or simply acknowledged and affirmed what others have told you about that person only to find the recipient blush, deny your accusations (though positive they are), or exclaim that no one has ever told them that so it must not be true? This recently happened to me with one of my friends and it got me to thinking: how many times have i noticed something about someone (positive) yet kept silent, refrained from stating out loud to that person just what i had come across? Sadly, i feel that more often than not i keep these positive little nuggets to myself, but oh how quick i am to spout off about someone's downfalls! Blast, if only i could take James' words to heart and tame my tongue! Now i'm not saying if i see something in a person's life that defiles them i am going to simply stay silent, but should i not also be intentional about acting out 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Continue to encourage each other and build each other up just as you are doing now."
You see, life is short. And for this very reason we must proclaim the good we see in each other to each other. For if we don't, who will? The way i see it, we as Christians know we are not good in and of ourselves, but because of the Holy Spirit. This being said and acknowledged, we also forget that the Holy Spirit empowers us to be more than we could be on our own, and therefore shine God's light into this dark world. But because we are aware of the darkness of our hearts, we can forget about the Light that has been placed in us. This is where we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, need to acknowledge that Light when we see it. As we go about living life together we need to show each other the beauty we see in each other's actions, lifestyles, attitudes, and hearts. Maybe we wouldn't feel so awkward about compliments if they weren't so foreign in our day-to-day lives.
I am currently reading through a book Elisabeth Elliot wrote on her personal perceptions of her life called All That Was Ever Ours. There is a chapter titled: Truth Telling and at one point it speaks of the saying: "the truth often hurts." "But there is a truth that does not hurt--truth which encourages and surprises with delight and gratitude." She writes on about examples of people who probably aren't acknowledged for their breakthroughs with students, physical beauty never mentioned, and personal circumstances Mrs. Elliot has experienced. What was most compelling to me, so much so that i put down the book and ran upstairs to get my computer to write this post, was the last two sentences that simply read, "Tell them. Tell them now."
We often times proclaim we should "tell it like it is," but how many actually do that in an encouraging nature? To be honest when that is said i think of being harsh or saying what everyone is thinking, but too afraid to say. What if "telling it like it is" were something we did as a source of encouragement. Calling people out on the good we see in them in hopes that one day their eyes will be opened to it as well. Imagine what the world would see if we, as the Church, became fervent about encouraging each other, building each other up, and vocalizing the Light we see in one another. i would like to think that those in our day-to-day lives would see a difference in us, begin to wonder just what that difference was, be compelled to ask us, bringing about one of those "when will He" moments (<--that's a reference to a previous blog...feel free to look to previous posts to get the drift of that one).
If you see the Light in someone, if you catch them doing good: Tell them. Tell them now. And watch them squirm because, let's be honest, it's something we as a generation are not use to. Let's get each other use to it!
You see, life is short. And for this very reason we must proclaim the good we see in each other to each other. For if we don't, who will? The way i see it, we as Christians know we are not good in and of ourselves, but because of the Holy Spirit. This being said and acknowledged, we also forget that the Holy Spirit empowers us to be more than we could be on our own, and therefore shine God's light into this dark world. But because we are aware of the darkness of our hearts, we can forget about the Light that has been placed in us. This is where we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, need to acknowledge that Light when we see it. As we go about living life together we need to show each other the beauty we see in each other's actions, lifestyles, attitudes, and hearts. Maybe we wouldn't feel so awkward about compliments if they weren't so foreign in our day-to-day lives.
I am currently reading through a book Elisabeth Elliot wrote on her personal perceptions of her life called All That Was Ever Ours. There is a chapter titled: Truth Telling and at one point it speaks of the saying: "the truth often hurts." "But there is a truth that does not hurt--truth which encourages and surprises with delight and gratitude." She writes on about examples of people who probably aren't acknowledged for their breakthroughs with students, physical beauty never mentioned, and personal circumstances Mrs. Elliot has experienced. What was most compelling to me, so much so that i put down the book and ran upstairs to get my computer to write this post, was the last two sentences that simply read, "Tell them. Tell them now."
We often times proclaim we should "tell it like it is," but how many actually do that in an encouraging nature? To be honest when that is said i think of being harsh or saying what everyone is thinking, but too afraid to say. What if "telling it like it is" were something we did as a source of encouragement. Calling people out on the good we see in them in hopes that one day their eyes will be opened to it as well. Imagine what the world would see if we, as the Church, became fervent about encouraging each other, building each other up, and vocalizing the Light we see in one another. i would like to think that those in our day-to-day lives would see a difference in us, begin to wonder just what that difference was, be compelled to ask us, bringing about one of those "when will He" moments (<--that's a reference to a previous blog...feel free to look to previous posts to get the drift of that one).
If you see the Light in someone, if you catch them doing good: Tell them. Tell them now. And watch them squirm because, let's be honest, it's something we as a generation are not use to. Let's get each other use to it!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)