Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Worship journal 5

This is the last entry in my worship journal. Thanks for taking this journey with me. I still don't know why God had me post these. I feel really exposed here, but that's alright. I'm learning to just do what He tells me to, the first time. :)
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Properly positioned. Two words that keep coming back to me. Just what does a properly positioned Christian worshipper look like?

Meet Cindy. Cindy is fairly new to her choir family. She loves to sing and has quickly made friends. She often talks about her passion for singing. She will gladly tell you where and how often she's given the opportunity to sing outside of the church. There is an enthusiasm about Cindy that is exciting. She would really like to sing solos and be on the praise team each week. She was the first one to sign up for those auditions, and was quick to let anyone who would listen know all about it. The more you get to know her, the more you hear her words and actions say "I want to be out front singing! I don't want to just sing in the choir".

Meet Mindy. Mindy is also fairly new to this choir. She too loves to sing and has made deep friendships within her choir family. As much as she enjoys singing, she loves Jesus more and is quick to tell you that. She shares whenever possible how God used music during the hardest time in her life to minister to her. Her deepest desire is to be used by God within the worship ministry of her church. She would like to sing solos and serve on the praise team and like Cindy, auditioned when the opportunity came up. The more you get to know her, the more you hear her words and actions say, "I just want to do what God wants me to do. I just want my life to glorify Him."

Cindy and Mindy are real. They are in every worship ministry. You may even know them! One makes worship a lifestyle, one doesn't. One wants to be seen, one wants to see God. One sings out of an overflow of what God is doing in her life, one sings because she can. One is properly positioned, one isn't.

I don't think I have to ask you which person you want to worship next to. But I will ask this. Which one are you? If you're honest, you probably see a little of each in yourself. The only way to change that it, is to take it to the Lord.

Properly positioned. How I've felt the Lord nudge me with those two little words. I was so improperly positioned, that I forgot what it was like to enter worship with the right heart.

Even now, two years later, if I sit down to play, or stand to sing and I'm not properly positioned, God lets me know. And you know what? I'm glad! I don't ever want to stand in that loft, or sit on the piano bench without Him! I don't want my worship to hit the ceiling, I want it to go all the way to the throne! I want to feel the weight of His glory fall on each and every service, every rehearsal, shoot, I want it every minute of every day!

Properly positioned worship leaders..... sounds like a pretty dangerous thing.

3 comments:

BethAnne said...

When I read about 'Mindy' and 'Cindy' two people from my own church choir immediately came to mind - you are right - they are in every church. Thanks for sharing your journal with us - we all need to step back and check ourselves when it comes to true worship.

I have the same struggles in leading women's Bible studies - it is easy to get caught up in how I look and in trying to say 'just the right thing', but in the end what really matters is what God sees in me and what He asks of me.

Heather C said...

Amen and Amen!!!

There is a bit of Cindy and Mindy in each of us, I'm afraid... only constantly seeking the Lord will keep us in proper position. Thanks for an awesome reminder to constantly check my heart before I step up to lead worship... it's all for HIM!

Heather

Carol said...

Phew. That was hard to swallow. I how I want to be Mindy!!! My personality has the Cindy creeping out sometimes! Excellent. I'm glad you entered the contest as well!! :)