Background

From time to time I like to spotlight a song that really moves me in a spiritual way.  I know that often my tastes aren’t going to match up with those of some of the readers, but at the same time I feel that the right lyrics can really hit someone and make them look differently at their spiritual walk.

That is why I’m bringing up the song “Background” by Lecrae this week in this blog.  The first time I heard this song I enjoyed the beat.  At that point the words to the song didn’t really hit me, though they have since then.  See what I mean below:

It's evident You run the show, so let me back down.

You take the leading role, and I'll play the background.

I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines

I'm sticking to Your script, and I'm reading all Your signs.

I don't need my name in lights.  I don't need a starring role.

And why gain the whole wide world, if I'm just gon' loose my soul.

And my ways ain't purified, I'll live according to Your Word.

I can't endure this life without Your wisdom being heard.

So word to every dancer for a pop star,

Cause we all play the background, but mine's a Rock Star.

Yeah. So if you need me I'll be stage right.

Prayin' the whole world will start embracing stage fright.

So let me fall back and stop giving my suggestions

Cause when I follow my obsessions I end up confessing.

That I'm not that impressive, matter of fact I'm who I are.

A trail of star dust leading to the Superstar.

After I actually heard the words to this song, it really hit me.  This is more than just a good tune, it’s a call to my heart to do the exact same thing.  There are many times in my life when I try to take control and not allow God to work.  I try to be the headliner in the story of my life instead of allowing God to take center stage.  I try to run the finances and I don’t allow God to bless the family.  I run the schedule of the day-to-day stuff instead of letting God take control.  And that list of things can go on and on over and over again.  I may not always try to take control, but I definetly do at least here and there.

So, is it time for you to play the background in your life?  Maybe you’ve tried to take control, but now realize that it isn’t your show to headline?  When we truly give up that starring role and allow God to take charge it is amazing the blessings we will realize.  The question is, are you willing to give up that control?

If you want to hear the whole song along with the lyrics check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZosXYJYV8c

God bless!

From the Mouths of Babes

Sunday night my wife Traci and I were talking to one another at the dinner table while the kids were doing their own thing.  I can’t remember what the exact topic was at the time, but I do know that Traci mentioned about something being annoying or frustrating, and of course that is the moment that our youngest, Abby, walked into the room.  She looked at me with an inquisitive face.  I let her know something to the effect that sometimes mommy can get frustrated with things.  Abby’s response:  “Yeah, I know.  I live in this house.”  Then she walked away.

Now I mention this for more than just the comedic value.  (We were dying on that one.)  I mention it because it just goes to prove a very valid point that we hear all of the time.  Our kids are learning from us even when we don’t think they are.  Who knows what put that thought into Abby’s mind, and frankly it might not have been much.  But, what if we had been cursing when we didn’t think the kids were paying attention?  What if we acted one way at church and another at home?  What kind of reaction would the kids have then?

As a Christian you have to be the same person every day.  You never know who is looking.  One wrong step can give anyone the wrong idea of what being a Christian is all about.  This responsibility seems like a lot, I know.  But, I’ll take that over what Jesus endured for me any day.  What about you?

Correct The Message

If you have watched pretty much any TV show or have listened to the radio at all you’ve probably heard a ton of political ads being run for both of the presidential candidates.  We’re being told at every commercial break the things that the other candidate thinks is wrong with his opponent.  Now, I’m not going to get political with you here and tell you who to vote for, as personally I think you should just vote, and who you vote for is your choice.  Instead I want to point something out to everyone.

If you had heard the messages, then I’m guessing you are just as tired of them as I am.  Frankly I’m sick and tired of all the negative ads that both sides have been putting out, which has really begun to hurt the credibility of both sides in my eyes.  But, with that said, it has made me realize something when it comes to my spiritual life in regards to witnessing to others.  I think that a lot of time we point out to the people in the world all that is wrong with their way of life.  We tell them all that they are doing wrong and think that this is the best approach to winning lives for Jesus.  Yet, just like the negative political ads, this approach can often have the exact opposite effect.  Instead, the person we are witnessing to then gets turned off by the negativity and goes even further away from the one person in the world that can really change their lives. . .God.

How many more lives would we win for Christ if we focused only on the positives of what God can do for someone’s life?  Yes, it’s not an easy road for some to get here.  However, if the person being witnessed to  finds enough reason to walk with God, maybe they will make that decision!  If we shine the light away from telling people all they do wrong and focus on what God can do right, do you think we’ll win more lives for Christ?

When witnessing, what do you focus on?  Is it what they are doing wrong, or what God can do right?  If your focus is on the wrong it’s not a problem, as that is easy to change. 

Today is the day…and this is an election you want to win.  Go out and campaign – promoting all that God can do to all whom you witness to…starting today.

Crops

So this past weekend I took a trip to Defiance, Ohio to take my niece back to her parents after she spent a few days with us last week.  There are really only two ways to get to Defiance from Norwalk and both are through a lot of farm land. 

On this trip we took Rt. 281 as it gets us a little closer to our destination on the south side of town, and frankly it’s not a very busy road.  Usually while driving this route one is lucky to see a total of 50 cars during the drive.

While traveling home on Sunday I really looked at all the farm land.  There was a big difference in many of the areas that we were driving through.  Some of the corn along the road was much like the corn here around Norwalk, nice and tall and ready for harvesting.  But, there were also long stretches where the corn wasn’t even knee-high.  It wasn’t fully developed, and since my brother-in-law is a farmer himself, I know that the farmers are wondering if it will ever reach full maturity.

I bring up these crops because it does remind me of our spiritual lives.  In any area one can find some of us that are just starting to bud as a “crop”.  Just a little while down the road you’ll find some that are fully developed, and still further down the road you may find some that are not growing at all. 

The question is, how do you want God to see you as He passes you by on the road?  I know I want to always be growing, until right before He is ready to take me from here.  On that day I hope He finds me fully ready for harvesting.

Resilient

One of the great things we inherited when we bought our house was a clematis that is on the outside section of our driveway.  We can look at from our kitchen window.   Every year we get to enjoy the plant as it grows from nothing and then eventually produces these great flowers.

Well, this year there was a problem with the neighbors accidently thinking it was a weed and then chopping it off.  It was a lapse in judgment, and they were just trying to help; however, it did make us wonder if it would get to fully bloom once again this year.  I’m happy to report that the picture attached to this post was just taken on Sunday, and the clematis is fully blooming once again.

I mention our clematis today because it is an example of the resiliency that we all need in our spiritual walks.  There are many times in our lives where we’ve started to grow in one area or another and something comes up and stops all of that growth from the roots.  Yet, if we truly are looking for a full life with God, then we need to be like our clematis and start that growth all over again.  It’s that resilience that will allow us to continue to bloom for the world to see.

So, if you feel that your spiritual walk is being stopped for whatever reason, my encouragement to you today is to get back to work and continue to grow.  You will be rewarded, as will the rest of the world watching you grow.