Attitude Adjustment

Every time I serve on the worship team, God does something in my heart. I worship to glorify Him, but He always seems to grow me in the process. I love how He does that... how He turns my decision to do something for Him into Him doing something for me.

After the services on Sunday, I walked out to the parking lot with our worship leader, and we were chatting about some upcoming music for the choir. A couple stopped us, and the husband said to us, "We just wanted to tell you two that we think you both must make Christ smile."

I think that was the best compliment I have ever received. When you get down to the heart of why I worship, that is exactly it. I want to make Him smile.

It was also one of the most humbling things anyone has ever said to me. Because if that couple could have seen into my heart at the beginning of the weekend, they would have known how desperately I needed an attitude adjustment.

Our church has a Saturday evening service and two Sunday morning services. I absolutely love being involved with the worship team and serving on the weekends, and I feel so blessed to be part of this amazing church. But it does require giving up a good chunk of my weekend with my family. So when the time for Saturday's rehearsal crept up on me and I knew that Lars was leaving for Arizona on Monday, I simply didn't want to go.

I dragged my feet as long as I could before heading out the door and hopping in the car. On the way up, I felt the Lord nudging me, His still, small voice whispering, "Am I worth it?"

As I went through the rehearsal, I enjoyed the music and fellowship with the other musicians. I always do. Simply choosing to worship even if I don't feel like it at the moment has a way of lifting my spirits. But the true heart shift came as I watched a young man take the stage and rehearse a worship dance.

Now, if you know me well or read my previous post, "Green, White, and Grandpa," you know that I love Michigan State football. How fitting, then, that God would use a Spartan football player to minister to me.

His name is Otis Wiley, and he was a senior during the 2008-2009 season. He started the year 2nd in the Big 10 in interceptions, but a knee injury took him out of the NFL draft. He doesn't mind, though, because what he really wants to do with his life is serve in full-time ministry.

God has gifted Otis with the ability to take a song and dance before the Lord in a dramatic interpretation of the words being sung. This particular song was called "I Surrender," and I watched with tears in my eyes as this tall, muscular football player surrendered everything at the feet of Jesus. Then, as the singer sang the words, "Your love makes it worth it, Your love makes it worth it all," Otis stretched out his arms to resemble the cross. And my heart was broken.

Yes, I had chosen to worship Him in spite of the busyness of my life and my desire to spend the weekend with my family. But I should have wanted to. I should have been grateful for the opportunity to come before Him, to give all I have to give because He has given so much for me.

I realized at that moment that I had been allowing Satan to steal my joy in serving Jesus. He is worth every sacrifice I make to serve Him, worship Him, give Him the honor and glory He deserves. He is worthy of so much more than I can even hope to give. And I am not even worthy to come before Him except for the blood of Jesus that covers me.

What a privilege it is to enter His throne room and be accepted... yes, even welcomed and rejoiced over! I will not allow Satan to be a joy stealer anymore.

If you have the time, take a look at this video. It has the entire service on it, but after the morning worship set is Otis' worship dance. Our cameras couldn't do it justice, but I think it will still be moving for you to watch.

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Our God is Healer

My husband is a motorcyclist. He rides a Yamaha sport bike and has a lot of fun with it. Oddly enough, although I worry about a lot of things, I don't worry about him on the bike. Maybe it's because my dad had a motorcycle when I was a kid, so it's just not something that scares me. I'm glad he has the ability to do something he enjoys.

It has also given him the opportunity to connect with other motorcyclists, both face to face and online through a sport bike forum. These are guys with a common hobby and interest, but from all kinds of different backgrounds. It has been a new area where Lars can be "on mission" (check out my previous post) and plant seeds of the gospel simply by being a friend.

Several weeks back, one of the guys he has talked to online shared on the forum that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29. Their kids are 2 and 4, and she was given very little hope of recovery. He was crushed, fearful, and questioning God. What do you say to someone in those circumstances? A simple, "My wife and I are praying for you" was all Lars could say.

Last week, further scans had brought forth discouraging news, and on Monday her doctor told her she may only have 6 months left. She had spent the entire evening crying, not ready to leave this world and desperately wanting to be there for her two little boys. I know I would feel the same way. No mother wants to leave her children. Again, Lars shared with him that we would be praying.

This morning, Lars received a new message that she had gone in for a follow-up scan, and the doctors found nothing. Nothing! The cancer that was going to claim her life in 6 months is gone! In his message, Lars' friend said, "I don't understand it." Lars replied, "I know exactly what happened, my friend! It's a miracle. Our God is in the business of doing those!"

I am so grateful for a husband who is not afraid to share his faith in times like these, and that God gave him the opportunity to do so in this case. I hope He will use Lars' words in this family's life as they rejoice to see His hand at work.

There is a song by Chris Tomlin that has recently become one of my favorite worship songs. Part of the lyrics go like this:

"Our God is greater,
Our God is stronger,
God You are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer,
Awesome in power
Our God, our God."

I wonder how many times I have sung those words and taken them lightly. Or how many times I have prayed for someone's healing but not really believed God would do it. Oh, I know He can, but I don't always have faith that He will. Thank you, God, for this reminder that you are Healer, awesome in power. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" (Mark 9:24).