Give It Away

Last night, we had the opportunity to hear from Pastor Tracey Armstrong. He pastors Citadel Church just right up the freeway in Des Moines. This is the second time I've heard him speak, and something happened within me, at a particular moment in the service. He was talking about saying yes. About saying YES as a church, and showing up with expectation levels soaring, so that God can show up and work through our lives, to reach others.

Tracey is the epitome of passion. Everything he does is purposeful, which is something that is so inspiring to me. I'm drawn to passion. He exudes it.

One of my favorite verses in the bible is from Mark, and Tracey's messages went hand in hand with this scripture. It says:

Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? (MSG)

Lately I've been hearing so much about being "of the world", and honestly, that's not where I want to go with this post. That would be an entirely different post on its own. I think, when Tracey talked last night about laying it all down, he wanted us to stop wasting our lives living half-heartedly, in answering His call. We're chosen people, and chosen people are purposed to share Him with the world... and each gift may be a little bit different. We can all be shining examples of God, and each of our testimony is different for a reason. Your "harvest" is different than mine. Laying it down means putting aside selfish intentions, ambitious goals for success, and acknowledging our power as a church - as a collective body of Christ.

If someone has been saved by grace, time and time again - then their testimony will reach those who need to understand that you don't need to earn His love. It's impossible. We serve a God of grace, and grace means that no matter our sin, we're saved because of His ultimate sacrifice. But who can ever understand that, if we don't tell our story? The girl who dwells in her shame and thinks she's done far too much wrong to ever earn His love will never understand that his love transcends all humanity... what we've done doesn't matter. What we do, is what matters.

If someone has experienced His power of healing, how will someone else fighting a battle ever understand that our God is a God of miracles? How will they ever grasp that when we give up all hope... then that is when we truly begin to die? How will they ever understand that God WILL meet us at our expectation level. Only if we truly think something to be impossible for Him, will it be.

If I've changed because of God's love... then I need to give that love away. And I'm not necessarily talking in the physical sense. I'm talking about being love. I don't have to memorize scripture or remember the parables, word for word, that Jesus told. I don't have to speak to millions to save a soul. If someone is forever changed because of the love than envelopes them when they're in my presence, I'm living as He's designed me to live.

If, when I walk away, they feel that my presence is lingering around them and that they find themselves wondering, when I'm long gone... "what is it about her?" God didn't love me so I can bask in it alone. He loved me so that I could love others.

What good is His precious gift to the world, if I only take my share and allow others to fend for themselves? If I don't share what I've learned, what I've experienced... then it stops with me. And I won't allow my harvest to die.

Why We Do What We Do

Our first outdoor Anthem service was a crazy success. Seriously, sometimes there are nights where you walk away completely refreshed and reminded of the power and the heart of our amazing God; you're changed, and you didn't even realize it was happening when you first pulled in for "another Wednesday night" service.

There are times when God delivers an inspired word that breaks us out of the routine of what we become used to; truly, it happens when we least expect it. I know there had to be reservations about moving the service outdoors, but it really shouldn't be surprising that God can turn something nerve-wracking and chaotic into something life-altering.

We watched three guys from the Military walk into the roundabout around 6:30pm; they had overheard about our Anthem service while getting haircuts. And what is more amazing than the simple power of "word-of-mouth", is the fact that God moved in them so much before we even realized; to come out together on a Wednesday night at 6pm to some church they'd never been to before, in a state that they don't even call home. They didn't know that, tonight, we would be outside for the first time all summer. They didn't know it started at 8pm; they got there at 6pm just hoping that they could at least find the correct location, or someone to point them in the right direction.

Not only did Pastor Brandon's message lead them to a recommitment to Jesus later in the evening, but even past that, they helped us tear down and clean up and were connecting with our team leaders as the night ended. I've said it before: when God finds passionate people determined to walk by faith, he doesn't waste a moment of time.

Brandon delivered a great word to us on WORSHIP: why we do what we do. The bottom line is that everyone worships SOMETHING... worship simply means that you place value on something; defining it as what truly matters to you.

What do you worship? Is it a car? MONEY? A relationship? Success?

We were made to Worship our Creator. And we CAN worship, because of His unfailing grace. Brandon asked us to seriously consider where we would be without his grace, without our salvation... what if WE had to carry the burden of our sin nature? What if, at the end of the day, we had to receive the penalty for our sins? Aren't you thankful that He took care of that for us, 2,000 years ago? True worship begins with our acknowledgement and realization of what Jesus Christ truly did for us.

Worship carries us through all seasons of life. It is so easy to praise God from the mountaintops, but how do you treat Him when you're in the valley? Are you too ashamed to speak to Him when you've made a terrible mistake? Out of sheer respect for Him, do you hide from a moment of prayer because you believe you're failed Him? The truth is, it is during our lowest moment that our worship means the most. What makes us think that when we're at the best time in our life, that we're more worthy of Him then? Just an example... a man received news of terminal, aggressive cancer... and that same day, walked into his studio, pressed record... and "Healer" was born. Do you truly give it all to God, during all the seasons of your life?

Lastly, there is nothing God loves more than us all coming together. We are a family in Christ. As Christians, we are His body... and the church should be our Home Base. Our lives should be centered around Him. Everything we are, everything we aspire to be... should be OF Him.

The night ended when I got the chance to personally work with two people that received Salvation; one, I learned, was for the very first time. Her husband went up to the front with her, and ended up recommitting his life as well. But, she had never stepped foot into a church and had no idea who God was; Brandon's message spoke directly to her, and absolutely changed every aspect of her life.

All of a sudden... a marriage that, earlier, had provoked a specific prayer request of our leaders, was strengthened under a common commitment to God. They welcomed Him into their lives, and it was apparent that everything had changed.

Don't you just love nights like that?

This is My Anthem

Last night, Pastor Sheila talked to us about Anthems - she helped us find ours.

My immediate response, when I saw the list of things to choose from, was FAITH. Obviously. It's my heart and soul; the backbone of everything I am. So, when I first impulsively chose my Anthem, it was to "illuminate and inspire faith".

And as soon as I had written the words, I knew that it wasn't correct. It didn't feel right; in my heart of hearts, there was no "wow" factor.

I knew that while Faith is my number one, it is nothing unless it is fueled by something. Just like love is nothing unless it is caught on fire. A life lived with no determination, no drive, no consuming desire... is no life to live. It's a void that cannot be filled, by just obediant Faith. There was something more.

So, I meditated on the words floating around my page. I picked different verbs, rearranged them, threw random words in... hoping to find something I liked. I prayed that God would shout my Anthem to me; light it on fire right before my eyes so I could breathe a sigh of relief, write it in my trusty journal with lots of underlines and cute little stars and swirls, and begin to focus on it daily.

That's definitely not how He works. :)

In my confusion, He was gently reminding me that I have known my Anthem for years. I've even recited it to people, in a variation of words. He's shown me over and over again what my purpose, strength and calling actually is.

It's something I possess that sometimes can be mistaken for extreme emotion. It causes me to over-analyze the smallest situation, find excitement in the tiniest detail, and laugh ridiculously when the joke isn't even that funny. It's why diving headfirst is the only way I can approach a scary situation. It's wreckless abandon; extreme faith... hesitation doesn't live here. It's encouraging people when they radiate with doubt, it's wanting something so badly that it brings you to tears.

It's Passion.

When I arrived at work this morning, my Anthem was clear.

We know of the Passion of Christ; the intensity of his love and devotion, the life He lived at the intersection of Passion and Purpose. That is what I want to see. This is what inspires ME.

I want to see Passion in the lives of our generation.

When I love, I want to love passionately and without reservation. I want to inspire people to do the same.

When I write, I want to write with a passion so strong that it paints vivid pictures in your mind. I want to inspire people to do the same.

When I worship, I want to worship with a passion so intense that it can be felt from the furthest point in the room. And I want to inspire people to do the same.

I want people to want something so badly for their lives, for this world, for our generation - that it moves them to tears. Passion is something within YOU, that, if used correctly can be felt by someone else.

And THAT... is too cool for words :)

Determining my Anthem reaffirmed things in my life, that I didn't realize needed affirmation. I know that Im not wired to live a passive life.

So. I live to continually ignite, increase and inspire passion, in my generation.

This is my Anthem.