It's been a while since I worshipped. That sounds weird 'cause I'm at church all the time and I'm "involved" in worship services most every Sunday. But sometimes you just need to hear a message that inspires you to seek understanding in Godly things. I've been in a bit of a spiritual slump lately; letting outside influences chisel away the presence of my holiness. Working "in" ministry sometimes makes it tough for me to make strides in my own spiritual journey 'cause I get so dang caught up in making sure everyone else is trying to take steps. It's kind of weird. It's so easy to slide into lethargy and go through the motions without even realizing it. But today I was in the presence of a speaker who was passionate and genuine and who spoke words that I needed to hear in a way that I needed to hear them. Vickie Sigmon is a missionary who guested at our pulpit today. She believes what she says and it comes through when she speaks. She began her message by turning towards the cross and saying, "Jesus, keep me BEHIND the cross. Don't let me get in the way of your message." I scribbled it down in my notebook that I carry around 'cause it made such a huge impression on me. "Don't let me get in the way." And then what followed .... we get so busy marching forward in the Jesus parade that we forget to look beside and behind us. We refuse to let ourselves be interrupted by the least, the last and the lost while we're focused on what Jesus "needs" from us. You'd NEVER think that, but to hear it uttered, you realize that, yeah, it happens. Open the eyes of my HEART, Lord. It was a trifecta of scripture, message and a call to act. It left an impression. The prayer I throw up tonight is one of gratitude -- "Jesus, keep me BEHIND the cross. Run over me with your message." Thanks Vickie. It was amazing.
God loves us the way we are,
but too much to leave us that way.
but too much to leave us that way.
- - Leigton Ford
She had my attention with just that opening statement. How she was talking to us, how many times we get caught in the fluff (the show) and forget why we were lead there that day. My wish,just to have the faith of that blind man.
ReplyDeleteScott R.
Wish I could have heard it---sounds like it was just the message I needed to hear! How true it is that when you are part of worship it isn't always easy to worship. You have to seek those moments out on your own sometimes and that is hard to understand but very true for those in ministry. Glad you had such a great experience.
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