Making God Famous ... Even Now!

... It has been a couple weeks since I broke my thread of continual posts on this blog, but those thoughts are still quite present in my mind.  I really do know that God is working something in shaping me into who I've got to become, but recently, I've really come to another realization.  I've mentioned it before, but it's one thing to hear it, and another thing to know it!  (To my team, no, that was not a joke).  I came to this realization today in a conversation with Laura (our team's great Music Supervisor), and over the past while, wrestling through some of these things.  

I've been living for tomorrow too much.  I've always desired the "extra horizon," thinking that I'd know when I got there.  I knew that I wouldn't ever feel completely, "ok, I've arrived and this is it" with life until, well, heaven, but I just always thought that the 'now' is not the 'then'!  Does that make sense?  I guess all of that said in a nutshell, I often viewed the now as a stepping stone to the future that God is calling me to.  

'To make God famous with my life' has been my commitment!  But, I never thought that the influence I desired could be found in the position I'm in.  I desire to be used in ways by God to reach out to the young adults of this world and encourage them to live that radical, unashamed life!  To be used to fire up a generation that commits to live a life that desires to make God famous ...

... I never realized that I was right in the middle of doing that right now.  

I always pictured that to look like me traveling the world, and me speaking to people, and me playing music, and me doing this and that on the front lines.  Don't get me wrong, I still desire to be used on a large scale (if that sounds selfish, please go back and read the previous blogs so that you understand that comment ...), but I also know that God doesn't NEED me.  He doesn't need me touring to do what He wants to do.

One of the most beautiful sights that I love to see is not that of a mountain range with the sun gleaming or a deep forest with a hazy mist (although God's creation is an incredible sight!), but the sight of an individual soul connecting with Christ through a worship setting!  Whether I see that from the back of an auditorium or from behind a microphone, there is nothing more beautiful to me than to see that single person connect with the God of this universe in a deep, genuine and authentic way!  Not so that I feel like, 'yes, I got 'em!' ... Not at ALL!  But you can walk away knowing that this person is a changed individual and is leaving this place more on fire for God than (s)he walked in!  I desire more than anything to see a generation that is completely sold out to God!  To make Him famous.  

So, for me, the thought of being used in a way like this is so exciting, but my mind was narrow.  I kept thinking, once I get back into a worship setting, leading or whatever, I'll be able to be used in that way again!  The thought of that really excited me.  The thought of that STILL really excites me!  But, I always asked the question, what about now?  What's the connection between that desire, that passion, and where I'm at now?  How are 'pushing papers' helping me to be better prepared for that future??  haha, it seems foolish to even say that now ... My perspective was all wrong!!

First things first - I have to stop living for tomorrow more than today!  That's scriptural, I know, but I never made the connection.  When I start living for every situation that God throws onto my path, then something will start to happen.  Not only will my perspective change, but I'll start realizing that where I'm at NOW, is just as important as where I'll be in 5-10-15 years.  My influence is no different now in God's eyes than it will be in years to come because where I'm at now is where He wants me to be.  

So then, with my position with this choir in perspective, what does all this mean?  How can pushing papers and making phone calls and dealing with administration details be a fulfillment of where I feel I need to be!?  Well, who ever said that I had to be on the front lines in order for my life to make God famous and to be used to set this world on fire for Christ.  Who am I, anyways, to be used in that way??

Remember that beautiful sight that I talked about??  I feel that I've been blinding myself so much by longing to see it in the future that I'm missing out on seeing it right in front of my eyes everyday!!  What about the person who comes back and talks with me at the sponsorship table in tears, wanting to pour their life and finances out into a single child to help them through school??  What about the person who gets up and starts to dance on their seat in excitement while the kids are shaking their "kabina's (Yes, that's what you think it is) for Christ" (the wording of our wonderful Choir director - Frank)!!  What about the person who stays sitting in their seat after the concert, stunned at what they just saw and then eventually leaves silently, but deeply moved to live a life of justice!?!  What about the pastor or detail contact that walks back into the church after waving goodbye to the tour bus, saying to him/herself, "wow, now THERE was a body of believers who are passionate about God!"!?  

I'm in a position right now that is Making God Famous!  And I'm not stationed in one area ... the team that I lead and the children we tour with are going to have the opportunity to make God famous to thousands and tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of people in 12-15 fast months!  I never realized it, but God has been answering my prayers without me even knowing it.  Sometimes He answers with a LOUD crashing "HEY I'M HERE NOW!", but sometimes he lets our minds go to where we take them until we come to the realization that He's been working just as powerfully all along, despite our thoughts and actions.  

An influence on the Kingdom ... I've been a fool to think I had to wait for that one.  I've committed my entire life to make God famous, but in this season, I've realized that that's actually how God has been using me all along.  I'm finally jumping on board ...

America, watch out!  The ACC is coming ...