All the Glory belongs to You oh God!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to minister in song on stage with artists that I admire and love during 2011 Stellar Awards pre-show events. It's one thing to meet the artists, another thing to meet the individual behind the artistry, behind the talent, behind the amazing performing, behind the flyest and latest fashion, even behind the scenes of the scenes. As I continue down this journey of music ministry, after this weekend, I am reminded to not only encourage through the songs that I write and sing, but to continue to encourage with my testimony, my lifestyle, how I relate to people when I do not have the platform, or the influence. I want the love of Christ to flow and show through me so boldly and brightly, that I become invisible and Christ becomes the #1 superstar.

I had many cool and memorable moments. The one that continues to remain in my mind and spirit still this very day, happened at this event called the "Everything Fresh Party".  My manager, photographer friend and myself attended an event; it had a variety of artist that ministered.  Some were very well known, and some that I had never heard of before. There had to be about 20 groups/individuals performing at this event. We were probably half way through the event, when this young man took the stage.  No bells and whistles, very laid back stage presence. He had on a beanie cap, sweater, shirt, jeans, no background vocalist, and no full live band.  When he took the stage, immediately, the atmosphere in the venue changed and he had not even begun to sing yet.  His sound.. unique,  kind of like Wyclef meets Music Soul Child. I loved it; it was not like any gospel artist I had heard to date. He was small in statue but the anointing that was on him, made it seem as if he filled up the entire stage. When he opened his mouth to minister in song, it was like something was pulling and inviting you to enter into the place where he was, a place that he knew of very well and appeared to spend a lot of time in. He had the kind of presence that didn't encourage you to look at him, but pointing and invited you directly to the entryway of Gods presence, pointing people to the Light of Christ.  

I was reminded of the scripture as he began to minister "If you lift up the name of Jesus, He will draw all men unto Him".  I will tell you this; he encouraged a spirit of Praise and Worship in that place, like I have never felt before. It was like he changed the focus from performance to Worship and it took a minute before the next artist could come on stage, because of the anointing that flowed through him.

See, it was not that he could do amazing vocal gymnastics, or that he could bend backwards while he was hitting a long single note.  He was an individual, a man first, a child of God first..not an artist, though he flowed in this creative gifting with ease, you could tell, this was not his focus...getting people to enter into Worship was.  He obviously understands the importance of spending time with God, communing with him, listening to him, seeking him, being obedient, and because of this, he is so easily able to affect the surrounding around him.  He didn't need cheerleaders behind him; He just brought Worship, something you can't expect someone else to do, if you don't spend time in it yourself. You can't tell someone to Worship Him, and not show him or her how it needs to be done, in Spirit and in Truth.  Even right now, I can hear the words that lingered in the voices of everyone in that place even after he had left the stage..people continued to sing this phrase.. "All the glory belongs, to you, all the glory belongs to you, Oh God".

Of course I had to go and download his music...and even just listening to it, the power of the worship even on his cd is just unreal. There are few artists that can translate worship from a cd and send you straight to the thrown room, and this young man is one of them. His name is Mali Music, and he made me revisit my purpose for my praise, and why I desire to affect the world with the music ministry God has given me.  I revisited the definition of this word "anointed":

 1. To apply oil to as a sacred rite especially for consecration
 2. To choose by or as if by divine election
 3. To designate as if by a ritual anointment
 4. To prevent infection by anointing a wound

I am sure, pretty much all of us have heard or know of the first three definitions, but the fourth definition, really made me think about something, something that I think we tend to overlook because we are so intrigued by someone’s talent and ability, whether it's preaching, writing, designing, building, singing and so on.. but we forget that at the end of the day, healing needs to take place, change should have happened, something that could have been infected, will not get sicker, but will get better.  I sum up the word anointed with this definition, because it helps me always put into perspective, not to get caught up in the talent of a person, how fly or "not fly" a person is dressed, how cool their stage presence was, or how much they talk about what they do for people, for a community but truth be told, a person, operating under the anointing can go into a place, and change happens, point blank.  Not just a casual shout or run around the sanctuary, but change that is visible, spiritual, felt and manifested immediately. Isn't that what Jesus did? Everywhere He went, change happened.

While I could focus on some things that may have caused a bit of disappointment in my eyes for the Christian Music Industry, I decided to walk away with the things that I believe planted seeds of hope and growth. To take note of the things that maybe didn't line up with the Word of God, and make sure that I do not fall into that category. To always be listening and in tune with God's way, and not my own. If God calls me to speak to it, then I will, but for this very moment, He has me focused on the light that I saw in this young man, because light is what I desire to be to people who are hurting..saved, unsaved and in-between.

This experience was an encouragement to me, that somebody has to be the light, we all can't be looking at what is wrong with the world to the point that we can't focus on all that God is doing.  God sends many nudges our way, nudges of wise rebuke, nudges that will hopefully get us back on track to what our purpose is. At the end of the day, He will use whoever He desires, that has a heart to serve and obey his instruction and direction.  We must continue to work out our own salvation and pay attention to the beckons of Light that He has placed in our pathway, to remind us..keep going, yes.. this way, follow this, don't follow that...
Mali Music made a statement that just summed up the weekend, and reminded me that I am on the right track...

Something in the lines of this-
"We need to stop saying, God is going to do and start declaring that God is doing.  If we get back to Worship, the adoration, and Praise of our savior, your writing is going to change, your songs are gonna change, they are going to speak of the goodness and greatness of a God who delivers, heals, restores and who is doing great things right now, in the midst of our brokenness"

When he said that...I was like.. "Well alright then"...that's what I needed to hear!

Be blessed family...
God IS doing Great things!

Fahren~

Finding Your Place

Picture this.
You and some friends love the orchestra, and get tickets to the symphony. Excited, and knowing that the show is going to be amazing, you find your seats and get ready for the show to start.  A few of the friends even know the violinist and the pianist. They eagerly await these musicians to take the stage.  The lights go out, and the musicians begin to take their positions, only something is not right.  The clarinetist is in the director’s spot; the violinist sits in the pianist seat. The pianist sits in the cello seat. The celloist is sitting in the symbol section.  You say to yourself, hey they are out of position …that is not where they belong.  You look around and see that a few more people who love the symphony have noticed the same thing. To a person who has come to the show for the first time, everything looks normal. Yet to a person who has spent years following and learning the who’s who in orchestra, they know that something is definitely not right.  The director (who actually should be in the clarinet section) lifts his stick and begins the show.  The sound that comes from this mixed up orchestra is just that…mixed up.  Now.. even, those who are at the symphony for the first time realize something is wrong. 

Have you found your place, to effectively do the work that God has called you to do?  Or are you sitting in the wrong seat and wondering why you are not growing. Furthermore, are you sitting in someone else’s seat, holding them and yourself up?  Like the story I told above, it is possible to appear that you are in the right position, until it actually comes time to show that this is where you belong.  Before you were born, God already had plans and an assignment for you to accomplish. He determined and distributed gifts, which He knew, would aid and help you in this journey.  Inside of us all, young or old, saved or not-saved, black or Asian, heavy or thin, we have gifts that were specifically given to us that is to be used for good and to sow into this world, into people.

Read with me this passage found in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 (NIV)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of Wisdom. To another a message of Knowledge by means of the same spirit. To another Faith by the same Spirit, to another the gift of Healing by that one Spirit, to another Miraculous powers, to another Prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues and to another the interpretation of tongues. All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines.

My mother- in -law is in the childcare, not because it’s the only job she could find, but that she actually loves this industry of work with a passion.  Watching her around children just amazes me. She is just a natural in the inner workings of childcare and children. They are drawn to her, and she is so effective in relating and reaching them. She serves freely in this ministry at her Church but she also prospers in the natural from it.  It’s not easy work, but her passion for this industry overrides the tough days, and every day she gets up looking forward to getting to her kids. Even more, those around her can tell whether they have met her for the first time, or have known her for years, that she is in her right position.  They see productivity, fruit, structure and wisdom something you can’t fake or pretend.  I will tell you right now, I am not gifted in childcare and I don’t desire to be. I don’t care how much money you can make, I don’t enjoy it, the kids would realize quickly that they have got on my nerves, and I on theirs.  So trying to make this my gifting would make everyone unhappy. Yet, we see this quite often don’t we, in society and in church?  You have children who show a natural gifting in the creative arts, but the parents want them to be a doctor. So the child goes through many years and a lot of money spent in education, in a profession that may pay well, but they are miserable. We see, many people whom Pastor and should be in business.  We see people who are gifted in social work, but are working blue-collar jobs. Everyone can take pictures, but not everyone is a photographer.  The proof is in your work, the proof is in your fruit, the proof is in your eyes, do they light up when you talk about what you set your hands to do?  Or are you just in a position because it pays well, because it was all you could find for a moment?  We can learn to do things, to survive or just get by, and this is understandable.  Life throws curve balls, and you have to adjust to hit the ball, but don’t adjust so far out that you can’t get back to your God given gift.  The notion that image is more important than passion needs to be eradicated.  It allows people to be excused for doing and being things; they were never designed to be or do. The result of being subjected to someone who is not in the right position can be harmful and very damaging.

 In the same token, people can prevent people from taking their rightful position.  I see it in the church a lot and I say to myself boy we are missing it in some areas.  How many musicians are sitting out in the congregation, and should be in the music ministry.  How many women that have lived long enough to go through some things and have the ability to speak and disciple our young girls.  The church can’t evolve without the many giftings that are in the house, and it definitely won’t grow if you are not using every member to accomplish God’s work.  Just like we only use 10% of our brain, I would venture to say, we only use 10% of God’s people to work the ministries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Now granted, some just don’t want to or have no clue what to do, but many more are ready, are mature but the position is being held up by someone who really is not great at it, but they are handsome and give the biggest offering.  The church has set a certain standard and if the people don’t look the part, the get overlooked.  They can also have a tendency to hold onto people who God wants to release into the next phase of their ministry, not realizing that there is another person who is ready to transition into it and take it to the next level.  I wonder how many people have we lost to the world, because we didn’t allow them to take their place in God’s Kingdom?  They were not thin, not pretty, too big, not big enough, not rich enough, too quiet, not quiet enough, not the right style of singing, not the right style of playing; but the bottom line is, they are sold out for Christ and if you give them an assignment, they will not only get it done, but they will get it done with ease and excellence.

Those who follow Christ, and aim to live according to His Word should never be unsure about this one thing.  God has given you exactly what you need to accomplish His plan, with the permission to flow in it freely.  I love to write and sing, even more so I love to encourage, inspire and build up people.  I know that these giftings are to work together to accomplish the larger plan God has for me.  I can become skillful in other things, but it’s going to be centered around my natural bent and God given abilities.  You won’t find me trying to direct an orchestra, or open a daycare, or become a Math teacher. God always opens a door for my ministry and I go where He sends me.  I encourage you all, to truly self inspect, and make sure you are walking in the gifting that God gave you. We need you to be in the right position, not just for your own journey, but also for the journey of others. Stop forcing yourself into the puzzle space, when you know you don’t fit, if the space calls for a circle and you are a triangle, you will never be settled and always agitated in this position because it was not designed for you.  Parents, Teachers, Leaders, we need to also be aware of how we direct our children and those we cover in ministry.  Your child is good in gymnastics, but you want her to play the flute, don’t do that.  Pastors, this person wants to lead worship, teach discipleship class, pastor our teenagers, but they don’t like to be around people.  It just does not work and the end result will be a hot mess.

Let’s commit this year to finding our place so that we can keep accomplishing great works for God.  Finding your place, and being secure in it, will save you so much heartache and hurt feelings.  How empowering is it to know, that God knows the plans He has for you and that He has already determined and equipped you with the gifting to accomplish that plan.  Come on, we can do this yawl!  Let’s walk in our purpose!  Get in your Word, find out who you are in Christ, and let him begin to reveal to you, all that you are. Talk to people around you that know you. If you are gifted in art of “gossiping” go ahead and redirect that and become a reporter, that way you can talk all you want about some type of news and you will be good at it…LOL!

Oh I almost forgot to mention this..if you are in the Nashville area next week, come on out to an amazing event full of people walking in their God given gifts.  See flyer below..  :)

Blessings,

Fahren