It Covers Me

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As grace flows down and covers me.

It covers me
It covers me
It covers me
And it covers me

-- Grace Flows Down by Christy Nockels

Uniquely in Unity

Music is the expression of harmony in sound. Love is the expression of harmony in life. - Stephen

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to worship with a couple of extraordinary vocalists. At the end, as I led one of my favorite songs, the guitar faded out and their voices raised in harmony. The richness of their voices enveloped mine in such a beautiful and amazing way. Three distinct voices, becoming one.

There is something special about being able to hold our uniqueness and live in unity with others. It creates a harmony that transforms a simple melody into a moving moment. 

Too often, our differences drive us a part. We compare ourselves with others, who is better and who is not. We compete, fearing that we are the lesser. We call names, sometimes to others and other times to ourselves. All these become wedges that get stuck between our relationships. 

What would it take to have our differences draw us together?  A place where we accept ourselves and each other just as we are. We allow each person to express their voice. We come alongside and encourage the best in each other. We see that together, even with the misunderstandings and difference of opinions, there is more than any of us can do alone. A richness and depth no person can carry alone.

What if it meant the guitar would stop playing? Or the tempo adjusted slightly? Are we willing to sacrifice our part for the better of the whole?

Just as any good musician holds the integrity of the song above their own instrument or voice, so must we learn to hold our relationships above our own opinions and ideas. Opening ourselves to something that is more than any of us can make or do alone. While far from easy, it's so worth it.
 
Living in sync means putting energy into relationships and experiencing the value of togetherness. In work and play, may you find your best life is uniquely in unity. You bring your part and weave it in harmony with those around you. May you find it transforming life's simple moments into fulfilling memories and impact. 


  


 

Calling and Assignments

"I glorified you on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do..." John 17:4

Being able to distinguish between our calling and life assignments is an important aspect of fulfilling our life mission here on earth. While the call of God in our lives remains true through all times, our assignments will vary. 

Consider...

Moses: called to be deliverer of a nation, fulfilling an assignment with his family in the desert.
Joseph: called to provide for a nation in famine, fulfilling an assignment in prison.
David: called to be king of a nation, fulfilling an assignment as a shepherd in the pasture.

These seemingly unrelated assignments had everything to do with fulfilling the calling of God. They were the means of personal growth and character, and each provided tests to reveal what God was shaping in the heart and mind of the person.

I dare to say, the greater the calling of God in your life, the more assignments you will be given to prepare you. At first glance, it's easy to dismiss the assignments God gives us as unrelated to our calling. Cleaning the bathroom? Copying music for worship team? Teaching little children in kid's church? Making meals for my family? You may find yourself asking, "What does any of this have to do with my calling and life mission?"

Everything. It is the preparation and process of shaping your life to fulfill your calling. Do not dismiss the assignments God is giving you today. Be faithful when you are tested.

A few of the tests you will face:

Unnoticed: those times when it seems no one notices you and what you are doing, even God.
Unrelated: when you are doing something that seems to be the furthest from what you wish you were doing
Unfulfilling: situations where you wonder why you're stuck here not making a difference as you desire to
Underrated: those times when what you do is not rewarded as you think it should be.

How do you accept God's assignments and pass the tests of preparation?

Humility: live open-handed with what God places in your life. Never too big to do the small tasks, nor too small to do the big tasks.

Faithfulness: listen to those who have gone before you, stand on their shoulders, and remain faithful when you can't see the big picture. 

Joy: delight yourself in the Lord over and over again. Tap into the blessedness of giving with no strings attached and no expectations for what it does for you.  

Living your best life is both discovering your calling AND completing your assignments. In time, you will find yourself enjoying both and seeing how you cannot have one without the other.

"For the God who calls you is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so." I Thessalonians 5:24