How's the Weather Up There?

As a kid, I always towered above most of my friends. Because of my height, I heard some of the same lame comments that have been floating around since Goliath was in preschool. In fact, I can remember my shoe size being the same as my age for many years. When I was 11 I wore a size 11 shoe. Each year I went up a size with my age until I finally maxed-out at a size 15. My perception of my height and shoe size was relative. I didn't think anything about it until people made comparisons. I just knew if my shoe felt too small or just right. My concept of height wasn't in comparison with everyone else.

We see the same thing throughout our lives. Our view is shaded by experiences and location. When I meet some of our church family for the first time, I often hear "you're a lot taller than you seem on stage". Their view is shaded by their location. Until they are actually up next to me, their perception is not a true one. Let me put it like this. All of us have experienced a change in our perception of the size of an object. The further we are away from something, the smaller it seems. It's not until we're right up on it that we are able to examine it for what it truly is and access it's true size.

Keep all of this in mind when you think about God. Our reaction to Who He is, is based upon our perception. Who is God to you? What mental image do you have of Him? Theologian A.W. Tozer puts it like this; "How you think about God will determine who you become. You are a byproduct of your God-picture. And that internal picture of God determines how you see everything else."

I ended up growing to 6'4", which is not that unusual. However, God can not be measured by anything that we can comprehend or imagine. We can't really access just how big God is from a distance. We have to be up close, next to Him to get a true view. We will never dream big dreams with a small view of God. In fact, if your "God-sized" dreams seem easily accomplished, then your view of God is small. Get to know Him up close. Only then will you see your dreams become bigger than your immediate surroundings and take on a form that only God could accomplish.

I Believe

For as far back as I can remember I have loved to write music. Silly little songs that made absolutely no sense to anyone but me eventually developed into songs that had a purpose. I remember the week I was saved I penned a chorus that is still with me today. The chorus was simply "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. I am the way, the truth and the life, and in heaven you can spend eternity." I was so excited to put the message that had radically changed my life into music that it was written before I could even get off Jekyll Island (this is the place the youth camp was held when I was saved).

Fast forward to 2005. I now have 2 children of my own and write from a different perspective. My songs are still very personal, but they are from varying life experiences now. God gave me a melody for a chorus (where else but in the shower) and I couldn't get it out of my head. Finally, the words came and I sang them to myself until I was sick of the song. Weeks later while driving to hospital visitations in Memphis, TN, I began thinking about different things God had taken me through over the past several years. As I reflected on each situation, the verses formed. I put the verses with the chorus from weeks earlier, scribbled out a quick bridge and "tada", the songs I Believe was born.

Hit the LiveTV button on your TIVO and we're in Highland, CA in 2007. Last Wednesday night I had the privilege of presenting the song I Believe to the Immanuel Choir. Tonight we'll work more of the parts and dynamics. I can't wait to get it ready and lead worship with it.

Be encouraged. Even in the midst of the storm in our lives we must understand one common truth...God is still in control. He uses these times in our lives to shape and mold us so that our impact for Him can be even greater. How powerful would your testimony be without that struggle in your life last year when you didn't know how you were going to pay that bill? How would you be able to offer council to that person who is losing their loved one to cancer if you hadn't suffered and cried through a similar loss? God tells us in Romans 8:18 that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." What we are going through is just a speck in the broad scheme of eternity. Have faith, press on, and allow God to use every situation in your life for His glory!