It Only Takes One...

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”—John 1:9-12, NIV

When Jesus came to our planet, to His own people, even those who were “looking" for their Messiah, we forget that not everyone believed. Though the religious leaders who heard the constant chatter feared “the whole world has gone after Him,” many, many did not. And many who did, turned back.

And still, Jesus’ arrival was a phenomenal, unprecedented, history-shaking moment that, unlike any other moment in time, of any other kind, continues to rock nations, neighborhoods, and neighbors with Life.

It was huge. And yet, it was birthed in very small beginnings....Twelve regular, every-day guys. None heralded for his brilliance or creativity or planning skills. All imperfect. One day loyal to the end, the next day cowards, then back again. Sometimes wide-eyed in faith, sometimes freaking out in a storm. And except for one, all became champions of the heart cry of the demon-possessed boy’s father: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” 

And He did, and so He filled that near-dozen unlikely bunch to the full with all they would need to keep going and being all that they were created to be. And He always has, to all the handfuls down through the ages whose faint heart cry has been the same.

And despite what it may look like around you, He hasn’t stopped yet and isn't about to.

Rounding the corner to another season of Advent—of remembering the greatest Arrival of them all, and an even greater second Arrival yet to come—we see the pattern magnified: One lone voice crying in the wilderness. A young man and a young woman with a Divine visitation yet filled with doubts and wonder. A handful of guys minding their own business out in the fields at night. Three (maybe a few more) wise sages from afar following, following, who knows what but following. One man in a society of thousands faithfully looking for and longing for the Arrival and then speaking destiny into the lives of the young man and young woman filled with doubts and wonder...and the very Arrival in their very arms. One woman, seemingly alone for nearly 80 years but never really alone because worship never left her heart, confirming it all.

The season of Arrival can mean many things, and one of them is surely this: Whether we live in a city of millions or a rural town of hundreds and feel alone or insignificant in our longing for Arrival, it’s good to remember that Jesus has never been impressed by huge crowds but instead moves into and through enlarged hearts of a remnant few. 

Many of the greatest revivals in history, in the most unlikeliest of places, began with one man or woman saying “I will follow, come what may,” or two or three unnoticed ones praying together in their homes at night.

What difference can one person really make? The prophet Isaiah must have been wondering that when God told him “‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’” To which the Lord replied, in so many words, “next time you go for a hike, shout ‘ARRIVAL!’ It may seem foolish, it may seem pointless, it may seem that only the trees and birds can hear, but go ahead and shout something like this:

'You who bring good tidings to your nation

Go up on a high mountain.

You who bring good tidings to your region,

Lift up your voice with a shout!

Lift it up and do not be afraid.

Say to the towns around you:

‘Here is your God!’”—Isaiah 40:9, adapted

And the rest is history.

A reminder to never stop singing, saying, praying that the LORD reigns, that He is good, that His love endures forever, and that Love is a free gift for all who would receive. One more “Cry out!” today on that mountain top, living room, or commute to somewhere could be what triggers a powerful Arrival the likes of which we’ve never dreamed—in our towns, region and nation, and maybe even in us.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come.”

"I Sing for Joy at the Work of Your Hands..."

“You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.”—Psalm 92:4, New Living Translation

To every fellow singer getting ready to sing God’s praises and encourage others to do the same:

It’s November. Your voice may be dry, your nose may be stuffed up, your throat may feel like it is filled with all sorts of marbles and bullfrogs. You like the idea of staying home instead.

Sing anyway.

At the first chord, the first downbeat, you will hear that first note in your head like you know your own name, and yet what often comes out is ... shocking—something not even close, or pitchy, or lacking energy. You want to stop and start over.

You really wish you had followed that idea of staying home instead.

Sing anyway.

Make note of the mechanics that can be seen and heard, strive to sing with excellence and skill, and as best as you know how and how God has uniquely built your voice.

Drink plenty of water.

Warm up by singing silly songs in the car.

But don’t compare yourself to those ruby-throated singers on your iTunes mix.

They have the magic of studio production to hide the marbles and bullfrogs and pitchiness.

Sing anyway.

Purpose instead to focus more not on the “what” of the sound but the “why” of the interior—the heart that is doing the real singing.

Keep cultivating your heart of worship that is built to beat to all sorts of heavenly rhythms throughout all eternity.

It’s November, and your voice may not sound the way you’d like.

But sing anyway. And never stop singing.

Sing for joy for the works of His hands—creation, provision, salvation, friends and family, life itself.

It all comes from Him and through Him for our pleasure as beloved children and all for His glory.

Sing anyway and always, and sing this:

“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live

I will praise my God to my last breath!

May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him,

For I rejoice in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:33-34, NLT)

And especially sing this:

“Fix your thoughts on what is True,

And honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable

Think about things that are excellent

And worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8)

And then keep singing, just as they do in heaven...

“Day and night, they never stop saying:

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)

Feed your soul with what and Who is good, so that no matter what comes out of your mouth, even marbles and bullfrogs, it is fragrant and pleasing—to the One who is cheering on every one of us with one resounding, joyful, Biblical command:

“Sing!”

Even if it is November.

“Have a passion to never close the door of worship in your life—never stop singing!”—Tim Arroyo, worship leader, Maine Worship Lab 11/10/18

Better Than a Slice of Life

“…He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.”—Acts 17:25, New Living Translation

It is good to know we can never have too much of God. Sometimes, though, words in our everyday language try to defy that. The pending season of much eating and feasting drives that point home:

“Oh man, I’m full…I’ll have just a slice of that.”

“Looks great, but please give me just a portion of what you have there.”

We look at a word like “portion” and think the alternative would be too much, so I’ll be happy to get by with just a little. But then there is this:

“Whom have I in heaven but You?

And earth has nothing I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

But GOD is the strength of my heart

And my portion forever.”—Psalm 73: 25-26, NIV

Swimming against the current of all of our preconceived idea of the smallness of “portion” is this great big cross-reference from Numbers 18:29: 

“…the best and holiest part of everything given to you.”

Good to remember in the darkness as daylight grows shorter, when life’s demands grow longer, when everything around seems to be moving too fast and you want it to all slow down (or jump off the ride), and when it all can have the Adversary trying to convince you that your God is too small for this or that, or He's just a slice of life that will never really satisfy.

Better still is to fight back by posting this true definition of “portion” on our refrigerator or mirror, or better still, glue to our brain and heart:

Jesus said…Jesus still says…Jesus will always say…

“…I AM the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”—John 6:35  

“…I AM the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”—John 8:12

“…I AM the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.”—John 10:9 

“I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”—John 10:11 

“…I AM the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”—John 11:25

“…I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”—John 14:6

“…I AM the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5

“I AM the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end…I AM the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”—Revelation 1:8

“God is faithful! He will remain faithful because He cannot change. He is perfectly faithful, because God is never partly anything. God is perfectly all that He is and never partly what He is. You can be sure that God will always be faithful. The faithful God, who never broke a promise and never violated a covenant, who never said one thing and meant another, who never overlooked anything or forgot anything, is the Father of our Lord Jesus, and the God of the Gospel. This is the God we adore."—A.W. Tozer