Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Had a Good Cry Lately?
I love the perspective Ecclesiastes gives us when it says, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven" (3:1, NASB). Some translations of that verse use the word seasons. Every believer knows what it means to walk through different seasons of their faith. It's a beautiful, arduous, light, joyful, painful, ever-deepening journey—one that, as long as we're nestled close to Christ, few of us would trade for anything in this world.
I think I'm in what Solomon describes a few verses later as a season for weeping. Ever been through a "weepy" season as a leader? It makes for some embarrassing moments. Wonderful times, sure—but times you feel completely exposed, vulnerable and yet still aware of your role to lead through the tears. I believe some of the most priceless moments of growth come during these weepy seasons. Several years ago I lived with a pastor who spent the majority of his days prostrate on the floor as songs of the Spirit wrapped around him like a blanket and rebuilt him piece by piece. He's never been the same, and I've never viewed leadership the same way.
The odd thing is, my current weepiness isn't over anything sad. In fact, I'm not really shedding tons of outward tears, so maybe I'm not really weeping as much as I am softened by the Spirit's movement in me. While leading congregational worship on Sundays the past couple of weeks, I've been reduced to a pile of mush, and the sense hasn't really left me. It's lingered as I've worked through an incredibly hectic deadline week for Ministry Today (God, give me grace!). And it's done nothing but expand as I've spent time with my family. The reason for all this? Intimacy with God.
Sometimes we speak of intimacy, and sometimes we simply "do" it. For years in the charismatic world I heard message after message of the importance of worship, of being intimate with the Lord—yet aside from the local broken pastor of a small-and-dwindling church, few leaders "did" it. Apparently it's not that cool to lead through tears. They work on occasion when you want to get your message across, or the rare times when the Lord stops you in your tracks and overwhelms you with His presence. But stay in that spot of tear-filled, precious intimacy and people begin looking for the next church that's a little more "put together." You know, one that has a better children's program, whose worship leader doesn't linger on all those awkard moments of music-less adoration, whose pastor sticks to his three-point sermon and isn't so ... well, weepy.
May I be bold enough to say I doubt the Lord is scouring the land for "put together" churches and "put together" leaders? He is looking for those who worship in spirit and in truth—and, interestingly enough, both those elements require a "breaking down" of flesh and lies. Our usual response when something we treasure is torn down is to cry. Yet when we've walked with God enough to know His lovingkindness is everlasting, then we know He always has our best interest in mind. He wants to increase our capacity for intimacy with Him—which means those tears of pain will often transform into tears of tenderness and affection. Like Mary, who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, hair and expensive perfume (see Luke 7:37-39), we are to be a bride who is infatuated with her husband and showers Him with affection whenever possible.
All this can look a little messy at times. But then again, His is a love worth crying over.
I think I'm in what Solomon describes a few verses later as a season for weeping. Ever been through a "weepy" season as a leader? It makes for some embarrassing moments. Wonderful times, sure—but times you feel completely exposed, vulnerable and yet still aware of your role to lead through the tears. I believe some of the most priceless moments of growth come during these weepy seasons. Several years ago I lived with a pastor who spent the majority of his days prostrate on the floor as songs of the Spirit wrapped around him like a blanket and rebuilt him piece by piece. He's never been the same, and I've never viewed leadership the same way.
The odd thing is, my current weepiness isn't over anything sad. In fact, I'm not really shedding tons of outward tears, so maybe I'm not really weeping as much as I am softened by the Spirit's movement in me. While leading congregational worship on Sundays the past couple of weeks, I've been reduced to a pile of mush, and the sense hasn't really left me. It's lingered as I've worked through an incredibly hectic deadline week for Ministry Today (God, give me grace!). And it's done nothing but expand as I've spent time with my family. The reason for all this? Intimacy with God.
Sometimes we speak of intimacy, and sometimes we simply "do" it. For years in the charismatic world I heard message after message of the importance of worship, of being intimate with the Lord—yet aside from the local broken pastor of a small-and-dwindling church, few leaders "did" it. Apparently it's not that cool to lead through tears. They work on occasion when you want to get your message across, or the rare times when the Lord stops you in your tracks and overwhelms you with His presence. But stay in that spot of tear-filled, precious intimacy and people begin looking for the next church that's a little more "put together." You know, one that has a better children's program, whose worship leader doesn't linger on all those awkard moments of music-less adoration, whose pastor sticks to his three-point sermon and isn't so ... well, weepy.
May I be bold enough to say I doubt the Lord is scouring the land for "put together" churches and "put together" leaders? He is looking for those who worship in spirit and in truth—and, interestingly enough, both those elements require a "breaking down" of flesh and lies. Our usual response when something we treasure is torn down is to cry. Yet when we've walked with God enough to know His lovingkindness is everlasting, then we know He always has our best interest in mind. He wants to increase our capacity for intimacy with Him—which means those tears of pain will often transform into tears of tenderness and affection. Like Mary, who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, hair and expensive perfume (see Luke 7:37-39), we are to be a bride who is infatuated with her husband and showers Him with affection whenever possible.
All this can look a little messy at times. But then again, His is a love worth crying over.
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Praise our Father God. The tears stream down like a flood sometimes. I could not understand in the beginning of all of this however, once I simply stop being concerned about it the Holy Spirit revealed to me how I was being cleansed inside so He could fill the temple the more so. As I understood the love and mercy of God more and more the tears would flow the same. The deep Joy within could not be explained. The love and profound mercy of my God. How Jesus, knowing that if he proceeded he was going to die and went anyway. This revelation cuts into your heart deeper as we grow in Christ. And the process never ends. We as a church need to bow down with our bodies and more so with our hearts to the King of Kings and the Lord of Glory. The bottom line is nothing really matters but Jesus Christ. And when He is first above all elese in our lives everything elese becomes a shadow. Trusting Him the way He ordained trust. Seeking first the Kingdom and when the "key" is given all other things we have need of according to His will and purpose will be added unto each of us. Isnt it amazing? My whole life in the natural has been a mess but the Revelation of Jesus Christ has changed my whole world.
# posted by 
: 1:18 PM
: 1:18 PM
Times of intersession....the LOVE of the Father is over flowing....the Tears seem to be endless....I am not crying but I have no control of the flow of tears....How Beautiful our Father Almighty God is....These are times of true blessings...maybe I can not fully understand all that is happening...but He is in control and the Love ....there are no words to explain.
My prayer is to be a vessels of Love...a vessels in which He can use for His Glory....In these times I find myself filled with His Love...I in turn pour back that Love out to my Father and I am able to pour it into others as well......to me it is HIS GIFT ...TEARS.....
too deep to express...but Jesus Christ is all we need...It is about Him for Him and it all comes through Him....we are the VESSELS of the LORD....to be poured out to a lost world........So let us therefore, rejoice in all that is being done with His People , and let us leave our Hearts open for the KING OF GLORY to COME IN.......
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My prayer is to be a vessels of Love...a vessels in which He can use for His Glory....In these times I find myself filled with His Love...I in turn pour back that Love out to my Father and I am able to pour it into others as well......to me it is HIS GIFT ...TEARS.....
too deep to express...but Jesus Christ is all we need...It is about Him for Him and it all comes through Him....we are the VESSELS of the LORD....to be poured out to a lost world........So let us therefore, rejoice in all that is being done with His People , and let us leave our Hearts open for the KING OF GLORY to COME IN.......
# posted by : 1:48 PM
: 1:48 PMLinks to this post:
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