What a blessing to experience worship!
All week long…
Despite it all especially no sleep and our typical human failings.
God is awesome and works in miraculous ways.
Was it a miracle that we made it to Houston without any issues? Maybe, I mean the fact we all woke up in time to travel an hour, check in and hop on a 6am flight was pretty great.
Was it a miracle that the kids sang like angels? Maybe, they only had 36 hours to learn the music and even then it changed a little bit when we arrived.
Was it a miracle that the concert was such a success? Maybe, Michael W. Smith wasn’t feeling well, the concert was recorded live for both CD and DVD so lights, cameras and microphones made their way in every nook and cranny, and over 400 singers and musicians participated in the performance which gave the potential for a lot of human foibles to happen.
The theme of the last three days centers on worship. (I guess is a lot more life giving than blogging, though I must say I dearly missed my daily writing and ruminations.) We arrived in Houston on Thursday to rehearse with Michael W. Smith before his live concert on Friday night. Throughout the process the people we worked with lived an authentic life or grace, generosity, and faithfulness. Their lives radiated God’s love and goodness in their life which didn’t just appear for the concert. The ebbs and flows of life kept them real and humble even during the process as people missed family celebrations or recovered from sickness. So when our contact person or the musicians or producer connected with the children, asking them good questions and telling jokes, I felt at home with brothers and sisters in Christ.
The kids also personified worship in all they did. They offered their gratitude for everything including having a chance to go to the bathroom. They focused during the recording despite having to wear gianormous headphones. They smiled with all their might and sang with all their heart during their performance. They laughed so much at the chaperons silliness, told stories about home and gave me massages at every chance they got.
Finally, the concert itself was a tribute to God himself and I’m sure made him extraordinarily proud of his children. The talents, the prayers, the praise, and the strive for perfection could not have been a better offering and act of worship to the God of the Universe, King of Kings, Savior and Redeemer.
Michael W. Smith wrote a song about a new Hallelujah that will touch all the nations. I believe it is true and is happening this moment, for without such a reality, God could not have been so present to us this week. He’s preparing his church, his children even this moment for the Hallelujah chorus because worship is happening right now, in our bus, at the dinner table, in our prayerful sleep, and with our relationships with friends, new and old.
“Everyone sing a new Hallelujah!”
2 comments:
Are you part of Michael W. Smith's team? Did you fly from Wyoming to Houston just for the show? If so, thanks for your commitment and hard work. I live here in Houston and went to Lakewood for the recording. What a great night! Such a blessing. I had a humbling moment when Marcos (spanish pastor) asked how many people in the audience were NOT from Lakewood. It looked like well over half the audience! I realized not only was this a treat to get a free concert and be a part of a live recording, but just to go to Lakewood itself was a great experience (we go to church here on a regular basis). Plus, my wife and I sat next to some people who were in town because their son was in the Hospital with a brain tumor. So suddenly my petty complaining about traffic and minor things that interfered with our 5 mile drive to Lakewood seemed very, very silly. We are blessed! I'll say it again; we are blessed! I'm looking forward to the CD and DVD when it comes out! We will buy a few extra copies to give to friends and family and say, "We were there!" :)
While I would dig the opportunity to be apart of Michael W. Smith's team, I enjoy working with the African Children's Choir just as much. I traveled with the kids from our base house in Raleigh, NC for the performance. It was a blessing to be in place where scattered people found a way to unite under one roof.
Good idea for gifts...Merry Christmas!
Post a Comment