Worship Wednesday is a regular feature on Leveraging Life where I share with you a song and a video. It may be something familiar but I found the story behind the song to be interesting and worth sharing or it could be something entirely new. I hope you enjoy this selection and don’t forget you can click on the Worship Wednesday tab to see previous selections.
I stumbled across this video on Facebook and loved listening Wynonna tell her story and why MercyMe’s huge hit, I Can Only Imagine, has become an anthem for her. I think Wynonna’s story resonates with so many of us because we too believed our identities had everything to do with what we did and not Who we served. Culture dictates we must worship our careers, 401k’s, accumulation of things, not our Heavenly Father the provider of all things.
Once you have relieved yourself of that burden you are freed to experience what the lyrics describe…a true and real relationship with your Heavenly Father!
Worship Wednesday is a feature on Leveraging Life where I hope someone finds a message in a song that they need to hear. A song offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope in the moment they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.
I have loved Byron Cage’s Faithful To Believesince the first time I heard as I was driving home from Buckhead Church last year. I have yet to find the story behind the song, but for me this song speaks to what we all are asked to do in the midst of a trial or adversity…
“Why is Good Friday called Good if it pertains to the day Jesus was crucified?”
This innocent question came my way recently and as I was about to give my answer, an answer that had more to do with fasting and sacrificial rituals, I paused and said it’s called “Good” because a great exchange that took place that Friday.
“Jesus exchanged His human life for my eternal life…and your eternal life as well.”
As I said in last week’s post Amazing Love, faith for me over the last five years has become very personal. By that I mean it has less to do about attendance because of an obligation and everything to do with God, His grace, His love, and a desire to know my Savior Jesus Christ. Subsequently the lens from which I view life and how my life is impacted by what is shared in the Bible results in new and different meanings for things I grew up taking for granted. And while I know I’m not alone in what I perceive to be my spiritual maturity, one of the biggest changes is how I view the cross. Specifically what took place that Good Friday which as the song title says leaves me Sweetly Broken.
To the cross I look, to the cross I cling Of it’s suffering I do drink Of it’s work I do sing
For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed Showed that God is love And God is just
At the cross You beckon me You draw me gently to my knees, and I am Lost for words, so lost in love, I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
What a priceless gift, undeserved life Have I been given Through Christ crucified
You’ve called me out of death You’ve called me into life And I was under Your wrath Now through the cross I’m reconciled
At the cross You beckon me You draw me gently to my knees, and I am Lost for words, so lost in love, I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
In awe of the cross I must confess How wondrous Your redeeming love and How great is Your faithfulness
Doing life is hard at times….plain and simple. Sometimes we make it that way for ourselves because the choices we make and at other times it just spins out of control with uncertainty, pain, and hardship.
I’m not sure where you are at this moment, but if you read my post Out To Lunch you’ll know I’m smack dab in the middle of the “uncertainty category” which is why I think Kirk Franklin’s new single “I Smile” is the perfect prescription for me as I wait for answers and pray about decisions on the horizon.
My guess is I’m not only one who falls in that category, and I’m sure others are facing hardship and dealing with pain in their lives. But I do hope this song, at least for a few moments, offers you encouragement, support, promise, and hope. So in the midst of the chaos that is our week accept this invitation to take a break, a Worship Wednesday break, and Smile.
As 2010 came to an end and 2011 began I found myself doing quite a bit of reflecting, maybe more than usual. I think for most of us a change of season or a change of year brings that on, but this year more than before this has been a prevailing mindset. For me, I think that comes from being in a great place personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Now don’t get me wrong my life isn’t perfect, but the reality is life is so much richer than it has ever been before. Certainly not in the monetary sense, because I’ve made a lot more, but it’s rich on so many other levels. Words like fulfilling, promise, satisfaction, peace, and trust all come to mind and when they do I find myself wondering where I’d be if I had not come to know God in a real and personal way. A real relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ, not just religion; faith grounded in grace not acts, deeds, and ritual.
So much of what has gone on these last four years came from me not depending on me, not trying to earn something I’d never be worthy of, and me not trusting God for this but not for that…..just trusting God period in all things!
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
In the spirit of my one word for 2011, pause, and because of this reflective mindset I thought it was the appropriate time to share my story….my testimony and the reason why I’m trying to Leverage Life better now than before….because of this personal relationship!
My Story 1964-2007
My name is Tom Martin and I grew up in a family where church was a part of my life for as long as I can remember. But for me faith came to represent attendance and obligation which carried forward as I became an adult.
After graduating from college most people would say work dominated my life. I still went to church but it had become the thing I did on Sunday before playing golf. Just when I thought everything was the way it was supposed to be, the company I worked for twelve years was sold and I started questioning God’s role in my life. And then when I found myself with serious health issues I became disillusioned with God and drifted away.
As I tried to process what was going on in my world I think God used those two crises to get my attention. I realized that the people who were supporting me were the family and friends who came second to my career all those years, and I felt if they could extend me so much grace and mercy maybe God could as well.
As I recovered from surgery I was having trouble gaining clarity on moving forward with my life and my sister Molly sent me an email with a message that said, “not sure if this is what you’re looking for but it might be a place to start.” I thought it was probably something she’d seen on Oprah, but it was a youtube link to the “It’s Personal” series. At first it was difficult to grasp because Andy wasn’t talking about going to church he was talking about having a relationship with God, and after watching it over and over, I knew that was what was missing in my life all those years.
I started to attend Buckhead Church with family last year and found some of the clarity I was looking for in the Hope Mentoring program. David Schmidt was my Hope mentor and he helped me learn what it meant to have a relationship with God. Participating in Starting Point, joining a men’s small group, and volunteering on the production team have all played a role in my being here today.
This past year has not been perfect, there still were challenges personally and for my family, but there is a peace that comes from leaning into that relationship and just watching God be God in my life and lives of my family.
I’d like to thank my family for their love and especially Molly for have the courage to send that email. I’d also like to David Schmidt, Paul Cote, and Russ West for being the kind of friends who went out of their way to reassure me that they could see God working in my life when I had my doubts. And a final thank you to all of you who have prayed for me throughout this journey, I believe that my declaration today that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior is the answer to all those prayers. From My Baptism Video Testimony May 31, 2009
Feel free to contact me for more information or additional links to learn more about anything featured in this post or with questions on how you can also begin to have a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
~Tom
trusting God period
Thanks for taking the time to watch the videos and thanks in advance for spreading the word about Leveraging Life, please use the Sharing is Caringlinks at the bottom to update your Facebook and Twitter pages, and don’t forget to email your friends.
There are certain songs we all can identify with, the kind of songs that you wonder if somehow the songwriter used the cliff-notes of your life to write the song. For me Empty Me is one of those songs.
The first time I heard the song was in the summer of 2008 and I was in a huge transition physically, professionally, and spiritually. Looking back now, I can honestly say the song….especially these lyrics served as a great reminder what I was capable of when I was full of myself and what God could accomplish when I was not.
I’ve had just enough
Of the spotlight when it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
I’ve tasted my share
Of the sweet life and the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enoughI know how I can strayAnd how fast my heart could changeEmpty me of the selfishness insideEvery vain ambition and the poison of my prideAnd any foolish thing my heart holds ontoLord, empty me of me so I can be filled with you
Here is a link to the story behind Empty Me, with the lyrics, which Chris Sligh actually wrote while he was a finalist on American Idol. And since tonight is the season premier for season 10, I thought I would include this video from season 6 where Chris took exception to Simon Cowell’s critique and shared a few thoughts which Simon took exception to. The fun begins at the 0:45 mark with Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul sharing their thoughts before Simon and Ryan Seacrest join in.
Worship Wednesday is a feature on Leveraging Life where I hope someone finds a message in a song that they need to hear. A song offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope in the moment they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.
~Tom
trusting God period
Thanks for taking the time to watch the videos and thanks in advance for spreading the word about Leveraging Life, please use the Sharing is Caringlinks at the bottom to update your Facebook and Twitter pages, and don’t forget to email your friends.
To describe the Catalyst Conferenceis as close to an impossible as there is because it is as much an experience as it is an event, and until you experience it first hand you just can’t fathon what takes place.
Three incredible days filled with amazing speakers pouring their hearts into equipping and enabling the next generation of leaders. A big misconception is that because the majority of those speakers come from the ministry the lessons only apply in those leadership circles. But truth be told the wisdom imparted by the likes of John Maxwell, Rob Bell, Dave Ramsey, Craig Groeschel, Tony Dungy, Andy Stanley, Seth Godin, and Malcom Gladwell are applicable in all walks of life and any areas of leadership.
But the component of Catalyst you really can’t put into words is the worship experience that is a part of it. For those of you who have Night of Worship evenings at your church, picture one of those nights only add state of the art concert quality production, light, and sound, then factor in your church could accommodate 13,000 men and women who know all the words to all the songs are not the least bit bashful about singing and worshipping with all their hearts.
This past Sunday I ran into Chinua Hawk, who was one of the worship leaders at Catalyst, after rehearsal for the 6pm service at Buckhead Church and I just had to ask him from his perspective what was that experience like, and the only thing he could say was “man there is nothing like it!”
So in honor of Chinua’s comment and today being Worship Wednesday I picked a video that most closely represents what the Catalyst worship experience is like and ironically not only was Revelation Song one of the songs that brought the house down but it was also sung by Kari Jobe that day as it here. Enjoy!
The Story Behind The Song
My hope is someone may be led to a song with a message they need to hear offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope when they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.
Please let me know what you think and feel free to make recommendations for future Worship Wednesdays in the comment section below or via the contact link. Also don’t forget to use the links on the side to share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!
In honor of the 12,000+ folks in town for the Catalyst Leadership Conferencewho are Souled Out, Worship Wednesday goes both Old School with a choir (no robes though) and New School in rhythm and groove. Can’t wait wait to immerse myself in the experience that is Catalyst the next three days.
“Mindful that it is in these trying times when the souls of God’s people are most tested, Hezekiah Walker wants Souled Out to serve as a reminder that now, more than ever, is the time to give one’s all for the Lord’s cause.”
I’ve come through the fire, I’ve come through the rain
But God, He never left my side
He’s my comfort through all hurt and pain
I am Souled Out
So if you’re listening at work go ahead & tell everyone sitting around you it’s going get a little loud, then turn it up, and be Souled Out as well!! Oh yeah, enjoy the ESPN scroll at the bottom.
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Just found out that John Mark McMillan, whose song How He Loves was featured a few weeks ago on Worship Wednesday will be performing at the Catalyst Conferencethis Thursday. I can’t wait to experience that moment LIVE, I’ll post a follow-up over the weekend.
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My hope is someone may be led to a song with a message they need to hear offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope when they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.
Please let me know what you think and feel free to make recommendations for future Worship Wednesdays in the comment section below or via the contact link. Also don’t forget to use the links on the side to share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!
To start the count down to the 2010 Catalyst Conferencenext week I thought it would be appropriate to include Psalm 62 by Aaron Keyes as this weeks Worship Wednesday selection.
At Catalyst 2009 Aaron led worship while Francis Chan prayed over 12,000 of us in attendance at the evening session of the leadership conference. I would come up really short if I attempted to put into words the experience or tried to describe how their collaboration brought us to the foot of the cross that night, but I thought I’d let this video speak for that moment, enjoy! Continue Reading…
Have you ever listened to a song over and over and there is one or two lyrics you fixate on and then, for some reason, you listen to it again and you hear something in the song you never heard before. For me that was the case with How He Loves. I always seemed to fixate on certain lyric like, if grace is an ocean we’re all sinking, because in my life through my mistakes, I have found myself not only sinking….but coming face to face with the bottom of that ocean several times.
I was introduced to the Rick W Smith Blog by a mutual acquaintance on twitter, and it was there I first learned the story behind How He Loves Me via the video he shared. After reading Rick’s lead in and learning more about the story behind the song, another lyric resonated with me, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. McMillan says, “the song is in celebration of weakness and anger and the celebration of a God who would want to hang with us through those things.”
