Have you ever walked past something and inhaled a memory? What I mean is that a particular scent triggered a memory of yours. It is scientifically proven that these things can revive old memories and occurrences. Same research exist about music and song. Its amazing how something so simple, a tune, a lyric can be a time capsule for us; an instant transport back to a location, a group of people, an event, a reoccurrence of when we experienced the song…. That was me yesterday.
I had just spent an hour getting ready to go on a date with Justin and on my way to meet him and I hear this song on the radio…and before long, everything changed and nothing else mattered. The song was “Give myself away” by William McDowell and that song a monumental milestone and memory in my life. At first, I was really excited to hear it because it had been a while since I visited the song. But before long, I had to pull over in overwhelming worship. I could tell that mascara I just put on was running down my cheek but, that was so trivial to the presence of God right there in that moment.. An altar piece right there at my steering wheel. It never ceases to amaze me how God speaks to us, reminds us of His love for us.. Regardless of where we are or what we are doing.
So here I am in my car… on the side of this deserted country road…hands lifted up in praise…crying out to God… pouring my heart out in song… it was just.. so, so, so sweet in the instant presence of God. It was so comforting, so peaceful, so reassuring… so…real and abundant. I can hardly describe it. It was like, God had saved up all the praise and worship from all the people on earth and angels in heaven from yesterday and in a matter of seconds, flooded my car with it… just poured out and lavished it all on me…indescribable. So not only is the presence of the Lord just beautifully overwhelming at this point, but the song itself and its memory embrace me as well.
Although I am aware that I am in my car physically, it was as if mentally and spiritually, I was in Punta Gorda, Belize, Aug 2-9th, 2008. I was at the beautiful Punta Gorda Narzarene, which is literally 300 feet from the Caribbean Sea shore. It had rained so much that the streets were flooded and we were threaten with evacuation (but had no where to go: all the bridges were washed out) For this trip, I was leading a group of 35 . The US team and their belongs were safe and dry but for me and Tati, the other PPM staffer, we had a separate room right by the sanctuary and our room was already underwater. While we were trying to take care of our room and storage, the Belizean band had begun practicing for the night’s service. And just as a side note, Belizeans always give 100%, no matter what.. So.. Their practice was truly worship from the heart and soul, even though they knew that it was a possibility that the service could be cancelled due to in-access to the church…
I remember that I was so worried about the storm and my team.. I was soaking wet and frustrated from trying to take care of everything… and… at the same time, the band kept playing and practicing… it was inevitable to hear what they were saying.. “I give myself so you can use me”…over and over again.. I had just bent down to pick up my drenched backpack and realized that God was trying to get my attention.. “Give yourself away.. So I, God, can use YOU, AMY!” I dropped my bag back down into the puddle and said outloud to myself.. “These things are temporary.. The Glory of God is eternal.”
I walked away from my submarine room and walked into the house of the Lord. What I saw was just amazing… Belizeans by the dozens were already in the sanctuary, two hours early of the planned service. Every single one was saturated from the rain and flood water and every single one was surrendered to the worship present. I walked right down to the altar of the wet church and just laid in adoration before my living God.
This is what it is all about folks. Its not about our schedule, our plans or our demands. This life is not about how in control or how out of control we are for that matter. This life is not about the things that are temporary or marginal. It is about God, His Cross and His glory. We are just here to be apart of that happening. God does not need us.. He WANTS us! God is fully capable of all this, everything and anything.. But, He wants us to experience the goodness of Himself. All we have to do, is to just.. Surrender..to freely give yourself away. He will use us! He will use us in ways we can not even begin to comprehend! At times, I still can not believe that God has given me such an honor and privilege to go out into the nations for Him. I am still amazed that this dream and passion of the Worldrace is a reality.. Over five years, God has been preparing me for this and now, God…is…using..me? Me, of all people? God, you want me, Amy Colley, to go? How exceedingly humble and grateful I am. So, here I am God, I give myself away so you can use me.
Just like in Punta Gorda that night, we had more people attend that night service than any other night we had. Six souls were saved that night! How amazing is that? And to think that human standards and worries almost cancelled the service altogether. Six people came into intimate relationship with their Savior…. despite the rain, despite the floods, despite the uncertainties. They came in response to the Cross, in response to the presence of the Lord.
We should all tune our hearts to what God is trying to say to us…the question is.. Will we keep fussing and worrying about the floodwaters in our life, or will we just surrender and let the Creator handle the apprehension so we can fully give ourselves away?
　
　
Floodwaters-Punta Gorda, Belize-Playing in the rain!
“Dear Matchless and Supreme Father,
Thank you for the ability to retrieve such precious moments in our lives.. Thank you Father for the simplicity of a song to bring me into absolute worship with you. Thank you for your promises to us. God, I will never be able to understand how or why you want to use us sinners but I am so grateful that you do. Teach us, shape us, break us to respond, to relinquish to you. We know that you want to use us…help us to get there. Lord, we give ourselves to you…no matter what. Take our lives Lord, use them to glorify yourself. Here we are Lord.. We are here to worship, to bow down, to say that YOU are my God. You are altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me. This life is not my own.. I give myself away, so you can use me. Thank you Jesus.. Thank you. I pray that you take our lives and bless yourself with it. Use us to carry your cross to our parents, to our friends, to the church member sitting next to us on Sunday, into the streets, into the darkness.. Lord, use us to go into the nations for you. Thank you Jesus for the Worldrace. Thank you that you are active and moving here… thank you that you allow me to be apart of something greater…Be with us as we move forward for you. Lord, we love you. In your everlasting name, Amen.”
Abandoned,
Amy
　
　
I challenge you now to just spend some time to worship your Creator.
Here is the song from youtube.com, http://youtu.be/23J6x85Ws8c
It is beautiful and powerful. Be renewed.
　
Another great worship song: http://youtu.be/C6WexG9uAJI
