During our Christmas Eve service at West Ridge, I was
reminded of a quote from Anne Lamott... which we will get to in just a moment. It was during our time of worship and the
worship team did this really funky and cool intro to get started. Pastor Erik
encouraged us all to let go and just praise like a child. I watched my five
year old move his entire body to the music and oh my, how I wanted to do the
same! Throughout the rest of worship I thought of this quote and as you read on
you will see how God made it my own.
(Now bear with me
as you read… it will all make sense as you keep going!)
“Oh my God. What if
you wake up some day and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or
novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those
years because our thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy;
or you were just to strung out on perfectionism and people pleasing that you
forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness
and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your
heart. Don’t let this happen. Repent just means to change direction—and NOT to
be said by someone who is wagging their forefinger at you. Repentance is a
blessing. Pick a new direction, one you wouldn’t mind ending up at and aim for
that. Shoot the moon.” ---Anne Lamott
In full disclosure, I haven’t read much of Anne Lamott but I
came across this quote about a year and half ago and it changed the way I was
looking at my life. It was a very freeing turn!
And so as I watched my boy, Maxson, and lifted my own hands
with a huge smile on my face, I thought, “Oh my goodness! What if I reach the
end of my life and I never praised God with full abandon? What if I never
shouted His name in praise, or fell on my face before my King? What if I never
danced for Jesus or lifted my thanksgiving because I was too worried about what
everyone behind would think? What a tragedy that would be!” And I wanted to
full out dance and shout right there.
But I didn’t.
Because no one else was.
My fear of being the only person, or fear of what other people
might think held me back from really going for it.
I’d like to take you on a short journey if I may. During my
more formative years the church congregation I was a part of was pretty conservative
(nothing wrong with that at all), bringing out the tambourine was wild and
crazy for us. So when I got to college and I witnessed folks raising their
hands, clapping, jumping and dancing, I wanted more of what they had. But I was
way too shy. The Lord has done and amazing work in my heart but still my fear
hold me back. Deep down, what I really want is to just go all out for Jesus.
And you know that might even look different every time! Sometimes it could mean
dancing and jumping around and other times it could mean bowing in reverence
and honor.
So as we enter this new year, 2017, I want to be ready to
praise God in whatever way He is leading me. No more holding myself back due to
overthinking and fear of judgment. I would like to encourage you to try the
same. When you feel the Lord impressing you to lift your hands but that is not
the norm for you, do it anyway! Do it and break down those barriers, knock down
those walls. Don’t think about anyone else around you. It’s just you and Jesus,
sing praises, dance for Him and worship him with abandon. Abandon fear and doubt
or overthinking, whatever it is that holds you back, let it go and worship the
King! We’ve really got nothing to lose. Am I right?
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100 (NIV)
Have a blessed New Year sweet sisters!
With Love,
Jimmie Lee
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