High/Low

There was a movie I saw a few years back called “the story of us”. I can’t really recommend it due to some of the content; but it does paint a pretty realistic picture of a family in turmoil. One of the things I remember from that movie was a scene of the family around the dinner table and they played a game called “High/Low”. Each family member would share their high and low experience of the day. I think that’s pretty cool, and once Kyra can handle it, we may try that in the Bruce home. So I figured today, I’d play High/Low.

High – getting to head outside between worship gatherings this morning, sit on a park bench, and spend some time with a really cool person. She’s super involved in our worship ministry and we got a chance to talk about some of our struggles and concerns with our ministry, and our personal lives. We talked, cried, prayed, and really got to share our hearts. I tell you what, it’s moments like that stick out to me as the reason I’m in full-time ministry. I am grateful for those moments even more than I am for the “wow…what a great worship time!”…which brings me to my low and what started our entire conversation

Low – our 1st worship gathering. Have you ever had those Sundays that are just “flat?” It’s not like the singing stinks, just that it doesn’t seem to connect, and you have a hard time keeping your focus? Well, that was me this morning. Due to illness, travel, etc, the praise team didn’t really get to adequately prepare (although we were joined by a sweetest soprano that I hope considers becoming a full-time addition to our team) and I’ve been struggling lately with my voice. (I think it has something to do with our weird weather changes…it’s been so dry lately. I drank 3 bottles of water between 2 services. So if you were at NC this morning and I just ran right by you after services…sorry, nature calls :-) Don’t get me wrong, I know God was glorified in our worship this morning, our Senior Minister delivered a great message on Encouragement; but man, I didn’t leave feeling very encouraged! :-) I struggle so much in balancing giving my best to both God and church, while still realizing that very little of what is important to me is really important in the whole scheme of life. Does our music ministry need to continually “get better?” Yes, but not so we can say, “wow, don’t we sound good.” But so Christ can be glorified. Ironically enough, the 2nd service just felt really different. Maybe it was the time my friend and I got to spend being “Barnabus” to each other and our time in prayer. Or perhaps I actually took to heart the opening congregational reading "As Believers We Are..." (a great inspirational reading courtesy of the Zoe Worship Ministers track) Musically, we sounded so much better, and more than that, I actually “felt” God’s presence among us. Was it missing the 1st service? I doubt it…I just wasn’t in the right place to sense it. So that’s the challenge; to keep my focus on Him, and “catch His wave.” He’s always there! All I have to do is look.

Oh, I thought of another HIGH…I had family and some friends I hadn’t seen in a while at 2nd service. My in-laws came today (I like to think it’s to see me; but I have a sneaky suspicion it has something do with my daughter :-) and some teens from my youth ministry days. Actually, they’re not teens anymore, one is out of college and the other a senior. Wait, that makes me feel old…let’s change that to a LOW.

Time for a nap…