Tuesday, September 14, 2010

What's the word?

As one of my youth says, “There’s a word… but I can only think of the first half. What’s the word?” That kid makes me laugh.

Today, as I was thinking of what to write, I came across an old hymn that I had put a new melody and chorus to. As a contemporary worship leader, I did what so many of my kind do; when we can’t think of any new songs to write, we just look through the old hymnals and put new music to old, but inspiring, lyrics. Needless to say, this particular hymn inspired me today.

“Let us turn in the hymnal to hymn number 195, number 1-9-5, ‘Send Your Word’.” The first line seems to ring true recently… “Send your Word, O Lord, like the rain.” While we have been in times of extreme heat, wondering when the merciless sun will cease for a moment of cool relaxation, the Lord sends the rain. God watches over the delicate balance of the weather, the careful science of sun, heat, rain, humidity, ozone, cold fronts, plant oxidation, etc. So often, we forget about the seemingly trivial responsibilities of God. So often, we go days, weeks, months, years, and near lifetimes without acknowledging the seemingly little things our God does for us. But what about the times of drought, heat exhaustion, flood, blizzard, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc? It is then that we realize the need for our Savior. Why wait so long? Why must we wait until the times of desperation to call upon God? As the last line of the first verse says, “We would all be lost in the dark without Your guiding light.” So, let us “seek [His] endless grace…seek [His] wondrous powers…seek [His] endless love.” Let us call upon the name of God at all times in all circumstances. For we know that when the heat is too much to bear, He sends the rain and sends the Word. Amen.