we went from the Gulf of Mexico to the north georgia mountains. we’re up in Toccoa this week for a week with GoTell Ministries. it’s our first time with them and i sure hope it’s not our last. amazing people and amazing students. our time so far has been powerful…

i think i’m realizing that playing live is my favorite part of what i get to do. i love the guys in my band, i love the unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit and i love watching people come alive for the first time. there was a time in my life when i did not like playing live so much. i haven’t always been so good at embracing the unpredictable part of live music. somewhere along the way though i lightened up and began to love the spontaneous ways of God. i’ve heard people say before that God can inspire and lead 3 weeks before an event just as much as He can at the event itself. i think that’s totally right on and worth living by…as long as we are willing and ready to follow when He leads live as well. i always walk on stage with a plan…but i hold it loosely and i’m constantly readying myself to follow where He leads. like i said, i haven’t always been this way. there was a season of my life when i held on tight to my gifts as a leader and musician. i’m not sure what was going on or what made me be that way, all i know is that i was uptight. the problem with that way of leading is that it’s all up to you and so it’s never good enough. i would walk off stage thinking and saying to myself, “dang it, i coulda done that better. why did i do that that way?” i hate to admit this but i would walk off stage sometimes and give myself a grade…seriously. and this won’t surprise anyone, i never gave myself higher than a B+. so you can imagine the freedom i felt when one day i walked on stage and said to God, “You do it,” and He did. and when God does it He glorifies Himself…ALWAYS!! it’s a great feeling knowing that what i do is in the hands of God. sure we rehearse and i learn lyrics and walk on stage completely prepared, but after that, it’s all Him. it’s gotta be or I’m gonna burn out.

i think of Moses. when God sent Moses to Egypt he had several concerns. he worried that no one would believe that God had sent him. he worried that he wouldn’t be able to communicate clearly. he worries that they won’t listen to him. God basically says, “I will be with you, I will give you the words to speak and I will perform miracles through you.” so Moses goes and we all know how it turns out. he listens to God and follows when He leads and God delivers His people from the hands of the Egyptians. God didn’t give Moses a minute by minute rundown on how things would go down in Egypt, essentially all he said was, “Go, I will be with you.”

that’s how i want to lead. knowing that God is with me and trusting that He will accomplish His will if i make myself available to His Spirit.

i’m sitting out on my balcony in orange beach looking out on a beautiful night and listening to the waves crash on the shore. this week has been amazing. everyday has shown us more of God’s power and unique ability to set people free. we’re always amazed at how God uses human beings like us to deliver transformative truth to people.  we’re genuinely in awe tonight of what we’ve been able to be a part of down here.

earlier today i was asking God for more than just an emotional camp experience.  i wanted an encounter with Him…and that’s exactly what we got.  

i realized this week that because our band has been playing together for so long and because we know these songs backwards and forwards, we could coast through this summer on our own abilities and never give a second thought to what the Holy Spirit might be doing in a room full of students.  we know how to craft a set list, we know how to build up and break down a song, we even know how to look cool doing it, but i think it would be massively pathetic if all i have to offer God at the end of my life are some well crafted set lists and cool clothes.  so today i started praying for more.  i decided tonight that instead of doing what i knew had worked in the past and what would probably work this time, i would hold my hands open and say, “what now God? what do you want me to do now?”  He answered that prayer with night full of unexpected twists and revelation that only He could bring.  it’s hard to put those kinds of things into words on a blog, but i think what it comes down to is Proverbs 3:5-7…

trust in the LORD with all your heart 
and lean not on your own understanding

in all your ways acknowledge him, 
and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 
 fear the LORD and shun evil.