DAY 12
"From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea Creation's revealing Your majesty From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring Every creature unique in the song that it sings All exclaiming Indescribable, uncontainable,You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.You are amazing God All powerful, untameable,Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name You are amazing God All powerful, untameable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God"
"Indescribable" was a big hit for Chris Tomlin in 2004, and remains one of the best worship songs written in the last five years. Now meet Laura Story, the young woman who wrote it and ironically, had no aspirations of becoming a worship leader, nor did she even write or sing songs until her early twenties. With dreams of becoming a symphony conductor after college, she instead joined a regional acoustic pop band. After two independent solo projects of her own—and gaining prominence through the Tomlin hit—she took over as a worship leader at Atlanta's Perimeter Church and signed a deal with INO Records. Her album was delayed, however, when her husband underwent treatment for a brain tumor. The experience of trusting God through her spouse's difficult path to recovery led to the hopeful songs on Great God Who Saves.
This is a first of a number of "behind the music" stories that will be told this week as I lead up to teaching on "servant leadership" with the church this coming Sunday. I always had assumed that Chris Tomlin wrote ALL of his songs. He is after all, viewed as the leading songwriter of the 2000's.
But Laura Story is one of millions who serve God and don't get the headlines. I am not saying that is what Chris Tomlin desires. That guy rocks for God (no pun intended). He is amazing and anointed by Father. So is Laura Story.
Hers is a story of faith and endurance. Of driving in the Appalachian Mountains and seeing the glory and splendor of Father. Of enduring a life-threatening situation with her husband and then seeing God's glory and splendor from an entirely new angle.
Serving God is just as important behind the scenes as it is out in front. I could not preach each Sunday if it were not for the faithful folks who get to our building every Sunday at 8 am and set up the stage, the chairs, the video and audio equipment. Those who faithfully turn on the heater at 7 am, or make the coffee, or print the bulletins, I hope you get my drift.
It's the unseen acts that help grow Father's Kingdom. This is called "Servant Leadership." The phrase “Servant Leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, he said developed a list of 11 characteristics for the ultimate servant leaders:
1. Having a calling
2. Listening
3. Empathy
4. Awareness
5. Healing
6. Persuasion
7.Conceptualizing
8. Foresight
9. Stewardship
10. Growth
11. Building Community.
Where do you stack up against these characteristics. Jesus said in Matthew 20:27-28 (NEB) "...whoever wants to be great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the willing slave of all--like the Son of Man; He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many."
I know for a fact, I never feel as good as I do that when after I have served someone. Especially when something is done without any fanfare. This is what the "body of Christ" is supposed to do. Serve without notice.
God bless you on this Monday. Serve someone and give them blessings from Father.
Jody Hinkle
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