Sunday, October 17, 2010

I Want to Be a Vessel

My family and I were fortunate to go to Youthquake last night. Youthquake is an outdoor concert that is hosted in a nearby town each year. It is primarily geared toward the youth, but trust me, this is an event for all ages!

We were able to see live and in person Jon Reuben, Revive, Brit Nichole, Hawk Nelson and Casting Crowns. Our speaker was Matt Pitt from The Basement in Birmingham, Alabama. It was awesome and moving and Spirit filled to say the least.

I was totally blessed by the whole event but I confess found myself distracted on many occasions. During prayer, folks of all ages are walking around, screaming, laughing, running, hanging out. Again during the reading and preaching of the Word the same thing. Folks playing on their phones, texting and so very unconcerned that the very Word of God was being spoken.

My heart was broken. People in other countries are putting their very lives in danger just to hear the Word and here we are, so oblivious to the preciousness of what we have.

Thankfully, there were just as many who were soaking up every ounce of what God was pouring out. While I choose to put my focus there, I can't help but carry a heavy burden that so many need Jesus. So many need to fall into His arms and give everything over to Him. I don't want to be an ostrich and bury my head in the sand and pretend that this isn't the reality of our world today. I want God to use me. Starting in my own household and reaching out to those many, many people I come in contact with each day.

I want to be a vessel that God can readily use. How about you?

7 comments:

Debbie said...

That would be so frustrating. I would have a hard time not saying something. But, I'm glad you still go so much out of it.

Michelle said...

Hi Deb,

Have you ever been to the Creation Museum in Kentucky? It shows a scene, where you are looking into a church through the windows and you can hear the preacher preaching. You are staring at a pew with people sitting their on it. The teenagers are fidgeting and talking. The mother is constantly checking her watch, impatiently...even talking occasionally to her kids. It was *so* sad. This scene was used to demonstrate 1)sin and 2)our lack of respect and disregard for God's word and preaching.

It was immensely sad...and all too familiar. People really have no respect for God's word....well, really it boils down to a lack of respect for God, today.

I hope you were able to be blessed in spite of the distractions.

Blessings,
Michelle

Pamela said...

My husband is worship leader at our church so we sit very close to the front. One night we sat towards the back because I wasn't feeling well. Oh, my--I would be so discouraged if I was the pastor. One young man texted the whole service, holding his phone at eye level!

One service I walked past a man (used to be a pastor) who said, Tell Em (my daughter) to look at her phone, I sent her something. As kindly as I could I explained, "We don't use our cell phones in God's House."

Anonymous said...

love your post! thanks for sharing... God bless you...loves soraya..

Anonymous said...

nice post thanks for sharing ! shalom soraya

Mary said...

Wow. Makes you think, huh, how careless we are with what we have; how we take so much for granted.

Unknown said...

And this is the reason I have a hard time focusing BC I am one who lets those devices distract me. I say I'm just using the bible and before I know it I have given in to the temptation to check my Facebook or google hairstyles. It saddens me to know that I am one of those if I don't watch myself! I hate that my brain wonders and I wish I could control it.