Remembering (more of a personal post).

Last night I was hanging out with the 517crew (team helping to foster prayer in the church) and we batted around the importance of corporate prayer and how we foster corporate prayer in our small groups and congregations. It was a great night of equipping. We were lead through an exercise in remembering. How important it is for us to look back and remember God’s faithfulness. Then we were encouraged to pray that out in a thanksgiving prayer.

My mind immediately was captured by an event that had happened a few days earlier. Last week I was given a guitar back that I had lent out. I was really excited to get the guitar back because it was a little yamaha acoustic that my dad had taught me to play guitar on as a young child. I didn’t know what had happened to it and was grateful to get it back. I went home and presented my son (2 1/2) with a new guitar. I was more excited than he. At the time I hadn’t realized the significance of that gift.

As my mind went to this event of passing the guitar my dad gave me onto my son I was appreciating the fact that my upbringing had involved singing and playing guitar (mostly north american folk music: Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Mama’s and the Papa’s…). I then recalled the next acoustic guitar I was able to purchase.

I had become passionate about potentially playing music in the church I was at. I had also been inspired by a worship leader Dave Noble. I didn’t grow up with guitars in church so I didn’t actually know that were allowed in church. I remember asking my dad if he would lend me money to by a guitar that I could lead worship with. Well he did. He lent me a thousand bucks to go by a Washburn. I don’t know why my dad lent my the money. Looking back it was a little out of character for our family. I don’t remember having to persuade my dad – he just did it.

With gratitude it my heart I thanked the Lord for his graciousness in my life. For the ability to play music and the opportunity to help cultivate our life of worship as a church through music I am truly thankful. Music is an expression of my heart that allows me to encounter the Lord deeply.

As I pass on that first guitar I dream of leading worship with my son(s) as they grow up.

Remember.