NEWS Light from Above
It's the morning after a Sweetbird performance. Last night, Christine and I performed as a duo, like old times, at the Huntington Street Cafe in Shelton, CT. The weather was awful for a Friday in mid May - cold, windy and rainy. Not a good night to be out and about, especially with gas prices hovering around $4.00 a gallon.
As we got up on stage to begin playing, there was hardly a soul in the house. Most of the chairs were empty. There were five people in a cafe that comfortably seats 40 people. Any performer or group would have looked out in the audience and noticed that they were playing to chairs, not people. The thought of playing to chairs had occurred to me earlier in the day as I drove through the pouring rain to work and saw a sign at the Gulf gas station that read "$3.93 a gallon."
The awful weather and several inauspicious events that had occurred earlier during the week prompted me to ask the Lord what was really going on this evening. Sadly, I was wavering a bit in my faith, and badly needed some light from the Lord. Nothing seemed to be going Sweetbird's way. Our percussion player was in a bad car accident the week before and couldn't play. The band was in limbo. Hamstrung, as it were.
As we set up to play at the Huntington Street Cafe amid the rows of empty tables, I remained hopeful that He would shine some light on the purpose of the evening.
We played a few songs and started to get warmed up. As we continued playing, I noticed there were a few people connecting strongly to the music. Some of them were singing the words along with Christine. They knew the songs. I watched their lips move in synch with the music.
Entanglement! How lovely!
As the evening progressed, we performed "Seek Me" and "Trust in Me," from Sweetbird's "Shine." The Lord was blasting through us. I sensed the power of His mighty presence. I sensed love and joy - Spiritual fruit.
As we continued to perform, a few more people showed up. As I gazed into the audience, it was obvious that they were there to listen to the music. Suddenly, the cafe was alive! The Lord was moving in our hearts, and in the process, connecting with other hearts.
The music poured out of us. Christine and I played for 2 hours straight without a break, something we rarely do.
As we finished playing, I began packing up our gear. As I was putting my guitar away, I heard a voice. It was the Lord. He stopped me dead in my tracks. I closed my eyes and bowed my head to listen:
"BELIEVE IN ME."
Yes, Lord. I said silently.
"BELIEVE!!!"
Yes, Lord, I said again.
And then, in a flash, I received some light from above. A revelation occurred. At that moment, I knew something very important about the meaning of Sweetbird and His music:
Sweetbird's goal, as it were, isn't to attract the largest number of people. It's not about "the draw," to use the language of a typical music promoter. It's about connecting with hearts through His love - even if it is just one heart. One heart connecting with Christ is priceless and far more valuable than 100,000 people sitting in a stadium listening but not connecting.
You see, Sweetbird is all about Him, it is not about us. We are there only to serve Him and His purpose. The Lord is building His church and He is using Sweetbird to help build His church. That is the truth, pure and simple.
Following my revelation, there was peace - a sure sign that the Lord was moving in my surrendered heart. I gave thanks for the light and praised Him for His never failing love.
May His never-failing love connect with you and fill your heart.
Agape,
Steve
As we got up on stage to begin playing, there was hardly a soul in the house. Most of the chairs were empty. There were five people in a cafe that comfortably seats 40 people. Any performer or group would have looked out in the audience and noticed that they were playing to chairs, not people. The thought of playing to chairs had occurred to me earlier in the day as I drove through the pouring rain to work and saw a sign at the Gulf gas station that read "$3.93 a gallon."
The awful weather and several inauspicious events that had occurred earlier during the week prompted me to ask the Lord what was really going on this evening. Sadly, I was wavering a bit in my faith, and badly needed some light from the Lord. Nothing seemed to be going Sweetbird's way. Our percussion player was in a bad car accident the week before and couldn't play. The band was in limbo. Hamstrung, as it were.
As we set up to play at the Huntington Street Cafe amid the rows of empty tables, I remained hopeful that He would shine some light on the purpose of the evening.
We played a few songs and started to get warmed up. As we continued playing, I noticed there were a few people connecting strongly to the music. Some of them were singing the words along with Christine. They knew the songs. I watched their lips move in synch with the music.
Entanglement! How lovely!
As the evening progressed, we performed "Seek Me" and "Trust in Me," from Sweetbird's "Shine." The Lord was blasting through us. I sensed the power of His mighty presence. I sensed love and joy - Spiritual fruit.
As we continued to perform, a few more people showed up. As I gazed into the audience, it was obvious that they were there to listen to the music. Suddenly, the cafe was alive! The Lord was moving in our hearts, and in the process, connecting with other hearts.
The music poured out of us. Christine and I played for 2 hours straight without a break, something we rarely do.
As we finished playing, I began packing up our gear. As I was putting my guitar away, I heard a voice. It was the Lord. He stopped me dead in my tracks. I closed my eyes and bowed my head to listen:
"BELIEVE IN ME."
Yes, Lord. I said silently.
"BELIEVE!!!"
Yes, Lord, I said again.
And then, in a flash, I received some light from above. A revelation occurred. At that moment, I knew something very important about the meaning of Sweetbird and His music:
Sweetbird's goal, as it were, isn't to attract the largest number of people. It's not about "the draw," to use the language of a typical music promoter. It's about connecting with hearts through His love - even if it is just one heart. One heart connecting with Christ is priceless and far more valuable than 100,000 people sitting in a stadium listening but not connecting.
You see, Sweetbird is all about Him, it is not about us. We are there only to serve Him and His purpose. The Lord is building His church and He is using Sweetbird to help build His church. That is the truth, pure and simple.
Following my revelation, there was peace - a sure sign that the Lord was moving in my surrendered heart. I gave thanks for the light and praised Him for His never failing love.
May His never-failing love connect with you and fill your heart.
Agape,
Steve
posted by Steve at
9:09 AM
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