Mixed Tape Vol. I Track 1

Everything and Nothing Less

Alright, let's get down to business...track one of my worship mix has got to be Everything and Nothing Less, by Chris McClarney.

I spent so much of my life in the world living for myself. Let's be real. Even growing up in the church didn’t really make a difference. I mean, I wasn’t heavily into drugs, I didn’t physically hurt people, and I wasn’t a violent person. Yet I did hurt people, I broke people’s hearts, I took advantage of people, I manipulated people.

I was a mess, but God had a plan for me!

In 2005, I started to realize what God had done for me, and my heart was opened. I realized there was so much more that God wanted to show me, and I longed to grow in my relationship with Him! Simply longing for a relationship with God wasn’t enough though. I really struggled with who I was in the Lord and what I needed to do to live for Him. For the next few years, I lived a life in and out of the church, a life of mediocrity, a life of words saying, “Yes, I’m a Christian and I love God,” but actions saying, "I have no confidence in Christ." I knew I was saved, but really had a hard time walking in it.

And then…in 2013, I was unlocked!

We came to C4 after moving to Colorado, and this fellowship welcomed us in with open arms and showed us the love that God intended for His people. Through all of this, I finally knew what God wanted. He wanted all of me! Romans 12 says:

¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

I finally realized that God wanted my heart, my mind, my soul, my body, my life, my family, my work. He wanted to be in and of everything!

He wanted me to surrender everything over to Him and let Him guide me. Giving God everything was a reasonable service to Him, because He gave everything for me through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Last year (I don’t remember exactly when), I was at my desk at work, listening to music and knocking out some work when this song started playing over my headphones. I literally stopped what I was doing, hung my head and worshiped, right there at my desk.

It was the first time I had heard this song, and it literally brought me to tears-- yup, right there at my desk! The song is all about coming humbly before God and giving Him everything, exactly what God wants from us.

When we humble ourselves to the point where we truly give God everything, when we fork it over and put it in His hands, when we say, “This is for You, God-- my life, the way I treat my friends, the way I treat my family, the way that I conduct myself at work, the way that I carry on my life, the way that I encourage people, the way that I do anything that I’m doing.” -- When we can honestly say, “This is for you God,” and when we have given Him everything…not most things…not some things…but truly everything and nothing less, then our lives will be unlocked for the Lord!

I have a ton of work to do in this part of my life, I am NOWHERE near perfect, but God is!  And I've come to realize that as long as I place my life in His hands, I will be able to surge forward with Him, and you will too! So here it is, the first song on my mix tape, hit "Play"...and scream it out (Don't mind the people next to you).

Cook Your Bacon Unto the Lord

Dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning, teaching, chasing kids-- more laundry.  Eat, sleep, repeat.

This is my daily life.   

Ok, sometimes it just seems like this is all there is to my life.  Sometimes it feels mundane, if I can be brutally honest.  Discontentment can creep in, wanting something different and something more than the predictable day-to-day tasks.  The enemy whispers in my ear that I’m not doing enough for the Lord-- that what I’m doing at home doesn’t really matter because it’s not noticed by others or reaching thousands of people.  I mean, I’m “just” a mom!

Can you relate?  Maybe you’re in a rut and are just going through the motions like I so often do.  Maybe you compare yourself to others who seem to have it all together and wish you could swap places.  The grass is always greener on the other side, right?  

Not. So. Fast.  

Friend, as long as you are walking with the Lord, He has you right where you need to be, doing exactly what you need to do in this season.  He has gifted you with a specific purpose in this life.  Bloom where you are planted.  

Luke 16:10a says, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.”  

Are you being faithful with what God has called you to do TODAY?  

Even if it’s just a load of laundry, changing a diaper, or raking leaves-- you just never know how God will use your past and present circumstances for the future.  We can't allow discontentment in, causing us to constantly be wishing for something different and exciting to happen in the future.  We aren't even promised tomorrow.  What counts is how we are living for Him TODAY! 

Matt touched on this in a recent sermon.  What should we do while we’re waiting on the Lord?  See if you can find the common thread in each of these examples from the Bible:

1. Ruth was gathering grain in the field when God brought Boaz, her future husband, into her life. (Ruth 2)
2. David was feeding his sheep and bringing lunch to his brothers when God called him to battle Goliath and later become King of Israel. (1 Samuel 17)
3. Joseph was caring for his sheep along with his brothers when he shared with them the dreams God had given him, showing a glimpse of his future reign over Egypt. (Genesis 37)
4. Moses was tending to his father-in-law’s flock of sheep when God called to him from the burning bush and put him in the position to lead Israel out of slavery. (Exodus 3)
5. Elisha was plowing his field when Elijah passed his ministry on to him. (1 Kings 19:19)
6. Peter and Andrew were casting their nets when Jesus called them to follow Him; James and John were mending their nets when Jesus called them.  (Matthew 4:18-22)
7. Noah was walking with God when He asked him to build the ark. (Genesis 6)

Do you see it?  Gathering, feeding others, caring for, pouring out, tending to, plowing, casting, mending, walking.  All these people were DOING something!  They weren’t sitting around lazily, hoping for something amazing to drop into their laps.  

In fact, God used, called, and answered these ordinary people when they were doing their normal, day-to-day, seemingly mundane and unnoticed activities.  

They were actively carrying out what God had already called them to do!  These are the things we should all be doing - caring for and feeding one another spiritually, plowing up the hard spots in our hearts, sharing the gospel, walking with the Lord.  Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”  He rewards our diligent service unto Him, no matter how big or small!

One evening as I was cooking dinner, David told me, “Cook your bacon unto the Lord!” which I still laugh about today, but what truth there is in this statement!  We should work for the Lord in all that we do, big or small.  He sees it all.  It all matters to Him.  He knows our motives.  And it’s our choice how we go about our day.  We can choose to work while having a stubborn, grumbling, resentful heart.  Or we can choose to work as unto the Lord, with a sweet, grateful, willing heart.

Whether you are serving the Lord by taking care of your family at home or are doing missionary work overseas, He will use it all for His glory if you’re faithfully doing it for Him.  1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

I challenge you (and myself!) this week:  Rather than just “getting through your day,” purpose to do every daily task for the Lord, no matter how big or small.  See how your attitude changes-- how you suddenly become joyful about your work.  “Your labor is not in vain in the Lord!”