Leading worship is the art of removing distractions

I just read this phrase from a blog from www.churchrelevance.com.

"Leading worship is the art of removing distractions"

One of my goals in leading worship is for me to disappear so God can appear. I think too many times in corporate worship we can be distracted by so many things. It could be something somebody is wearing or how someone next to them is worshipping or it could even be how well things are going?! How good the band is or how good the singing is?! Can this be a distraction too?

In my efforts to plan worship services I want to give my very best. Psalms 33:3, Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. I believe we are called to give our best! Let me say that again... I believe we are called to give our very best! I will never back down from that. So why could being good be a distraction?

Maybe in an effort to have things go so well the team's focus is on doing a great job rather than connecting with the Creator. I have been guilty of that. There are many times where as a leader I can get really distracted if I am or the team is not playing/singing well. The artist in me screams for excellence.

On the other hand maybe it could be because worship is more than music. Worship is obedience. Worship is sacrifice. Worship is a lifestyle. When we come together, I believe everyone is leading worship in some form. They are leading someone! Maybe a person behind them, in front of them, or next to them. How about are they leading themselves?

Are we making the choice to worship everyday? Are we obeying God's commands, reading His word, praying, and living a honest to God real authentic life with Christ? That's worship! As a leader in a corporate worship service maybe my job is to figure out how to remove distractions, distractions that are definitely there. Or maybe it's more of how to deal with distractions and connect with God everyday.

I really do not want anyone to be distracted during worship, but sometimes there are things outside of my or the teams control. My prayer is that we are always authentic in our approach to leading worship. It is a show. We are showing Jesus how much we love him. So it has to be great. My prayer is that we can learn to lead people in a way where we can disappear and God can appear in their life.

Stop and Go

Sometimes it is so hard to stop.

It's hard to stop getting frustrated
It's hard to stop trying to please everyone
It's hard to stop expecting too much from people
It's hard to stop sinning
It's hard to stop talking
It's hard to stop eating unhealthy
It's hard to stop drinking coffee
It's hard to stop drinking coke
It's hard to stop trying to be perfect
It's hard to stop ...

Because I feel I have to go

I have to go work
I have to go be the best
I have to go meet expectations
I have to go please others
I have to go excercise
I have to go be a great husband
I have to go be a great dad
I have to go be a great worship leader
I have to go be a great pastor
I have to go ...

The problem is I can get so lost over the choices that I make when One choice, the choice to follow Jesus Christ, puts life into focus. Once I am focused it's not hard to stop and I don't have to go, I just choose to be. I choose to be who Jesus Christ has called me to be.

What is hard for you to stop? Where do you feel you have to go? Who are you called to be? Where will your choice lie?