Since attending Junior High, music has always been a resource for me. Whenever I needed comfort, encouragement, hope, inspiration or motivation, I would play a song that provided just what I needed to hear. During today’s sermon at Fearless Church, today’s theme popped into my head. When I first moved to Delaware in Elementary School, I began having nightmares about dying. One of these reoccurring dreams led me to contemplate the meaning of life. Years later, the song When You Die by the Kry became my first life song to get me through this initial crossroad in life.
For whoever wants to save his [[r]higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the [s]lower, natural, temporal life [t]which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it [his [u]higher, spiritual life [v]in the eternal kingdom of God]. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [[w]in the eternal kingdom of God]? 37 For what can a man give as an exchange ([x]a compensation, a ransom, in return) for his [blessed] life [[y]in the eternal kingdom of God]? – Mark 8:35-37
In my second year of high school, I experienced a nervous breakdown. After receiving several invites to attend a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bible Study by my Science Teacher and future swim coach, I finally went. Like the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, I came to my spiritual senses. In the years that followed, Ken Horne became my spiritual mentor. Through this monthly Bible Study, attending conferences and retreat, I was introduced to the Benny Hester song, When God Ran. As a former cross-country runner, these lyrics spoke to my heart at the perfect time.
My final crossroad that I had to overcome as a young adult was the fear of public speaking. When you’re born with a severe speech impediment in the form of stuttering, this battle took nearly 20 years to conquer. While serving as a college team member on a Lay Witness Mission for a Methodist Church in Friendship, Maryland, Ken thought I was ready to share Sunday’s sermon to culminate this weekend. Thanks to the song Feel the Nails by Ray Boltz, when I got up, the Holy Spirit spoke through me. At the end of this message I called, Stop Playing Games with God, I played the attached song. As I began to bow my head in prayer, students hurried to the altar. Feel the Nails is one of the life songs that altered my life and led me to become a high school Bible Teacher.
As you make room in your life this Christmas season, contemplate your own life songs. When you feel your faith slide sliding away from God, lean on these songs to bring you back. When the storms in your life subside, the anchor of faith will hold and sustain you.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 