If We Are the Body

   I am so blessed to be able to listen to uplifting music about all around good things. My car rides are more peaceful, the day doesn't seem so hard and it just puts me in a good mood. This is how God "talks" to me. I hear a song on the radio or in church and he has a lesson in the lyrics for me.
   First it was Stronger by Mandisa, I was having a tough couple of days from not hearing from Robert in a while and I woke up one morning tired from a night of crying to turn on the radio while I jumped in the shower. The words spoke right to my heart, it was God guarding my heart and mind just as he promises (Philippians 4:6-8)
   On another occasion Blessings by Laura Story kept playing on the radio, I knew I was supposed to do something with this song but I had no idea what to do. I first brought it up to a friend who I am helping in her walk with Christ, she said it was just what she needed, it's exactly what she was going through. Awesome! God is awesome, giving me this song to give to Abi in her time of struggle. I thought that was it, but the song kept following me. God had more work for this song to do. Megan, my spiritual "mom," was having a tough time finding content with what God has planned for her life. She mentioned the song and instantly I knew this was where God wanted it, to help Megan and Abi when they needed it most.
   Lately it's been If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns. Romans 12:4-5 says, ^"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." I am a laborer with Christ, I am a member of the body of Christ. I'm still working on finding my specific function in the body but I have full faith that He will reveal it to me when He sees fit.
   This song presents a sense of responsibility for me personally. God most certainly doesn't need me to carry out his work but he has blessed me by allowing me to take part in it. The conviction I get from this song is that I should be doing everything in accordance with the body of Christ. Thus giving me an outward focus which allows me to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37-39) in turn allowing me to try and reach the nations as well as make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). How different could the world be if we all just started with an outward focus? Stop trying to please myself all the time and reach out the person behind me in the Commissary line, (you know those lines are long, should have plenty of time to talk) or the guys with terrible form at the gym, (you know you've seen them) or how about Mr. Skinner who checks my ID coming onto Wheeler daily. It's a simple start, loving others, but it has already changed my life for the better. I wish to see people with Christ's eyes, so I feel the best way for me to start is to stop looking at myself.

My thoughts are all jumbled, but I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.