Worship Team Devotional: Managing Your Emotions

I prepared this short devotional outline for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is a summary of some key points in chapter 7, “Managing Your Emotions” of Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. Click the following links to read my devotional outlines for the book’s introduction, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter four part 1, chapter four part 2, chapter five, and chapter six.

Emotions are a beautiful part of how God created us. However, many people (often subconsciously) get this false idea that Christians should be happy all the time and that having depressed feelings or angry emotions is a lack of maturity. David was an emotional guy. Even a cursory look through the Psalms will reveal that he experienced the extremes of the height of victory and the very bottom of despair. Jeremiah wrote an entire book called “Lamentations.” Jesus mourned deeply after the death of a close friend. The issue with emotions is how we manage them, not the fact that we have them. So how do we manage our emotions?

Be proactive about the truth. Revamp your internal thought life by throwing out the lies and meditating on the truth. As we discussed with the chapter on perfectionism, we sometimes fall victim to false thought patterns, such as maximizing the negative, black-and-white thinking, or equating our self-worth with our performance. We may also be experiencing deep emotions due to a speculation rather than reality. If you think someone has something against you, don’t just sit there and fume; you may be surprised to discover that your speculation is false, and if not, you now have a chance to reconcile.

Channel your emotions into worship. Take time every day to worship God. Read through the Psalms. Immerse yourself with truth and respond with all of your being. Recalibrate your concept of God. Consider this quote by John Piper in Desiring God:

Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half full) of artificial admirers (like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living). Emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the disciplines of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. (81-82)

Consider how to experience an emotion without sinning. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger, do not sin.” We don’t need to suppress our emotions, but nor should we allow them to lead us into sin. If you’re not sure how to do this, start by immersing yourself in God’s Word and spending time in prayer and worship. The Holy Spirit’s job is to guide us, but if we don’t spend any time with him, how will we learn to recognize his voice?

Dealing with Disappointment. Musicians often experience disappointment. Someone else gets the solo or the big lead. Someone else with less talent gets more fame and fortune.

• First, consider where your “sweet spot” really is. You may envision making it big in the music industry, but perhaps God knows that that really isn’t your sweet spot. He may have something totally different for you that, in hindsight, is obviously so much better for you.
• Second, consider that there may be a roadblock in your way that you need to work to overcome. Seek God’s wisdom, and he’ll guide you.
• Third, God may be saying, “Wait.” If this is the case, don’t waist this time of waiting but instead use it to grow in faith, patience, and contentment.
• Fourth, be careful to measure success as God measures it and not as people do. Character is far more important to God than mere worldly success.

Suggestions for Personal Application

1. Talk to your accountability partner about your emotions. Be authentic and then challenge each other to grow.
2. Make a commitment to spend time in worship and prayer every day for two weeks, and journal about your experience.
3. Habakkuk 3:17-18 was written from the point of view of an agrarian profession. Rewrite it from an artist’s perspective.

Worship Team Devotional: “Jealousy and Envy”

I prepared this short devotional outline for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is a summary of some key points in chapter 6, “Jealousy and Envy” of Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. Click the following links to read my devotional outlines for the book’s introduction, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter four part 1, chapter four part 2, and chapter five. 

Jealousy and envy are virtually synonymous with just subtle differences in definition. Jealousy is where someone resents a rival’s success or advantage. Envy is where you desire what someone else has, like talent or ability. Many artists feel threatened by those with greater talents, or feel bitterness when those with less talent receive greater acclaim or prestige. Poorly handled, jealousy and envy can lead to anger and contempt. We may try to surreptitiously sabotage another’s ministry, or we may try to sweep it under the rug and pretend it’s not there. We may turn against ourselves and devalue our own talents and abilities. These responses are wrong, but how can we defeat jealousy and envy?

1. Confess it as sin. Don’t hide it or justify it. Confess it. James 3:14 says, “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.” If appropriate, go to the person you are jealous of and confess it. You may be surprised to find out that he or she also struggles with jealousy or envy.
2. Appreciate your God-given talent. Romans 12:6 says that we each have been given different gifts. Don’t believe the lie that you are worthless just because your abilities are not like someone else’s.
3. Give credit where credit is due. Sometimes, those who are jealous will play the victim, saying that a person’s success is only because they have connections and get all the breaks. If someone performs well, give them the credit that they are due.
4. Remember that the real issue is faithfulness. In Matthew 25, we read a parable about a business man who gives three servants differing amounts of talents and then rewards them as they are faithful with what they had each received. Whether you have five talents or one, God expects you to be faithful with what you have.
5. Don’t compare yourself to others. 1 Corinthians 12:15-16 talks about the danger of comparing. A foot is not a hand is not an ear, but all three are part of the body. If a single member does not function properly, the whole body suffers.
6. Turn envy into worship. If someone has more talent than you, praise God for his generosity. At the conclusion of one of Jesus’ parables, he says, “Are you envious because I am generous?” [Matthew 20:15]. Worship the Giver and not the gift.
7. Develop relationships instead of rivalries. Instead of avoiding the person you are jealous of, invite them over. Spend time with them. Get to know them. People often become less threatening as friendships are formed. See them as partners and friends instead of competitors. Pray regularly for them and their success. 1 Corinthians 13:4 says that love is not jealous, so learn to love them.
8. Remember that we are all on the same team. If one person’s music ministry flourishes, then rejoice that God is glorified. We need more quality musicians who are about God’s work, not less.

What if you find out that you are the object of someone else’s envy? Be humble about your abilities, even as you use them with confidence. Rejoice in others’ abilities, even if your’s is more advanced. Allow room for people to grow and be artistically expressive, even if they are not perfect.

Ideas for Personal Action Steps

1. Write down the names of any people in your life toward whom you have feelings of jealousy and envy.
2. Confess your sin of jealousy and envy to God and ask for his help.
3. Think about how you can turn jealousy and envy into worship.
4. Describe the negative results of comparing yourself with others.
5. Work with your accountability partner to deal with your feelings of jealousy and envy.

Worship Team Devotional: “Excellence Vs Perfectionism” from “Heart of the Artist” Part 2

I prepared this short devotional outline for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is a summary of some key points in the second half of chapter four, “Excellence Vs Perfectionism” of Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. Click the following links to read my devotional outlines for the book’s introduction, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, and chapter four part 1. 

Last week, I went through the half of the chapter addressing perfectionism. This week, I’ll focus on excellence. Noland points out that excellence is “doing the best you can with what you have.” This means that the final product by a hard working beginner can still be excellent, even if it is not at the same level as a professional. With this in mind, here are ways to pursue excellence, no matter where your current skills lie.

1. Develop your skills: 1 Chronicles 25 lists a group of musicians for the temple and states that they were all trained and skillful. A note that it also states that teachers and pupils made up this group, so being “trained and skillful” doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re already a master teacher. Psalm 33:3 tells the string players to “play skillfully.” How do you do this? Expose yourself to quality art. Between work, school, and family, you may not be able to put in as much time as you’d like, but take the time you do have and keep moving forward in your skills. Consider taking private lessons on your instrument. Surround yourself with musicians who can give you good tips along the way.
2. Give God your best: In 2 Samuel 24:24, we have a picture of David’s heart. A man named Araunah offers to give the land and supplies that David would need to offer a sacrifice, but David refuses it, saying that he will not offer the Lord that which costs him nothing. Our music may be beautiful, but if it costs us nothing, then it is not a true sacrifice. A note from Noland for perfectionists: remember that “your best” is a moving target; keep aiming for excellence and this target will also keep moving forward.
3. Be creative and original: Psalm 33:3 and many other verses tell us to sing a new song. Why? This is a way to interact with what God does for us. It is a testimony to the unique things God is doing in your life and the life of those in the church. You can’t write songs, you say? My toddler Lucy can’t say more than a few words, but I’ve heard her make up songs. This is proof to me that all of us can “sing a new song” to the Lord, even if it isn’t ready for any sort of public debut. Now, if you happen to be skilled at songwriting, then by all means share it so that the whole congregation can be edified.
4. Effective communication: Keep in mind that the point of all of our efforts is in the message. This means that we can only reach people if we are effective communicators. Think about how you present yourself on stage. Are you stiff or focused only on the music? Your body is always communicating something, even if you’re not playing or singing. Have your music learned well enough that you can look up and engage the rest of the congregation. If you’re not playing during a section, consider taking the opportunity to raise your hands up to God in prayer.
5. Spiritual preparation: This goes hand in hand with effective communication. You can’t lead others in worship if you aren’t worshiping. Consider using your devotional time during the week to reflect on the lyrics of the songs in the set. Ask God to prepare your heart so that you enter service Sunday morning with your cup full. If you arrive with your cup overflowing, then you’ll be able to be a blessing to those whose cups are empty. Remember that unconfessed sin has a direct affect on your prayers (Psalm 66:18).

As Noland points out, perfectionism has a tendency to work against excellence because our focus gets in the way. I’ve personally observed musicians who kept taking chances, something that a perfectionist would never do, and this brought about true skill and excellence. So with this in mind, let us continually strive to improve our skills, even as we guard against perfectionism.

Worship Team Devotional: “The Artist in Community” from “Heart of the Artist”

I prepared this short devotional outline for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is a summary of some key points in chapter three, “The Artist in Community” of Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. Click the following links to read my devotional outlines for the book’s introduction, chapter one, and chapter two. 

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

1 Corinthians 12:14-20 ESV

Have you ever done something behind the scenes and wondered if anyone would even miss you if you didn’t show up? Or perhaps God has called you to do something that you know someone else could do better. Or maybe a less talented person gets recognition you deserve. According to the passage above, God arranges each member in the body. Our talents, skills, and personalities complement are uniquely essential to the team.

Four Teamwork Killers

1. Selfishness: “I already know the music, so why do I need to be at rehearsal?” vs. “How can I be a blessing and encouragement to those on the team at rehearsal tonight?” Put “me first” thinking aside for the sake of the team.
2. Grumbling and Complaining: The Israelites took forty years to make an eleven day journey (Deuteronomy 1:2-3) simply because of their lack of trust in God’s strength, provision and plan for them.
3. Unhealthy Competitive Spirit: Healthy competition helps to bring out the best in each other while celebrating successes. It works to build the whole team up.
4. Unresolved Relational Conflict: Conflict is a normal part of healthy relationships, provided it is resolved well. If you are in conflict with someone and can’t let the issue go, then you have a few choices:

• Keep it to yourself. After all, why make a big issue out of nothing. Instead, just allow the bitterness to fester and the relationship to suffer. (Bad!)
• Tell a friend. No need to bring it to the person; instead, poison someone else’s thoughts toward him or her and allow bitterness to fester in both of you. (Bad!)
• Go directly to the person (Matthew 18:15-17). Do so in love and gentleness with restored relationship as the goal. If this doesn’t go so well, then bring a second person with you to help arbitrate. If needed, bring in the pastor or elders. Do whatever it takes to bring unity back to the relationship. (Good!)

How to be a Team Player

1. A team player is committed to the cause of the team. How would you respond if a song you worked hard on got cut at the last minute or if someone else’s skills were featured over yours? Or how would you respond if asked to do something that was extra challenging and not in your normal skill set?
2. A team player encourages and supports his or her teammates. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who week (Romans 12:15).
3. A team player holds on to his or her gifts loosely. Offer your aspirations and gifts to God and let him decide where you’ll go.
4. A team player tries to bring a healthy self to the team. Being overworked and burned out is not a badge of honor. Artists are not always known for their health, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Yet, did you know that eating right, exercising, and being rested directly affects what you can give to the team? Same goes for emotional and physical health. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help or get counseling.
5. A team player doesn’t care who gets the credit or the glory.
6. A team player brings all of his or her spiritual gifts to the team. What is your spiritual gift: mercy, encouragement, helps, shepherding, evangelism, something else? Bring that to the team.
7. A team player sees his or her role as valuable, no matter how small.
8. A team player submits to authority.
9. A team player doesn’t lose his or her autonomy or artistic identity. An ear is not a eye is not a nose.

Worship Team Devotional: “Servanthood Vs Stardom” from “Heart of the Artist”

I prepared this short devotional outline for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is a summary of some key points in chapter two, “Servanthood Vs Stardom” of Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. Click the following links to read my devotional outlines for the book’s introduction and chapter one. 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4)

Last week, I challenged all of you to ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin and then find an accountability partner as you battle against sin. This week, we’ll delve into a specific area of weakness for many: servanthood. As Noland puts it, “We artists can be very selfish and self-absorbed at times. We like the attention that our talents bring us. We like feeling a little more special than most folks, who can’t perform or create the way we can” (p. 53). Yet 1 Corinthians 4:1 says that people should regard us as servants of Christ. We should be more concerned about pleasing our Audience of One than marveling a crowd of a thousand with our talents.

Noland notes four barriers to servanthood:

1. An Attitude of Superiority: He describes a hypothetical prideful musician—she thinks of herself as better than others, so she distances herself relationally, misses rehearsals without calling, reacts impatiently toward the sound technician and other musicians, and comes to rehearsal unprepared (p. 54).
2. Selfish Ulterior Motives: Is your goal for others to notice you and your skills, to be applauded and recognized? Or is your goal to be a mirror that reflects God’s glory through you?
3. Confidence in Our Giftedness Alone: Do you leave the stage more worried about how you looked or sounded or about whether God used you? Is your goal technique or substance?

Remember that even Jesus, the King of the Universe, came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45).

Ordinary Volunteers or People Called of God

1. Volunteers see their involvement at church as mere community service, but people called of God see it as ministry.
2. Volunteers whine about the cost to serve, but people who are called count the cost and joyfully commit. They try to schedule around their service commitments instead of just working them in.
3. Volunteers shrink back when relational conflict arises, but people called of God seek unity and restoration.
4. Volunteers see rehearsal as a duty they must fulfill, but people called of God look forward to rehearsals as another opportunity to be used by God.
5. Volunteers do no outside practicing or preparation, but people who are called of God come to rehearsals and a performance as prepared as possible because they want to glorify God with their best.
6. Volunteers find it hard to handle constructive criticism, but people called of God are grateful for the feedback because they want to give their best.
7. Volunteers feel threatened by the talent of others, but people called of God praise Him for distributing talents as He chooses.
8. Volunteers want to quit with adversity, but people called of God persevere.
9. Volunteers find their main source of fulfillment in their talents, but people called of God know that being used of God is the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life. 
10. Volunteers don’t like to be in situations where they’re stretched, but people called of God respond to stretching situations with humble dependence on God. 

Based on the above, are you more of a volunteer or a person called of God?

Healthy Boundaries

It is possible to serve too much. Some artists allow themselves to be used and abused. Since I can’t guess what is healthy for you, it’s up to you to let me know what you can and cannot do. I expect that you will say, “No” when you need to. With unhealthy boundaries, your relationships, spiritual life, and physical health can be compromised. With unhealthy boundaries, you may end up overbooked, double booked, or in situations where you have to cancel on your important commitments last minute. Ask God to show you where your healthy limits should be.

Worship Team Devotional: “Proven Character,” from “Heart of the Artist”

This is my second short devotional based on Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist, as prepared for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is based on chapter one, “Proven Character.” For my devotional based on the book’s introduction, click here!

Spiritually mature, skilled artists: Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of God, was talented in the visual arts, and knew how to teach and mentor others in his craft. God chose him to work on the Tabernacle, the very place where God would make known His presence to His people, the Israelites. (See Exodus 35:30-35.) What an honor! Bezalel paints the standard: creative types in the church should strive for both artistic skill and good character.

Integrity: Who are you when no one is looking? Has hypocrisy entered your life? Does your outward image on Sunday mornings match your inner life? As a leader through your music in the church, you should set an “example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Good character is not just a requirement for pastors and teachers but for all who serve in the church. Even early church servants selected to wait tables were required to be of “good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3).

How? We build character as we persevere through trials. Romans 5:3b-4: “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” When you receive constructive criticism, when someone steps on your feelings, when you’re called to put someone else before yourself, or when you are tempted by perfectionism – these are all tests of your character. Success in these small tests breeds success when the larger trials of life come. When a person comes to believe in Christ, God sends His Spirit to mold us into the image of Christ. Evidence that you have the Spirit is that you portray the fruits of the Spirit in ever increasing measure (i.e. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control [Galatians 5:22-23]). Having the Spirit does not mean that full character development into the image of Christ will be easy or instant; it just means it will be possible. It will involve daily dying to yourself and following Christ (Luke 9:23). It is typically slow and painful but oh so worth it!

Step 1: Taking Inventory

Ask the Holy Spirit to convict your heart of sin areas in your life. This list below can be a guide:

• Servanthood: Do you put the needs of others ahead of your own?
• Teamwork: How are you at resolving relational conflict in your life?
• Perfectionism: Do you understand the difference between excellence and perfectionism? Are you overcome with self-criticism when you make a mistake?
• Defensiveness: How do you respond to constructive criticism? Do people feel that they must walk on eggshells around you?
• Jealousy and envy: How do you react when others have more talent or success than you?
• Managing Your Emotions: Are you ever controlled by your emotions? Do people say that you’re too negative or moody?
• Sin: Are there any ongoing sins or bad habits in your life? Is there a sin that you’ve redefined as “not sin”? Have you believed the lies of the world in redefining morality?
• Spiritual Disciplines: Do you have a regular quiet time (i.e. Bible study, prayer, meditation)? How is your relationship with the Lord these days?

Step 2: Take Action

• Find an accountability partner as you move forward in addressing sin in your life. This doesn’t have to be time consuming. A quick call once a week can go a long way in motivating each other to stick to the course. But this is important! Don’t wait until tomorrow; do it now!
• Choose a verse or two to memorize to help you through temptation. Need a suggestion? Try 1 Corinthians 10:13.
• Make a plan with a specific place and time for your daily Bible study and prayer. You won’t get far in tackling temptation without these things!

Worship Team Devotional: Introduction to “Heart of the Artist”

The following is based on the introduction to Rory Noland’s Heart of the Artist. I prepared this as a five minute devotional for my worship team at Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, AZ, but I hope that others may find it beneficial, too. 

But then, no artist is normal; if he were, he wouldn’t be an artist. Normal men don’t create works of art. They eat, sleep, hold down routine jobs, and die. You are hypersensitive to life and nature; that’s why you are able to interpret for the rest of us. But if you are not careful, that very hypersensitiveness will lead you to your destruction. The strain of it breaks every artist in time. Irving Stone, Lust for Life

Often, artistic types are looked at as moody, irresponsible and overly sensitive. We seem to think that the more eccentric an artist, the more of a genius he must be. Many churches struggle with the question of whether to have excellent musicians with questionable morals or mediocre musicians with Christ-like righteousness. Let’s commit to excelling musically and spiritually.

As motivation, consider the importance of the arts to God. (This list is not exhaustive!)

• Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
• Visual Arts: Bezalel and Oholiab created beautiful works of art for the tabernacle. Solomon did the same for the temple (Exodus 31:2-6).
• Dance: Miriam, a prophetess and Moses’ sister, danced in praise after the miracle at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20). David danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14-15) and includes dancing in the Psalms (Psalm 150:4).
• Music: The Book of Psalms is a collection of music used in worship. Also, we have many examples of singers and instrumentalists using their gifts to praise God (1 Chronicles 15:16, 2 Chronicles 35:15, and Psalm 68:24-25, just to name a few)
• Drama and storytelling: Ezekiel the prophet used drama to communicate God’s message (Ezekiel 4-5). Jesus used the power of a story many times through His parables (Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 15:11-32, and many others).

Church music is not just a stepping stone for musicians wanting to get into the Christian music industry, complete with record deals and radio time; church music has significant eternal value in and of itself! Here are a few purposes of the arts in the church:

• Worship: As we sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19), we give glory and honor to the very One who saves our souls. What a privilege!
• Evangelism: An unbeliever who enters our worship can be edified by meaningful words used in services. (1 Corinthians 14:23-25) The arts can help break down barriers where mere words fall short, not in a manipulative way but in an authentic, holistic way.
• Encouragement: The Psalms address the many variety of needs among humanity. Whether we come in need of admonishing or comfort or whether we need to rejoice or mourn, we can and should do so in unity with those in the church.
• Celebration: Many times in the Old Testament, God calls His people to remember through celebration. Celebrations are perfect times to remember what God has done so that we don’t lose heart when trials come.

Application:

1. Evaluate your motivation for being on the team. Do you recognize the importance of what you are doing? If not, ask God to give you His eyes. Search His Scriptures for truth.
2. Do you see yourself as a victim of your artsy personality? Remember that God made you and can redeem every part of who you are for His kingdom if you let Him. For example, you can be sensitive with deep emotions without being controlled by your emotions.
3. Are you as committed to growing spiritually as you are to growing musically? Look at how you spend your time outside of work and school. Is communing with God a daily, even hourly, part of that?