Be: 1994

Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God---this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will.

As I mentioned before, I knew how to sing before I knew how to talk. Music has always been a big influence in my life. I remember times when my cousins and I would try to imitate some of our favorite R&B groups at the time, our favorite being The Jacksons (not The Jackson 5--yes, there is a difference). Imitating what I heard on the radio or on records and tapes that my family played was the way I developed my singing voice; I also loved going to music class in elementary and middle school. I didn't pursue music in high school because, at that point, I believed what I heard other people tell me. I was picked on and laughed at for my singing; it kept me from moving in that direction. This even happened in my early college years.

However, once I became a disciple of Jesus, I stopped listening to those negative voices and started listening to the Spirit. One of the things I wanted to know was what God wanted me to do for Him. Of course, I knew that the Great Commission was a major part of what He wanted me to do (Matthew 28:18-20), but I also knew that I had this desire to sing and to get involved with what I heard on Sunday mornings, which was some of the best singing I'd ever heard. I knew that I wanted to be a part of that. Although I had these desires within my heart, I was hardly asked to be a part of what I called the "song ministry"--but I wasn't asking, either. It wasn't until I placed myself before God and offered myself and my desires completely to Him that I began to see what He wanted me to do as a result of being His.

In the early years of my lifetime journey with God, I heard this song that resonated with me. It was called "The Glory Song". The first time I was exposed to it, it was a beautiful rendition of Jesus's three ministry years on earth. Thank you, Charo Maldonado, for allowing God to write such meaningful lyrics through you. Then, I heard the original version from the movie "Glory"--I was mesmerized! Finally, on a Wednesday night during midweek service in 1994, just over 2 years after being baptized into Christ, I heard another version that was based on the history of the family of churches I was--and still am--a part of. It was then that I heard the Holy Spirit say, "This is what God wants you to do." I was inspired and empowered. At the end of that midweek service, I started talking to my friends about this dream that I just grabbed; I started asking members of the song ministry how I could get involved. It just goes to show you that you receive when you ask (Matthew 7:7-8).

1994 was a milestone for me because the dream of serving as a worship leader was brought to the surface. However, it was only brought to the surface after I lived out what Romans 12:1-2 commanded. I had to offer my entire self to God and transform myself by renewing my mind. Once I started doing that, that was when I saw that this was what was mapped out for me. My personal journey as a worship leader had begun.

Remember, the only way that you will know what you were made to be is to surrender yourself to God and to transform and renew yourself. Only then will you be able to know what His will is for you. Once He reveals how He wants you to glorify Him, then you will truly begin your journey towards what you were made to be.