Into the Uncomfortable
Uncomfortable: n. Causing unease, slight pain, or awkwardness.
Uncomfortable. Un-comfortable. Even the mention of the word makes me...well, uncomfortable. As I type this, I am "uncomfortable." And the above definition fits my situation quite nicely. What is on my heart has not been easy for me to share. It is slightly painful. And it is most definitely awkward.
Several years ago, God beautifully and dramatically wrecked my plans for my life. He didn't merely tweak them or adjust their trajectory. He stepped into "my" understanding of who He was, who I am, and what He is up to...and he completely derailed where I was headed. All of my years of study, effort, and striving in ministry to painstakingly show others how to achieve godliness seemed to go up in smoke before me. With new eyes, I began to see all of His promises in a new light.
"God doesn't only love me...but he also likes me? Adores me, even? Not one day, but now?!?"
“I’m not a “sinner saved by grace”, but already a saint fully equipped for godliness?"
"Walking with him isn't an exhausting one-way endeavor where I work hard and hope he meets me there, but is instead a dance of unrestrainable joy?"
Could it be true? If so, why was this the first time I could see it? Why was this type of joy, peace, and freedom so rare if it was really available?
It all makes me laugh quite a bit now, but those early days of navigating toward intimacy and true vulnerability before Him was "uncomfortable." Spoiler alert: the answers to all of the above questions are the biggest "YES" on the planet!
As I have come to be captured in this dance with my King day by day, my life - my whole life - has been surrendered to living in the overflow of this walk so others can see that it is SO present and so accessible and so amazing. You really can live in what Jesus bought every moment of every day!
I began to write. 2 books. Last week, I began my third: a call to raise up spiritual mothers and fathers, mentors that will lead nations to this place of an unbelievable life with our Daddy, God! I have been writing music, too. Loads of it. This past year - and especially the past few months - God has been bursting down the doors with new revelation, favor, and friends to share these truths with!
For those who don't know, I have joined with two of my dearest friends in a group to release that same kind of hope, healing, and intimacy through worship and song. We are called Valley's End. The name comes from a passage in 2 Chronicles 20, where a man of God, Jehoshaphat, faced the insurmountable obstacle of a massive army coming against his people. As he cried out to God, an answer came from heaven: “Do not be afraid. You will not have to fight in this battle.” God then tells Jehoshaphat to step out in faith and that He will meet him at the “valley’s end” and there will defeat his enemies. God also revealed to us that the “valley’s end” is always the start of the ascent up a mountain — a tremendous picture of going from glory to glory with Him!
As we have written songs and ministered together over the past year, God has burned a passion in our hearts much like my passion in writing and preaching: to go anywhere that will have us and declare the majesty of the finished Gospel so that people could live in freedom. God’s favor has surrounded us. As I type, we are over $9,000 toward a $12,000 goal to record an album with some amazing musicians in Nashville. I am also overwhelmed that a very highly respected marketing group is interested in spreading the message of my book, Life in the Overflow, to a larger audience (this marketing group was the sole marketing for a little book known as The Shack, which has gone on to sell 26 million copies).
So, on to the uncomfortable: God has placed firmly in our hearts that He wants Valley’s End to record and intentionally seek out venues to minister to people about their identity — not just play music: minister identity and hope and freedom. Pray for people hands-on. Couple it with the teaching and writing and minister anywhere we can: churches, living rooms, community centers, bars, conferences. He is saying HE wants it, and yet…He has been hitting me heavily with a familiar refrain: “You have not, because you ask not.” I do not like the position I find myself in. Over the past month, I have had to be vulnerable and continually share my dream and (gulp), ask for help.
I am uncomfortable. Continually sharing how to join with what we are doing in music and writing feels a bit like a public broadcasting telethon. It is humbling. At times it feels embarrassing. I mean, the last thing I would ever want is a single person to give or share out of compulsion. Just the thought makes me ill. But God will not relent…and as He places me in this uncomfortable place, I find that this travailing is actually my partnering with Him for His dream. And here’s the kicker: He’s calling others to partner with us. That’s it. It isn’t asking for help or charity nearly as much as partnership.
So, here it is, friends. Chris, Ruth, and I are stepping into new unchartered waters. We are asking and seeking for God to open new doors of ministry — and God seems to be making it abundantly clear that He wants us to have partners in the journey: partners to pray, partners to give, partners to help us creativity and functionally bring the message of His hope before people. That may be you. Or, it may be that God is stirring you to an uncomfortable place of your own in His Kingdom and He wants these words to embolden you to step out, unafraid, and seek. Knock. Ask. The world needs the dream He’s placed in you. Would you be willing to be uncomfortable?
For those called to partner with us, read on. I will share some very specific needs we have in prayer and support. You can message me on Facebook or email. For all, I love and thank God for you!
Financial Support:
Valley’s End Album (Phase 1): $3,000 — this is the Kickstarter campaign in its final 5 days. Give here.
Valley’s End Album (Phase 2): $5,000 — we will be traveling to Nashville twice to record, and this will pay the remainder of album fees and physical copies. As it stands, we are looking for opportunities to minister at any venue we can for love offerings.
Life in the Overflow promotion: $2,850 — this will allow the book to be marketed and distributed. It also includes 1 year of mentoring with Brian Simmons (Chuck’s “hero” as an author & the author of The Passion Translation of the Bible).
Reconstructing Dad book & mentoring devotional fees: TBD — as Chuck writes again, there will be fees for artwork, editing, promotion and printing. For Life in the Overflow and the accompanying devotional, total fees were around $10,000.
Team Support:
Social Media/Website help — Valley’s End & writing
Editors — As writing for Chuck’s next book is underway, he is looking for a team passionate about this ministry who would read chapters in their development and offer feedback and editing suggestions.
Marketing/Scheduling — for Valley’s End & speaking/ministry conferences. We are looking for help in spreading the word and possible ministry venues.
Photography/Videography/Graphic Design — for Valley’s End & writing
