What a great weekend! I woke up bright eyed on Sunday morning around 6:30 ready for the day. I knew it was going to be a great day. My wife and I began the business of getting things ready for service in Tuttle, OK! Our Sunday mornings are crazy to say the least. Nevertheless, we got in gear, got the girls ready, loaded the car with all the items needed to have church in our borrowed building, and headed to Tuttle.
We got on location, opened the doors and began setting up for our Christmas Service. I was so excited. The good Tuttle people began to gather and service got underway. The service was complete with wonderful music, great testimonies, and topped off with great food at the conclusion. So far this day was turning out to be simply wonderful.
The family and I finally made it back home around 2:00. (In a borrowed building it takes time to break down and clean up.) Normally we try to take a quick nap, but that was not going to be the case today. I had an obligation to the church in Mustang, OK and that obligation began at 3:30 with preparation for the evening service.
I got caught up on the chores that needed to be done at the house, got dressed, and headed to Life Tabernacle in Mustang to meet with our music team to prepare for the evenings service. I had a good feeling about this service. I was confident that God was going to meet us there in a powerful way.
Being the worship leader on Sunday evening is a burden that gets difficult to carry. The service must go perfectly. Every song must be on cue. Every singer must be prepared and ready to give their all. At Life Tabernacle we believe in doing our very best.
The musicians arrived and we began practicing when my phone rang!! THAT IS WHEN IT ALL CHANGED!!
The phone call was not a good one. The conversation changed my mood quickly. REAL QUICKLY!! I had to deal with stuff in that moment that I really did not want to deal with. In reality, it was like being snake bit.
You have read the stories of the ole cowboy that dismounts after a long day in the saddle. He is cutting a path across the desert trying to get to his destination. He is exhausted from the journey. His mouth is parched and his legs are aching. He ties his weary horse to a small tree and sets up camp for the night. The evening chill is hitting the air so he begins the task of gathering some wood to build a fire for warmth. As he bends down to pick up some sticks that are laying there in a bundle... BAM! All of the sudden he feels the burning in his veins. He has been snake bit!!
That phone call was such a shock. Just out of nowhere. The poison that came from the other end started burning my veins. My attitude took a turn. I did my best to pull it together and get practice moving again in the right direction.
6:00 PM came way too soon. However, I pulled it together, took the pulpit, and began to lead that great church in worship. I'll admit, I wanted to cancel practice and just slide out the back door, but I couldn't do that. Worship is what I do. A worshipper is who I am. I could not LET A SNAKE BITE suffocate my worship.
I gave it all I could give in that worship service and exited the stage. Pastor Sholund took the pulpit and opened his bible to the text that God had given him to minster from. Then he gave his title, "What do you do with a SNAKE BITE?"
WOW!! I listened. I needed to hear from God. And believe me God spoke.
The lesson learned was clear however difficult to act upon.
My praise must not be hindered though the snake has bitten.
My worship must not be silenced though my veins burn with the poison.
God has not stepped off His throne even though the ability to breathe is become more and more difficult due to this snake bite.
So what am I to do with this SNAKE BITE?! Exactly what the Apostle Paul did only moments after a shipwreck when he was surrounded by the cold and rain. The Apostle Paul attempted to help build a fire. While picking up a bundle of sticks, a viper came out of the heat and latched to him. However, Paul never missed a beat. He walked to the fire and shook the beast off of his hand and felt no harm.
THAT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH A SNAKE BITE!! SHAKE IT OFF IN THE FIRE!
I must conclude that snake bites are painful. I must also admit that the poison moves quickly through my veins. I must also CONCLUDE THAT IF I CAN FIND THE FIRE, I CAN SHAKE THAT SERPENT OFF and I WILL FEEL NO PAIN!!
Thank you Pastor Sholund!
