What Are You Waiting For?

I went to a benefit concert over the weekend.  I didn't know a whole lot about what the concert was benefiting until I got there.  I went to the concert really to see my friend Natalie Grant perform.  

It was a great concert and it was very good to hear from Natalie.  God has been doing some amazing transformation in her own life these past few years and also He has been using her and the platform she has as a well-known artist to make a difference around the world.

Right at the start of the concert, we were introduced to the girl who actually put the night together.  She is a senior in high school and for her senior project, she wanted to put on this benefit concert.  This girl had recently visited Africa and had an opportunity to see the situation there especially with regards to HIV and the effects on children.

She came back and decided to organize this benefit to raise money to help the cause.  It was cool to see it all come together.  My mind was racing throughout the night and I began gathering thoughts.  I thought it interesting how I have been placed in the mix of these humanitarian efforts of late.  A while back, I got to play at a show that was benefiting the Invisible Children and then a week ago, LATR had our own presentation of ills of the sex trade/trafficking going on.  Then this weekend there was this benefit concert.  It has been a wake up call for me to stop living for myself and start doing something.  Natalie sang a song titled "What Are You Waiting For?" that got me thinking.  Here are the lyrics:

Sometimes I get that overwhelming feeling
So sad the faces on TV
If I tried to make a difference would I help anyway
But then I stop and to myself I say

So you wanna change the world
What are you waiting for
You say you're gonna start right now
What are you waiting for
It only takes one voice
So come on now and shout it out
Give a little more
What are you waiting for

Sometimes I feel a little helpless
Seems like I can't do a thing
But anything is possible just you wait and see
Good things happen if you just believe

Someday somehow
Gonna take that step
Cause time is ticking away
Right here right now
Before it's too late
Gonna face tomorrow today

I have heard that song many times before and I echo her sentiments but when Natalie sang it Saturday night, I was struck with the question: what am I waiting for; what can I do?  My mind was off to the races thinking of answers to the question.  Then I "heard" the answer on Sunday morning at church.  God laid it out pretty simply actually.

Josh was speaking from the passage of scripture in Acts 3:1-10.

1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

This is it!  This is the answer!  I have the ability to look intently at someone in need, be it a child overseas or a person here, and offer them hope in Jesus and have the faith of a mustard seed to pray for the sick and see them healed in Jesus' name.  Obviously I can also give financially and give of my time but more than anything, Jesus is the answer.  I think it would be splendid when, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we pray for people in need and miracles take place and lives are restored.  What a difference that will be!