Two Fish and Five Loaves

I was recently thinking about the moment I took the leap into worship ministry. It is somewhat crazy and (actually) unbelievable in the way it all worked out. I might have previously mentioned about me being in a Christian school or growing up in church or generally being exposed to praise and worship but that does not change the fact that there was a point in my life that I had chosen this journey.  

The day I started in worship ministry; I could play something like three songs… In one key. My knowledge was extremely limited. One of my closest friends and I started learning guitar around the same time. He was pegged on electric and well, I started on bass. We were young – about 14 years old and we just wanted to make music.  

We were both attending the same youth on Friday nights and a highlight for us would be the time of worship. Sometimes it was about the music and sometimes it was a real encounter with Jesus, but we always looked forward to it. We wanted to also play our music. We had jam session after jam session at each other’s homes. I am sure our parents had constant headaches.   

At some point we thought, we should start the school band up again. Being in a Christian school meant our assemblies would start almost like a church service, with some praise and worship. The school went through phases… worship with a band, worship with a CD, worship with a piano but at that point we had been without a band for a while.  

And so, we decided, we’re going to start the school band. We had it all planned out – I would type a letter to our principle, we’d get all the musicians we knew in the school together and make music.  

A few days later we got called to the church office (which was on the same property) to meet with the music director and essentially gain permission to start the school band and thus The Lord’s Instrument was born.  

Week in, week out we played the exact same songs. (The three I knew – it eventually built up to six songs). There was nothing amazing about our skill, there was nothing amazing about our music. We had limited knowledge and we were only starting out.  

I know it might sound crazy but the Lord really thought me a lot during that time. Do you remember the story of how Jesus fed 5000 with just a little boy’s offering of five small barley loaves and two small fish? 

Can you imagine being that little boy? I can.  

I can imagine people all around him telling him that it’s not worth it! There are too many men here! What you have is not enough!  

Jesus, however, sees more that the physical. He can take any offering and use for His glory and namesake. My three songs and my limited knowledge was all I had to bring and yes – I still had a way to go and there were many times that my intentions were far from pure BUT if it hadn’t been for that initial step of faith, I don’t think I would be the worshipper I am today.  

What do you have to bring today? What in your life can be used to bring glory to Jesus’ name? What do you have to bring people closer to Jesus? 

Whatever it is, big or small, I believe God has a plan and purpose! Maybe it’s taking out a struggling friend for a cup of coffee or maybe it’s signing out a few songs of praise, whatever is it – use it for His glory.  

Much Love,  
Hayden Hayl’