Carol Wafford (Mom & Wafford Family).
Gene E. Burt & June Burt.
Carl Hudson and Jean Caldwell.
Janell Womack and Joy Dabbs.
Ms. King and Diane Hranicky.
Antonio Graham & Lisa (Bolden) Edwards.
William Murphy & Terrell Murphy.
New Birth-Charlotte & the community @ Umgheni Hospital who confront physical and mental challenges of Howicke, South Africa.
Eddie Long & you.
By way of introduction these are some of the relationships and experiences that have been critical at various developmental stages in my life: childhood/teen years, early and maturing spiritual foundations, musical development, academic and college years, young adulthood into today. I intentionally omitted their titles/positions because my connection and their value is beyond it.
By no means is this a comprehensive list (there are so many of you who ARE deserving of the honor:not enough webspace ☺), but this is a mildly comprehensive attempt to say that I am who I am because of relationships in which people allowed me to be and become…
The way that I even arrived in Atlanta to enjoy the life I now live has been because of memorizing the “I Have A Dream Speech” in the 6th grade and a connection was sparked with a man who was already deceased.(Dr. King is in the aforementioned crowd of witnesses, even.) I’m waking up in the hotel in Atlanta, Georgia after a provocative encounter with God with people God loves. And all I can really think about is the lyric from this song: Thank You Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin (For letting me be myself again.)
This writing is born out of a conversation I had with Bishop Long as I was awaiting instruction before leading a worship gathering at New Birth October 31st 2010. He said to his assistant, “No instructions for Cory except just tell him to be himself!” That meant so much to hear his confidence and it made me reflect on all the people in my life who have said the same thing, sometimes without even verbalizing it to me. Let me be clear! I am not wonderful 24-7 though I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
So these people, I acknowledge, have incurred quite a penalty and burden at times, in giving me the space and freedom to evolve. But this has been one of the greatest keys to the grace that has been released in my life: Authenticity. And a recognition that uniqueness can leave you with feelings of isolation & insecurity and an intimidating influence to imitate what seems to be approved only to discover: the treasure is in your rareness.
What is our obsession with well done and overcooked, over-processed LIFE! Do you hear yourself as you order steak? I know you run the risk of life-threatening pathogens when you don’t cook the meat fully. But you do preserve so much more of the nutrients and the original flavor when you don’t cook it to DEATH! Or the way we prepare our vegetables—until the notion of vitamins is a distant memory. Leaders as you cultivate others be sure to appreciate, honor and preserve their rareness, their UNDONE state.
I’m coming to accept and embrace more and more that God actually likes me. To understand the way I was made by His design in contrast to what I was made to become as my frail response to the vicissitudes and challenges of life. I am finding the way to worship God by my natural design. Getting to the core of me, expressing that essence and allowing that to become my thank you and hallelujah.
Bare bones: when you reduce all of life, you are essentially this: Created as a worshipper. Realize that God is not looking for your worship…WHOA (rewind) Realize that God is not looking for your worship: He’s always been seeking WORSHIPPERS (John 4:23-24-BIG CONVERSATION).
In advance as you and I take this journey on this webpage in the chapter of the History of our lives (poetic huh?),
I want to Thank You for letting me be myself.
…Help yourself.
Don’t mind if I do.
-Turning the world one worshipper at a time. CoryDBradley.com
Thank You…This was a wonderful blog and i’m trying to hold back the tears. Love the way you inspire people to embrace the treasure they possess within. THANK YOU for being you 🙂
LaShaunda, Embrace the treasure. That’s what’s up. You’re welcomed to who I am!
Min. Cory, it has been such a blessing to read your blog of some of your life expierences. you make the word of God so real, it is already true, but expressions come alive in your life,and gives you such understandingof what is written…etc. we are more than a conqueror ,greater is He in us than he that is in the world.If you take any scripture ,from what I see in your life it comes alive!!!! there are not too many christians I can say that about without telling an untruth. So you continue being you,so God gets all the Glory out of your life.You are such an inspiration to me, that I know there are other fine singers, but your presence makes the service seem so special ,just because you are there!!!!!!!!!!
@ Juanita Rhodes Thank you for celebrating me! I’m humbled. Your presence in our community makes as much and maybe even more of a difference, that’s why you have to spread this very grace you have with people outside of our traditional church community. Be you and don’t second guess it–SHINE YOUR LIGHT! Blessings.
Profound….it made me open my bible for the first time today….I repented…John 4 like I never heard or read it before. God is looking for a worshiper….That’s huge…I thought the words, the claps, the screams were getting God all excited but it’s the actually person that is willing to do it is what He is looking for. What a huge nugget. Thanks for being who you are flaws and all. 😀
@ LaTasha Coard-I definitely plan to spend some more time on that BRIGHT point you highlighted there. It’s the person not the “duty” that God is after. He’s a lover…can’t you tell?
Love your worship brother. Keep it up in Jesus name!
@ Starsha, Thanks so much for your encouragement. My worship is the extension of my being so I thank you for appreciating me. I’m sure God is your number one Fan as well. So that makes you a star in my book too. Bless ya and thanks for stopping through this Worship Zone.
The thought continues to build: Ever considered the statement: I AM Loved-omitting the by whom? Just let it stand and breathe alone I AM…loved. My natural arrangement, the perpetual state and condition of my existence is being loved; my very composition compels love: loving decisions, loving relationships, loving actions, loving intercourses and exchanges. Say this with me: I-AM-LOVED and the matter of Who will love me is not as significant nor does it overshadow the Truth that I Am.
I love the analogy given with the vegetables! (smile). I prefer them raw and in most instances I prefer people raw. Although my preference is not of much significance, His is and He made us the way He did for a purpose. I’m 29 oh alright, you know the real age but anyhoo, I spent a great deal of my life and time making apologies and repenting for being who I was…..crazy notion right? It will drive you crazy. So in this last season of about 7-10 years, I have been able to walk in the freedom of just being comfty with a different anointing, bucked teeth, big forehead and outspoken at times. Although God has people around us to cultivate us and help us become a better us, it’s so refreshing that He’s not mad when we are not cookie cutters of someone else’s perception of who we need to act like or be. I Am…….loved. Thank you for being you with no apologies.
If you are open to having a guest blog poster please reply and let me know. I will provide you with unique content for your blog, thanks.
@ Pell Grant, thanks for the offer. I hope to one day be able to do that. Currently, I’m establishing credibility with this community as the sole voice. Perhaps we can revisit this opportunity. Thank you for bringing your ear to the site.
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!