Personal Testimony - Harvey Spikin

At the start of every year, I seem to go through a stage of questioning what is the purpose of my life, focussing on what is my role in the church. It is very easy for me to be complacent in my spirituality and relationship with God. I have a comfortable life with a loving family, nice home, good job and great friends.

I worship at Waverley Temple corps, a large corps that is very active in providing a vast array of activities for all different age groups in the community. I am very comfortable worshipping there because it is a great environment for me and my family to be a part of.

Back to the questioning now. At the start of each MSS year I seem to go to the first rehearsal with an expectation of some sort of sign that this ministry is one I need to be a part of, a reason why I choose to give up every Monday night for rehearsal, miss family functions, my kids sporting activities and basically putting pressure on my very supporting family. This year I went to rehearsal with the same expectation, looking for that positive sign, asking God to speak to me through the music that we sing. I came away that evening without the positive sign I was looking for. When thinking about it, it was God telling me to stop focussing on my own selfish thoughts, but more on the ministry and mission of what we do. A strong reminder that it is not just about me.

Some scripture that I read recently helped me to understand this better. In Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us that the number one commandment is ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength’. The message translation uses the words ‘Passion, Prayer, Intelligence and Energy’, so with this in mind there can be no questioning about my commitment to being a part of the ministry of this group. I can only use what talents and gifts God has blessed me with to spread God’s word through our music and witness, hopefully with Passion, Prayer, Intelligence and Energy.

Sidney Cox penned some words many years ago that really sum up what I want to say. A song that songster brigades all around the world have sung, I am sure.

All there is of me Lord, at thy feet I lay
Now thy gracious purpose, O fulfil I pray
Each moment Lord be spent for thee
Thou shalt have all there is of me
All there is of me Lord
Time and talents day by day, all I bring to thee
All there is of me Lord, on thine alter here I lay
All there is of me