SONG OF THE MONTH
RAYE
A few Saturdays ago the LGS Band went into Long Creek Youth Development Center. I was truly excited to show the kids Jesus Christ in the most effective way. The song I chose to talk about, “Cinderella”, is a great song for Long Creek because it speaks to drug addiction and growing up in a messed-up environment. But God changed my plan last minute and I knew “Raye” was gonna be the song the Lord wanted me to talk about, not Cinderella.
Before we were introduced the pastor opened the chapel with prayer and then asked the kids to be polite and respectful. He reminded them that we were volunteers and so on. In the past I’d never heard him focus so much around being polite and respectful. Pastor Doug repeated “we really need you to be respectful”. It was then I felt a check in my spirit, a righteous anger was rising minutes before it was my turn to speak. I remember feeling the same way around Raye Trott, the guy behind the Raye song (story). 
I hated how Raye disregarded Jesus, he was so rude and apathetic; but at the same time I cared about him; It was confusing to say the least. These same feelings came flooding back when I heard the pastor almost pleading with kids to be good. I thank God that I would yield to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to pour His love over these young inmates.
When it was time for me to share, I could feel the Holy Spirit upon me, I really wanted to rock their socks off and come across “cool” so they would like me but I knew I had to also share the truth ... I told the kids that if anyone wanted to leave they could. I went on to say that we were in the presence of THE MOST SACRED ONE and He did not need me, Pastor Doug, the volunteers or whoever to convince them of His love. The Holy Spirit had a plan for these kids, just like He had for Raye.
As I write out this story I am excited to see how God perfectly correlated the events on that morning; down to the perfect song for the perfect moment ... working in ALL of our hearts at once.
Raye’s story is an awesome story to tell. Anybody who does not understand Jesus Christ and who, like Raye Trott, is shut down to hearing anything about God or "religion" tends to connect to Raye’s song and to the events that transpired in that time period. After I told them Raye's story we rocked out with the song and then I hit them with the song WOULD YOU, explaining that Jesus is the only one who could love them completely "would you love me if I was dying, would you love me if I could not stop crying, would you love me if you had everything?".
We finished the set with Holy Roller Rolling and the kids were clapping and whooping it up for Jesus or because of Jesus. The grand finale was the kids asking Roger Cusson to give them a drum solo and he humbly obliged.
Pastor Doug was inspired and preached a short and fiery evangelistic message focusing on the words BELIEVE, CONFESS, REPENT and RECEIVE and everyone was shouting those words before it was all over. Now, only in God’s world does this happen. This hour moved from a from a trying to convince energy to a transforming energy. Amen to that!
Check out the story behind Raye's song.
Do you know a Raye? Send them this email, just forward it.
Just like with the kids, people want to hear about Jesus, and the Lord gives us many creative ways to tell our story!
Amen to that and over and out until next time, love your musicianary, Lisa.
Send me your thoughts below ... let's connect!
RAYE by lgs
Just a sinner in a sinner’s body, in a sinner’s world, in a sinner’s mind
I don’t expect you to understand you got the television tuned on all the time.
Take a chance, read a page, the book of John might start your cravin’
I don’t know what to say, you wouldn’t believe me anyway
Raye you could be a ray of light
If were to ch ch ch ch change your appetite
Raye you could be a ray of light
If you were only willin’ to stand up right
Hey joy seeker could you get any weaker, laying your coat down for your enemy?
You can’t change my mind, it’s closed tight this time, nobody, nobody gonna get me.
Won’t you tell me, tell me your story, tell me your life?
Won’t you tell me so I can keep it wrapped in my anger and add to my strife.
Raye you could be a ray of light
If were to ch ch ch ch change your appetite
Raye you could be a ray of light
If you were only willin’ to stand up right
Raye, you could be a ray of light just let go, don’t try to fight it
Raye you could be a ray of light just let go and let God ignite it
Don’t look back, don’t worry about the next day
What’s that crack, Raye what did you say, what did you say?
What did you say? What did you say?
Raye you could be a ray of light
If were to ch ch ch ch change your appetite
Raye you could be a ray of light
If you were only willin’ to stand up right
Raye, you could be a ray of light just let go, don’t try to fight it
Raye you could be a ray of light just let go and let God ignite it
Just a sinner in a sinner’s body, in a sinner’s world, in a sinner’s mind
