Carson Cox
Drums & Percussion, Songwriter
“The grass is always greener, but it’s not for you to till…”
Hey readers! My name is Carson Cox, and I get the privilege of playing drums with First Free Music. I moved to La Crosse in 2015 to attend UW-La Crosse, and had just given my life to the Lord. After attending a few services and hearing the worship at First Free (Jordan Swift’s drumming!) and a few sermons, I ended up in our previous Worship Pastor Ashley Kershner’s office asking to be a part of the team. I was really young, with a lot to learn and no clue what was ahead of me. I only knew it was good to serve and that I had no vision for my life at the time, so what the heck?! Ashley introduced me to another young guy named Aaron Luttenegger (our worship arts pastor but who was volunteering and then part time staff at the time), who was building a team to serve in Winona, MN at our satellite campus. The rest is history, really, and still being written to this day.
There are lots of stories I could share. I could tell you about being in a basement with seventy college kids worshipping on a Saturday night, and feeling Jesus' spirit so close. I could share about us remodeling homes together, building roots in this community. I could share about writing songs together, and the life that we’ve walked through together as a team in forming them. However, I want to bring value to you -- so I’ll share a key thing that the Lord has shown me over the years serving here.
The word is stewardship, and the Father has been teaching me the weight of this principle for years.
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 23. The scripture states “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures...” I was reading this one day when I was really burned out. I was tired from playing on the team every weekend with work and school, freshly engaged, and was dreaming of moving to a new area. I started praying (complaining) to the Lord about our church culture, team dynamics, people’s character and things that were getting to me. The Lord spoke to me in my brokenness and just said “Carson, why do you forget your calling? You need to rest. You need to lay down in this pasture and be present with me. Abide in what I have called you to. Do you not know that the grass is always greener, but it’s not for you to till?” I really sat on this last phrase and wrestled with it, and this is what I have drawn from it.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
I believe that God has called us all to steward things in our lives very seriously and intentionally. Our families, marriages, finances, work relationships, and personal callings (just to name a few). I believe that if we do not value or steward these things well, God makes us lie down in these “pastures,” to appreciate their beauty and our role in them. It’s really easy in the busyness of life for a spirit of envy and jealousy to convince us that we need to be doing more, achieving more, engaged in more of something or be somewhere else. This is a lie from the enemy that will steal your gaze from Christ, and the purpose for which He made you. It happens too often to us where we convince ourselves that what we do doesn’t matter. We lose strength in the race and give up -- especially regarding ministry and the things that God calls us to. Jesus, however, tells us to lie down next to Him. To be still and let Him refresh our soul. To appreciate the pasture in which He calls us to.
As Christians I think we hear the word “seasons” a lot as we talk about our lives and journey with the Lord. I believe that life is made up of many different seasons. I am going on my sixth year with this family of mine, living life and serving the bride of Christ here in Onalaska, WI.
In the past few months, the Lord has removed so many fears and insecurities regarding my callings in life and how I steward them. I can’t really map out how I got to where I am today. I never thought that I would be a part of writing songs or playing music at over 100+ baptisms. I can tell you one thing for certain, though -- it’s a privilege to be a part of this family and serve in it. I try to take what I do with good stewardship and joy. May you be filled to do the same in your life. Blessings!
In Him,
Carson Cox
PS: Here’s one of my personal favorites, “One Desire” from our album “Live at the Black Box Theatre.”