Do What’s Right

I often think about Paul who said I do the things I shouldn’t and I don’t do the things I know I should. I find that “clothing” myself with Christ is a daily process that involves worship, right fellowship, washing by the water of the Word, repentance, and a ton of grace. Today is the day of salvation so today I choose to put off the old man and choose to be the new creation I am.

Remember, this is a journey and a process. Embrace it, passionately pursue Christ, and be not conformed to the pattern of this world.

Repentance, Hunger, Expectation

I was having a conversation with someone this morning and we were discussing our desire for God’s move and presence among our church, the Body as a whole, and the nations.  As we were sharing I was reminded of some of the things we see or often come before God’s move.

Repentance.  Part of us beginning to walk in the freedom we were designed for is for us to pray and turn from our wicked ways as the scripture says.  When we are hung up on ourselves, harboring sin, and living in self reliance, it becomes a hinderance to our being a part of the move of God or sensing His presence.

Hunger. Simply, we must desire it.  As humans, we are so easily caught up in fleeting and short lived satisfactions.  We give in to the desires of our flesh and shelve the hunger of  our souls.  There is so much in scripture related to us choosing the things of God – wanting them.  ”Set your mind on things above”, “Clothe yourself with Christ”, “Believe”, “Where your treasure is there is your heart”.  If we want to encounter God in deep and fresh ways we must want it.

Expectation.  Do you believe?  Do you believe God can? Do you believe He will?  Faith.  Without it we will only see with our natural eyes.  When we live with the expectation that God is present and moving, we will begin to encounter and see His move much more often.  It is an issue of concrete perspective.  It starts with choosing to declare that God is who He says He is and continues in declaring that He will do what He says He will do.  The more we choose to see things from God’s perspective the more we will see things that way.

What would happen if today in your quiet time, or at your Bible study, or this week at church, or just plain out in public somewhere – if you would repent of your own sin and lack of belief, hunger and desire for God’s presence more than anything else, and actually believe that He will meet you there?  Try it.

Intentional

So often we live as if to expect that the move of God, the voice of God, the power of God in our lives will just happen to us.  We get frustrated saying, “God is silent.” or “God is absent.” or “God doesn’t seen to care.”  But the issue, almost always, is us.

We must be intentional about our relationship with God.  It’s about choices.  It’s about the right priorities.  If we choose to make time for scripture, prayer, and worship.  We are in position to hear God, feel His presence, and be refreshed to walk in His power.

How can you create some space in your life this week to be intentional with God?  What items need to go down the totem pole so God can be at the top?

Facing the Wall Sermon

One of the books on worship (aside from scripture) that has had the most impact on me as a worship leader has been “Facing the Wall” by Don Potter.  Below is a link to the the message I shared this past Sunday at church on the subject of worship entitled “Facing the Wall”.

Why do we worship? What should it look, sound, and feel like? What are the results of worship?

Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

The One Thing

Jesus Christ is the One Most Important Thing

“Christians don’t follow Christianity; Christians follow Christ.

Christians don’t preach themselves; Christians proclaim Christ.

Christians don’t point people to core values; Christians point people to the cross.

Christians don’t preach about Christ: Christians preach Christ.” ~ Quoted from A Jesus Manifesto

 

Take a few minutes, drop by http://ajesusmanifesto.wordpress.com/ and read.

 

Authenticity verses Mimicry

I came across this quote by John Mark McMillan today while I was studying and praying through the idea of worship.

“I’m not at all against traditional expressions of worship (btw I consider most “contemporary” expressions still to be incredibly traditional), but I am against the stupid idea that these expressions are any more “correct” or “Biblical”. Our common expressions, even the most traditional, still look relatively nothing like those of the bible… and that’s OK because “it” (whatever “it” is) seems to be more about the level of our authenticity, not the precision of our mimicry.” ~ John Mark McMillan

Being a worship pastor, I am often confronted not only by people in churches but also in my own heart with our perceptions of what worship is and how we practice it in our modern construct.  I get so frustrated sometimes and the level of conviction we develop over styles of music and worship expressions and how we wound one another in the process.  Let’s remember that God is looking for “whatever we do” (Colossians 3:17) that we do it with an authentic heart to glorify His name, not that we mimic perfectly some other churches method.  We can look like the highest and best but be just as lost on the inside.  God’s looking at our hearts (I Samuel 16:7).

Leverage Technology

I just linked my blog to my Twitter which was already linked to my Reverbnation page which also posts on Facebook.  It’s nice that we’re finally getting to where we can consolidate these tools so that the things that are supposed to save us time don’t consume so much of it.

The truth is these things are inert, no power or bias of their own.  It’s all in how we leverage it.  A few thousand years ago, the gospel flourished with sheer conviction of heart and commitment of will under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  No big buildings, no projectors, no amplifiers, no hymnals, and certainly no Twitter.  Some churches are shunning technology and they are losing out on the language of modern American culture.  Some churches are in the midst of technology orgy and are being led by the promises of ease and speed.  I’m crying out for the middle ground!  We must be lead by the Holy Spirit, driven by a love for God and a love for people, and leverage technology for the Kingdom.  Remember, technology isn’t needed (God doesn’t need anything, not me, not you, and not a smart phone), but it can be useful.

Just remember nothing can replace time with God, without faith it is impossible to please Him.  Be careful that what is good doesn’t consume so much of your time that it robs you of the best – time with God, face to face time with people, and a sheer commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Be creative this week with your “technologies” and see how you can use them for the Kingdom in ways that allow more time with God, Family, Friends, and the Mission Field you find yourself in.

Birthday

Today is Joseph’s 5th Birthday.  It’s really hard to believe that much time has passed and he’s growing so quickly.  Victoria just had her 11th birthday and that one is even scarier because she is pre-teening already.  I was thinking today how much these dates mean to me and how we celebrate them so much out of love for our children.

When is your spiritual birthday?  Can you remember when you met Jesus?  All of heaven celebrated.  It means more to your heavenly Father than you could possibly imagine.  If you don’t remember a date, just make sure you know Him and celebrate the gift of everlasting life you’ve been given!  Happy Birthday.

Something to say

I’ve been a little slow on blog updates in recent weeks and I was reflecting tonight on why that was.  Some of it is busyness.  Some of it is being lazy. But, some of it is the fight to have something to say.  There is a pressure to always have an answer or some kind of insight.

Today, I had the opportunity to get beyond my need to have something to say and spend some quality time re-learning how to listen.  To listen to a friend, to the sound of the rain and wind (there is a nor-easter storm going on here), to the sound of my children playing, and the sound of quiet as the house settles down for sleep.

It is a blessing to listen – He still speaks in a still small voice.

4 Fears

Fear paralyzes us from the move of God.  All through out scripture we are told to fear not.  We know that God’s perfect love cast out all fear.  Here are four fears we commonly face everyday.

1. Failure – This fear is a lie that tells you that God can’t help you and that you’ll never measure up to peoples standards.  We forget that in Christ we have already met God’s standard and His standard is the only one that eternally matters.

2. Future – This is a lie that tells you that God doesn’t have your future in His hands and that he won’t guide you.  We forget that the scriptures tell us that “the steps of a righteous man are ordered of God”.  God also says that “He knows the plans He has for us. . . plans to prosper (us) and not to harm (us), plans to to give (us) a hope and a future.”  We can trust in Him who has our future in His hands when we are in His hands.

3. Past – This is a lie because of what you have done and been before today you are disqualified from God’s amazing grace and blessings today.  The truth is, all of us have a past (and a present for that matter) that render us unqualified for anything good.  BUT! In Christ we have become the righteousness of God and have been made holy as He is holy. When we receive Christ God receives us as He receives His own Son.

4. Comparison – This is a lie that tells us that others are more worthy than us.  It tells us that we will never be worthy because someone else is better than we are.  A good family friend of ours says, “Whenever you compare, you lose”.  The truth is you can’t be anyone else and no one else can be you.  On the other side of someone else’s beauty are issues you wouldn’t want and they wouldn’t want yours.  BUT! In Christ, we are all priceless and of infinite value.  God paid the highest price for your life – His own.

Have no fear! God is in love with you, interested in you, has amazing plans for you, and compares you to no one except His Son.

Jonathan David Helser says this. “God wants to roar through your heart, roar through your life. So, just get over your fear, and let’s roar!”