Thanksgiving?

Every year it seems things get worse when it comes to the "shopping" season.. Earlier. Earlier, and earlier it seems to get each year.  To the point where people do not even have the opportunity to celebrate the day of thanks with their family because of work.....  That is just "part" of the problem.  This nation looks so forward to something so trivial out of want while the rest of the world weeps and yes even dies. 

While you get up at O'dark thirty and fight others for things , 16,000 children will die that day..  All because they do not have food.........   This part of the year makes me sick.  You may be asking... "You celebrate it don't you?"  The answer is yes.. I do.. I celebrate 1 Chronicles 16:34 with close friends and family regardless of their beliefs.  I celebrate that our Lord has given all that we NEED and a lot less of what we WANT. 

Cherish the time spent with loved ones.  You simply do not know how long you have with them.  Be thankful.  Give someone a hug today.  Feed the hungry and the less fortunate.

To all my "Christian" friends out there.. Lets do us all a favor this year.. Lets give up the "fish" stickers on the backs of our vehicles (or whatever "religious" imagery you have).. How about actually living as Christ did....   Set the example yourselves. As it sets a much higher bar than having images that do nothing but embarrass not only you, but me because we assume it MAKES us a Christian.

Oh yeah.. Let’s not forget about Forgiveness…..  Remember that it is for YOU (me).  Don’t wait for it to be asked of you, rather, ask it for yourself. 

Make 2013 the year of renewed relational faith.  Be real.  Forgive.  Look at those who need help without judgment it isn’t for us to do anyway.  Be that shining light on a hill that cannot be hidden.  

Be Blessed

sCt, 

Kev

Do we have a blueprint?

 

In Exodus 5 after Aaron and Moses came to the Pharaoh and asked that he let the people of Israel go so they could worship their god out in the wilderness (dessert) for 3 days.  Pharaoh obviously not wanting any of that said no and increased their labor while demanding the same quota of bricks.

After they the people left Pharaoh obviously upset they met with Moses and Aaron who where waiting for them.  They said in Exodus 5:21 "May the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious(Hated/Hatred) in Pharaoh's site and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."

Afterwards, Moses returned to the Lord and said in Exodus 5:22-23 "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people?  Why did You ever send me"  Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."

I know.. this is a blog on worship right? It is... just hear me out.  There are examples all over scripture where God has his chosen to go out and do.. He doesn't necessarily give us a blueprint to follow.  Moses came into this "expecting" to ask Pharaoh to "let His people go" and all would be wonderful.... but it wasn't.. He knew it.. and so did the ones he was trying to lead out of Egypt.  God has an end result already in play... When and how we or they get there isn't the issue.. We are only meant to be obedient and listen... Which brings me to my point.

We played the awesome song called "One Thing Remains" written by Christa Black, Brian Johnson, and Jeremy Riddle.  We had worked out in rehearsal on Wednesday before and this Sunday morning.  We worked all the parts.. Where everyone would come in and all the dynamics... It was going to be amazing.. And it was.. Now fast forward an hour or so later during the service....  I started the song and in my mind I had remembered exactly how it was supposed to play out.. Or so I thought.  The song was being lead by the Holy Spirit.. clearly.. As the song unfolded and the people began to respond it became its own.  The song went on for what seemed 6 or more minutes and when it was over.... We were all energized.  My bass player said..... I knew what I was supposed to do.. He went on to say, "We need to make sure we do that exactly the same way as today".......But I can't remember what we did..... We don't have the blueprint.

So, just as Moses had "thought" he had it all figured out.... The Lord didn't unfold His entire plan out for Moses to see, only what His ultimate end result was.  Must like the songs He chooses for us on Sunday's.... We can work them to death and believe me I know its important to play skillfully... But ultimately God has the blueprint already in mind because the end result is already known.  He wants us.. His people to earnestly SEEK him and EXPECT the Unexpected.

Until next time.  May the Lord richly bless you and your families.

Personal Challenge to Lead Worshipers

I have been hearing form the Holy Spirit for some time now about how we "lead" worship.  It's hard to listen to the Spirit sometimes.. Especially if it has something to do with me.. LOL  All kidding aside..

Most of us LW's have a crutch.  My crutch you ask?  (insert the loud deep voice of the Monster Truck Rally "SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!!") THE DREADED MUSIC STAND!!!!!!!!

Oh how I have learned to lean on that crutch for years.  Lately I have found that it gets in the way of leading. Instead of the Spirit leading its the iPad or Music Sheets that beckon me to pay attention to them instead.

The times I really notice this is when I am doing a set list (rare) of songs that I know by heart...  It is within those times I notice the Holy Spirit is there and VERY real.

Personally, I think that it all comes down to each of us being aware of the Holy Spirit, and not becoming familiar with the presence of God, not becoming used to how things are done, but being ready for the miraculous at every moment.

So, in the coming weeks I will begin to work at the "Set List" the Lord gives me and prepare before our rehearsals.  I want to be intimately aware of the words being sung and played.  The only thing I want to have as my distraction up there will be the Bible.

Until next time!  Make it a great day!