God has really worked on me. I have always liked to sing, never thought I had much a voice for it, but I never intended to sing a lot in front of others. Sure I sang in youth choir and now adult choir, but that's about it because my voice could hide. Since the end of January God has had other plans! He has been opening doors to use the hidden voice HE gave me. After doing a few specials at church over the weeks, tonight I sang at another church. It was FUN! I love praising the Lord and its much sweeter in company of people who love Him as well!
I just say this to bring up a point that God gives everyone talents and abilities that He wants us to use. We have blessings waiting on the other side just for using them. So if you have a hidden talent, USE IT!
P.S. During the writing of this, God opened a door for me to sing at a Revival in Junction City, LA. I pray God continues to use this surrendered vessel to honor and glorify HIM!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Masquerade
Just recently I was given a case of song tracks to go through, so I could have more selections of songs to sing for specials at church or where ever. I saw the track by Casting Crowns calls "Stained Glass Masquerade" but passed it by. Last Friday night me and Bro. John Paul met at the church to sing a little and see if there were anything we would like to work on. The first track John pulled out was that track I passed over. He played it and wow did it have some great lyrics. It was so true of the church today, even at Victory! (I will post the lyrics at the end)
Now I am not going to name names or say anything that will point out anyone. But the song talks about churches that do not have Jesus in total control of the entire congregation. We walk into a church building on Sunday morning, find our little pew, sing a couple songs out of a hymnal, hear the preach speak some, stand there as "Just as I am" is played, "pray", then go home. Never to think of church, to pick up or Bible, Jesus, or God again til Sunday morning. We come to God's house as Christians to get filled up and built up. But thats not happening. EVERYONE has a problem or knows someone with one, and instead of falling on our faces before God with brothers and sisters in Christ praying for these problems, you just STAND THERE. We are not strong enough to handle anything, God is.
We spend 6 days out of week living how we want, then walk into the house of God like there is not a thing wrong. The fellow members might not know, but God does. As long as we keep holding things back from God, He will not move in the way we would think in our church. God wants our everything inside and outside the church. Victory is not immune to this, I feel that there is a Masquerade going on inside her walls. People claiming to be "souled" out to God, yet they don't live it. Saying they love God, yet don't even attempt to show it. Come on people, we need to get about the Father's business. Attending services 2-3 times a week and doing nothing more will not do it. JUST teaching a class, won't do it. We have to give everything we do to Christ. There are people right here in Hampton, lost and dying, but all we want to do is hide behind a mask a church then walk back out and yank off the mask and get right back to doing nothing for God, well I promise that mask is not fooling God. Why do we do this? Afraid of offending someone? Afraid of not getting to have any fun? Why?
So are you living a masquerade? Are you walking into the Lord's house like there is no problems anywhere in your life and not giving them to God? Do you know people that are lost, yet do not try to share Christ with them? Church, if we would just humble ourselves, give these problems to God and leave them there with Him, there is no telling what will happen inside the walls of the church house! I want to see Victory and all church filled with worship, not afraid of what others will think. Just a place filled with God's presence!
"Stained Glass Masquerade" - Casting Crowns
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Now I am not going to name names or say anything that will point out anyone. But the song talks about churches that do not have Jesus in total control of the entire congregation. We walk into a church building on Sunday morning, find our little pew, sing a couple songs out of a hymnal, hear the preach speak some, stand there as "Just as I am" is played, "pray", then go home. Never to think of church, to pick up or Bible, Jesus, or God again til Sunday morning. We come to God's house as Christians to get filled up and built up. But thats not happening. EVERYONE has a problem or knows someone with one, and instead of falling on our faces before God with brothers and sisters in Christ praying for these problems, you just STAND THERE. We are not strong enough to handle anything, God is.
We spend 6 days out of week living how we want, then walk into the house of God like there is not a thing wrong. The fellow members might not know, but God does. As long as we keep holding things back from God, He will not move in the way we would think in our church. God wants our everything inside and outside the church. Victory is not immune to this, I feel that there is a Masquerade going on inside her walls. People claiming to be "souled" out to God, yet they don't live it. Saying they love God, yet don't even attempt to show it. Come on people, we need to get about the Father's business. Attending services 2-3 times a week and doing nothing more will not do it. JUST teaching a class, won't do it. We have to give everything we do to Christ. There are people right here in Hampton, lost and dying, but all we want to do is hide behind a mask a church then walk back out and yank off the mask and get right back to doing nothing for God, well I promise that mask is not fooling God. Why do we do this? Afraid of offending someone? Afraid of not getting to have any fun? Why?
So are you living a masquerade? Are you walking into the Lord's house like there is no problems anywhere in your life and not giving them to God? Do you know people that are lost, yet do not try to share Christ with them? Church, if we would just humble ourselves, give these problems to God and leave them there with Him, there is no telling what will happen inside the walls of the church house! I want to see Victory and all church filled with worship, not afraid of what others will think. Just a place filled with God's presence!
"Stained Glass Masquerade" - Casting Crowns
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Monday, March 8, 2010
Follow You
Lately I have heard some great songs being released, the best ones have been mission themed. It has put me in a mission mind lately. I went on 2 mission trips while in college. The BCM made trips to Southern Illinois University and Western Illinois University. I enjoyed those but one day would love to do a mission trip to another country! The people outside of the states that have not heard the gospel like we have here and from hearing stories are hungry to hear about Christ. That would be an awesome mission trip!
Anyways here is the song I REALLY like!
Follow You- Leeland feat. Brandon Heath
You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.
All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
'Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was she'd
So how could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(X2)
I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself... to you.
And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself... to you.
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(X2)
Anyways here is the song I REALLY like!
Follow You- Leeland feat. Brandon Heath
You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.
All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done
'Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was she'd
So how could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(X2)
I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself... to you.
And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself... to you.
And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
(X2)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ministry
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20
Those of us who have read the scriptures have no doubt seen the Great Commission. Go to the world and preach Christ's salvation to everyone. That is the ministry Christ left for His disciples. His disciples, I am sure, had their own people they were ministering to. If not, the message of Christ would have died with those men. God did not leave a hard to understand manual on how to do it, JUST DO IT! Believe it or not, those who are professed Christian and have truly accept Christ as savior have already accepted a call into ministry. You have accepted the call to be a preacher! God does not care how you spread the word of His son, Jesus, just that you get it out there.
Ephesians 4:11 says "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" So you can be a pastor, evangelist, teacher, etc.
So are you fulfilling your call? When you accepted Christ did you begin sharing Jesus with the people around you? Are you being called now into something more? I have been praying the Lord show me what He wants from me. I don't know for the life of me why I am being used vocally through song. But I am going with it on faith. Thats how God works. Gives you something you don't think you can do and turns you towards that thing He uses the best. If you don't know where God wants you, PRAY. God will reveal it to you. If you have accepted Christ and are doing nothing, SHAME ON YOU for forfeiting a HUGE blessing. God did not call His people to just slide under the rug, He wants his people to live souled out for Him. That includes finding a ministry and jumping into it.
I urge all true Christians to seek out the ministry God has for you and GO!
Those of us who have read the scriptures have no doubt seen the Great Commission. Go to the world and preach Christ's salvation to everyone. That is the ministry Christ left for His disciples. His disciples, I am sure, had their own people they were ministering to. If not, the message of Christ would have died with those men. God did not leave a hard to understand manual on how to do it, JUST DO IT! Believe it or not, those who are professed Christian and have truly accept Christ as savior have already accepted a call into ministry. You have accepted the call to be a preacher! God does not care how you spread the word of His son, Jesus, just that you get it out there.
Ephesians 4:11 says "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" So you can be a pastor, evangelist, teacher, etc.
So are you fulfilling your call? When you accepted Christ did you begin sharing Jesus with the people around you? Are you being called now into something more? I have been praying the Lord show me what He wants from me. I don't know for the life of me why I am being used vocally through song. But I am going with it on faith. Thats how God works. Gives you something you don't think you can do and turns you towards that thing He uses the best. If you don't know where God wants you, PRAY. God will reveal it to you. If you have accepted Christ and are doing nothing, SHAME ON YOU for forfeiting a HUGE blessing. God did not call His people to just slide under the rug, He wants his people to live souled out for Him. That includes finding a ministry and jumping into it.
I urge all true Christians to seek out the ministry God has for you and GO!
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