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!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Be Careful
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1
There are 2 types of "spiritual" people I have noticed emerging and both are causing chaos with Christians, especially young Christians and also those who are non-believers who are looking for answers. One is the professed Christian that thinks just believing in God and Jesus is enough to get you to heaven. The other, which is more disturbing to me is the "former" Christian that now calls all things God, Jesus, and scripture to be a "delusional fairy-tale".
Those who claim to be Christians by just believing in God are pushing people away left and right from receiving the ONLY pass into Heaven, that being the Salvation on Jesus. Sure I believe in God and Jesus, Satan and all his demons do as well. Scripture says in the end ALL will bow and profess God as Lord of all. After you accept Christ, then you do good works for Him. Thats where this group fails off. They want to believe in God yet live how they want, say what they want, and go where they want without giving any thought to the God who created them. Those young Christians and Non-believers see this and think since that group claims to be heading to Heaven and are having "fun" I am going to just stay where I am. Thats where Churches are falling apart and no one takes a stand against the things God calls abominations to Him.
The second group that claim to be former Christians are disturbing in the fact that they have either grown up in church or have even been ordained ministers. They have heard every story and know the Bible better than most good professed Christians. Just recently I was on a message board debating with one of these people and it was heart breaking to see how someone who once claimed Christ and was studying in seminary to just back off completely and call Christ a fairy-tale. These people could be lumped with this first group because they still have the live how you want demeanor, but they have a whole different side. They denounce Christ all together. Since they appear to have been on the "inside" they could influence those young believers and those who are seeking Christ into turning away all together and living for themselves.
I say all that just to remind us who are trying to live for Christ to be VERY careful in what we do and say. Its our actions that show God's existence and love. To whose young Christians and those unbelievers seeking truth, PLEASE BE CAREFUL who you follow. God's Word is final and if you are learning from someone who is not teaching scripture properly, you will head down a bad path to living as you want and missing out on blessings from the King.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Leviticus and my Scriptural Journey
I started January 1st reading through the Bible in a year, I had never done this before. I can honestly say there are a couple books towards the end of the Old Testament I have never read. So this will be a cool thing to do, plus I get a chance to read some of my favorite events from the scriptures. Now I have gotten behind a little but I am catching up and continuing on.
The book I got hung on was Leviticus, I have not finished it yet, still like 4 chapters. (I have moved on to Numbers to stay with the days) I can say that this book, so far, has made me appreciate grace. If you have not read Leviticus all the way through, then you should pick you Bible up and at least read through it, you will understand what I mean.
In a nutshell, Leviticus is a book of laws. Laws on living, laws of offerings\sacrifices, and laws of who can perform offerings and sacrifices.
But back to my main thought, Leviticus makes me appreciate grace. Without Christ coming to earth, living a sinless life, dying for our sins and his ultimate resurrection there would be no grace. The state of the world would make it near impossible to ever provide the sacrifices God required of Israel after the were freed from Egyptian slavery.
Imagine every time you committed a sin, you would have to get you BEST calf, lamb, bird, etc. Go to your nearest Tabernacle. Wait in a line that would reach from here to forever(because everyone else would be in line as well), when you finally make it to the front of the line the High Priest would offer that up to God as a sacrifice for that sin. You probably sinned while standing in line, so guess what? BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE. Now it might not go exactly like that but you get the picture, we would all be laying sacrifices ALL THE TIME.
Praise God He had an ultimate plan. God knew we could never live up to his hundreds of laws that He laid out for Israel. Thats why Jesus came. He was the PERFECT sacrifice. Not a blemish, never sinned, lived as God asked Him. AND Jesus is also our High Priest. So through Christ, God cut out 2 pieces of a very complicated puzzle.
I am looking forward to what God has for me as I journey through His word. My hope is I learn to appreciate what Christ did for me on the cross more and more. Ultimately leading me to Love God more and more. Thats the relationship He wants with me, I want that relationship.
The book I got hung on was Leviticus, I have not finished it yet, still like 4 chapters. (I have moved on to Numbers to stay with the days) I can say that this book, so far, has made me appreciate grace. If you have not read Leviticus all the way through, then you should pick you Bible up and at least read through it, you will understand what I mean.
In a nutshell, Leviticus is a book of laws. Laws on living, laws of offerings\sacrifices, and laws of who can perform offerings and sacrifices.
But back to my main thought, Leviticus makes me appreciate grace. Without Christ coming to earth, living a sinless life, dying for our sins and his ultimate resurrection there would be no grace. The state of the world would make it near impossible to ever provide the sacrifices God required of Israel after the were freed from Egyptian slavery.
Imagine every time you committed a sin, you would have to get you BEST calf, lamb, bird, etc. Go to your nearest Tabernacle. Wait in a line that would reach from here to forever(because everyone else would be in line as well), when you finally make it to the front of the line the High Priest would offer that up to God as a sacrifice for that sin. You probably sinned while standing in line, so guess what? BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE. Now it might not go exactly like that but you get the picture, we would all be laying sacrifices ALL THE TIME.
Praise God He had an ultimate plan. God knew we could never live up to his hundreds of laws that He laid out for Israel. Thats why Jesus came. He was the PERFECT sacrifice. Not a blemish, never sinned, lived as God asked Him. AND Jesus is also our High Priest. So through Christ, God cut out 2 pieces of a very complicated puzzle.
I am looking forward to what God has for me as I journey through His word. My hope is I learn to appreciate what Christ did for me on the cross more and more. Ultimately leading me to Love God more and more. Thats the relationship He wants with me, I want that relationship.
Friday, February 12, 2010
The REAL Love
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
February 14th, St. Valentines Day.....The day of love. For many years I have come to loath that date. It started out because I got so tired of all the "lovey-dovey" acts of boyfriends\girlfriends, fiances, and spouses. I was, and still am, single and thought if I couldn't experience those feelings then no one else should. That dislike turned more towards the commercialization of the holiday as I got older. It seemed like a joke to put aside one day a year to tell people you love them by purchasing cards, flowers, candy, expensive jewelry. Heaven forbid for a lot if you neglected to do such thing because you would be in the "dog house" for awhile. So adding those reasonings together I just flat out hated the thought of Valentines Day.
If not for the comments of some good friends and God working on that part of my heart, I would not have the thoughts I now have for this day. While I am still not a fan of it. I am going to think on the REAL love, this year. The scriptures above are just a glimpse into the Love our God has for us. If not for the love He had by sending His ONLY son to live in the evil world and endure what no man before or after Him has endured and died on a cross, there would be no love at all.
1 John 4:7-8 says that God is love and those who do not know Him can NEVER love. Those couples out there who are calling what they are doing love, but have not accepted the REAL love that God gives, are doing nothing but lusting. You must know the REAL love Christ gives and love Him before you can even begin to know what loving others is all about.
I want to say I love my family, I love my church family, I love my friends, but most importantly I LOVE MY LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS and the FATHER!
If you do not know the REAL love, I hope and pray you do that before it is everlasting too late. Once you find the Love of God, the love you have for others will be so much more than you could ever imagine.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
February 14th, St. Valentines Day.....The day of love. For many years I have come to loath that date. It started out because I got so tired of all the "lovey-dovey" acts of boyfriends\girlfriends, fiances, and spouses. I was, and still am, single and thought if I couldn't experience those feelings then no one else should. That dislike turned more towards the commercialization of the holiday as I got older. It seemed like a joke to put aside one day a year to tell people you love them by purchasing cards, flowers, candy, expensive jewelry. Heaven forbid for a lot if you neglected to do such thing because you would be in the "dog house" for awhile. So adding those reasonings together I just flat out hated the thought of Valentines Day.
If not for the comments of some good friends and God working on that part of my heart, I would not have the thoughts I now have for this day. While I am still not a fan of it. I am going to think on the REAL love, this year. The scriptures above are just a glimpse into the Love our God has for us. If not for the love He had by sending His ONLY son to live in the evil world and endure what no man before or after Him has endured and died on a cross, there would be no love at all.
1 John 4:7-8 says that God is love and those who do not know Him can NEVER love. Those couples out there who are calling what they are doing love, but have not accepted the REAL love that God gives, are doing nothing but lusting. You must know the REAL love Christ gives and love Him before you can even begin to know what loving others is all about.
I want to say I love my family, I love my church family, I love my friends, but most importantly I LOVE MY LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS and the FATHER!
If you do not know the REAL love, I hope and pray you do that before it is everlasting too late. Once you find the Love of God, the love you have for others will be so much more than you could ever imagine.
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