Singing.....a sign of inner joy

Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

These Lyrics I've been singing in my head all day and just thought I'd share with you......

What does it mean to be saved
Isn’t it more than just a prayer to pray
More than just a way to Heaven

What does it mean to be His
To be formed in His likeness
Know that we have a purpose

To be salt and light in the world In the world
To be salt and light in the world

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Say so say so

Oh that the Church would arise
Oh that we would see with Jesus’ eyes
We could show the world Heaven

Show what it means to be His
To be formed in His likeness
Show them they have a purpose

I am redeemed
I am redeemed
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up!!!


Wow....have you ever read these words and just let them sink in? I know we sing this song on Sundays, but have you ever just meditated on the words your singing?? As I am singing these lyrics today....over and over again (ya know how it is when you have a song stuck in your head). Well these words began to open up my heart to their meaning. We sing praises to Him out of the joy of our heart in thanksgiving and adoration to Him.

This song says....It's more than just a prayer and a way to Heaven. We are formed in His likeness and he has created us with a purpose.

Why do I sing? Because my God has given me life. He has given me a reason to live and through his Son Jesus Christ I have be Redeemed! Praise you Jesus for loving me enough. So I sing out of the joy in my heart for a God who loves me and even though I'm not worthy of this love he loves me anyway! How could I not sing?? He loves me enough!! I don't know about you, but that is alone is enough for me!

Sing His praises for the world to hear!! Arise oh church, Arise!! Show them the love he has shown you! What does it mean to be his?? Show them....show them THEY have a purpose. See them through the eyes of Jesus let the compassion he has for them overflow out of you. We could show them heaven. What a gift to give.......to show someone the pure love of Jesus!

Go, be the salt and light! Do not cover your lamp stand! Bring the light to the WORLD!

He's worth it isn't he.....

LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO!!

This is who we are and who we're called to be. We are called to take the Good News to the world! His command was very clear......

Jesus came to them and said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:18-22

That is the Great Commission. There's no question that we were called to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ. We should all ask ourselves this question each day.....

How is my life making a difference for the sake of the Great Commission?

Reflection of Leadership

I read a blog this morning by Perry Noble and the truth in it is something we all need to examine in our own lives. (you can check out his post down to the left on my blog roll....Two quick thoughts)

If we're teaching the Word of God our lives HAVE TO reflect what we're teaching because those we're leading will do as we do before they'll do as we say. You can teach all day long on being a good steward, taming the tongue or sharing the Gospel, but if your life doesn' t reflect what you teach remember their lives reflect your leadership. We had a teaching class this week and one of the verses that keeps going through my head is the one in James 3:1 talking about how not all should presume to be teachers because teachers are judged more strictly. And really that should sink deep within all of us. The bible talks all the time about the persecution that will come with knowing Christ.....I think this is even more evident with those who rise up to be leaders. And in this case not only does it come from the world, but from people all around us. When you take that step to lead others everything you do and say is being watched....by your children, church members, co-workers, family....and so on. There are some people in my life that will say things with me around just to see how I will react and believe me my reaction will either credit or discredit the faith I proclaim in their eye's. It's soooo easy for us to compromise our faith to "fit in". And truly.....taking the stand against the norm will speak to those watching so much more than the compromise will.

A great quote to go along with this, I believe is......

"Attitude is a reflection of leadership"

Take a look around at those your leading....children, ministry, family, friends.....take in what you see. And our attitude should also reflect our relationship with Christ. The closer we are to him the more like him we become and that WILL filter down to those we're leading. We need to reflect on these things and ask God to search our hearts and help us to become the leaders He's called us to be and the leaders he needs to rise up and work the harvest.

I can't get these lyrics out of my head.......

I'm not going back,

I'm moving ahead.

I'm here to declare to you my past is over.

In you all things are made new.

I've given my life to Christ

I'm moving, moving Forward!!

I have been singing this song ALL DAY!! My co-workers must think I'm a FRUITCAKE! ;-)

And you know what.....I'm happy to be a fruitcake for Jesus anyday! (those of you who went to forward understand the fruitcake thing...those of you who didn't, ask someone who did)

I LOVE Him soooo much his praises are just overflowing from my heart. I can't help, but sing.....and you know what? It makes everything else seem soooooo much better!

Have a blessed weekend!!

Joy in the Valley??

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
What?? I'm supposed to find joy when I'm going through hard times? How is that even possible? Many of us when faced with trials are so ready to throw in the towel and give up. I guess we think that if we are going through a valley then God must have left our side or we've done something to make him mad. I know I've thought that at times. But, in studying this passage I've come to realize God allows certain testing to come our way in order to strengthen us for what He's called us to do. Now don't get me wrong some of these trials can be pretty hard and it's easy to feel hopeless in the midst, but if we hold on to his promise.....The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 Just because we are going through a tough time doesn't mean He has left us. Even if that tough time is brought on by a bad decision on our part....He will NEVER leave you of forsake you!

Now lets take a look further into this passage...
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
James 1:5-8
Not only is God telling us ahead of time to not worry when going through trials and what those trials will do for our character, but He goes even further in saying if we lack wisdom in how to handle a situation all we have to do is ASK! Plain and simple....no since in worrying or being anxious in a trial....Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6....It's very clear that God has not called us to live a life of worry and strife. But what if you continue to worry and stress over these things? God tells us that those who ask, yet dought that he will come through are like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind....that he should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. Think about this in your own life for a minute say you have a friend who asks you to do something for them. You've agreed to help with whatever it is, but they continue to "confirm" your help. "Are you sure you can help?" or "You are going to make it.....right?" and this can really go on and on with some people. Or you go to help and they insist on doing it themselves, but then complain that they didn't have any help. It's really annoying right? Actually it kind of makes you feel like they are saying you aren't trustworthy right? Well, think how this might make God feel. It's written all in His word that if we ask according to his will we WILL receive! 1 John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. If after our request to him we continue to beg and plead and really kind of wallow in our own worries.....we are actually expressing to him that he's not big enough for what we're going through.

Take joy in trials???....If you never face any trial or struggle in your walk with Christ...then more than likely you're headed in the wrong direction. He never said our walk would be easy and the word tells us that we will be faced with persecution in knowing him, but we hold tight to his promises. So, yes....hold your joy for the Lord through persecution because you know you'll be stronger on the other side.

Caution Lights

How many of you are driving already or learning to drive? Okay…well let’s say you’re driving up to an intersection and you see that the light turns yellow….now your situation is you have plenty of room to stop, but if you speed up a little you can for sure make it through that light. What do you do?? Do you speed up to get through in time? Or do you slowly come to a stop? Or how about you come up to a stop sign and there’s no one around. You’re thinking in your head…it’s ridiculous to stop when there’s no other cars….it won’t hurt anything if I just slow down a little, look both ways and just slide on through….will it?? Or even better….the train bars have come down and the train is a good 100 yards away!! You’re in a hurry and you know that train isn’t going fast enough to get you so you just go around the little warning signs and mosey on about your way. C’mon now I know you have…..well maybe those who have been driving a little longer than others. And I know the adults reading this have done some of these…..me included. I’m the worst about if a light turns yellow it means go a little faster! But that’s not it AT ALL! Those warning signs or stop signs are there for a reason….they’re there to protect us.
Well, I feel like God gives us caution lights all the time through his word. I believe he is up there flashing a big yellow sign every time we’re heading down the wrong direction. He’s not going to make us do the right thing……we AREN’T puppets, but he is a loving Father who wants the best for us and he does give us direction. And sometimes we don’t always take head to his caution lights. Tonight we are going to talk about the type of caution lights we should watch out for and what to do when you see one.


Caution lights in our own walk…

“Why do you call me’ Lord, Lord.’ And do not do what I say? Luke 6:46

Here Jesus is teaching about people who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk. He is giving a warning sign of what happens to someone who claims Jesus, but doesn’t do what his word says. See the bible isn’t just this huge book with a bunch of meaningless information, it’s our instruction manual….GZA said it best in their song “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”. See God knows the struggles we are going to face and he has put all the answers in this book. And he has filled it with wisdom and direction. And a whole lot of caution lights. Listen to what he says about a person who calls him lord, but does not do what he says….

"I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Luke 6:47-49

If this isn’t a caution light…..I don’t know what is. And I think a lot of us look past these caution lights in the bible. This would be that railroad track that the train is 100 yrds down the way…maybe even stopped and you decide to go around the gards because you know there’s no way it could make it to you before you got over those tracks so you slowly, with your eyes on that train, cross over and BAM!!! You never even saw the other train going 100 miles an hour coming in the other direction!! Jesus spoke these warnings out of love. This warning in Luke is telling us it’s more than just a prayer….it’s a lifestyle. He knows we are going to be faced with trials and in this passage he explains what will happen to the one who hears his words, but does not carry them out in his lifestyle. See the enemy or AKA Satan is on the prowl. The bible even warns us about that….in 1st Peter 5:8 it says that he’s like a lion prowling, just looking for someone to devour. How many know that when a lion attacks he doesn’t attack the strongest animal he goes for the weak….the babies mostly. That’s why Jesus is saying to get in the word….apply it to your life because the enemy is waiting to take you out. His word will give you strength and help you build that foundation so that you will be secure when the storm comes.

FORWARD CONFERENCE 2008!

Let's just say that this was the most AMAZING weekend EVER!! We took 21 students and 13 adults to the Forward Conference held at the Gwinnett Arena last weekend. We started with an encouraging message on fear from Pastor Jentzen Franklin and worship with Delirious. Right from the start you could feel the presence of God!! There's nothing like seeing 9000 students worshiping.....I'll never forget what we experienced this weekend.

On Friday we had some free time so we headed to ATL for a

Prayer Walk with Safehouse Outreach. This organization reaches out

to the homeless, orphans and the poor. Pastor Dave took us through the streets of Atlanta to show us what these people go through each day. We really didn't get to interact with anyone, but the message was still the same.......there are people in need all around us and we are called to make a difference!

The worship experience was so powerful. And to see the students come together at this time....forgetting all that's around them and letting everything go of the past.

Lives were changes, addictions broken, relationships built and friendships mended......

I am so thankful for all who helped make this weekend possible! We have MANY more pictures to be posted soon.

ARE YOU READY FOR A REVOLUTION?!?!