Checkpoint!

If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don’t do that, you might begin the work, but you would not be able to finish. And if you could not finish it, everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘This man began to build, but he was not able to finish'. ~ Luke 14:28-30 (ERV)

     It's July...and we're now at a checkpoint in the year. So, it's time to ask ourselves some questions about the things we are doing, what we have done well, and what we can improve upon. So, get a pen and a piece of paper, and divide it into three sections; then take some time to think about how your worship ministry has changed in the past year:

• what is different, and why?
• what are your personal ministry goals for the next 6 months?
• how will you make this happen?

     Write those things down, and pray over them. Ask God for guidance on how to carry out those goals to fulfill His plan for your life and service to Him. It may mean letting go of some projects, moving in another direction, taking on new responsibilities or even saying no to others. But, whatever answer you receive, it will always point to what is best!

      Carry on...

Stand for Something!

Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand.
~ Eph. 6:13 (CEB)

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything".  How many times did we hear that statement, growing up? We first had to learn what we believed was right, and then stick by it when we faced the pull of gravity from peer pressure, cultural mores, personal dilemmas and even religious standards. Sometimes, we were able to resist, sometimes we gave in. So, how do we now stand?

Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.~ Proverbs 7:1 (NLT)

We are living in a time when values are being tested on a daily basis, many times having to choose between standing up for our beliefs, and holding onto something that we have worked hard to achieve. We often say: "I'll never do that..." but reality always checks us when whenever we are faced with a situation that requires us to either speak up or speak out from our heart with no one to support us, even if they are standing by, witnessing the attack that has been waged against us. It is then that we learn not only what we really believe, but who our real comrades in the faith are.

...Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?  Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”  Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.

~ Mark 14: 48-50 (NLT)

When you stand up for what you believe is right, you may not get what you want. In fact, you may lose everything, and be left standing alone. It's why wars have been fought, lives have been lost, nations have been formed and destroyed, and laws have been changed or abolished. Standing up for your beliefs takes courage, because the outcome may be uncertain. But whatever the cost, it's worth having principles strong enough to stand on.  So...Stand!

Do You Have His Attention? Pt. 2

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
And cannot look on wickedness.
Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,
And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he? ~ Hab. 1:13 (NKJV)

     In Part 1 of our discussion, we talked about Cain's offering and why it was unacceptable to God, because of the condition of his heart. We also learned that just as it was with Cain, it's possible for God to hate what we do for Him, if we have sin in our hearts. In these times when worship arts sometimes become more focused on the presentation than the message, how do we stay focused on the Lord, and keep His attention on us? How do stay out of the many traps and snares that the enemy has planned for us?

     The first and most important way to stay free from the enemy's traps is through prayer. Prayer is our first line of communication line with God, and without a prayer life, we have no ministry. Through prayer, we can find out what the enemy's next move is, and get His guidance on how to handle, stop, or navigate around it. Another way is to be mindful of what we say. Sometimes, we casually say things that can be misunderstood, or we speak to the wrong people about things that are going on. Also be careful of competition, and trying to outdo others. God is not judging whose praise is the best, He receives all praise that comes from pure hearts! If the band changes the music or switches songs, keep it moving and don't complain about how "they messed us up".  Speak kindly to others in your group, respect them at all times. Remember, what you have to say is never more important than the person you are speaking to; that goes for members as well as leaders. Don't look down on those who are less skilled than you are, instead, look for ways to befriend them, and offer to share your knowledge. If others have more abilities than you, introduce yourself and find out how you can learn from them.

...But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart"~I Samuel 16:7 (NCV)

     This is God's work, and we're all on the same team! There is no place for striving in the Kingdom. If we are worshiping and sharing the Good News of Christ through our gifts and talents, we can all have God's attention, at the same time.

Please enjoy this group of dancers from different ministries who worked together to present a beautiful worship piece:

The Greatest of These is Love...Pt. 2

   

 

     In our last blog, we were learning about what love is, what it is not, and to make sure that whatever we do comes from the heart of Christ, and not from a selfish motivation. In I Cor. 13: 5-7, what is known as the "Love Chapter", we read about love:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

     Easier said than done, yes? But God would never require for us to do something that was impossible or unfair. We can make a checklist of the things we know about love from our reading:

 Love:

• suffers long 
• is kind
• does not envy
• does not parade itself
• is not puffed up
• does not behave rudely
• does not seek its own
•  is not provoked
• thinks no evil
• does not rejoice in iniquity
•  rejoices in the truth
• bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
• never fails

      We can all identify with some of the things on this list! Every day we need to ask God to help us be more Christlike in our actions, in our speaking, and our relating to others. Before we get up in front of a congregation, we need to check ourselves to be sure that God is pleased with the way we have treated others according to His Word, and not the way we feel that they deserve to be treated. If we have hurt or offended anyone, we are to go to them and make amends before we offer our gifts (Matt 5: 23-24). God is looking at our hearts...what does He see?  Love God...Love People!