Who’s In Control?

“Dad!! Quick!! Tell me how to change weapons!!” –daughter

“Give me the controller so I can show you.” –dad

“NO! Just tell me quick!” –daughter

“Give me the controller.” –dad

“Never mind.”- daughter

I was in the kitchen cooking some potato soup, when I overheard this conversation between my daughter and my husband. It was an unusually lazy Saturday afternoon, and perfect for a PlayStation game. But my daughter needed a little guidance on this game, and she did the right thing by asking for help. Yet she did what we often do with God, she didn’t want to give up control.

The result, my daughter didn’t do so well on that round. And neither do we when we continue to do things OUR way. Bottom line: until we surrender to Christ, we will always come out on the losing end. HE is the one that makes us victorious. We win because of Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:57)

You’re probably thinking right now that you have nothing to worry about because you’ve surrendered your heart to Christ: you’re saved, and you’re going to Heaven. If that’s true I rejoice with you.  But surrender to God doesn’t end at Salvation. It is just beginning, and it is a process: a lifelong decision on our part to allow God to take the reins.

Surrender Defined:

To yield something to the possession or power of another

To submit or yield

Is there something you are holding on to that God has been asking you to give HIM possession of for a long time: a bad habit, a wrong behavior, a negative thought life, a bad attitude or hanging out with the wrong crowd? We can ask God to help us in these areas, but what will we say when his answer is, “Give me the controller.” Will we respond like my daughter did to her dad and say, “NO?” or “Never mind?”

Who is in control?

Let’s humble ourselves before the Lord, recognizing that we have need of Him, and allow Him in on this process of surrender. He will be with us every step of the way, gently guiding us and encouraging us. He wants us to WIN! To succeed in everything we do in life. HE has the answers. So let’s give Him the control.

Preparing For a Spiritual Snowmageddon

I know most all of you battled the grocery stores to stock cabinets before snowmageddon makes her grand entrance. Why? Because your preparedness enables you to make it through this snow storm. We have grocery shopped, filled out deck bin with fire wood, stacked my indoor wood basket, gathered my candles and laugh if you will, but I have filled our bath tub with water for flushing should we lose power. Ya never know, right? Better safe than sorry.

We prepare for things all the time:  study for tests, practice for a concert, save money for a rainy day, make a nursery for the new baby or formulate a retirement plan. There are just some things you can’t wait until the last minute to prepare for or we will be caught ill-equipped to handle what comes our way.  But do we “prepare” for a spiritual snowmageddon?

I’m not talking about having a doomsday prepper mentality. And I do NOT believe we should go around with forebodings; always expecting bad things to happen. But you can’t wait until you’re snowed in, and lose power to decide you need flashlight batteries and candles.

Yet, many times this is precisely what we do as Christians, and I’ll be the first to admit that I have done this.  But God wants us spiritually prepared so we can face any situation with power and victory. He has given us a survivor’s manual (The Bible), and our own personal guide (The Holy Spirit). Yes, it’s that simple!

You may say that you don’t understand the Bible when you read it, OR you may say that you don’t know how to pray. No worries, the Holy Spirit will teach you HOW!

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 (rsv)

“…and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”  1 John 2:27 (niv)

Repurposed

Being born October 28, my daughter never had a huge birthday party: partly because of the conflict of Halloween festivities.  So on her seventeenth birthday we decided to make it happen. It was a BIG deal for us! We wanted it special for her, but we didn’t have a lot of money to sink into this, so we got creative. We went shopping at second hand shops and thrift stores. We saw items that had been discarded by others; items that were past their prime; items that were calling my name!

An old wooden door that once stood sentinel for someone’s home became a huge deck table.  A discarded wooden storm door from up the street, was transformed into a photo booth. I made yard signs out of old kitchen cabinet doors that were long past their prime. Empty picture frames became chic little chalk boards. A bag of various fabric remnants became a decorative garland for our fence.

I sanded, tore fabric for the garland, painted, sanded some more, and stained. The work took months of preparation. But it was well worth it. Old and unwanted items; items with wear and tear; items that once served one purpose, now served another.

The definition of repurpose:         

To give a new purpose or use to….

To change something so that it can be used for a different purpose…..

This is what God does for us when He saves us. He cleans us up and gives us new purpose. He wants to develop in us our potential, our purpose, and put us in a better place. This sounds great! It IS great. But what about when you’ve been serving God for a long time? We can begin to feel a little wear and tear….we can even begin to question our usefulness.

Everyone goes through seasons in life: when one season ends, we can feel like our purpose and usefulness is ending as well. We can begin to talk ourselves right out the next season God wants to prepare us for. “We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.” Proverbs 19:21. God has plans for our entire life. Just like I changed a door into a table, God changes us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Our purpose may change, but our usefulness is never over!

God wants to repurpose our lives…..not once…..but continually: from glory to glory! As long you as you have breath in your body, know that God has a purpose and a plan for you. (Jeremiah 29:11)

How the Grudge Stole Christmas

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” This Charles Dickens quote just about sums up ANY holiday season.  And does this response sound familiar to anyone, “Yeah, everything was great EXCEPT…..”I’ve said it before, and will probably say it again.

I think there will always be exceptions to the perfect holiday. Everything was great except: my kid was sick, my car broke down, my flight was cancelled, my ordered  gift didn’t arrive in time, my bonus wasn’t given this year, my funds were running low, my family  member said some very hurtful things…… my……oh my…… oh my! Surely the worst of times.

There are exceptions or special conditions to nearly everything: contracts, grammar rules, laws, warranties, etc. I’m about to shock some of you with what I’m going to say next, but keep reading all the way through. There are even exceptions or conditions to Salvation: we must repent of our sins, and believe that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross.

But there are a two things in scripture where “no exceptions” apply.

  1. God commands us to love without exception (Mark 12:30-31)
  2. God commands us to forgive without exception (Mark 11:25)

In the words of my friend Scooby-Do, “Ruh-Roh!!” No exceptions! No conditions! No buts! No what ifs! God wants us to love others the same way He loves us. He loved us when we were sinners, when we were not lovable, not nice, not going to church, not living right, not saved, and here’s the big one: He love us when we did not love Him.  Now that’s unconditional love. That’s God NOT holding grudges.

We didn’t do one thing to earn His love OR His forgiveness, yet He freely gives it. Without exceptions. No strings attached. No grudges.  He already loves us, we don’t have to ask for that. But we do need to ask for forgiveness, of which He immediately gives upon request.  1John 1:9 tells us that. And on top of that, He will forgive us over and over again. He is faithful to His love for us. He’s committed. He’s fully invested.

Are you seeing what I’m seeing? That love and forgiveness are like a light switch and a light bulb. What’s the point in having one and not the other? We are to love and forgive each other the way He does for us.

About right now, I’m sure some ‘unforgivable person’ pops up in your mind. And you’re convinced that if you could tell me your story that I would understand why you cannot love them or forgive them.

I was once that person. I had the “unforgivable person” in my life that had unfairly and unjustly hurt me purposely for years. Yet God patiently taught me how to forgive the unforgivable person. No buts. No exceptions. No excuses. No grudges.  But, that’s a story for a later time.

Holidays have a way of dredging up those family members and friends that we would rather not see. They challenge our love walk, and the sight of them reminds us of unhealed and unforgiven hurts. We can’t love them until we forgive them. And we can’t forgive them until we love them. Let this holiday season be one of healing, love and forgiveness. Don’t let your grudge steal Christmas. Ask God to help you love and forgive without exceptions. He will supernaturally equip you.

CLICK these passages to learn more about what God has to say about love and forgiveness.

Mathew 6:14-15

Luke 6:27-38   

1 John 4:7-11  

1 Corinthians 13  

John 3:16 

Ephesians 4:30-32

Acts 3:19

 

Where’s Jesus?

Here we are just a few days away from Christmas: 6 days to be exact. We are busy with hustle and bustle: attending holiday programs galore, cooking for family gatherings, and prepping for parties at the work place. And so the list goes on. Needless to say, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

It is no wonder that we can actually find ourselves irritated and aggravated this time of year.  

Meanwhile, celebrating the birth of Christ becomes lost in the commotion, and is just another scheduled event. Church calendars are planned out with special Christmas programs, and everyone knows exactly where to go, and when to arrive: for Christmas programs that is.

This is a good time for us to ask ourselves what the Wise men asked: Where’s Jesus?

Do we look for God only when problems arise……have we hidden Him in that dusty Bible on the shelf…..do we invite Him to attend an occasional church service….is He in an infrequent prayer……a random work conversation…..a few good deeds…… a Christmas ornament……..an afterthought?

Jesus wants to be just like the star of Bethlehem in our lives: a constant light shining big and bold and bright!

Mathew 2 introduces us to the Wise men. “About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

They had a need: to find The King. So they went about asking and seeking. God tells us when we seek Him we WILL find Him.  And when they found Him, they worshiped.

We also have need of Jesus. And when you ask yourself the question, ‘where’s Jesus’……I hope the answer is that He is in your heart. That’s the best way to worship Him!

But if you don’t have Him in your heart, there is good news. He is standing at the door your heart knocking, and calling out to you. He is waiting for you to invite Him in. Revelation 3:20.

It’s a good time for all of us to take spiritual inventory and asking ourselves exactly where Jesus is in our lives. Someone reading this may to rededicate their lives to Christ OR someone reading this may need to accept Jesus into their heart.  If that’s you today, you can say this prayer:

Dear God,
I’m praying because I know I have need of You Jesus. You are my Savior. I believe that Jesus came to earth as the only begotten Son of God, that You paid the price for my sins on the cross, that You rose again on the third day. I know that I have sinned so I ask you to forgive my sins.  I believe these things, and confess them with my mouth. I know that I am saved in Jesus name.  Amen.

 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

The Most Important Trait of an Effective Worship Leader

I don’t go skating often, but when I do, I rent a pair of skates that countless others have worn before me. The result: the skates never fit well because they are not my own. They’ve been worn out by countless others before me.

Because I’m not practiced at skating I feel awkward, and stumble and fall a lot.  As I hug the wall of the rink, I look very much like an insect that has made an unfortunate connection with the windshield of a vehicle traveling at high speeds.  I shimmy around the wall until I feel brave enough to let go, and venture slightly closer to the center of the rink. It’s obvious to everyone around me that I do not routinely roller skate.

Let me introduce you to another group you will see at the skating rink. These people know exactly what they came there to do. They don’t hug the wall, or in any way hesitate.  They don’t need coaxing or convincing: they go for it! Straight to the center! These are the people that brought their own skates with them.

I want so much to be like them; to be free and have the fun they are having. So I observe them, and it’s not too long before I begin to let go of the wall, and try to follow what I am seeing.

We should be like those practiced skaters when it comes to worship service:  boldly venturing straight into the center of God’s presence without hesitation; without being coaxed; without wearing someone else’s worn out skates. Bring your own skates!

Bring your worship with you to praise and worship service. Bring the worship with you that you’ve been engaging in all week in your home; in your car; at your work place! Help someone tear themselves away from the wall so they too can learn what you have learned: how to be in the center of God’s presence.

As worship leaders, we should influence and inspire those around us to do what we are doing, and go where we are going. And this doesn’t just apply to the congregation. I’ve seen fathers and mothers skating alongside their little one: holding their hand and gently leading away from the wall. Without this encouragement and reassurance, their child would probably get discouraged and want to take off their skates and never go back the rink again.  Not only are we leading a congregation to the center of God’s Presence, we should be investing in and training up the next generation worship leaders.

But let’s not neglect our own preparation time. Those skillful skaters would lose their proficiency if they ceased to put on their skates. We need to put on the garments of praise in our private time. It is vital to have our own consistent and intimate time with God. How can we teach others to value the Presence of God if we find ourselves hugging the wall: too unpracticed to make it to the center of the rink?

In John 15:5 Jesus tells us, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” In order to be effective worship leaders, we must remain in the Presence of God or we will fail!!  We need to position ourselves in the center of God’s Presence before we position ourselves on center stage.

This article on…… Music Ministry Coach You can find this article published on Music Ministry Coach’s Website in addition to other music ministry articles, videos, tutorials and more by using this link. In the upper right hand corner you will see tabs for general music, singers or musicians.

 

Out of The Shadows & Into The Light

I’m blessed to know Amy Beth Sharp, an awesome woman of God that I’ve had the privilege to attend church with when I was a child.  I saw her Facebook post, and immediately knew I wanted to share this, and she was gracious enough to give me her permission. Enjoy her story.

“I was headed to the trash with this Christmas cactus one day last spring. It had sat on my piano for four years: a pathetic, withered, anemic-looking twig. I often failed to water it (hey, the word “cactus” is in its name!) and probably never fed it. I never once googled for information on caring for it.

Instead of throwing it away, I sat it in the shade of my front porch and gave it a big drink of water. In a day or two, I was surprised to see how perky and alive it looked! Within another few days new shoots were growing on it, and over the summer it quadrupled in size! Optimistically, I hoped it would bloom this year. Sure enough, little pink buds formed at the end of each frond. Today, it has full blooms on it.

I wonder how many people around us are like my plant? So many are sad, undernourished, underappreciated, ignored and out of place. It took so little to take my plant from dying to thriving!

I just brought it out of the shadows, into the light, and gave it what it needed.

It’s so easy to help people along their way. Kindness, mercy, a smile, respect, courtesy, acceptance and love are like water and sunshine to hurting people we rub shoulders with every day.

God has given us the responsibility to spread His message of love and to tell of the abundant life available to us through Jesus. Go help the people you rub shoulders with to blossom!”

************************************************************************

I love the analogy Amy gave us.  And as I began to meditate on this, I began to think about this in a different way. It made me consider how we may prematurely cast aside marriages, family relationships, jobs, friends or ministries because WE think they aren’t thriving. You may even be ready to give up on yourself. There could be a situation or circumstance that you feel will never get better, and you’re ready to give up.

Whatever it is that you are prepared to discard, allow God to shed some light upon it. His Presence changes everything. Allow Him to have His way in every area of your life, because He truly cares. Don’t give up just because your circumstances look grim and fruitless. There is beauty inside, waiting to blossom from the healing power of God’s wonderful light and grace. Allow God to bring you out of the shadows, into His light. He will give you what you need.

Psalms 34:18        Psalms 147:3        Ecclesiastes 3:11       I Peter 2:9     Philippians 1:6 

Conscious of a Benefit Received

THANKFUL defined: Conscious of a benefit received.

Thanksgiving is upon us. Its a time when our country takes time to reflect upon all things for which we are  grateful. “Conscious of a benefit received,” is just one definition I found but it resonated with me. Many times we are ungrateful, sad, depressed, angry, upset, entitled or just plain unappreciative because we haven’t realized the benefit we have received.

 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Psalms 103:2 kjv

Jesus Christ has given us a long list of benefits. Here are but a few:

  • Salvation
  • Forgiveness/He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins
  • Grace/His favor rests upon us
  • Written promises for us to claim
  • The Holy Spirit/Comfort/Guidance/Empowerment
  • Joy/Peace/Love/Contentment

God’s benefits are all around us, we just have learn how to recognize them. They are not shrouded in mystery and unknown to us. We see them daily; but instead of seeing benefits we may see obligations or aggravations.

God’s benefits manifest themselves in physical and tangible ways, not only in supernatural or ethereal ways. His benefits can be heard in the voice of your child, seen in the sunrise, felt when someone wraps their arms around you, tasted in your precious mama’s good cooking or in the smell after a fresh summer’s rain. God is benefiting us with every word of encouragement, every ‘I love you,’ every paycheck, every meal, every …..thing.

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven.” James 1:17 msg

Let’s decide to be more conscious of a benefit received and give God the glory for it.

Today I’ve asked my coworkers: what does it mean to you to be thankful. I thought I’d share their responses:

  • Thankful is choosing to see the good when things are looking pretty bad.
  • Being appreciative. Its understanding that we are benefiting from the efforts & contributions of people before us. Realizing that our benefits, freedoms and comfort are from them. And because of that we can be appreciative and continue to pave the way for the generations to come. It’s not about you.
  • Thinking of others instead of yourself & being a blessing to them.  Knowing that God has given us a second chance at life.
  • Being thankful is being blessed with people and things makes me who I am.
  • Being appreciative of all things
  • I believe being thankful is that I love and that I am loved. I’m thankful for my health, happiness, and my household.
  • Being grateful and appreciative for being alive. Being able to do things for other people to make them happy.
  • Being thankful for what you have, for making it another day. Thankful for family because many don’t have family. Thankful for food and loved ones to share a meal with.
  • To be grateful & appreciative.

Come As a Child

Tracey Ray's avatarGodspeaks2us

I’m an analyzer and critical thinker. That can be a powerful asset, but it can also complicate things. Sometimes it can backfire, and I can think myself right out of a good thing.

I was re-reading Psalm 91, and this statement really popped out to me, “His faithful promises are our armor.” This put a new spin on putting on the armor of God: I can put on the armor of God by simply believing His promises. This thought hadn’t even landed in my mind good when another thought invaded my mind like a bull in a China shop. Immediately, I began over-thinking what God was trying to teach me. Could I reason myself right out of God’s promises too? Yes, I could. In my spirit I heard God gently say, “So, come to me as a little child.”

What exactly does this mean? It means to simply believe without…

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Here As In Heaven

“Here as In Heaven” is a phrase that God kept bringing up in my spirit, earlier this year. It’s in the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew chapter six beginning with verse nine:

“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come.Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

So how is it in Heaven, I began to wonder?  The first thing that came to my mind is there is no sickness or disease in Heaven. The take-away: I can live a disease free life here on earth because it is that way in Heaven. Here as in Heaven. I began to claim my healing and I began to see it manifest in my life knowing without a doubt it is God’s will for my life to be free of sickness and disease.

Jesus walked this earth healing people. Why would He do such a thing? To tease us? To dangle a carrot in front of our face that we could never obtain? No. Jesus healed people on earth because that is how it is in Heaven. “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

About a month or so after this phrase was dropped in my spirit, I went to the Outcry concert and heard Elevation Worship. One of their songs was titled “Hear as In Heaven.” I had to buy that CD. That song resonated with me, and I couldn’t get away from it. The song talks about how miracles can happen in the Presence of God.

CLICK the link to listen.

 Here As In Heaven by Elevation Worship

Be assured God never changes. He is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow. If He wanted people healed back then, He wants people healed today. He loves each one of us, and has planned good things for us. Be encouraged and pray as Jesus instructed: here (on earth) as in Heaven!

Mathew 6:9-13