It is so awesome to see God move! We had a teenager last week and another this week to surrender to Jesus! I’m thankful for being involved with a youth staff and teenagers that are growing in their understanding that all of life really is about God!
Oswald Chambers once said, “Slowly and surely, we learn the great secret of life, which is to know God.” Everything we live for and stand for is simply to show others who Jesus is and how much He loves us.
I know that sometimes the focus of my ministry (truthfully, the focus of my selfish motivation) is on the willingness of others to catch what I feel is a vital area of spirituality. I know that many in the church (as a whole) have lost the main desires of God and settled into “country-club, it’s all about me” religion. We have taken a body that was meant to be a refuge, a place for refueling, and a life saving organism and turned it outside-in. BUT…
I do see a tremendous heart-wrenching change that is sweeping youth and adults. We need to remember that we, those who feel we are on the right track, still have to pray, lead, and live God’s GREAT AND HOPE-FILLED plan! We are in an incredible time in history, poised for genuine revival. People want change and haven’t found it in the man thought to be bringing it. Real change that brings hope can ONLY be centered around Jesus! No government can bring it. But people are SEARCHING FOR IT and the church, those sold out to Jesus, MUST be ready!
Let’s be ready. Find the joy in the journey. It is found in that daily quiet time with Jesus. He will lead us not out of the church but to restore it through love and leading BY EXAMPLE! This is my conviction. I MUST BE the example not just the “pointer-outer” of wrong directions! Frustrations come for us all. Let’s be support for each other and bear each other’s burdens. Not to put on a fake front, but to know we have prayer support, friendship with like-minded people, and are plugged into a move of God that isn’t just felt inside ourselves.
We are a shared vision people. At least in the general sense. Find your joy in Him and your reason to continue ministering to the needs of others!
Pslam 46:1-7
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
SelahJames 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking in nothing.
May God grant us help when it is hard and the ability to be steadfast when it is rocky! God is moving in those who let Him! Focus in!
November 19, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Hey, I’ve been thinking about something for a while. I wish we would do more contemporary music at church. Like during the morning service. When I went to Jacob’s church for his thing, that was the music they played. Everyone was so excited to be at church. It was so different to me, because I feel like everything at our church has to be done a certain way. We’ve always been taught to step outside of our comfort zone. I think that putting more contemporary music in our worship services would definitely be outside of the church’s (as a whole) comfort zone. I also think if we had different music, we might have more visitors that would potentially, and hopefully, be new members. I do like some of the old hymns, but for the most part, they kinda bore me. It’s not the kind of music that makes me really pumped up about worshipping Jesus. I think we really should have more music that makes us want to stand through the whole worship time and have our hands raised for God. That might be something to start a revival in our church.