Retreat Weekend

I want to thank those of you who prayed for us as we went on our Worship Team Retreat this weekend. The retreat was a big success. We joined together with other worship teams and leaders from around Colorado at Agape Outpost in Breckenridge for a time of refreshing with the Lord. Every now and then it is nice to be the ones sitting in the crowd worshiping with no other responsibilities except exalting Him. And we did. I cannot speak for every member of the praise team, but for me it was a special time with the Lord during those corporate worship times where at moments my heart wanted to explode out of my chest in praise. Thank you so much for allowing us to have this time of refreshing with the Lord

Obviously there are things we learned, and there were things that were a confirmation for us that we are doing things well. One thing that was reinforced in me this weekend is that, while we might play the instruments and sing into microphones, the entire congregation is the worship team. The song that you bring in your heart every week is what makes Sunday morning worship an experience instead of a service. The band members could sing and play their hearts out, but if everyone else’s hearts aren’t worshiping Jesus, those are the Sundays when you walk away saying things like, “The worship wasn’t that great,” or, “I didn’t get anything out of it,” or, “The sermon really didn’t speak to me.” It goes without saying that if we play and sing the music poorly, yes, the worship won’t be “that great,” and the blame could be laid squarely at the feet of yours truly for not doing my job. But to get to my point, corporate worship will only be as “good” as the hearts of the people who are in attendance. So with that in mind, remember that each of us contribute to the whole of the worship on Sunday morning. Your private times of worship during the week (private worship deserves its own blog entry) are what makes your corporate worship contribution valuable. Do nothing during the week, you’ll bring nothing to the corporate worship on Sunday.

So let me encourage each of you to bring your sacrifice of praise with you on Sunday mornings. A sacrifice of worship that you have been gathering all week in your personal times with God. What an awesome time of worship we could have together if we all came with an offering in our hearts; an offering that gains its substance from our time spent with God and our loving obedience to Him throughout the week.

The Lord is Gracious

This morning, Matt Lambrecht sang a song. I’m not sure of its title, but the chorus goes, “The Lord is gracious, He is slow to anger, He is rich in love, He is good to all.” That song sings right to my heart. This week I’ve been a bit retrospective, thinking much about the day I was born again, and the events surrounding my new birth. It was in May of 1992 at crusade on the New Albany High School football field. I had been raised in church, and had actually already been baptized (twice – ask me later). So you might guess that when the Holy Spirit began convicting me of my lostness, I was a bit confused and not sure of why I was under such heavy conviction. The counselor, Sheldon, and I battled for at least 45 minutes about my salvation. Actually, Sheldon was a spectator to the real battle. I was actually hearing very little of what he was saying to me. My mind and soul was busy doing battle. Satan did his best to keep me confused. Everyone had gone home, and they were packing up the chairs, but Sheldon and I remained. It was the battle for my soul that night. Then very suddenly, all things became very clear to me. The Holy Spirit triumphed, and breathed life into me, giving me the faith I needed for trusting Jesus Christ.

The Lord is gracious. The Lord is slow to anger. The Lord is abounding in love. He is good to all. He was definitely good to me that night. This week I have found joy that I didn’t know existed, just from simply dwelling upon the goodness of God and how He chose to save me, when I was still in my sins. I have wept this week, tears of exceeding joy, because of His grace that He has given to me, an undeserving, wretched worm. He is my King. The joy of my salvation is found in His love and mercy which He has given me. That joy has moved me this week. It has helped me shine brighter for Christ. Due to the joy that has filled my heart, I have had needed conversations with people this week which I have put off for a long time. I pray that you find this joy that is found in God and let it be the pursuit of your life: to seek out and find the joy that is found in Christ.

Many blessings this week.

Many Thanks.

I wanted to say thanks for all the kind words yesterday after each service. Preaching is a privilege, and I am thankful for the opportunity that was given to me. The Lord is in control of the increase, and I pray that it is plentiful.

Last night as I lay in my bed drifting off to sleep, I was thinking about some words that were offered to me by Joycelyn Rhodes after yesterday’s second service. She told me to be on my guard because I would be most vulnerable in the coming days to spiritual attack. She is most correct. Anytime we are on a spiritual high, we become targets for snipers. The peak of the mountain is the most vulnerable place because it simultaneously is the most unprotected place on the mountain and the furtherest fall from the mountain. So not only can we get sniped easily, but the fall will be the most damaging it could be.

As you are walking with the Lord this week, ask Him to be your shield. Ask Him to be your protection. No matter if you are at the mountain’s summit, or in the valley below, Christ is your shield. He is a strong tower, in which we take refuge. And the security He provides cannot be penetrated or thwarted. Be aware of your surroundings this week. Ask the Holy Spirit to inform you of the spiritual needs which surround you. And have the courage to do what is needed.

Much Love and Many Thanks