Here I am to Worship

Sorry that it has been a little bit, but work and late night reading have kept me from posting like I want to. I have really started noticing that our "worship" is becoming more of a show than adoration poured out to God.Churches nowadays are relying more on talent, and cool effects than God's spirit to guide us in worship. Without God's spirit we will have accomplished nothing.

Our worship to God is one of the most powerful tools in outreach. It is a form of prayer because we are connecting with God. The power of music is immeasurable. I know of many people who have been kept on the path of righteousness through the power of music, and I also know some who have fell off because of their choice of music. So when I select music I want the music to glorify God and be conducive to a rich spiritual atmosphere. I fully understand that the spiritual life of those leading in worship has alot to do with the atmosphere of the service. If I don't put forth an effort to be closer to God then how can I help others, through my worship to become closer to God? I want our music to be "cool" but at the same time if it does not draw our church together in worship we have accomplished absolutely nothing.

food for thought: Praise is the exaltation of a deity. Worship is the reverent love accorded to a deity.
quote of the post: "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." Victor Hugo
book recommendation: The Citadel by A.J. Cronin

Prayer: Communication with God

Just recently an excellent sermon was preached in our local church on prayer. Many of those who heard the sermon were forced to search themselves on their own lack of prayer. It does seem quite often that we are buried with things to do in our daily life and we forget about someone who died for us. I know that in my own life that after the day is done I find myself so exhausted and prayer is the last thing on my mind. How sad it is that a talk with the creator of the universe can be the last thing on our mind. Then when we are burdened under the pressures of life we call on God and expect him to run to our rescue.Prayer is something that has to be cultivated like the crops that are watered every day by a farmer. He is constantly at work pulling weeds and making sure that harmful insects stay away from his source of revenue. Why do we not guard our own prayer life as if it is the thing that keeps us alive? In fact prayer is the thing that keeps us alive. At the end of the sermon the preacher asked us to look at ourselves as God does. I looked at my own life, and its' lack of prayer, and saw a man with tattered rags who could barely walk. I had no one to blame but myself. I was the one who let my prayer life die. But friends there is still hope. There is hope until the sounding of the trumpet. I know of many who heard the sermon and have let it change them. When we are praying we find ourselves protected from the temptations of satan. Not only are we safe from the devil's fiery darts we are also building our spirit so that when we go back out into the world we are prepared for the tricks and lies of the devil. I know that sometime it is a fight to find things to say in prayer but it is almost like practicing at something. I know people who have kept their prayer lives going for many years, and their prayers sound so eloquent. Yet sometimes when I pray I find myself searching for the words to say. Could it be that I do not know God as a friend like those who can pray for hours. That is why it is necessary to maintain a prayer life, so that way you get to know God in a new way. So do not think that you will be able to pray for hours and hours at first. Just build upon small amounts at first and eventually you will have a prayer life that will cause the devil to fear you. The Bible speaks of the prayer of a righteous man is very powerful and a force to be reckoned with (James 5:16 the Message). We need to always live a life that is clean and pure before the Lord and always yearn for a deeper and greater prayer life.

food for thought: James 5:15
tunes for the soul: Hillsong-United We Stand - clips available here
quote of the post: A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just Getting on my Feet

A few weeks ago my father proposed a challenge to my youth group; I was at work and didn't find out about this until later. The challenge was to go global and get on the internet through blogspot. Many of my friends began this and before long it became a big thing at church. So I decided to get in on the action... My name is Justin and I'm a 17 year old from Dothan AL. My interests are- gettin some Jesus, reading, sports, saxophone/guitar, Christian music, and hanging with the guys working on music for our Friday night youth service, or just goofing off. With only one year left in high school I plan to go into the medical field (possibly pharmaceuticals) and then pursue a life-long dream by attending Bible College. My ultimate goal in life is to please God and follow his plan for me. It is my desire to have posts that encourage you but my obsession of sports will probably cause me to also write on things that aren't uplifting, but hopefully interesting. I know that life isn't always a fresh field of roses but encouragement can help the downtrodden to begin to think that there is a way out. I hope that everything runs smoothly in this blog and that you are blessed by the things I have to say. This is hopefully the beginning of something that could radically change my life and maybe even yours as well.

food for thought: II Timothy 4:18
book recommendations: (another one of my father's challenges) In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
quote of the post: If you have ever made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down.
-Mary Pickford