Churches in Indiana

Wow okay for the first time in a while I visited the web sites of the two former churches I went to when I lived in NW Indiana. The first church I attended was Suncrest Christian Church. I didn't know that it had two campuses now, and the youth ministry is huge!! When I went there and helped with youth they didn't even have a pastor it was volunteers keeping it going, now they have a very talented couple leading the pack with over twenty student leaders! Sweet. The other church was Living Hope Church. Its expanding they have a new building project going on. If you knew the before and after of this church is quite remarkable what God does! When I met my now husband I started transitioning to this church and they had just lost their pastor of over sixteen years, the people were devistated. So they got Pastor Lehmann to "fill in" for almost a year and went on a pastor search to make a long story short they ended up hiring Pastor Lehmann, I believe he was sixty nine years at the time. Wow has he allowed God to use him to lead this great church. I'm not going to lie seeing all this awesome stuff happen makes me miss these two places very much. But in light of all of this I'm encouraged because churches don't change overnight and it takes months or even years of hard work to see fruit from labor!

Thoughts after Election Day

Truthfully No my "candidate" didn't win. I'm not jumping up and down because Obama won. But what I won't do is say things like NoBama, our world is coming to an end and junk like that all over my myspace status. I read a blog from a pastor in Nashville that stated a great point. It is no surprise to God who won last night. He knew who was going to win way before Barak spent billions on campaigning. Our trust is not in Barak its in God. Barak or John would not have been the answer to our problems, our saving grace, anything like that. The harsh reality of our world is that we need Jesus. He is our hope, our saving grace, our provider, our protector, and the lover of our soul. Watch how you react to the election because now more than ever non-christians will be watching how christians react to the election.

Challenged!!!

I am writing this morning a very challenged individual. You may ask from work? Well yeah work challenges me just about everday but that's not why I am this morning. Last night I went with my friend Meghan to her old church in Summerville. I went to get a road trip in and I wanted to see their worship team because Meg had said how good it was. Good doesn't even describe it. This worship "team" and it truly was a team was amazing. Everything on stage was mixed wonderfully there was no one trying to make a show of it, and believe me with the talent they had they could of. Each musician and singer knew their part and played it beautifully. The other and probably the most important aspect was the fact it was annointed. They did a song I'd heard a thousand times before How Great is our God in such a way that got you lost in the presence of God. Awesome! The other great thing about the experience was after the service we were able to meet a lot of the team and they were all so gracious and awesome. Pretty much Sara and I's new hero Chad also let us play his Taylor which made our days! So I am challenged in serveral ways, one I want to practice more and try to improve my novice skills at guitar. But also in the fact that the annointing of God is the most important part of worship, if He hasn't annointed it, it's worthless! Also I was taken back by the humbleness, I hope I can try to get that across to our youth band, humbleness and annointing two key parts of amazing worship!

Don't Ever Get Comfortable

I am an avid follower of stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com there was a post today that just threw me for a loop. Talking about comfort zones, I read another one that talked about putting God in a box. Okay seriously this is what I do. God wil move in my life could be anything, in a relationship, my marraige,my job, ministries I'm helping with, our church anything. Does something breakthrough I somehow think I have something to do with it and bam! I am in a comfort zone! I put God in a box and a small one, and when He shows up big time I am somehow suprised or even scarier relieved when he does! My prayer today was simple God cleanse me of my pride, my selfishness,put me in your hands and mold me. Dude I think we need to pray this everday, if we want change in anything we have to look to ourselves first!

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peace is mentioned 247 times in the Bible. We had a missionary from church last night talk about "worry", she said that if the Prince of Peace dwells within our body, how can worry and unrest have any place. Then I fell upon this awesome verse Romans 15:13, its amazing and tells some important ingredients. As you trust in Him, God will fill you all the joy and peace....Key as you trust in Him. Also, he want us to Overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Two keys my silly self has missed! There's no peace without trusting God, no hope without the Holy Spirit. I can work myself into one big worry ball about anything, be encapsulated by FEAR!!! It's so easy to worry worry worry especially now, it's crazy out there. But, Thank God for the truth!! Also one other thing to note, the missionary stated that if where there if fear and worry there is no worship. Key word, I've been trying to coordinate the youth worship team. All along I was trying so hard, and worrying about the stupidest stuff, gosh I'm retarded, I've doubted and not trusted this whole time!! What a waste of time, if we ever want to give Glory to God through the team, its got to be in his hands completely!

A True Strong Christian

I was thinking deeply like I normally do..oh wait not so much but I often times hear, so and so is a strong christian. I've caught myself wondering and asking the question about myself. What is the definition. Previous to yesterday this was my definition: Reads bible everyday, is inspired by what's read, active prayer life, spirit filled, goes to church often, serves in ministries, has evidence of the fruits of the spirit in his/her life etc, etc. And while these are all great attributes its not the key to being strong. Because in scripture it talks about God strength being made perfect in our weaknesses!! Key word our weakness. It's not until we have full surrender to God is when we become strong, then only then will we have true peace and sustainable strength.

Octubre

October October October
What to say what to say, what is the current state of my consciousness right now:
Challenged, Tired, and Wondering What God has next. Ask my husband what’s been taking up way too much of my time the last month and a half. Youth Band, except I’m not a youth I’m old but something keeps me pursuing something better. We want; we are hungry for new songs of Praise. I’ve sang I could sing of your love forever too many times even though it is a great song. So how do you do it? Ha! Key word How do you do it, well actually You don’t do it. Something I’ve learned is that without a full dependence on God doing a ministry like this can be dangerous. One the music can become an idol; it can be all about performance, bad idea. The huge danger is that if you are a musician and you at all care about what you are doing you want something you do to sound good, you want it to be pleasing to the ear. Trouble is most times if you put in the practice and release your efforts to God it will be so much better! Something I must do from now on is to surrender it to God every time I pick up my guitar. Next song we are doing is not brand new but will be new to our kids. It’s called Here in Your Presence and it’s by the Desperation Band. The words go like this:
Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here inYour presence
Heaven in trembling in awe of Your wonders
the kings and their kingdom arestanding amazed
Chorus:
Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You
Bridge:
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way