Have you ever wondered what I would look like as a cartoon??? 

 

 

 

Praise Him for a Living Hope!

Well, I could write all day about how awesome the Kadesh experience was. God showed up and showed off! His work last week certainly stretched beyond what I expected to happen. Praise Him! The theme this year is "hope." Now, I'm quick to confess that although I am quick to proclaim a hope in an unfailing God, my actions do not always reflect such a conviction. What a great week to "exercise this spiritual muscle!"

In particular, I will never forget Thursday Night. We had a "throne room experience"--that's all I can say. The Spirit moved so clearly during that extended time of praise. That experience alone was one of the most transformational worship times I've ever been a part of.

So, here's my challenge for us all today. We know and believe that the heavens are always praising God. Well, I want to get to a place spiritually where I can "hear" or "sense" this worship in my inner being. I want this foretaste and this hope to consume my core so that when junk happens here on earth, I can simply retreat inside my spirit and hear this praise once again. Everybody with me? I know it would provide the perspective changes I frequently need. We are strangers in this world. This is not our home. We were made for more.

So when junk happens here, I want my immediate reaction to be: "this sure does make me homesick...for heaven."

New Links

I finally got a minute to update my links on the right. Lots of special people!

Greetings from Kadesh

Hello from Abilene! Camp is off to a great start! These kids have responded really well and very quickly. God's answering some huge prayers in this. Leading worship with teenagers is quite challenging. Today, in between praise sessions I'm spending time with my mother. She and I are cooking a few things together in efforts to increase my repertoire and confidence. It's been wonderful to spend time with my sister again. She makes me laugh. Dad and I will get our chance.

I would appreciate your continued prayers for the campers at Kadesh. I love this camp. I believe there is huge potential for each of our spiritual walks this week. I just pray He will do BIG things.

Memphis in the Morning, Abilene in the Evening

I'm excited about today. I'm excited about our worship time this together this morning at Highland Street. We're starting a summer series on David--it will be a fun journey. After church, I'm headed to Abilene where I'll lead the opening devotional tonight.

I'm further excited because I know I'll be eating Taco Bueno for dinner tonight.

The Delicate Harmonies of Worship Ministry

I’m continuing to think about my first post this week. And as I’ve pondered, a new idea has brought a troublesome clash. First, I still agree with myself. My job is indeed to create an environment where people are freed to encounter and respond to their Creator. And some level of “comfort” is necessary for this. Distraction is a worship minister’s nightmare.

However, I’ve also realized that there is a certain level of “discomfort” that is a necessary part of spiritual leadership. Further, there is a level of discomfort that is necessary to being a disciple of Christ. I don’t think He called us to a comfortable life. There were many times when He made everyone around Him quite uncomfortable. We’re aliens in this world—we’re constantly in a state of discomfort—we’re not home yet! And we’re designed to live in a trust relationship with God while we journey through this uncomfortable world.

So, you can see the obvious dilemma here. How the squat does one lead worship in a way that promotes both the comfort to praise and the discomfort for spiritual growth? I suppose I’ll be searching for the delicate harmony between these two for the rest of my life. But for now, I feel the word TRUST is key here. We must trust God. And we must trust those who lead us in worship. I think of Paul’s words: “even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (I Corinthians 10:33-11:1).

I love praising Him, and I love witnessing others praising Him. This is a tough role, but this is who I am—it’s what God has called me to be. I pray my trust in God’s calling on my life will influence others to trust Him in me too. After all, Christ in me is all I have to bring.