When God Gets Involved

I was told from the beginning of my ministry years that God does not call the qualified, but he qualifies the called. That is advice that I have and will always treasure. I want to accomplish God sized things. Daniel sized things have not turned out to be that great. However, when God and I have come to an agreement, we have blown the doors off of that event.(by we I mean God pretty much showed up and showed out and I stood back and watched Him work)
Just this week I have been involved with a canned food drive. I have not had high hopes for it because we had decided that it would be only one big day of collection. I doubted that we would make as big of an impact as I had hoped. Well that day is not even here yet and I have already seen seven pallets of food come by our office. This donation is from one person, but as he and I will both tell you God is good. Our success has little to do with our ability and lots to do with God's power.
See, when God gets involved with the things we are doing He makes our small efforts of faithfulness into these huge accomplishments. At the end of the day all we have to do is give Him the glory. Have you invited God into the things you are trying to accomplish.

It's a mystery

I was at a training event once for youth pastors and the leader of a particular seminar was talking about sacraments particularly baptism. When he finished he asked for questions. I have always wondered about infant baptism. I asked several different question and was never satisfied with the answers because the answers never quite answered my question. I am certain this leader was getting annoyed. The last question I asked led him to reply,"that is the mystery of baptism. I was very unsatisfied, actually I was angry. I wanted answers and I felt like he was side stepping my questions. I know we don't get all the answers as Christians and that would have been ok for him to say I am not sure.
Since that time I have realized that there are several mysteries surrounding our christian faith. What really happens at baptism? Why did God not make Adam on the first day so we could avoid the controversy over evolution? How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop? Or my current mystery of choice: Why does God fill us and bless us when we show up to worship him.
Our worship is suppose to be His time. He is the one who is to get the attention of our worship. If is is true worship that means it is for Him. Some how in that moment we are poured out on by God's spirit. We are blessed. We are encouraged. We are strengthened for the week ahead. The opposite is true if we are not there to worship him. Many of us just go through the motions stand up, sit down, bow your head, listen, stand up, shake the pastors hand, and go home. We have it down to a redundant song and dance. On those Sundays we find ourselves depleted, not inspired, and not prepared for the struggles and pit falls that lie ahead.
The mystery I am most thankful for is the one where the God of the universe sees my small effort of worship and pours out a big hunk of power and strength just for me. Why? Better yet, why ask why? Just be ready to worship when you show up at your church this Sunday.

Psalms 115:1 "Not to us oh Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness."

The Cokesbury Hymnal

I have grown up in church all my life. In all of my childhood, we sang out of hymnals. Man I loved some of those hymns. The church I have attended for the last 5 years is very modern we have projectors and screens and stuff like that. We have guitars and drums singers leading us in our worship time. But back in those early years we had a choir director and hymnal. I will never forget Sunday evening services in Pelham, GA. My dad (the pastor) would stand in the pulpit and ask for song selections from the audience and our piano player would be ready to flip to whatever and play whatever was called out. I loved that time. My dad would have to ignore me for most of the service because I would constantly have another song I wanted to do. "Old Rugged Cross", "His Eye is on the Sparrow", "Whiter than Snow"(current weather leads me to this entire thought) , but nothing was better than number 85 "Onward Christian Soldiers" That is without a doubt my favorite hymn of all time. I would call out that number each and every week and often time we would sing it and I would be glad. I am certain that old hymnal in that old church is a big reason I find myself still leading worship today just as I did in Pelham, GA with the assistance of my father the pastor and the piano player.

"At this present time we must hold onto the past to better appreciate the future." Who I am now has everything to do with who poured into my life in those early years. Whether it is music, or scripture, or service, or love that is poured in, it will come out.

"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

New Starts

A few years ago I wrote a song called a new day. It was a peppy little song that one should sing really loud in the early morning hours to encourage others to join you in your happiness. On a serious note this song was birthed from my extreme affection for new starts. I love each new morning. I love a new year with new resolutions. It is as if we have been granted passage from the horrific year we were trapped in. I have never gotten to a new year and thought it would be a horrible year. I always welcome the new start. Many of us however do not welcome the the new start that comes by the grace of God, found in Jesus Christ. In Jesus we all have this incredible re-do. My prayer for all of you this new year is that you will embrace and experience the love, grace, and mercy of a God who loves you this year, last year, and forever.

Ain't no party like a Holy Ghost Party

I wonder how many times in the course of Jesus' life their was celebration in heaven over his actions on earth. The one time I am certain of is when he was born. We read in Luke chapter 2, "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Did you catch that. Allow me to translate: "Go Jesus, Go Jesus, It's your birthday."
All the angels in heaven knew what was at stake when Jesus showed up on earth and they celebrated his arrival on earth. So should we. This Christmas celebrate the reason for the season. Jesus is worth it. He saw our suffering and said "I'm going down there. They need me."
Praise be to God that my Jesus loved me enough to come get me. Not cause I deserve it or will ever earn it, just because he loves me. Now I celebrate him. How bout you?

Anybody Hungry?

I was really good this thanksgiving. I did not completely gorge myself. I ate. I ate a lot, but I did not eat until I was sick. I ate until I was full. Food was not the only substance I have had my share of this holiday season. God's word is something we need to be hungry for. My prayer for us all is that we will be hungry for the word of God. His word is living and active, sharper than any two edge sword.(Hebrews 4:12) We are told to exercise our bodies a minimum of thirty minutes a day five days a week. How often should we train our spirit and how do we train? The answer to that is the reason I write today and the answer is found in scripture. We are reminded in Timothy that all scripture is God breathed. What? The breath of God? The same breath that breathed peace on the frightened disciples locked away in a secret room after the Resurrection? Timothy also says God's word is useful for teaching, rebuking, and correcting. Last but not least I leave you with a portion of the very first Psalm. Certainly there is a reason the writer decided to make this one the first one read by future generations. I hope this is who we are becoming. May we go to His word early and often.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalms 1: 1-3

Thank God

I am thankful for the many blessings that I have been born into. There was no reason that I deserve this life I have versus someone who was born at the same time as me into some unfortunate circumstances compared to mine, therefore I will give thanks.

I am thankful for people who can do more on less. I am thankful for men and women that work hard for little pay like fire fighters, police, and sanitation specialists. I am thankful for people who don't complain even though they have the right. I am thankful for the jobs that are out there and hoping for more to be found in this great nation. I am thankful for music, sports, and ability to wear pajama pants around the house. Also, for food to eat, shelter over my head, and breath in my lungs.

I am thankful for our military, men and women who serve our nation with their lives. I am hopeful for our leaders and thankful for their efforts. I am thankful for my church. The right to worship. The joy of serving.

I am thankful for my family both far and near. My wife and daughter, my parents, my siblings, even my in laws.

I am thankful for my God. My Jesus. My Savior. All I have that is worthy of thanks is from God.