Captivated

I love music…in case you didn’t already know:)

Over Christmas break I was reminded that God has given me this talent and love for music but I began wondering what is it that I exactly like about music…I like exposing my students at school to the various parts like music history, theory, playing instruments, singing, performing on stage, etc but there was this sense that there was something more.

This past weekend God showed up and I got to see what is one thing I love about music and that’s worship!

Friday night I got to experience Fuse worship at the NewSpring-Anderson campus for the first time. My sister had told me how awesome the worship atmosphere was there, and she was right. The energy was A-mazing. I know that worship is not all about the people on stage or putting on a show but there is an awesome responsibility of setting the energy and freedom of worshipers in the place. And wow-was this set on Friday night—passionate worship and freedom was definitely in that place.

Then yesterday at NewSpring’s 10th anniversary service at the Bi-lo Center–wow:)!!!! I sat near a few of the kids of KidSpring-Flo. We sang “Rise and Sing” which we’re singing with the kids during this series at KidSpring. And to see them and the energy they put into worshiping really touched my heart. It also reminded me the awesome responsibility that we as volunteers in KidSpring have to be examples and set the atmosphere of freedom and passion for worshiping our God….to rise these kids into leaders, servants, and worshipers of our Lord!!

I don’t believe it’s musical education that shone through the worship leaders at Fuse Friday night or those kids Sunday morning but instead it was their relationship, desire, and passion for our Lord and Savior.

So, even much more than I want to share my musical education and knowlegde with people, I want to be like those guys at Fuse and those kids…one whose passion for my Lord and Savior shines above all and through it all.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
John 4:23

In spending some time doing Beth Moore’s study A Woman’s Heart, I found the contrast she gave to Adam and Eve to Noah very interesting yet very challenging.

Adam and Eve were surrounded with purity and splendor. They were definitely set up for spiritual success and for what 2 Tim. 3:17 calls ‘equipped for every good work’. Yet Adam and Eve made the wrong choice in the midst of all these right circumstances.

On the contrary, Noah was surrounded by a society where wickedness was rampant, sin ruled, perversion prevailed, righteousness was rare, people had no restraints, and absolute depravity. And in the midst of all these wrong circumstances, Noah made the right choices!
Noah walked with God daily! “He was in a constant state of habitual fellowship-da by day-hour by hour.” He didn’t just religiously renew his commitment on Easter or even every Sunday. He did it daily.

What an awesome example Noah provides us. We are surrounded by a culture “with every conceivable practice of sin and the continual mockery of God.” And even more than what Noah had , we have examples such as his life to show us how faithful God was to Him. (the book of Ruth is another neat example of God’s plan and His faithfulness to those who follow Him in the midst of a perverse generation).

So we’re left with the challenge of Joshua 24:15-”Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
Beth Moore says, “This deliberate act of the will is the inevitable choice between habitual fellowship and habitual failure.”

It’s a daily choice–what choice are we making -to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24) or to give into our selfish worldly desires?

I’ve heard it referred to as one’s “sweet spot” before. Mark Batterson puts it as “Uncivilized, untamed, uncaged.”

When someone is in a position whether it be in their job, where they volunteer…any position they find themselves in any area of life in which God has gifted them for, given them a passion for, so much so that joy and the love of Christ cannot help but overflow from them. I love seeing and experiencing this…it is so exhilerating!!

In his book Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson describes this as a person’s natural habitat. Just like the lions, monkeys, giraffes, and any other animal, there are going to be dangers, risks, and struggles in our natural habitats. When these animals are placed in a zoo, these are taken away but they spend their days walking around a cage all day long reallly going nowhere in life.

Do we live like a caged animal-trapped by circumstances, people, jobs, church, etc- so much so that we’re really not living the life God’s called us to. Are we caged Christians or are we living uncivilized, untamed, and uncaged lives?

“And the cage opens when we recognize that Jesus didn’t die on the cross to keep us safe. Jesus died to make us dangerous.” (Batterson)

My thoughts while writing this go to something that was said at Cookie Cawthon’s bible study in the fall about how when we just do something or take on a responsibility just to have that position fillled without really having a passion and being called to do that thing, we’re robbing someone who really is called (or in their natural habitat) from that opporutinity to be used and blessed.
How cool it is to think about a world where we are all in our natural habitats doing exactly what God has created us to do–uncivilized, untamed, and uncaged.

Happy New Year!!

What are you doing Christmas Eve (and the day before)?!?!

This time of year it is easy to get wrapped up in all the gifts and toys and parties and decorations (etc, etc, etc). But the real reason for this season is of course the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the salvation that can be found in Him.

Even though there is no Sunday between now and Christmas there are several opportunities to celebrate the birth of our Savior and the salvation we’ve found in Him (and maybe even some find this salvation).

Here are a few opportunities still available: (you should take time to check these out:))

NEWSPRING CHURCH: In Anderson, Greenville, Columbia, and Florence. Check out this website for times on the 23rd and the 24th.

BAREFOOT CHURCH: In the Myrtle Beach area. Check out this website for times on the 23rd and 24th as well.

ELEVATION CHURCH: In the Charlotte area. Check out this website for their service times on the 23rd and 24th as well.

I know there are many more opportunities out there but these are 3 I know will not disappoint.

And of course there’s always getting down your own Bible and reading the Chrismas story in Luke 2.

Don’t miss out on experiencing Jesus this Christmas through these wonderful opportunities!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NSB):
“Therefore,since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…”

I shared these verses with the elementary KidSpring volunteers yesterday morning–encouraging them to keep their eyes (fix their eyes) on Jesus and not let frustration, tiredness, or anything else that slows us down to hold us back from being who God is calling us to be to the kiddos.

These were heavily on my mind again this morning as I did my quiet time and prepared for my day…to apply this to my life.

You know there are times something is on your mind and heart and then somebody says something that goes right along with what is on your heart and mind already…

That happened as these verses were on my haert and mind…check out this text converation between my mom and I:
Mom: “R u up and running” (yep my mom is getting up on the text talk:))
Me: “Up. Not quite running.”
Mom: “Get pumped up so you can run!!! Love u.”

….what, where’d that come from…my mom doesn’t even normally use the phrase “get pumped up”:)

So off to school I go loling because my mom just said “get pumped up” and in awe of God once again at how He puts things such as scripture and conversations (comments) in line perfectly!