We must take our Lords promises seriously and gratefully

1 Corinthians 2

9However, as it is written:

   “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

   no mind has conceived 

what God has prepared for those who love him”

Psalm 12:6

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

Program 7.06.08

Go outside………………………………..……………………..……Amj

Announcements

Opening scripture: Job 11:5-6

Oh worship the King…………………………………….F#mj

Marvelous light……………………………………………Amj

Found. …………………………………………………………F#mj

Lead me to the cross……………………………………F#m

Message: Tearing down booths

Jonah by Jimmy Reeves…………………………………………..Bm 

What an amazing Sunday! Today we were reminded “to not get comfortable” to not be Sunday Christians who only rejoice in God on a Sunday morning service bass; But to do our best to live a life in our city of Greenville that draws people to the Cross of Jesus…

Sunday’s is a day that I look forward to everyday of the week but one thing that I do pay attention to is that the following Sunday is a product of the previous one, therefore I look for results. One way we can view the effects of what God is revealing to us is by whether or not we are attracting people to Jesus through His Spirit in us. And today’s message came from the book of Jonah, who knew of God’s abounding grace and love and refused to act in spreading the great news of God. This was in modern days a Christ follower whom refused to share Jesus in his surroundings, who knew doctrine, knew Jesus but yet the message did not move his heart and instead of offering himself as a tool for the Gospel he much rather kill himself then to spread the news of Jesus. But God’s response to such Christian mediocrity is given in Jonah 4:11. 

Conclusion: God is concern about Greenville N.C and the rest of the world knowing Jesus. Are you?

Program 6.29.08

Jonah by Jimmy Reeves………………………….Bm

Psalm 145:4-8

Our God reigns by Brandon Heath……………..Fmj

Saviour King by Hillsong………………………D#mj

Message: Compassion for others

Psalm 145 by Shane & Shane………………….Dm

Notes from message:

If there is one verse that never gets old in my life is one that was brought up in this message from Jonah 4:1-2 “1-2 Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I _knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!”

Another interesting point brought up in this message was that we can have doctrine but no devotion; In the case of Jonah, he knew about God’s mercy but did not take value in God’s merciful attribute. So really we can know of God but have no relationship in His sacrifice (the cross). Which also reminds me of a point brought up in Echo group in regards to Judas and how he knew Jesus and ministered w/Jesus for three and some years but yet denied him…. So just what is important? HIS LORDSHIP OVER OUR LIVES.

Worship Program  6.22.08

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philipians 2:9-11 (The Message) 

Song of the redeemed………………………F#m

Spring of life……………………………………Bbmj

Center……………………………………………..Emj

Message on worship

Found………………………………………………Bmj

my favorite verse of the message Revelations 1:12-17 . This verse tells me that when Christ is revealed one comes to realize that He is almighty and powerful and hearts can’t help to but to surrender and human flesh to act “as though dead.”

I just finished reading Stephen’s blog post and was amazed at how his church took on the challenge of raising a great amount of money in one week in order to buy 17 acres of land for orphans and abandoned kids in Haiti. But this praise report is not like your average praise report this one has another element involved which really I won’t say and instead led you see it for yourself: Stephen’s blog post…

Remember today’s Psalm 30 spoke about dependency, and after reading this post once again God confirms that our reliance of joy is not on what we have in this earth but what we have eternally.

Psalm 30

Today’s reading is a reminder that we do not rely on our riches. That is that our money or achievements/accomplishments are not our source of salvation or bright future, but instead it is Jesus and His word that should be more than enough for us.  Many time our riches can easily become idols in our life and there fore we choose to disregard the fact that our future does not rely on our $ or skills but on God alone.

6-7 When things were going great

I crowed, “I’ve got it made.

I’m God’s favorite.

He made me king of the mountain.”

Then you looked the other way

and I fell to pieces. (The Message)

To rely on something and not Jesus as a means of security/success is again “idolatry” which is sin. In this case David acknowledged that he was sinning by relying on his wealth and ruling position (as a king over Israel) and God “hid” his “face” from him. David finally repents and thanks God for restoring relationship w/him: “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing”. Again, this is another example of what makes PraiseWorship so intimate/genuine and that would be repentance, which is what God is looking for b/c in doing so we are recognizing the perfect sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. That it is only through His blood that we have access to salvation.

Something good to think about today as worship directors/leaders would be to ask ourselves if we are relying too much on what we have and and not on who God is or what the Cross signifies God’s ministry of praise and worship. The talent God has given us is not the essence of our worship but it is Christ and His Spirit.

Worship program 6/15/08

Oh worship the King by …………………Fmj

Let us love and sing in wonder……….Fmj

Majesty by Delirious………………………Bbmj

Psalm 145 by Shane & Shane………….Dm 

This service was interesting; I messed up like never B4. I completely forgot the chorus melody of “oh worship the king” and made up my own on stage. Ya, it was one of those moments when you want to just of stage, but I don’t think many really knew the song so it wasn’t as bad. But this service taught me to avoid doing 2 hymns combine, just b/c of the lyrics and the terminology. Also learned that I need to at least give my self 2 weeks in advance B4 presenting a song so that I know the song lyrically well.

 Psalm 145 on the other hand came out better then expected. As ya know Shane sings way up there and so its not done as often b/c of that reason but thanks to God’s Spirit it was sung and it filled the building with a message that God is sovereign and gracious to all, not just His children but to all.

Psalm 86 reminds us that God’s revelation will cause people to leave their gods and come to worship Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6), b/c He is the maker of all the nations: “all the nations you have made”, and He is unlike any other god. He also gives God praise for delivering him from an extremely painful situation: “band of ruthless men seeks my life”. And although the miracle has not yet occurred he knows that it will and thanks God b/c he really does not deserve to be rescued. He is a sinner in need of a true devotion to God, which is why he says: “teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name”.

What I like here is that this section of the psalm reminds us that when God rescues us we ought to see this deliverance as a mean to testify that it wasn’t by our strength but “because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me”.

So when it comes to worship ministry and the necessities involved, do you boast on your skills? Band members? Equipment? According to this psalm we are to recognize that what we have is all thanks to God’s “merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”.  

Psalm 32….this psalm is a reminder of the importance of living a prayer life style. The psalmist (David) here is saying that he has not kept contact with God, he says that he has been “silent”. Or maybe he thinks he’s been in contact but just doing it out of religiosity, just b/c he has to and because he represents the authority over a nation therefore he has to attend meetings and act like he really keeps a relationship with God. But, the story behind the psalm tells us that he hasn’t kept sincere contact w/God through prayer and instead he’s been a fake believer (a fake Christian).

            You know David had so much ruling power, so much to the point where it might have gotten to him and figured he could do whatever he wanted and get away w/out anyone catching him. In this case he had taking a friends wife and slept with her and then figured that all things could get settled by killing the husband. Yes, this was a leader of God. In today’s terms we can compare his title to any church leader like: pastors, evangelists or worship directors. So really God’s leaders are going to make big mistakes too, remember they are human. But the consequence of committing sin still stands…But going back to David, he was refusing to “acknowledge” his sin and figured he could carry on with his life carrying this baggage.

            TO carry baggage of sin around with us is just too painful: “my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long”.  Recognizing that we are sinners in need of a savior on the other hand makes us one with God himself. And as a result we can experience God’s forgiveness and “shout for joy” b/c we are only made righteous in Christ.