Song of the Week February 26, 2007

Stained Glass Masquerade

-Casting Crowns-

 

Is there anyone that fails?

Is there anyone that falls?

Am I the only one in church today, feelin’ so small?

Cause when I take a look around

Everybody seems so strong

I know they’ll soon discover

that I don’t belong.

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay

If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too.

So with a painted grin, I play the part again.

So everyone will see me the way that I see them.

 

Chorus:

Are we happy plastic people

under shiny painted steeples

with walls around our weakness

and smiles to hide our pain

But if the invitation’s open

to every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain

On our Stained Glass Masquerade

 

Is there anyone who’s been there?

Are there any hands to raise?

Am I the only one who’s traded

the altar for a stage?

The performance is convincing

and we know every line by heart

Only when no one is watching

Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free

If I dared to let you see

The truth behind the person

That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open?

Or would you walk away?

Would the love of Jesus

be enough to make you stay.

 

Is this you?  If it is….take off your mask….lay it at the throne of Jesus….

 

2 Peter 2:17-21

 

 

Hmmm… February 22, 2007

“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…?  You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!”  -Keith Green

Just a thought for tonight…before I begin an hour of homework….Are you looking forward to heaven?  Is earth more fun to you than life eternal in the presence of our Savior, Christ? 

Then Lord help you…….I pray that God would save you.

And for those of you that are Christians……are you filling every moment of your life with meaningless activities?  Is God involved in every aspect of your life, marriage, or workplace?  Is God involved in any part of your life? 

Then God help you……I pray that you repent and turn back to Him….the only source of life, and life with meaning.

Worship: Part One February 20, 2007

What is worship?

The American Heritage Dictionary says : To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.

Wow….so worshipping God is having ardent or adoring esteem or devotion for Him. 

Now, what I’m about to say might put you in your UnComfort Zone, but I think that everyone needs to here this. 

Why is it that in America we call our music services the “Worship Service,” when truely we are not worshipping?  Most churches are FULL of people who sit in the pew, read the words out of the hymnal or off of the screen, sit down, listen to the sermon, and leave without EVER involving God.  We think that because we are going to church and going through the motions that we are getting brownie points with God.

God doesn’t need us…………His glory does not revolve around us…….WE are the ones that need God.

We OWE Him worship, we OWE Him praise, we OWE Him our time, We OWE Him our lives…….He owes us NOTHING….

Have we forgotten what Jesus did?   Is it an event to be blown off in our lives?  Did Jesus die so that we could take advantage of His sacrifice?  

My heart is so burdened for Christians who don’t worship.  Now, worship is not necessarily music, but that is where I come close to God.  When I sing a song on Sunday, or in the shower, or in my car, I sing to God.  Every word, every phrase, every breath that comes out of my mouth is sung for God.  He doesn’t need me….I don’t deserve Him. 

How can we sit back and “sing” songs of worship without meaning?  God is God and I am not…..and who are you and I to think that we can come into HIS house and ignore Him?   Who are we to come into HIS house and give him anything but our complete and reverent attention?  He deserves our worship…our devotion…..WE DON’T DESERVE HIM. 

I’m gonna leave you with this verse from one of my favorite songs:

As we come into Your presence,

We remember EVERY blessing,

That You’ve poured out so freely from above.

Lifting gratitude and praises,

Your compassion so amazing.

Lord, we come to give You thanks for all You’ve done.

Chorus:

Because of Your love, we’re forgiven

Because of Your love, our hearts are clean

We lift You up, with songs of freedom

Forever we’re changed, Because of Your love.

-Paul Baloche-

 

Are you changed because of His love?  Do you deserve His love or do you owe Him your love?

 Psalm 63

Spiritual Jazzercise February 16, 2007

Ok, so the title is an inside joke, but the more I thought about it, being a Christian requires this sometimes. So, I sat down to compare Jazzercise with God.

Sometimes, we as Christians, sit around, get lazy, and gain some spiritual “dead weight.” This dead weight is caused by the lack of energy towards Christ and our call as Christians.

As a result, “the dead weight” causes us to have spritual health problems.  We are all the sudden unable to “walk” with Christ often….we find it easier to “eat” of wordly pleasures than to drink of the Word….and most of all, our Christ-given strength to face the world diminishes.

So, what is the solution?… you ask.  SPIRITUAL JAZZERCISE!  Sometimes you just need to get back in the Word and start talking to God again.  Now, sometimes you will be a little sore…especially at the beginning, when Christ begins to turn the old fatty ways into spiritual brawn…but eventually you will be able to endure the whole workout of being a Christian.  There is nothing more refreshing than putting off a few worldly pounds and gaining some muscle as a Christian. 

Try it…Spiritual Jazzercise…Don’t be a spiritually fat Christian anymore….Get off the couch, take a bite of the Word, and breath easier..knowing that you are accomplishing the ultimate goal of a Christian…to be a witness, out an walking among those who are unsaved, and preachin’ (or teaching..for women ) the Gospel.

Yummy! February 12, 2007

My mom posted about this but I thought I would give Melissa some more publicity! 

She makes AWESOME cakes and they’re soo yummy!

Visit her site: http://www.freewebs.com/missycompoc/kidscakes.htm

Anna Nicole Smith February 9, 2007

 I am so burdened by the death of Anna Nicole Smith.  She lived a life of sex, porn, filth, money, and fame.  She thought she had everything.  She thought that by living her life in human pleasures, she would be happy.  It was obvious though by her drug, sex, and alcohol problems that she was not happy.  Searching, searching, searching, for happiness…..and never finding it.

My other question is……………Did anyone ever tell her about Jesus?……….Did they tell her that He and only He can make her happy?…………Now I’m not saying that being a Christian is the easiest thing or that you are happy all the time, but Christ is my only source of happiness.

I am so sad that at the age of 39, Anna Nicole passed away, probably not to heaven, but to a place of torment.  She will knew happiness, and will NEVER be happy.  I pray that someone will be able to reach out to her daughter, who, even though is an infant, will one day grow up in the shadow of her mother.  Anna’s daughter will face the same situations as her mother, but hopefully, someone will be able to plant the seed, which God will grow, and enable her to see happiness………….life (and death) with Christ.

The sad thing is though. People die everyday……..normal people………..middle class people………….moms, dads, daughters, sons, fathers, mothers, and grandparents………………and the majority of them die and wake up in Hell, where they will be tormented FOREVER.  Now, not everyone will accept Christ, but it is our duty to tell everyone we come in contact with about Him.  Maybe, if we would wake up and accept our mission given by Christ…..the number of people going to Hell would decrease exponentially, not of our works but of the works of Christ who lives in us.

If Christ does live in you, I encourage you to step up to the plate and DO YOUR JOB.  TELL people about Jesus….TELL THEM of the happiness he gives…..TELL THEM of the peace he gives……TELL THEM of the blood that was shed for us…..TELL THEM of the compassion of Jesus…..TELL THEM of His love.

The Flu!!! February 8, 2007

Last week I had this deadly disease called the flu.  I say “deadly” and you’re probably laughing, but that’s the first time I’ve been sick and thought I would die….anywho….

I made it through multiple days of fever, chills, headaches, coughing, runny nose, and body aches that immobilized me for a week.  Then comes the ……dunh, dunh, dunh……”AFTER FLU!!!!!”

The “AFTER FLU!!!!” is almost as bad as the “FLU!!!!”  I am coughing like I’ve been smoking for 30 years….and I’ve only been alive for 20………My nose is not just running……it’s sprinting…..like a Kenyon…..chasing an Elephant……..and to top it off…..My head is pounding………I’m telling you….a little person is in my head and shaking my brain……beating it on the walls of my skull….

Anyways, this blog is to warn you to get your Flu Shot…….Trust me, you don’t want “FLU!!!” and his twin brother the “AFTER FLU!!!”" to come see you!

The Comfort Zone February 7, 2007

“You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most…It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.” 

                                                                -John Wesley

If you just read that quote and don’t feel guilty, then you need to pray.  For some odd reason, we Christians, think that we can sit in our nice pews on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday’s…listen to the preaching, move our words to some songs, and leave…..and WAM!, unsaved people will feel this magnetic pull to the church and be saved.  This is soooooooo wrong.  Jesus didn’t tell us to sit around on our behinds and watch the unsaved people flock to us to learn about Jesus, he said GO….GO….GO….Go and tell…and make disciples of all nations. 

 I feel like as a church,(all Christians), we get into our comfort zones and decide not to witness to others, not because of fear but because of laziness.  We’re going to heaven, so we’re happy right?!  Who cares about anyone else…?

God does…and it’s our responsibilty to do what He told us to do.  Jesus came to tell us about salvation….our job is to tell THEM about salvation. 

 Get off the couch….put away the chore list….stop watching TV….skip a day of liesure…quit pretending to be a “Christian”…….

A real “Christian”, (Christ-like), would have the desire to get out and tell people about Jesus, not the desire to do anything else.

Put aside your mess, your job, your schooling, your plans….and step into the UnComfort Zone.

1st blog February 6, 2007

Ok..this is my first blog. Not so exciting because I have about 5 minutes to do it.  Wait til tonight and I’ll have a good one. 

Peace out!