As I sat at Revival Camp and watched the sunset behind the mountains and heard the sounds of several worshipping in the background I felt as though I got a glimpse of Christ's glory. The Holy Spirit's presence was so evident then and there in that moment. It was also at that moment that I realized the reality of what I faced a month in the future...leaving all of this behind as I embark on a new season in my life. It is a hard truth to grasp, yet one that although brings much sorrow brings hope and excitement as well!
The men and women that I have had the privilege of serving alongside at Compass over the past year have been such Godly examples as I grow in the Lord. I have been able to view not only Godly marriages, but friendships and co-worker relationships that edify, encourage, sharpen, and love one another with the love they have only received from Christ alone. I have never been so blessed by a group of fellow servants of the Lord. As I watched each one serve in different fashions at Revival camp it reminded me of how we truly are one body with differing functions. 1 Corinthians 12 (vs 27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it". Each one of us has been gifted with different abilities, strengths, or talents and when each one is following the Lord's guidance in how to use those to His glory He is magnified tenfold and that is exactly what I got to see unfold at camp.
Not only have I had the privilege of serving among some of God's most precious servants, but I have been able to serve some of the most incredible youth I have ever come in contact with, many of who challenge me. Some of these young men and women have shown me glimpses of Christ's love as they devote their lives to His glory and the furthering of His kingdom in every avenue of their lives. It has been a blessing to watch God use high school students as tools for His workmanship ("For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" Ephesians 2:10). I have seen these students challenge one another with the Word, encourage one another, pray for one another, and even bear one another's burdens.
So as I move on for the semester to come, although it breaks my heart to know I will be missing out on serving with and serving these amazing disciples of the Lord, I am so excited to see God's faithfulness and continued work among these people. I look forward to coming back after a few months and seeing how God has moved in the lives of these leaders and students. I trust that as God continues His work at Compass He will be magnified, glorified, and proclaimed unashamed.
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."
-Hebrews 10:23
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Living Out Worship
"Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalm 100:2
It is easy in today's contemporary Christian music world to get numb to the meaning of worship. With Christian bands, concerts, and radio stations constantly amusing with song and joining fellow Christians in worship around the globe, the words that come forth from the lips of the saved begin to sound like a clanging cymbal to many.
After considering why it is when a new worship song comes out people are drawn to it and excited, I came to the realization that as with any type of music people often look at these precious worship songs as nothing more than mere words on a page or a good melody strung together. What is worship? The Webster dictionary defines worship as a verb, " to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power". The Word of God describes worship with various words including "sacrifice, praise, honor, and glory".
From generations past until today, followers of our Lord have knelt, raised hands, and lifted their voices high in worship to the King. But how many times were those words sung without understanding, without true devotion, and with a numbness to His glory? Recently in True North, we began singing a song by Eowghen Heaslip titled All That Matters which includes phrases like "you are all that satisfies, all that gives me life, you are my portion, my only pation, Jesus you mean EVERYTHING to me". As I listened to the praises of the people among me raising up their voices in unison and singing out these words, I listened carefully to the words being echoed and in one swift moment realized I too had fallen victim to just singing out words. I realized that if I was going to be singing these words such as, "you are my only passion" that I had to live that out. I couldn't just sing that to my King and than later forget the prayer that I had just cried out. I needed to live out that worship in my daily life at all times.
As disciples of the Lord we mustn't forget why we sing, we must never become clanging cymbals as we repeat phrase after phrase of a worship song, and may we never sing words without meaning our praise, as disciples we are called to worship the Lord always, living it out everywhere we go, in everything we do, no matter where we are or what we may be going through!
"Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy." PsaLm 99:9
It is easy in today's contemporary Christian music world to get numb to the meaning of worship. With Christian bands, concerts, and radio stations constantly amusing with song and joining fellow Christians in worship around the globe, the words that come forth from the lips of the saved begin to sound like a clanging cymbal to many.
After considering why it is when a new worship song comes out people are drawn to it and excited, I came to the realization that as with any type of music people often look at these precious worship songs as nothing more than mere words on a page or a good melody strung together. What is worship? The Webster dictionary defines worship as a verb, " to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power". The Word of God describes worship with various words including "sacrifice, praise, honor, and glory".
From generations past until today, followers of our Lord have knelt, raised hands, and lifted their voices high in worship to the King. But how many times were those words sung without understanding, without true devotion, and with a numbness to His glory? Recently in True North, we began singing a song by Eowghen Heaslip titled All That Matters which includes phrases like "you are all that satisfies, all that gives me life, you are my portion, my only pation, Jesus you mean EVERYTHING to me". As I listened to the praises of the people among me raising up their voices in unison and singing out these words, I listened carefully to the words being echoed and in one swift moment realized I too had fallen victim to just singing out words. I realized that if I was going to be singing these words such as, "you are my only passion" that I had to live that out. I couldn't just sing that to my King and than later forget the prayer that I had just cried out. I needed to live out that worship in my daily life at all times.
As disciples of the Lord we mustn't forget why we sing, we must never become clanging cymbals as we repeat phrase after phrase of a worship song, and may we never sing words without meaning our praise, as disciples we are called to worship the Lord always, living it out everywhere we go, in everything we do, no matter where we are or what we may be going through!
"Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy." PsaLm 99:9
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Revive Us O Lord!
This past week I had the privilege of serving alongside other disciples of Christ as we were used as tools for His glory in the lives of about 100 high school and junior high students. My church, Compass Bible Church, prayerfully and ambitiously put together a week long summer camp at Lake Isabella. I have to admit that I was very skeptical of the whole idea, even up to the day before the students arrived. I couldn't imagine what God was going to do and I failed to trust Him wholly in His upcoming work. Was I wrong!
God moved in big and small ways as He used Pastor Mike's teaching to pierce deep within the hearts of students and leaders alike as God's word challenged each to examine their hearts and their lives and evaluate the eternal standing. We looked at Matthew chapter 19 the entire week and the parable of the rich young ruler. This man was unwilling to give up everything, his riches in specific, to surrender all, repent, and follow the King. This passage motivated many to realize that they too were not ready to give up everything (relationships, money, or whatever it might be) and in a sense, "jump off the cliff" and follow Him.
Our prayer prior to the camp was that God would do a revival in the lives of many if not all...hints the camp's name, "Revival '07". I remember as my skeptism increased praying that God would reach out an save one soul and if He did that it would be worth it. I knew that if nobody changed and if students would have left only enjoying the games or the fellowship that our work was in vain, but God exceeded any of our expectations. He did a revival in the lives of more than 50 students (whether that be in saving lost sheep or reviving the dry) this weekend and allowed us to get a glimpse of His greatness and glory.
Although this trip was a time for students, I think that each individual present (whether 7 or 47) was challenged and encouraged to continue on with a fervor and passion for our Great God. Mike's teaching convicted both the lost and the found to never run dry with a zeal to serve Him with your whole heart all the time. It is easy to get caught up in the selfishness of our own hearts and our own desires and we need to constantly be checking our motives and our passions to make sure that they are aligned with the Word of the Lord and that they are furthering His kingdom. I am excited to see what God will continue to do in the lives of not only the youth in True North and the Narrow but also in the hearts of the leaders and others who were hand picked by Him to be used this weekend.
May this year for each one of us be a revival, a time of examining our own lives and seeing where we stand with the Lord, and when that is done and He continues to mold and sanctify us may we pray, "REVIVE US O LORD!"
Friday, July 20, 2007
Indescribable
I just got home from a family vacation to Yosemite and the surrounding areas. The only words I can use to describe what I saw is breath-taking or awe-inspiring, but what it truly is is indescribable. God's creativity, His absolute power is wonderfully amazing and all together captivating. I wonder as I see things such as these how people could think these things happened "by accident", how they couldn't believe there was an all powerful and sovereign Lord and creator behind it all. Here are just a few snapshots of God's art:
Sunday, July 08, 2007
How Great Is Our God in ALL the Earth
This past week I had the privilege of spending a week in El Porvenir, Mexico spreading the love and name of Jesus Christ! From the times of sweet worship and edifying teaching to the serving that the Lord called us to do, God was magnified. Twenty one students from Compass alongside three leaders joined up with 14 others from a few churches down to Casa de Paz (House of Peace), a Christian run orphanage. It was awesome to see how God not only stretched each one of us in different ways whether physically or spiritually, but also how He proved His greatness to each and every one of us.
One specific experience that really magnified His greatness to me was at the local outreach we had. On our way to the location we lost half of the drinks we had needed (we had brought just enough for 150 people and that is one drink each), so one of the Pastors on the trip headed back to pick up some water. I had instructed the students helping me that we should only give ONE drink to each person, after thinking for about two seconds Matthew 10:42 came to mind, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward". It was at that moment that I realized what a small view of God I had! I needed to trust that the Lord would provide and prove Himself faithful, as He ALWAYS has. And He did. About thirty minutes prior to the end of the outreach, one of the students explained concern for lack of water. My response was, "We won't run out!". He looked at me like I was crazy, and again repeated His question, and I again repeated my response. It was at that moment that He too had realized that God provides for His people and that He did! We had plenty of water, the spout seemed to never dry up, it was incredible.
God has blessed us with so many blessings from the roofs over our heads to the water that we bathe in. We so often take the small and large for granted. My prayer is that your eyes too would be opened to the reality of life, that as Christians our calling is to be a missionary EVERYWHERE we go. We are to magnify His great name among ALL nations and ALL people, and where better to start then right outside your front door, or even in your house! And always remember how great our God truly is!!!
SOME PICS...
One specific experience that really magnified His greatness to me was at the local outreach we had. On our way to the location we lost half of the drinks we had needed (we had brought just enough for 150 people and that is one drink each), so one of the Pastors on the trip headed back to pick up some water. I had instructed the students helping me that we should only give ONE drink to each person, after thinking for about two seconds Matthew 10:42 came to mind, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward". It was at that moment that I realized what a small view of God I had! I needed to trust that the Lord would provide and prove Himself faithful, as He ALWAYS has. And He did. About thirty minutes prior to the end of the outreach, one of the students explained concern for lack of water. My response was, "We won't run out!". He looked at me like I was crazy, and again repeated His question, and I again repeated my response. It was at that moment that He too had realized that God provides for His people and that He did! We had plenty of water, the spout seemed to never dry up, it was incredible.
God has blessed us with so many blessings from the roofs over our heads to the water that we bathe in. We so often take the small and large for granted. My prayer is that your eyes too would be opened to the reality of life, that as Christians our calling is to be a missionary EVERYWHERE we go. We are to magnify His great name among ALL nations and ALL people, and where better to start then right outside your front door, or even in your house! And always remember how great our God truly is!!!
SOME PICS...
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