Do you think you stand?

Are we getting a bit full of ourselves??? Has pride taken over our Christian walk??? How about a confidence that we can handle anything that comes our way??? True, confidence is a good thing in the right respects, as long as we glory or brag on ourselves.

The verses that come to mind on this subject are found in 1 Corinthians 10:12 & 13 (KJV)..."Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Obviously, in this passage we are warned about being too proud of ourselves. It's at times of self-reliance that we allow the doors to be opened in our life to outside influences we wouldn't normally allow. In other words, we let our guard down. Verse 13 does give us a hope in the Lord that no matter what comes our way, it is not going to be something that only you have faced. Temptations are common to man (everyone) and with the temptations we face, God has promised to be faithful and also will make a way to escape from that temptation.

I like the way the Amplified Bible translates the passage..."Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. (13) For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."

I love how it states He will ALWAYS provide a way out, which He will. And, its great to know that we will have a means of escape to a landing place. Do you have a safe landing place apart from God??? Are you too dependent upon self to make all decisions??? Are you willing to turn and ask the Lord for help turning from your temptations???

Read the passage again in both translations...read the version you feel comfortable with. Pray that the Lord will give you strength to fight through the temptations you face. Ask for His place of safe landing to be made evident.

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Who Am I Working For???

As I sit praying and thinking about the vision God has for me in the coming days, weeks, months and years...I am struck by the thought that if the work being done is of my doing, then the labor is futile. In Psalm 127:1, the KJV version states..."Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

So, what this says to me is that if I am laboring on my own, nothing tangible will come of it, right? Not only do we need to be working in His plan, but also be watching to see what He sets before us.

I am reminded of a blog post I read yesterday by Kyle Campos at his blog Our Rising Sound. He was talking about how horrible the whole musical part of worship went and how down he was about it, but during the invitation how humbled he was because he was reminded how it's not about what we do, how good we perform or sound - but rather what He is doing through us.

Isn't that the way we see things too often? We let our selfish pride stand in the way of God working through us...(realize that when I say we, I include myself). Our special on Sunday morning was sung by my wife Lindsey. She sang Laura Story's arrangement of "Mighty to Save". I am reminded of the line..."take me as you find me, all my fears and failures...fill my life again"

Think about those words today...remind yourself...it's not about you!!! Lay your fears and failures at His feet and ask Him to fill you again...I am doing it as I write these words. Ask for the opportunity to share and ask for the discernment to say the words that will show Him...

Please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

And Keep Thy Word...

This morning as I have been doing some reading around the blogosphere, I am troubled by a few things. I realize as "worship leaders", we are to be working to produce the best possible product to lead, but are we putting the focus on the right things? I have read how several are worried about keeping guitarists, pianists, drummers, and vocalists happy. That is not what worship is about, though...it's about giving our best to Him, regardless if we hear our voice loud enough, there's feedback, etc. Don't get me wrong, I am as picky as the next guy, but we can't allow technical issues to take the focus off who we are singing, playing, or drumming to.

My scripture passage today comes from Psalm 119:17-22..."Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. (18) Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (19) I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. (20) My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. (21) Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. (22) Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies."

Here, David is praying for God to provide abundantly for him, that he may abide while keeping the Word of God in his life. He is also asking that God open his eyes, that he would see the great things of the law. We no longer are under the law in the same respect as the Old Testament, but should still glory in the statutes set before us for Christian life.

One of our deacons here is always reminding me about the next verse's words...we are not of this earth...don't let things here get to you! I will next skip over a bit to verse 21 where the proud are rebuked and cursed for getting their own selves in the way of the commandments. This is a hard one to keep our minds upon. When a person is put on a pedestal, after a while they seem to think they deserve it, if they don't have the right perspective. I speak from being there personally. My prayer each day is that I am mindful that I must decrease and He must increase (John 3:30).

Finally, in verse 22, if we keep our eyes focused can ask God to remove the trials and contempt we face for we have kept His testimonies. This is not to say that everything will be great all the time and trials will never come, but that God will remove those feelings from our hearts.

Let's pray that we may focus our eyes upon the Lord in our times of praise and worship. Like the words from "The Heart of Worship" state so eloquently..."it's all about You...it's all about You, Jesus..."

Let me know if I can word a special prayer on your behalf today...