Gloom, Dispair, and a Kick in the Teeth

That's what Satan got from our most awesome God today. I don't understand all I have experienced this past week, but I know Satan was defeated in an important battle today.

First, I don't believe in bad luck, or good luck, or luck period. I believe that some days we are being tested, some days we are being rewarded for passing a test. I believe that God does indeed discipline us for wrongdoings, and blesses us beyond measure for making the right choices and honoring Him with our words and deeds.

Second, I know that there is a war going on that we simply can not see. Ephesians 6:10-12 “A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." This teaches some crucial truths: (1) We can only be strong in the Lord’s power, (2) It is God’s armor that protects us, (3) Our battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the world.

Third, intercession in prayer is powerful in this battle. I know because I have experienced it in an awesome way this week. I want to especially thank a lady that God has brought into my life. She is not even a member of our church, yet I understand she came to stand in my office this past week to pray for me, telling Donna only that she felt as though she was supposed to come by and pray for me. I have felt the presence of God is such a powerful way this week, yet my heart has been heavy as I have felt the battle all around.

Today the chains were lifted and I feel free again! It has been as different as night and day! I had the best nights sleep, the kids woke up happy, Mandy has felt good and passed some tests at school she had been stressing over, my pastor made me his HERO OF THE WEEK, and I got to spend some quality time with some friends today talking about what God is doing in my life and ministry! I'm about to go spend some time with the Praise Team as we hang out together and play some music with Mike Jewell, who we just learned plays bass guitar!
Also, God gave me some incredible ideas about some neat things to do in our traditional service and children's choir with some different instruments.

I know soon there will be another trial, or another test. I'm actually looking forward to it so I can brag on MY GOD a little bit more! He did the hard part, He Died.... Kicked the Devil in the teeth.... then came back to life. Now all I have to do is what He says......
"Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil."

I feel as though Elisha has prayed over me as he did the young servant man...... 2 Kings 6:16-17 "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." See, all that servant could see was the visible battle, God allowed him to see the spiritual battlefield as well.

Fear Not..... Stand Firm..... He's got everything under control!

Later

Mission Impossible

We are loosing our Bass player and Keyboard player this weekend! Just for a weekend, but still! This is a major part of our Praise Team and it's going to be GONE!
This is how I spent Sunday night after church. I could not get this off of my mind and wasn't sure what to do about it. Then I began to reflect on where we started from and where we are now. How silly of me to think that God didn't already have this worked out as well. I've vowed to quit worrying about it and begin looking for guidance.
I must admit, I still don't know exactly what is going to happen, but I do know that it will be great!

OK so i've got to get ready for Choir Rehearsal and all that happens here on Wednesday night. I'll write again tomorrow!
Later

Relax, Rejoice, Get Busy

This week has had it's ups and downs. Thankfully, much more up than down! God has been gracious to meet my needs this week as I have had time to reflect and relax. He has also worn me out as I have had to jump into action and do some different things this week than I usually do. I believe the highlight of the week was spending some time with Jane B and Terry M this past Thursday. Mrs Jane comes and helps me with different things from time to time in the office. She is a former church secretary and knows what all happens behind the scenes that needs to be done..... and she is so good at it!
Mrs Terry is a former Choir Director, and helps me so much with our Praise Team music. This week however, she put music to a new song, "The RoadKill Cafe"
We also began work on Mr Buddy Merritt's song that He will sing for us on the last Sunday of the month. Buddy wrote the lyrics and gave us the tune, we are now tweaking it and getting it ready!

I'm especially excited about next Sunday when the Sammy Glass Family will be leading the 11:00 worship.

Tomorrow's worship at 8:30 is going to be different. We will begin wide open with "zare is no one like You" (of course that's not the real name.... as bad as my diction is I find some things just bad....bad....bad )

Anyway, No One Like Our God, then we will slow it down for a song with an awesome message "You Alone" made popular by Echoing Angels.
Then we'll rock it out again with Marvelous Light before Pastor Chad brings the message on the Second Coming of our Lord!

At 11:00 the Choir will sing a rousing anthem "It's Still the Cross" and Mrs Terry will sing a song that Gail Stevens requested several weeks ago. Gail had laser surgery on her eye this past week, and is still without sight in that eye. Her courage and strength in the Lord has blessed my heart.

Good night all! I Love Jesus, Mandy, My Kids, and yes..... You Too!
May God use us all for His purpose until He comes!

Hello Again

Sorry I haven't posted in the last week. This is one of the most hectic weeks of the year for Music Ministers, and it was complicated by a copier that would not work when we needed it most. For all those who helped make the newsletter happen today, thanks!

Tomorrow begins with the Children's Ministry Egg Hunt that promises to be pretty cool. I think it's cool that Smokey the Clown will be there with Flower, (sorry Crystal) and I am excited that we will be able to publicize ELEVATE... our new Children's Ministry that will begin Sunday at 8:30 to all the kids that come to the Hunt.

Fun stuff that happened this week was

1. Got my first water ski of the year in on Tuesday AM
2. Grew at least 1 inch TALLER Wed. morning (it's a long story)
3. Found an awesome chiropractor here in Mauldin that will keep me standing tall
4. Had a lunch date with my wife w/no kids
5. Had an awesome dress rehearsal with the church choir for our musical presentation this Sunday
6. The Choir Folders arrived today!

My week has been full, but exciting. I look forward with excitement to what God is going to do between now and lunch on Sunday.

Yea, it's Friday alright...... But Sunday's Coming!