What does God really see?

Wow, I should really post more things on this, but I'm digressing before getting started.

So, what does God really see? He sees our heart. While I think many traditions are great, there is no reason they can't be broken. I am unashamed to say that I wear blue jeans to church every weekend, sometimes even shorts (Oh, my!). It is very rare that you will see me in a suit and tie. Will this make some people upset? Most likely, but who do I have to answer to? Jesus.

I remember seeing people dressed in baggy jeans with chains, black shirts, spikes, long hair, and piercings everywhere. Even though they were not dressed in what one would call "church attire," they were at the altar, praising God. I then remember hearing some people say "People like that do not need to walk in our church." That one quote made me want to punch the person in the face (not really, but it did infuriate me). These people could have easily been at a party drinking, out doing drugs, having sex, or doing some other destructive behavior. But they were not, they were seeking the face of God. Their HEART was in the right place.

What people need to realize is WHY we go to church. We go to seek and worship God, not to say "oh I like your tie, that dress is pretty, you should have polished your shoes, why isn't your shirt ironed." Those people go to church for the wrong reasons.

Being in the church all my life and seeing the way things are done in different places, also showed me all the ways God can show up. I'll be the first to tell you, I'm a born and bread Pentecostal Holiness boy. I love my Pentecostal roots, and I love throwdown Pentecostal services. I speak in tongues, and the things that go along with it. But typically, I am not a loud and expressive worshipper. You'll see me with my hands up from time to time, I'll shout occasionally, and shed a tear. But there have been times that I have been standing and raising my hands, and there have been times where I have been dead silent, and I still expierenced God in a powerful way. I am very weary of those who say "If you are loud and shout, you are irreverant." Or the other side of the coin, "If you aren't shouting and screaming and jumping, you are under bondage and are not truly worshipping God." My mother once told me that emotion without devotion is commotion. I truly feel that God enjoys and accepts ALL styles of worships, loud or soft or silent...as long as the HEART is in the right place.

In Acts chapter 2, the phenomenon of Pentecost took place. But something that is also great to do, is to sit down and listen to his still small voice, listen with your heart. Read his word and see what he has to tell you in a quiet place.

No matter how you dress to church or how you worship, make sure your heart is in the right place, and know that God will honor that.

Summer...

Yeah, I know it has been a long time since I've been on here, almost four months. Just for an update...summer school and working two jobs is HARD!! I can't sit here and say it isn't stressful, because that would be a boldface lie. But I can say that Philipians 4:13 gets me through it all. Isn't it awesome that we have a savior who helps us through everything?

The bright side is, I have an internship at the best place ever!! It is at C3 Church. I have no doubt that God has engineered this. After serving on the worship team since last year, it has been great to be able to get to know the staff on a deeper level. I can say I feel at home there and that I love my job!

I'm going to try to do more frequent blogs, hold me to it!!

yet again...

Wow it has been awhile since I have been on here...kinda sad.

Nonetheless, the end of the school year is almost here, and I can't wait. But at the same time, I really can't say that I have many regrets. Campbell has given me the opprotunity to find new friends and find my niche. It won't be a complete break because of the lovely time of summer school.

I have an excitng interview tomorrow, and if all goes well, you'll be sure to know.

God has blessed me in so many ways and I can't think him enough.

Engineered or just Allowed?

Two stories to prove a point: Recently, I heard of a pastor that said God engineered and made people have sickness...Wow, that is grotesque. Now the longer story: A woman who had cancer went to the altar and asked her pastor to pray for her. She told him, "Pastor, I have cancer, and it has made me very humble. I want to be more humble, so would you please pray that I will continue to be humble?" So the pastor stared praying..."Dear Father in Heaven, please give this woman more cancer." Before he could get another word out, she shouted, "How could you pray for more of this horrible sickness in my body?" The pastor replied, "You said you wanted to be more humble, so I'm praying for what makes you humble." If you read in between the lines, you will be able to see that the pastor did this to prove a point.

Contrary to some people's beliefs, God does not point his wrathful finger and certain people and zap them and say "You have cancer, you have AIDS, etc." He is our heavenly father. All parents who are reading, think about this: What kind of parent would you be if you made your precious child have a sickness?

The point is God allows certain things to happen, he does not cause them. 1 Peter 5:8 reads "Satan roams around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." This not only happens with physical sickness, any kind of circumstance can apply, whether it be a family member falling out with the rest of the family, a job loss, the death of a loved one, or anything else. The question is, no matter what comes against us, if Satan brings it on us or we bring it on ourselves, are we going to praise God no matter the circumstances?

My challenge to you: Read the book of Job, see what God allowed him to go through and watch how is faith persevered. This will be a challenge because after you read Job, I'm sure that you will realize that most of us have little to complain about...

Decisions

Wow...so I am half way through my second year of college. Has it been fun? Absolutely. Challenging? Absolutely. For example, as much as I have loved music for the past ten years, the training I'm getting in school now brings out challenging aspects of it that I did not know existed, but as time goes on I realize how much I love it. I also went through a dark time recently, something I would never wish on my worst enemy. But throughout it all, I referred myself to Philippians 4:13--I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That is the honest truth, no matter the circumstance. I definitely have had great opprotunities, and have great people and great places in my life, but not without challenges. I say all that to say this: NO matter any circumstance, The Lord Jesus Christ loves you and is on your side. Trust him, and, in his time, you will get where he wants you to be.