Happy New Year!!!

As you all know, for many, as soon as we are putting away the leftover from Thanksgiving, we have the t.v. on and we are already getting tired of being inundated with the commercialism of Christmas. For many who follow the Christian calendar year, we find ourselves wishing people "Happy New Year!

Advent is the beginning of the Christian calendar. Advent allows us the opportunity to stop and ask ourselves what we are preparing for. What is important for us to remember and possibly make different this year from any other year?

As it was written long ago, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

This verse should remind us that that God's loving presence did not originate in that manger but existed before time began. It should be the reason why this coming year will be different, better, more joyous as we continue to look at the full picture of God's grace that is His coming to us.

So Happy New Year! And as you prepare to bring the new year, may you come to know the love of God which is found in the manger, at the cross, in the empty tomb, and in your home.

Incarnation John 1:14

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

This part of scripture is hugely powerful. It not only reveals God Himself having come as one of us, but a kingdom principle that God intends for us to live by. Simply stated: Every word God speaks, He intends for it to be made flesh - or manifest!

Many people have become frustrated to a lack of manifestation in their lives as it pertains to the Word of God. They hear and believe the Word of God, but are still waiting on the promises to manifest in their lives. We misunderstand what the Word of God is and how it manifests in our lives. Manifestation is really the revelation of what was there all the time - it just wasn't visible. Manifestation is a two part process that involves both God and man. God initiates the process by providing the spiritual substance of the thing, then man is responsible for doing what is necessary in the natural to prepare a place for it to manifest. Without both there will be no manifestation.

"Now faith (the Word of God) is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). This scripture reveals that God has provided the substance of all things we hope for through His Word. Our ability to see what we're hoping for is dependent upon a place being prepared in the natural.

This is more clearly seen in John 1:1 and John 1:14. It reads, "In the beginning was the word' ... 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The Word has there all the time. However, when God decided to make His Word flesh or to manifest it, He had to find a "prepared place" (Mary's womb) for the Pre-existing Word to manifest itself. Man now could see what had been there from the beginning. We first receive a thing by our hearing before it can pass through our hands.

Every provision God has given man has come from His mouth. We continue to look for things at the mailbox, another person or through a job, when the authorized means of manifestation begin in the Word. God has done His part - He given us His Word. We must receive and prepare to see what He has said.

Thank God that His Word became flesh! Even more so, I am glad that His Word has found a prepared place in me and become flesh!

Happy Incarnation......

Advent time

Advent was not a term i grew up with as a part of my "church language" I had heard of it through school and friends but honestly was not until had reached a "mature age" (which is ????) did I get a better understanding of its true meaning.

Today, i am excited about the meaning of Advent has in my personal life. It is the special season of waiting and watching, a time to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas. It's a season of preparation for Christmas, much as Lent is a season of preparation for Easter. It is our yearn for God's completion of the salvation begun in Christ. In it we not only look back to the experience of Israel but look forward to Christ's 2nd coming.

As much excitement that i have fostered for many years to be a part of the "reason for the season" in our purchasing & giving, the true meaning had eluded me in some sense. Today, by recognizing Advent, focusing on its themes, the use its distinctive colors Advent has given me a way to enrich my celebration of Christmas and, even more importantly, my relationship with God.

This season, may we be awakened to celebrate the light, the Incarnation, the redemption, love and soon return for His bride.

Enjoy the season....

Oh, the Wonder "Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son. Oh, the wonder of Christmas." C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Life - making it significant 1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV

Have you ever thought that God wants to use you and I to make a difference in this world. He desires to work through us. What is important is not the DURATION of your life , but th e DONATION of it. It's not how long you live but HOW YOU LIVE.

Once you become a follower of Jesus, really, what becomes a priority for us? To TELL others about him!!! When you discover that He has a plan and purpose for your life, once you discover that unique relationship you have with the Creator of ALL, it is nothing but impossible to keep it to yourself, but one wants and should tell ALL to ALL.

Think about it, someone told you, you tell another and the chain continues.

There is a hunger in our world for spiritual things. Yes, even those that reject the notion of a higher power, a deep relationship with someone you can not see. So, how do we make it count...

Invest your time and money into helping others. It’s an investment that will last for eternity. There is simply nothing more significant you can do with your life. Nothing else you do in life will ever equal helping others in their search for God’s kingdom.

Our treasures are those brothers and sisters we lead to Jesus. God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. I can pass what I know about Jesus to someone else.

Will you begin to make a difference....make LIFE Significant!!!!!

COVENANT

In the Bible many people who understood covenants well. Covenants were made to define and describe their relationships with each other.

Abraham & Abimelech as they resolved their conflict over a water source (Gen. 21:22-34).

David & Jonathan made one for their friendship (1 Sam. 18:3 and 23:18).

Jacob & Laban, made one which promised never to harm the other. (Gen. 31:43-53).

The basic difference between covenants and other agreements is the relationship that exists between those making the covenant. You make a specific promise and expect certain benefits (and penalties, if the promises were broken) based on the terms of the covenant. But this relationship went far beyond legal concepts.

Those entering a covenant viewed each other as friends who were bound together permanently. Abraham's covenant with Abimelech allowed these two very different men to live in peace in the same area (Gen. 21:34). David and Jonathan, lived a covenant that was of mutual loyalty and love (1 Sam. 18:3). To be in covenant was to be in relationship.

Covenants were “cut” not made. We have to fully understand what it means to “cut” not by today’s standard of distorted views but by what God showed us in the Old Testament. Even so, today, we could freak out on its true meaning.

The cutting, symbolized by the slaughter of an animal (Ex. 24:5,8), indicated that each person in the covenant promised to give his or her own life to keep its terms. To break a covenant was to invite one's own death as a penalty. There are no more serious relationships than those that are a commitment of life itself.

The highest example of a covenant is the one we find in Jesus. It is only in Jesus that we can fully understand this love. In Him, God fulfilled the promise he made to his people giving his own life to seal the covenant he had made with them.

God's choice of the covenant to describe his relationship with his people highlights the degree of his love for us. Not only does the great sovereign Creator of heaven and earth descend to be in relationship with sinful human beings, but he offers his own life to provide escape for covenant breakers.

What are your covenants? Who have you established one with? Are you living to the best of your ability, the covenant you have cut with someone?

Transformed

What obstacles sometimes hold us back from full assent to the experience of worship? Is it just in the following the form or liturgy that causes us to experience worship? What, if anything, is limiting and how we come into an understanding that we “have worshipped?

If you begin to look at the life of Moses, Elijah or even Jesus himself, we saw that in the first two examples, when they came “into” the presence of God himself, they were outward signs of inward changes. Is this what determines worship?

As Evelyn Underhill wrote; “WORSHIP, in all its grades and kinds, is the response of the creature to the Eternal:” If we are to take these words and allow them to help us give a definition to worship, then, it would only be the beginning. The transformation that takes place is an outcome of our encounter, response and now transformed life.

The question for today would be “How can we enter more freely into the transfigured life as exemplified by Moses, Elijah, and Jesus himself?

How do worship experiences shape our communion with God and with others?”

Live the LIFE to not just experience worship but be transformed because of your worship of the CREATOR!!!!

More thoughts on Worship....

Still on the thoughts of worship. So many opinions, thoughts and even discussions, that as I think of the weekend I just had at our church, it makes me more certain of the reasons I worship HIM!.

We worship for one purpose: that we might know our God. The whole point of worship is that the people of God can draw nearer to Him, and know Him for themselves. A worship service has no other purpose or aim other than Him. It is not directed at the people, but at God, for the sake of the people. And in that discovery, WE are CHANGED.

In worship, the distinction between Heaven and the Earth will fade away, as the people of God begin to operate and flow in true Kingdom authority. The worlds way of operation becomes irrelevant, we move into the spiritual, lives get transformed, people get delivered.

True worship is a journey. It is a journey from the mundane, the natural, and the boring and the impossible into the true reality of the presence of God, from where the people of God enter into the radical and miraculous of God's kingdom. The more we focus upon Him, the more our minds are filled with His truth and revelation. Jesus becomes the true authority over ALL our lives.

On this journey a transformation comes as we spend time in God's presence listening, heeding his words . Judson Cornwall wrote, "To become conformed to the image of the object worshiped
must be the end desire of the worshiper." As we spend time gazing into His image our character becomes conformed to his character. The more time spent in His presence the more we are transformed into his image.

Though worship is for God and an end to itself, transformation is a vital benefit of worship.

"Worship is humble and glad; worship forgets itself in remembering God; worship celebrates the truth as God's truth. True worship is open to God, adoring God, waiting for God, trusting God even in the dark." (N.T. Wright)

Why Worship?

Have you ever asked yourself why we should worship and what is worship? What does it mean to God? Does he really care how I worship him as long as I attend church (well, most weeks, that is) and at least stand up during the "singing."

Just a few thoughts....maybe you agree and maybe you don't.

Jesus took time to chat with a woman by a well (John 4:1-38). He made this statement, "the Father is now looking for true worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truth." What does that mean? From the inside out, with our whole being. With no hidden thing in us. We can’t hide from God (Jeremiah 23:24).

How many times do we sing or "stand" in worship but our minds are so far away, that is not to even consider where our heart is. We are thinking of our surroundings, what we did last night and even at times judging others because we think they are judging us. Is that with our whole being?

As Jesus and the woman end their conversation, she runs and tells all about what just happened to her. Is like the girl who just gets engaged, no matter the size of the ring or diamond, she will let everyone know.

Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and come into his courts with praise." In worship we express our admiration for who HE is, not just what he’s done. Worship is what takes place beyond the outer courts, through the inner courts (the Holy Place), and on into the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies), where the presence of God dwells. We are instructed to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).

It’s not done during church service for a couple of hours. It happens every day; everywhere in life! And the beauty is that it is not limited to music and singing. Our coming together every week should be a culmination of our continuous worship. In fact, the lack of private worship will hinder your ability to worship corporately.

So why worship....as Tommy Tenney put it a few years ago, "because we want to be transformed. You can not worship God if you have not been transformed by HIM...being in HIS presence....

The Divine Human Dance

After a heavy week of activities, some things ran through my mind in regards to growing in my relationship with God. By what means do we grow close to God and become more like Jesus? What spiritual disciplines (both personal and corporate) further our spiritual formation?

Don't know if you have read this book but in The Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster he describes three categories of disciplines:
· Inward – meditation, prayer, fasting and study
· Outward – simplicity, solitude, submission and service
· Corporate – confession, worship, guidance and celebration

Another great author and teacher, Dallas Willard, puts them a little different. In The Spirit of the Disciplines, he groups them in two areas:
· Abstinence – solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy and sacrifice
· Engagement – study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession & submission

Whatever way best describes your journey, the message is that spiritual maturity does not simply happen to us. To grow in intimacy with God and to develop Christ-like qualities requires our that we have ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.

Our role in this divine-human dance is to place ourselves – with intentionality and regularity – in the loving arms of our Lord. He has promised to do the rest.

Have a wonderful dance....

Beautiful Wounds

Good week,
Ever given thought to such paradox of words? Beautiful = having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction; delighting the senses or mind;wonderful; very pleasing or satisfying.
Wounds = An injury, especially one in which the skin or another external surface is torn, pierced, cut, or otherwise broken.

How do these two go together? If you begin to think in the realm beyond of our own little bubble and to know that one person is the perfect picture of this paradox. Waking up to the reality of today, i am a sinner, yes FORGIVEN, but still a sinner. And to know that the "son of light", beauty of all beauties takes on the injury, broken, torn, pierced for you and I.

These lyrics ring strong today....
Soul, do not be worried
Heart, be not afraid
Just think on those beautiful wounds
The thorns and the nails have made.

Living in the reality of HIS love....

My God

I have had an interesting week, listening to artists that i didn't know about. (Amos Lee, Matt Wertz) One person who has caught me intensely is Marc Broussard. He has a varied array of styles on his albums, lyrically, a few of the songs have really taken me to a place. Some are passionately intense...others...you wonder ...why?

My God, is one of them. What a cry of the heart, i have sat, listened, cried and made lyrics my own. It made me even think of how Jesus would have cried them out loud on that cross that day he culminated his journey for us. Not just the nails, the beating, the spitting and endless pain that we can not seem to fathom, but his cry to his father...."ABBA...."

But today, i wondered how much have i ran from him? How in the midst of life, (darkness & despair) i seem not be running but hiding and afraid to find the light.

Good thing that if we are to acknowledge our condition, confess it, cry out and claim HIS hand, it seems like ALL is brought back to normal.

My GOD, back into your loving arms I am....... thank you marc for your lyrics.....

All We Can Say

I was encouraged by a friend to listen to Spur 58... a bit different for my "worship taste" of music, but it has grown on me. One of the tracks, "ALL WE CAN SAY" has really played over and over in me.

What is it that we can say? What do we normally say? What is coming out of the abundance of our hearts? Our troubles, our way of seeing the glass, empty or full, or do we even given a thought to the words that at times seems to gush out of our mouth as if someone had opened up a faucet with no thought of the flood that would come?

The writer of the song challenges us to give "thanks" to the creator, to declare His HOLINESS... but what is it that we do? I have been challenging those around me to be aware of what we do say, but not letting it just be the discovery of the problem but the reality of the ANSWER..and where we may find that.

In the words of Marc Broussard's "Save Me" ... "Save me, give me what i need, I know you can break these chains and set me free"

Today, ALL I CAN SAY is SAVE ME GOD.....

yearn

yearn (by shane barnard)

holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

IF YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO THIS SONG, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TODAY AND LET IT FLOOD YOU. AFTER AN INTENSE SUNDAY MORNING, WHEN GODS WORD IS CHALLENGING, IT SEEMS LIKE LIFE HAS A TENDENCY TO OVERWHELM YOU WITH ALL KINDS OF THOUGHTS.

MANY TIMES IT IS BY MY OWN DOING THAT I GET CONSUMED WITH THOUGHTS THAT ARE NOT TO BUILD YOU UP OR EVEN ALLOW YOU TO LIVE LIFE AT YOUR BEST.... AS I LISTENED TO THIS, I THOUGHT OF BISHOP Q'S MESSAGE OF 8*26*07 AM SERVICES, AND I BEGAN TO JUST SAY THIS TO GOD...... I WANT TO YEARN FOR YOU....

DO YOU REMEMBER YEARNING (BURNING FOR PASSION) FOR THAT SOMEONE WHO ONLY SATISFIES YOU.... WILL YOU BURN TODAY....????

WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF WHAT YOU ARE YEARNING FOR TODAY?
" Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn"

Silence

As a musician, sound is highly important. If you are used to playing your guitar, drums, what ever instrument, by yourself, then; the more the merrier. It's funny how Fender guitars/amps put on some of the amps 11 on the knob....maybe it was Marshall amps.....

Noise, sound, volume, music all important to us...but ever thought of worshiping in silence. A friend from Germany of few years ago challenged me to do this. I, a charismatic, pew jumping, guitar wailing worshiper said...NO WAY....IMPOSSIBLE...... But my friend Tilo was right....

For years now, after having an incredible experience in silent worship, i have been trying to practice this more and more in my private time with God.

The last few weeks have been intense for me, a bit draining emotionally and i normally like to put on a worship song of some of my many favorites to help me through. But lately i have been rather unsavored by what is out there. Don't get me wrong, the music (worship) that is out there is amazing but i have had to resort to some time in SILENCE.

While driving this past week, i listened to the wind as it hit my car window, to the thump of the wheels on the highway, even the unfortunate flying bug that hits my windshield...(ok i make my own sound for that one...its pretty funny). Trying it and listen to what GOD has to say to you, it is rather cathartic, cleanses you out of the many sounds that have filled the cavity of your soul.

It will also help you to stay focused on what HE wants to tell you and gives you time to just enjoy HIM to speak to you. The one thing about silence is this......

In the silence and darkness of night was Jesus born unto us.
In the silence and light of a new dawn are we reborn to share in his saving mystery.
Only in this silence do we—can we—hear the word spoken to us and encounter the Word present to us in enlightening and life-giving divine speech.
Through the incarnation the Divine dwells among us in a wholly new and unprecedented way.

Psalm 46 ends with the words: “Be still and know that I am God!”

Enjoy the day...listen, and shout!!!

Welcome

As a human being, understanding that we have been created in the likeness and image of a greater being, who not only loves us but IS Love, i have come to experience, learn and process through an incredible gift called Music.

Coming from a musical family, highly blessed and learning to work and develop this gift, i hope that through this form of communication, you will find some of the things that have helped develop me as a musician and a person. I have come to the full realization that the gift i have been blessed with is not mine so therefore i must continually give back. My prayer is that through these thoughts, something may rattle in your heart and you as well, may give back to our creator...

Enjoy the music.....


Bishizzy