Countless times I have been in a meeting or a service with a phenomenal band, sound system, etc. but it is missing something. Then out of nowhere something shifts. Looking back on those times it has been the mention of His name. It seems so simple in our minds but truthfully that's all it takes for us to go to the next level of worship.
I have learned over the years that keeping my worship focused and simple has a greater impact for the kingdom. I love how Paul said it when he wrote this in 1 Cor. 2:
1) You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy.
2) I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did-Jesus crucified.
3) I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate-I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it -
4) and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it,
5) which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
WOW! That is simple yet powerful. That is the approach that I take to worship and I think we all should take. I have been in and seen to many services that are about a program and cool lights. Now I am certainly not saying there is anything wrong with either. I believe that order has it's place and the atmosphere is important and can actually add to the service but some of the most powerful times we have had as a band and as a ministry have come in the upper room of our Pastor's home and even in a gathering where we were brought to complete silence before the Lord just by uttering His name.
I am still amazed daily at the fact that God chose me to be a part of such an amazing group of people and be part of what He is doing throughout the earth. My mind cannot comprehend it sometimes. Knowing that He knew all the wrong I would do and STILL choose me to be a part of His purpose in the Kingdom.....how can I not praise the name of Jesus. HE IS WORTHY! HE IS HOLY! HE RANSOMED ME FROM DEATH! He has given each of us the opportunity to come to Him and into His presence anytime we wish. That is not something that I take for granted and non of us ever should.
I believe that we have to come to the realization that God doesn't care about our mess and what we have been through. He cares about our future and where we are going in Him and what we are destined for. We have to start looking past our mistakes. Repent, learn, grow, and move on in Him and under the covering of His grace and mercy that is freely given. We are called to seek and save those who are lost and we must have victory in our own lives in order to do that. We are a chosen generation for the kingdom of God! We are people who are called for such a time as this!
Let me leave you with this. I have a challenge for you this week!!! As Paul wrote in verse 5 above,"your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else", let your prayers and declarations come forth in faith. Each day at least once a day but preferably all throughout the day declare who God is and His power and goodness. No need to have a super long, drawn out, theological prayer but keep it simple as Paul did. I can guarantee you that you will see a difference in your week. God is after those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth and will come to Him and after Him in faith!
Love you all,
-Altars Band-
Josh Lambert
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Where's my Faith??
Sometimes it’s so hard to believe that everything will be ok when circumstances around you tell you that everything is not ok.
We all go through those battles in life when our hearts want to believe that good things will happen but our minds reason and evaluate the situations in our lives and they just tell us that the things we hope for won’t ever happen.
So what do you do to quiet your mind and listen to your heart ...
What do you do to believe again?...
Hebrews 1:11 says:
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (NLT)
But where do we get confidence, hope and assurance from?
Our abilities, money or any “good thing” in us might give us some confidence.
But what happens when our abilities and our money can’t solve a situation?
The confidence, hope and assurance that we need comes from knowing God.
Is not just about knowing that He is good and that He loves you. It’s about being so close to Him that you can “taste and see that He is good”!!! it’s about having a conviction of His Love!!! When you have this conviction you have confidence because you KNOW that He has every situation of your life under control.
When you Know Him you also know there’s no problem or situation bigger than Him.
So how do you get to know Him? He wants us to seek Him with our whole hearts (Jeremiah 29:13) and He wants us to take time to listen to HIs voice..
The bible says in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
IF WE TAKE TIME TO HEAR HIS WORDS THESE IS THE KIND OF THINGS WE WILL HEAR:
-God’s will for you, is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2
-I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11
-He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ec. 3:11
-we are more than conquerors through him who loved us...neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.. Romans 8:37-39
-HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!!!!!!! 1Co. 13:8
So when problems come or when life just doesn’t look they way we would want it to look , instead of wasting time focusing on our problems or situations we have to decide to focus on God, on His goodnes, His power and His Love. Only by doing this we will have the confidence, hope and assurance that we need to know that EVERYTHING will be OK !!!
Gaby
Saturday, November 26, 2011
No more ‘Walkman’ people.
Uncertainty is scary.
It is human nature to want to know everything and feel in control of every situation. We like to feel like we have some sort of remote we created and press buttons to our liking, settle for what we thing works for us, and never move from there because who knows what would happen if we did. But the dark side of always wanting to be in control and always go for what we know is that we will never get to experience new and exciting things, better things, or worse yet, we'll never know what God wants to bless us with. We’ll always stay behind in our own little bubble, surrounded by millions of needles ready to burst it in the worst way possible.
Remember the good ol’ Walkman? Oh, the 90s… Since the Walkman worked for us because is simple and easy to use, we settled for it, carrying a bunch of heavy cassettes around to listen to the good oldies when we could have accepted a change, a new device called the “Ipod”. (lol).
“What’s that?” “Is it safe?” “How do you use it?” “How do you know it’ll work?” “Why would I want that?” “What’s the benefit?”
“Nothing’s for sure.”
“Ok then, I won’t use it.”
Lame, right? Well, sadly, we tend to be 'Walkman' people in life. Whenever something new is coming, we tend to see it as a threat to our “customized” life and we question it endlessly before we end up rejecting it anyway. Since the Ipod is new and “unknown” to us, we reject it first-glance without knowing is a positive change and continue to use our beat-up Walkman and carry with the burden of all those heavy cassettes we know and love, or hate, but we don’t have time to toss those out. Yep, that’s how many of us live as Christians. Even though God wants to offer us a life of unlimited glory, new blessings for us every morning, to change our lives, completely, make us anew, for us to experience new levels in the spirit, of knowledge, love, blessings, etc . We get scared because it doesn’t “fit” into our plans or lifestyle. So, we end up being Christians who still carry the burden of the past with us, we settle for the blessings that worked in the past, and a systematic Christian life. We miss on what God is doing and moving today, we close our mind to the new, crazy things God yearns to do in our lives; we are simply clueless and miserable, and we end up blaming God for our misfortunes. We like to think that our plans are sacred and no one should mess with them, but as my mother always told me, “want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans…”
Something I realized along the way, is that believing in God is not enough, we have to believe Him. He loves us, and he knows exactly what is best for us. Everything he gives us and plans for us is for our own good and for the fulfillment of the dreams He placed in our hearts. If things suddenly change and you’re anxious because you don’t know what’s going to happen…BREATHE, and remember His promise, let God deal with it. Just rest in Him, knowing that He holds your world. He knows it all, we don’t. Isn’t it smart to give the remote to the One who really knows everything and exactly what we need?
I don’t know about you, but I will not settle for the walkman. I will not carry those old cassettes and hope for the best. I will not settle for what God did for me yesterday, or even today. I refuse to live a life in which I miss out of what God is doing. I will yearn for what He wishes to do tomorrow and embrace the changes that he wishes to bring in me and through me. Pain? That’s a given. No human being escapes pain, but I’d rather be inflicted by something glorious and good than inflicted by the world and its condemnation.
Crazy? Yep. That’s what is all about, baby. Living a life with God is crazy fun, and just...crazy, period. But the type of amazing and wonderful crazy you will never want to leave.
Get rid of your old walkman, the past is gone. Be open for what God wants to do today and tomorrow.
-Linda Angeles
It is human nature to want to know everything and feel in control of every situation. We like to feel like we have some sort of remote we created and press buttons to our liking, settle for what we thing works for us, and never move from there because who knows what would happen if we did. But the dark side of always wanting to be in control and always go for what we know is that we will never get to experience new and exciting things, better things, or worse yet, we'll never know what God wants to bless us with. We’ll always stay behind in our own little bubble, surrounded by millions of needles ready to burst it in the worst way possible.
Remember the good ol’ Walkman? Oh, the 90s… Since the Walkman worked for us because is simple and easy to use, we settled for it, carrying a bunch of heavy cassettes around to listen to the good oldies when we could have accepted a change, a new device called the “Ipod”. (lol).
“What’s that?” “Is it safe?” “How do you use it?” “How do you know it’ll work?” “Why would I want that?” “What’s the benefit?”
“Nothing’s for sure.”
“Ok then, I won’t use it.”
Lame, right? Well, sadly, we tend to be 'Walkman' people in life. Whenever something new is coming, we tend to see it as a threat to our “customized” life and we question it endlessly before we end up rejecting it anyway. Since the Ipod is new and “unknown” to us, we reject it first-glance without knowing is a positive change and continue to use our beat-up Walkman and carry with the burden of all those heavy cassettes we know and love, or hate, but we don’t have time to toss those out. Yep, that’s how many of us live as Christians. Even though God wants to offer us a life of unlimited glory, new blessings for us every morning, to change our lives, completely, make us anew, for us to experience new levels in the spirit, of knowledge, love, blessings, etc . We get scared because it doesn’t “fit” into our plans or lifestyle. So, we end up being Christians who still carry the burden of the past with us, we settle for the blessings that worked in the past, and a systematic Christian life. We miss on what God is doing and moving today, we close our mind to the new, crazy things God yearns to do in our lives; we are simply clueless and miserable, and we end up blaming God for our misfortunes. We like to think that our plans are sacred and no one should mess with them, but as my mother always told me, “want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans…”
Something I realized along the way, is that believing in God is not enough, we have to believe Him. He loves us, and he knows exactly what is best for us. Everything he gives us and plans for us is for our own good and for the fulfillment of the dreams He placed in our hearts. If things suddenly change and you’re anxious because you don’t know what’s going to happen…BREATHE, and remember His promise, let God deal with it. Just rest in Him, knowing that He holds your world. He knows it all, we don’t. Isn’t it smart to give the remote to the One who really knows everything and exactly what we need?
I don’t know about you, but I will not settle for the walkman. I will not carry those old cassettes and hope for the best. I will not settle for what God did for me yesterday, or even today. I refuse to live a life in which I miss out of what God is doing. I will yearn for what He wishes to do tomorrow and embrace the changes that he wishes to bring in me and through me. Pain? That’s a given. No human being escapes pain, but I’d rather be inflicted by something glorious and good than inflicted by the world and its condemnation.
Crazy? Yep. That’s what is all about, baby. Living a life with God is crazy fun, and just...crazy, period. But the type of amazing and wonderful crazy you will never want to leave.
Get rid of your old walkman, the past is gone. Be open for what God wants to do today and tomorrow.
-Linda Angeles
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Do I truly Listen?
As I grow in my relationship with my Heavenly Father, I want to hear him speak and show me things more than I want to speak or share with him. I have realized that seeing, realizing, and understanding Gods truth about who I am and what is in me, both good and bad is necessary and liberating (the truth will set you free). We as Christ Followers all have things in us that we don't want in us because it hinders and or separates us from the God we love. So we surrender daily, we pray and ask for forgiveness, strength, grace, we worship him, we ask him for direction often. BUT do we take the time and focus to Listen to him....Do we really want to hear him? because if we did wouldn't we stay up, press in, and not stop until we did? or do we put way more effort an time into telling him things he already knows and asking things from him? (not that those are bad) So we need to listen to God's more than were talking.
BUT THEN IT HIT ME I do "listen" to the Lord allot...I hear his voice and word through other people, the bible, His Spirit, But do I always have the intention of obeying? The Hebrew meaning of the word "LISTENING" means to hear with the intent of obeying. I so often ask and listen and never truly intend and commit to obey. Sure I obey God allot of the time...but do I listen to him with the intent to obey no matter what? So I was challenged with this, this week so for anyone that might be reading this I challenge you: Do you talk to the Lord? do you Listen to him? and do you really listen with the intent of obeying. WE might have the DESIRE to listen, BUT OUR DESIRE TO OBEY MUST BE EVEN GREATER!
BE BLESSED - the creator of all loves you!
Kyle
BUT THEN IT HIT ME I do "listen" to the Lord allot...I hear his voice and word through other people, the bible, His Spirit, But do I always have the intention of obeying? The Hebrew meaning of the word "LISTENING" means to hear with the intent of obeying. I so often ask and listen and never truly intend and commit to obey. Sure I obey God allot of the time...but do I listen to him with the intent to obey no matter what? So I was challenged with this, this week so for anyone that might be reading this I challenge you: Do you talk to the Lord? do you Listen to him? and do you really listen with the intent of obeying. WE might have the DESIRE to listen, BUT OUR DESIRE TO OBEY MUST BE EVEN GREATER!
BE BLESSED - the creator of all loves you!
Kyle
Friday, November 11, 2011
Lekker bru!!!
Today is a good day. I've been busy all morning. Took the parents to the airport, they both go on Kingdom assignments. Clean up the house.I have visitors!! lol Now I'm writting this, and later my friends from Florida arrive here to Raleigh. This weekend is gonna be busy, crazy,raw,firey, exciting, explosive, radical.... and well you get the idea.
Now definitely you should be part of this weekend!! this saturday at Altars of Worship Church, we have our incredible guests from AWC joining us in what is gonna be a night of intense worship and Godly craziness, so be there!! ;)
Now before I go, I'd like to leave here a verse that is been in my heart:
31-39So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Romans 8:31-39 MSG
Much love,
Gabriel
Now definitely you should be part of this weekend!! this saturday at Altars of Worship Church, we have our incredible guests from AWC joining us in what is gonna be a night of intense worship and Godly craziness, so be there!! ;)
Now before I go, I'd like to leave here a verse that is been in my heart:
31-39So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Romans 8:31-39 MSG
Much love,
Gabriel
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Put your Hope in His Unfailing Love
Why is that even though we know God's love never fails sometimes we still try to find love and happiness somewhere else, we try to put our hope in other things, and we get distracted , we walk away from his love...
Psalms 33: 18 says that The eyes of God are on those whose hope is in His unfailing Love...
So where do you put your hope in?
your spouse?, friends?, money? your own effort? or can you truly say your hope is in His unfailing Love.
the truth is that nothing nor anybody has the ability to COMPLETELY satisfy us with true happiness and love . When we hope that something or somebody makes us happy we are asking them to do something they can't do. Only God can do that!!! so if our hope is not in Him we are wasting our time.
But when your hope is in Him then His love flows through you and he gives you joy, a joy that doesn't go away even in the middle of trials and darkness. You are simply OK no mater what ,cause you know HE LOVES YOU!! and then you can't help it but spread His love everywhere you go!
Put your hope in Him!!
His love never Fails !!!
Psalms 33: 18 says that The eyes of God are on those whose hope is in His unfailing Love...
So where do you put your hope in?
your spouse?, friends?, money? your own effort? or can you truly say your hope is in His unfailing Love.
the truth is that nothing nor anybody has the ability to COMPLETELY satisfy us with true happiness and love . When we hope that something or somebody makes us happy we are asking them to do something they can't do. Only God can do that!!! so if our hope is not in Him we are wasting our time.
But when your hope is in Him then His love flows through you and he gives you joy, a joy that doesn't go away even in the middle of trials and darkness. You are simply OK no mater what ,cause you know HE LOVES YOU!! and then you can't help it but spread His love everywhere you go!
Put your hope in Him!!
His love never Fails !!!
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well Matthew 6:33
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Fire and Water
I was reading the book of psalms this morning and this verse caught my attention:
"…We went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance"
(psalm 66:12b)
It's never easy to go through situations that we would prefer not to go through.
I recently went through "fire and water" in my life and although it wasn't easy to face what I had to face I was amazed of how much strength and peace I had. I realized that it is because God has used fire and water many times before to test me and refine me that I have learnt how to give Him my anxiety and trust Him.
It's because the "fire and water" that today I have the ability to enjoy the miracle of having peace in the midst of any circumstance.
It's because the "fire and water" that I keep growing and becoming more like Him and less like myself.
He doesn't take us to the "place of abundance" if we aren't ready for it.
He doesn't take us to the "place of abundance" if we still get anxious about everything.
He wants us to trust Him, He wants us to believe Him. He wants us to let Him lead us to the place of abundance.
Fire and water are elements that help us be less like ourselves and more like Him.
Trust Him!!! He knows how much fire and water we need before we can be in the place of abundance.
Gaby
Gaby
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Undefeated but Untested
As a background for you, I think I went through some of the hardest personal tests ever in the past year. I'll spare the details, as some are still unfolding, but here's some randomness that's still pretty fresh on my heart...
Sports can offer great parallels to the nature of life, and even walking with God. A few months ago, I read the words "...undefeated but untested..." in a news article describing a college football team (don't remember which team) and they caught my attention. This undefeated team's previous games were a mix of opponents who were of lower caliber and talent. Now, the winning team would face an all-around stronger, more demanding opponent. They would have to prove who they were by securing another win to garner more respect and weight in the college football arena. This opponent would test their substance and reveal their strengths and weaknesses. The writer of the article was implying that the winning team needed to be well prepared for the next game.
Most people dislike being tested - including yours truly. I've heard it said before that "personal trials reveal the worst in us". It's true. Often in the American church (and elsewhere, too), we're like the winning team, spiritually speaking - feeling 'undefeated' and 'cruising' and taking things more lightly than we should - while untested and unprepared for bigger demands yet to come. The things we struggle with are relatively small, so when a weighty test comes we're caught "off guard", which means our perceptions are small and incomplete. Thankfully, the purposes of trials can better us...
Testings can often be 'layered' (especially in our culture), as we deal with certain constant life things, while other things are situation-specific. Here are a few things I've noticed:
- tests are (not always) made of uncomfortable pressures, both internal and external
- biblically, pressure is equated to fire - hence a FIERY TRIAL - see 1 Peter chapter 4
- tests can remove some personal security - depending on where it lies
- If we fail a test, it can breed self-disgust, regret and shame if aspects of God's nature aren't embraced
- tests can reveal blind spiritual perceptions, places in the heart that are hard and cold, and the reasons why if reflected upon
- tests are U-G-L-Y, not every battle is won
- our responses during tests are crucial, in that if we aren't getting the encouragement we need, it can affect how we go through the rest of it
- every ungodly thing we come up against is some kind of test, so remember Jesus' prayer not to take disciples out of the world
- there WILL BE emotional places you will have to, like King David, talk yourself out of (encourage yourself or have someone help)
- tests are connected with people around you
- they can show you how close you are to God and how far there is to go at the same time
For me, it's daunting to think about these things through natural eyes because I, like you, am reminded of weakness, even in the face of victories - until I realize a lot of other people experience the same.
But a more powerful truth is the revelation of the INFINITE MERCIES of God. When I begin to think about those two words.......well........try it and see what happens. It's like seeing a broad horizon after being sandwiched between two rock cliffs. By the way, why does the Bible call them "mercies"?? I believe it's because for every situation, He applies very specific love. Check out these relevant things that have recently resonated in my heart around this theme:
- our responses during tests are crucial, in that if we aren't getting the encouragement we need, it can affect how we go through the rest of it
- every ungodly thing we come up against is some kind of test, so remember Jesus' prayer not to take disciples out of the world
- there WILL BE emotional places you will have to, like King David, talk yourself out of (encourage yourself or have someone help)
- tests are connected with people around you
- they can show you how close you are to God and how far there is to go at the same time
For me, it's daunting to think about these things through natural eyes because I, like you, am reminded of weakness, even in the face of victories - until I realize a lot of other people experience the same.
But a more powerful truth is the revelation of the INFINITE MERCIES of God. When I begin to think about those two words.......well........try it and see what happens. It's like seeing a broad horizon after being sandwiched between two rock cliffs. By the way, why does the Bible call them "mercies"?? I believe it's because for every situation, He applies very specific love. Check out these relevant things that have recently resonated in my heart around this theme:
Our culture doesn't teach us how to properly handle failure or success...
- Jim Sink
Failure is critical to success. Absence of war - absence of heroes.
- Kim Clement
- Jim Sink
Failure is critical to success. Absence of war - absence of heroes.
- Kim Clement
I'll take my cold, cold heart
I'll take my unrenewed mind
I'll take Your Word in my hand
And I'll give You time
to come and melt me...
I can't even love you lest you call my name
I can't even worship lest you anoint my heart, God...
Come fan the flame...
- Misty Edwards
Well all I have to say
- Misty Edwards
Well all I have to say
About these serious days
And the condition of my heart
Is they're both still as much a mystery to me
And they both get so hard
- John Mark Mcmillan, "Alive"
- John Mark Mcmillan, "Alive"
Man, it's encouraging to know that other people (& more mature) go through the same REAL stuff I do. The grace and love of God are soooooo BIG...
- Brian (R)
- Brian (R)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
a poem
When we do altars of worship on Friday nights we worship and worship and God shows up, sometimes in big ways sometimes in quiet ways, sometimes his presence just lingers for hours and we can't help but to just sit there in his presence. I believe that its his presence that awakens in us our giftings and our inner most self can be truly expressed. When his presence has taken you over you can't help but to be expressive. For me my mind is constantly moving, thinking, processing diagnosing, and just absorbing information. Its not until I am in the presence of God that my mind is at rest and that is when he can move in and through us.
Sometimes he gives me a revelation (heavy reavy) lol, sometimes he gives me a picture, or a musical idea or sound. But sometimes he is quiet, and he is waiting for me to give something to him. Its in these moments when a burst of whats really in my heart comes out and I have to be quick to write it down before its gone. So I usually grab my phone and write down these little notes, sometimes a sentence sometimes a whole verse or page of text.
So here is a poem I wrote about a year ago. I have not shared this with anyone until now and I feel like it has become my anthem and my approach to the band and my idea of worship.
"We are a hungry generation,
hungry for you.
Crying out with everything,
crying out for you.
A thirsty generation,
thirsting for you.
For your presence is sweet,
so sweet.
I want to be in your presence,
I want to be with you,
I long for your touch.
Touch this generation"
Sometimes he gives me a revelation (heavy reavy) lol, sometimes he gives me a picture, or a musical idea or sound. But sometimes he is quiet, and he is waiting for me to give something to him. Its in these moments when a burst of whats really in my heart comes out and I have to be quick to write it down before its gone. So I usually grab my phone and write down these little notes, sometimes a sentence sometimes a whole verse or page of text.
So here is a poem I wrote about a year ago. I have not shared this with anyone until now and I feel like it has become my anthem and my approach to the band and my idea of worship.
"We are a hungry generation,
hungry for you.
Crying out with everything,
crying out for you.
A thirsty generation,
thirsting for you.
For your presence is sweet,
so sweet.
I want to be in your presence,
I want to be with you,
I long for your touch.
Touch this generation"
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Let's open our eyes!
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Peter 4:8
What I'm about to write is something that has bothered me for the longest time. A lingering thought the Lord put in my heart, that had to be made into words. Whenever people hear the word church, they tend to frown or roll their eyes, but why? What is it that makes them reject God and His house? One of the things that most seem to stand out are the words "old-fashioned," "judgement," "criticism," "hypocrisy," among others...which characterize humans, not God.
What has slapped me on the face as a hard reality is that what pushes people away from God the most, tend to be christians themselves.
Picture the random guy at the streets with a sign on his hands that says REPENT SINNERS shouting to people that they'll go to hell if they don't...do people want to hear him? I don't think so.
Not even I would like to hear him.
With great regret and embarrassment I realized that christians have not been known by the world for living in the love of God, loving one another unconditionally, being united, being full of forgiveness, without judgement, willing to help the needy, defending and helping their brother when he falls, loving the lost soul...
Why isn't there more often a random guy in the streets with a sign that says JESUS LOVES YOU and shouting to passerbys messages of encouragement and hope?
It seems that "christians" have been known through history by being outright religious than spiritual, critical than forgiving, more fervent and aggressive to defend their faith and their morals to the death than to defend the weak and fight for the hopeless, do things in the name of God only for their personal interest, divided into their own denominations and doctrines, and trying to "save" others by pointing out how wrong they are, how lost they are. We forget that we are all one body, and forget to do what God himself has commanded us:
Love one another... "Loved them as I have Loved you"
Yes, I am talking to all christians out there.
Do not take offense and please read with your heart.
If your son or daughter made a great mistake, people come and accuse them, and they're in great trouble...what would you do? Turn them in and agree for their punishment? Judge them coldly and kick them out of the house? Ridicule them in front of others by pointing out their mistake? No..you would forgive them, do everything you could to defend them and make things right, be willing to cross moral and ethical lines, and even put yourself in their place. But why?
Because they're your children. Because you love them. That simple.
Love sees past the flaws of the beloved. Love forgives...
..But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
If we want change, it needs to start in us, not in other people. If we want others to change to make things better, chances are who needs to change is us...and once we have been willing to allow God to change us, our change will touch their hearts, and bring a glorious destiny ahead.When we do things for the people of our church and our community, it must not be because we have to, because "is the christian way," or because is the right thing to do...
WE NEED TO DO IT OUT OF LOVE.
Jesus didn't reject them, He opened His arms to them. He didn't judge them, He loved them. He walked with them, without fear, full of love.
He rebuked the religious and the critic, however. Those who pressumed of justice and who claimed to be fair and followers of God when in reality led corrupt lives and did good only for show. In fact, His death was planned and executed by the religious and the critic...
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 2:1
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. Romans 2:12-13
Apostle Paul is a great example. He became a Jew for the Jews, Greek for the Greeks, a Gentile for the Gentiles, a Philistine for the Philistines...he endured being judged as one of them, but His actions of love from God reached the hearts of the people. How better to reach people than by becoming one of their own, but one who carries the light of Jesus in them?
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. Romans 3:27-31
What's the point of being a light where there's no darkness, and keep to ourselves? What's the point of being in the darkness and not shine our light? Why do we allow our light to go opaque by becoming a pointing finger of accusation to those in the darkness?
By becoming the judge, and degrade the sinner, we become sinners ourselves...I would say lower than them if possible, because we're supposed to know better. And while we fight among us trying to determine who is right or wrong, the enemy gains ground to destroy our unity, and to destroy the souls of humanity.
No wonder why many who are completely away from God today were once christians or came out of strong religious backgrounds, take many celebrities for example.
Is not by preaching and lecturing that the lost gets saved, is strongly by our actions that they start to believe, "you will know them by their fruit.."
God commands us to preach His gospel to all creatures, to love them. how then will they hear if we won't go to them? How will they believe if our actions are full of deceit? How will they run to God if we push them away from Him?
As Christians we must be an example of His love, not an example of Human's dark nature.
Let's stop staining God's name and start making His real nature be known!
The time is running short, Jesus is coming sooner than we think.
Let's open our eyes!
Stop being a religion.
Start being His Love.
--Linda Angeles
Friday, January 21, 2011
Is this whole "Christian" thing about me? or God?
I have recently noticed how much I live for me, how much the church lives for themselves, and how allot of peoples summary of "Christianity" is what God did for ME and how much he loves ME. I realized how much I love God's constant gift of grace to me, I look at the body of professing Christ followers (the church) today and see most emphasis on God's grace (and love) towards us. Your Probably asking well, whats wrong with that?
"We live in a culture that has the dangerous tendency to disconnect the grace of God from the Glory of God." Our hearts resonate with the idea of enjoying God's grace. We bask in sermons, conferences, books, and songs that exalt a grace centering on us. And why the wonder of this grace is worthy of our attention if that grace is disconnected from it's purpose the sad result is a self-centered Christianity that bypasses the HEART OF GOD."
I recently read this book (Radical) and helped me see that most church people if asked what was the basic concept of church today would say God loves me or God died for me and my sins. You see the subject is me, not God. You see now when we look for a church or a new church to go to we ask.. well what music best fits ME....What programs best cater to ME an MY family....what job would make ME most happy.....what car do I want....how can I grow MY church...what should I wear//ext.. This is the version of Christianity the church is quickly becoming. That is not at all what Christianity is according to the Bible.
Christianity according to the Bible is about excepting that non deserving grace so that we can make his name, ways, salvation and his glory known to every and all peoples.
It is very simple, you know if you are a true follower of Christ if your life would be completley different without time with him an his word. You know you are a true follower of Christ if you give him your FIRST and give him your absolute ALL. God says this over and over in his word seek him first and all things, his ways will be given to you.
All that to say, what I just realized recently is that if my life, isnt daily lived for the one purpose of bringing glory to his name, If I am not currently and do not plan on forever giving him my FIRST and my ALL, am I really a Christian? or am I "MY" own version of a christian that "I" created?
--Very few will find the path to him and his kingdom
--Many will find and are on the wide road to eternal destruction
--Many are and will be fooled
------------God says if he is not your FIRST and your ALL you are luke warm, and he will Spit you out, onto the wide road to destruction. Dont be fooled! live for his glory by his grace! not for you through his grace!
God bless you all!
Kyle
"We live in a culture that has the dangerous tendency to disconnect the grace of God from the Glory of God." Our hearts resonate with the idea of enjoying God's grace. We bask in sermons, conferences, books, and songs that exalt a grace centering on us. And why the wonder of this grace is worthy of our attention if that grace is disconnected from it's purpose the sad result is a self-centered Christianity that bypasses the HEART OF GOD."
I recently read this book (Radical) and helped me see that most church people if asked what was the basic concept of church today would say God loves me or God died for me and my sins. You see the subject is me, not God. You see now when we look for a church or a new church to go to we ask.. well what music best fits ME....What programs best cater to ME an MY family....what job would make ME most happy.....what car do I want....how can I grow MY church...what should I wear//ext.. This is the version of Christianity the church is quickly becoming. That is not at all what Christianity is according to the Bible.
Christianity according to the Bible is about excepting that non deserving grace so that we can make his name, ways, salvation and his glory known to every and all peoples.
It is very simple, you know if you are a true follower of Christ if your life would be completley different without time with him an his word. You know you are a true follower of Christ if you give him your FIRST and give him your absolute ALL. God says this over and over in his word seek him first and all things, his ways will be given to you.
All that to say, what I just realized recently is that if my life, isnt daily lived for the one purpose of bringing glory to his name, If I am not currently and do not plan on forever giving him my FIRST and my ALL, am I really a Christian? or am I "MY" own version of a christian that "I" created?
--Very few will find the path to him and his kingdom
--Many will find and are on the wide road to eternal destruction
--Many are and will be fooled
------------God says if he is not your FIRST and your ALL you are luke warm, and he will Spit you out, onto the wide road to destruction. Dont be fooled! live for his glory by his grace! not for you through his grace!
God bless you all!
Kyle
Saturday, January 15, 2011
WORSHIP
love is not flowers, cards or gifts, these are things that can be used to express love or affection.
worship is not songs, instruments,music, dancing or singing
these are only expressions of worship.
worship is an attitude of the heart; an attitude of thanksgiving , of respect , of recognition, of passion , of love.
it is not necessary to be an amazing musician or singer to be able to worship.
showing His love to people sounds sweeter in God's ears than the song of the best singer in the world.
obedience, commitment and humbleness create together the perfect melody to honor God.
Surrender all to him and you will find yourself worshiping God in everything you do.
Gaby.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Throw FAITH in the face of the enemy!
These days, many of us have stresses. Work, mortgage, family, finances, etc. All of these things can become exceedingly stressful and the stress of these things can overtake our lives. We try to fix the situations on our own a lot of the time, knowingly or unknowingly.
During my quiet time yesterday morning I was reading through the book of Daniel. In chapter 2 it talks about the nightmares that King Nebuchadnezzar has that keep him awake. He goes on to seek the council of every wise man, magician, and scholar to try and interpret the dream. He refuses to tell the dream to anyone of them and requires them to tell him what the dream is and what it means or be put to death (Daniel 2:4-13). As I was reading this it made me think about my circumstances and situations. Daniels LIFE was being threatened. Not his job, or money, but his LIFE! In verse 17 of chapter 2 Daniel goes back to the house to inform Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-nego) of the Kings decree. They went before the Lord and He revealed the dream and meaning to them which then Daniel went to the king and told him what God had said.
After that they lifted praises to the Lord for His goodness. This passage encouraged me to remember that God is so much bigger than any situation we face. Daniel faced death several times as well as Shad., Mesh., and Aded. Each time God kept them safe and showed His power because these people stood on the fact that God is God!
Let me encourage you today to speak to the things that seem larger than life! Even though we may not understand or see what God is doing or how He will break through, speak His goodness and faithfulness over that situation. "Lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge Me and I will direct your path." Such an amazing promise! Seek His wisdom in your situation and declare that HE has the control over your situations, not the world! OUR GOD HAS NO LIMITS AND IS NOT CONTROLLED BUT CONTROLS!
Be Blessed today!
Love you all!
- Josh Lambert, Altars Band
During my quiet time yesterday morning I was reading through the book of Daniel. In chapter 2 it talks about the nightmares that King Nebuchadnezzar has that keep him awake. He goes on to seek the council of every wise man, magician, and scholar to try and interpret the dream. He refuses to tell the dream to anyone of them and requires them to tell him what the dream is and what it means or be put to death (Daniel 2:4-13). As I was reading this it made me think about my circumstances and situations. Daniels LIFE was being threatened. Not his job, or money, but his LIFE! In verse 17 of chapter 2 Daniel goes back to the house to inform Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-nego) of the Kings decree. They went before the Lord and He revealed the dream and meaning to them which then Daniel went to the king and told him what God had said.
After that they lifted praises to the Lord for His goodness. This passage encouraged me to remember that God is so much bigger than any situation we face. Daniel faced death several times as well as Shad., Mesh., and Aded. Each time God kept them safe and showed His power because these people stood on the fact that God is God!
Let me encourage you today to speak to the things that seem larger than life! Even though we may not understand or see what God is doing or how He will break through, speak His goodness and faithfulness over that situation. "Lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge Me and I will direct your path." Such an amazing promise! Seek His wisdom in your situation and declare that HE has the control over your situations, not the world! OUR GOD HAS NO LIMITS AND IS NOT CONTROLLED BUT CONTROLS!
Be Blessed today!
Love you all!
- Josh Lambert, Altars Band
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