“And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the LORD filled God’s temple.” - 2 Chronicles 5:14

“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word darkness on the walls of his cell.” - C.S. Lewis

What would happen at the next worship service at your church if no one could perform their duties? How would the congregation respond if the choir suddenly couldn’t sing or the ushers found their feet stuck to the floor? What would your deacons think if the pastor couldn’t open his Bible and give a sermon?

Can we even imagine the amazing worship that must have occurred when the glory of God filled the temple to the point that no one could do their church jobs? Is i possible to achieve that kind of infilling in our churches today? Are we ready to accept so much of god’s glory that we can’t have a regular church service?

Lord, may we be ready to receive the eight of Your glory as we worship You.

Why do we love to complain? It’s as though complaining is the only way we carry on conversations. The government is bad. Gas prices are too high. It’s too cold. It’s too hot. If only churches did this, or that.

This is the default attitude that Satan is selling us. Everything would be better if I bought this and had that. We clime higher in credit card debt believing that this item would make me feel better. What we never seem to learn is that our unthankfulness and our noncontempt is driving us into a slow depression.

Jesus breaks this mold. He becomes a rebel in the world we live. He teaches us to be thankful and contempt for what He has given us.

After watching shows about people who one the lotto, they all have one thing in common. The money never makes the people happy. Most lotto winners divorse within the year. Others find out that they blew it too fast and only have larger bills.

But Jesus breaks our way of thinking. Be thankful for all things. Paul writes, “For I have learned that in all situations to be contempt.” Where is this verse found? No one remembers this verse. But actually it is found right before the one where he states “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Happy Thanksgiving.

“I will depart and return to My place until they recognize their guilt and seek My face; they will search for Me in their distress.” - Hosea 5:15

“To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek him, the greatest adventure; To find him, the greatest human achievement.” - Raphael Simon

The Old Testament is filled with stories about the glories of worshiping God in the temple. Musicians played, dancers danced, singers sang. There are also records of terrible times when God’s people chose to worship idols. For hundreds of years prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea urged the people to repent and return to God. During some periods, even when small groups did repent, the consequences of their disobedience were still administered.

As members of worship teams, are there areas in our lives in which we have set up idols? Is there pride over lyrical voices or beautiful piano playing or skill in conducting or in ability to memorize lines? Let us be sure that we don’t end up having to seek the Lord in guilt and misery.

Lord, help s worship You and not the elements we use to worship You.

Saturday, January 26 at First Baptist Church Moores Lane, their will be an opportunity for Texarkana area musicians to be creitiqued by a professonal judge in voice, piano, string, brass and woodwind performance.

“Music is an important part of the worship experience at any church. As young musicians develop their performance skills, they may seek to offer their talents back to their churches and to the Lord. Bowie Baptist Association offers this Sacred Music Festival as a means of encouraging young students to grow in their artistry and technique, so they can perform confidently as either volunteer or professional church musicians.”

PRIZES will include certificates, ribbons, and as a trophy, a collectible bust of Brahms. The top scorer in Category III will receive a gift certificate to LefeWay Book Store.

Contact me if you are interested.

Next year we will be working on two things. What it means to play together, which is something that is coming along. And we will be working on tempo. I think once we master the art of tempo, we will have that top notch sound.

Let’s go Christmas Caroling! The last few years we have had a great time and have had a good turn out. Come and bring your whole family. This is not a production but a ministry that we can do those who are shut in.

Anytime we change a practice time, we loose someone. It’s hard to reschedule things. However, during the holiday season, it might not be best to keep it on the same day. So let’s get Nov. and Dec. calendar worked out so that people can make the changes to their calendar.

We can move this Wednesday night practice to Tuesday if that will be helpful. But for me, it’s either tuesday or wednesday. Nothing else can work.

The only other one that we might have to move is Dec 26. I am going to be gone that week so it doesn’t matter when you guys practice. Actually it does matter, but it will be up to whomever takes my place (most likely David).

Other than those two dates, everything should stay the same.

Practice on the 12th should be simple. We have the cantata on the 16th which this year is canned. Next year it will be live.

Matthew 28:20 - flexibility

Luke 24:49 - Orderliness

Matthew 28:19 - Cautiousness