I had a wonderful time at the music conference this last week. It was inspiring to see believers from all over the country gather to worship God. The conference was highly educational with the multiple number of classes to take.There is one message that I would like everyone to hear. God cares more about your character than your craft. God cares more about who you are than the talent that He gave to you.But the problem is, there is only one way that God can build character. Romans 5:3-5 says: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”Problems come up in our lives. Trials and sufferings happen to anyone who is living. In fact just because a person is saved does not give them a “get-out-of-bad-stuff card”. We all must go through trials. And this is the only way that God teaches us character. Many times we want to dodge and get out of the bad situation but that is not God’s will. God’s will is for us to go through, completely through and see the end of the trial so that He can develop Godly characteristics. God gave Joseph a dream. But Joseph wanted the dream to happen right then. So God spent the next several years building the character that He wanted in Joseph. Then when Joseph’s dream finally comes true, Joseph’s character was totally transformed. Instead of wanting his brothers to bow before him, he desired only their presence. Instead of having his brothers killed for their evil actions, he stated that it was God who had him sold into slavery in order to save them all. Joseph was totally changed.Each one of us are challenged to build character but this will only come by being patient through the tribulations. 

Here is something that I feel each of us need from time to time.

[Joshua 1:6-9 - NLT] “Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all that land I swore to give their ancestors. Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I think I have finally made it past this flu. Now that was a wild ride. The flu has been rapid around here. My advice is, you don’t want this one. This one is bad! Take your vitamins, drink your orange juice, and pray you don’t have to wait 2 hours at a clinic with 60 other flu victims. Just for the record, I told the praise team Wednesday (when I started showing signs of the flu) that I wouldn’t mind a couple of days of rest. But I sure didn’t mean a week of 102 temp.

I am proud of the choir, Susan, Cindy, and the team who did a beautiful job this weekend leading people into worship. I am proud of you guys so very much. It is not I who leads people into worship. But it is US who do. Together we can accomplish more than any one person can ever imagine. Lets lead worship together.