This morning we had worship/music practice as usual and were able to meditate on some scripture. Brad and I read Romans 8 and as we summarized the content of scripture we took some time and reflected on how the scripture related to our lives and current events. As a result, we concluded on the following two points:

1. As both Brad and I look forward to marrying our beautiful fiancés in the coming three months, we pray to be loving/merciful/forgiven as Christ has been to us sinners. As shown in verses 31-38 in/through Christ we are encouraged that our upcoming marriage covenants can persevere and flourish; and even through there will be severe storms ahead because nothing can “separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” we eagerly await the future and how it will assist us to be more like Cristo.
2. Prayer does not always involve speaking on our behalf. As shown in verses 26-27 it is Christ’s Spirit in us that speaks on our behalf. As a result, we must listen and listen carefully. Therefore do not get caught up on methods and trying to be too humanly reverent/ don’t try to impress God with words or amount of time speaking with Him. Note that THERE IS ONLY ONE ELEMENT THAT MAKES YOUR PRAYERS HEARD and that’s Jesus. That’s why being a Christ follower is the hottest thing, we are free and not tied to laws and traditions. We can now call God “daddy” that’s how close we are. NO MORE RELIGION, NO MORE LAWS.

I  cannot emphasize how importante it is to have a balance in your worship team practice. Music team practice is not all about music but also about understanding why we respond to God in music. To understand our musical response we must meditate on the Bible and encourage/challenge one another the message it promotes.

Check it, let’s be realistic: We are only seeing the beginning of this corrupted economy.

- Last week 516,000 applied for unemployment (CNN).

- “This is just the beginning, huge layoffs are coming” Mayor Daley.

- Germany is in recession (they are the biggest economy in Europe).

- 2,700 homes are being taking away from homeowners everyday (CNN).

- The number of unemployed people increased by 6,03,000 to 10.1 million in October.

I am not trying to be negative here, but I just want to remind you that we must get back to the basics of Christianity. In Psalm 37:16-17 we find that:

16 Better the little that the righteous have

       than the wealth of many wicked;

 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,

       but the LORD upholds the righteous.

But, what is the “little”? I think that in this topic I would apply it to none other than Christ himself. Born in a manger, mistreated, cursed, abandoned by his own and Father for our sins. Modern day death penalty does not even come close to his death. He was treated as a “simple” man with little worth. But yet His resurrection proves his dominion overall (including death itself). And I think His message of repentance and love is of greater worth then whatsoever we can find or be anxious of in this world. And this worth is what is known as “faith”, a gift that is not of our own but given by Christ. And this faith is what strengthens us to walk through these rough world economic times. Furthermore, it proves true what the Bible says about the material/flesh-like aspects that we produce in this world: though they are necessary and at times enjoyable for a while, they will all vanish. But Christ will NEVER vanish and nor will His followers.

Check out Brad’s (drummer) input on Colossians 2:2-8

You must be grounded in Christ and walk according to his word so that when temptations or doubts arise you are strong in faith. These temptations or doubts can stem from lack of faith but we are assured that we can know and understand all things through “God’s mystery, which is Christ”

A practical example is when we as Christians are asked about our faith, that we do not stray from the truth but say and do what we know, through Christ, is right.

Enough said, Echo groups this semester have been loaded with Christ centered teachings leading those who have attended to multiply/increase their amazement of the Father’s love, revealed in Christ. And most certainly have also sowed a growth as a community of believers that have felt free to express their struggles and necessities, all in return to receive loving encouragement and support.

Currently, one lesson that has been speaking to my heart is the pastoral positive reinforcement voiced through the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus, which he has assisted in planting. In Chapter 3:14-19, he makes sure to communicate how much he holds them dearly, by stating that he prays for them and does so specifically with one request: “that Christ may dwell in their hearts”. His desire is that they “may be filled with the fullness of God” and states that this request only occurs through “strength with power through his Spirit” so that again: “Christ may dwell in their hearts”. This is clearly a picture of the Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit, specifying that all three are in a mission to lead us to comprehend “the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you/we may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Overall, being filled with the Spirit is being loaded with Christ, which means one is full of the Father. 

Psalm 59:9-10

9.O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.10.My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

Enemies come in various forms, it can either be sin that WE can’t seem to avoid performing, sickness, relationships, school or finances. We all know that there are ton of conditions that can become our enemies which damage/limit harmony with our Creator and even with friends and family. But great news! That is why the Father sent his Son Jesus, b/c He understands our enemies/struggles which is why He tells us in Mathew 17:5  “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

And Christ in return says:  28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. WE CANNOT DO IT BY OURSELVES, WE NEED CHRIST. We can only achieve victory through Him.

And when we understand this concept we can then understand the reason behind a song.

 16.But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and  a refuge in the day of my distress.17.O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

Psalm 37:23-24  If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;  24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.    

Clearly in the Christian walk these two verses remind us that: WE WILL “STUMBLE”, but yet WE “WILL NOT FALL.” So today as you may be facing some difficulties that maybe you feel you do not desserve or yet are a result of you actions, remember that you WILL NOT FALL. You may be down but you will rise. There is hope, mercy and abounding love in Christ. He himself states that “peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you” (John 14:27).     

Just think for a sec, how does the world give peace? How is it that in the world we live in we find peace? or better yet how are we led to believe that we have found or will find peace?………….maybe when we have our MBA diploma nicely decorated in a frame? Maybe when we are SURE that we’ll be receiving X amount of $ directly deposited to our checking account every Friday. Maybe when we are in harmony with every family member, friend or co-worker?  Or maybe when we are free of many sicknesses?     

The definition of peace according to dictionary.com: a ”normal, non-warring condition” Christ teaches us that our peace does not rely on earthly situations, catastrophes, richness or pestilences but on his sacrifice: The Cross.

Today’s devotional is loaded with encouragement. First of all, I like to read my devo’s from Christian Classics. Everyday they offer a mixture of 3 scriptures such as: a psalm, an Old Testament and New Testament. The following are portions that spoke to my life this morning.

First, I read Psalm 27

13 I believe [1] that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Then I read Isaiah 49

 15-18“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.23:…”Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

And of course I cannot forget my favorite portion of today’s scripture:

Psalm 27

 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

God’s word is amazing. This scripture reveals to us how much He loves us. It also reiterates the importance of waiting. By doing so it makes us aware that being Christians does not mean to be happy 24/7. Instead there will be trials or better yet moments that really really suck. But in the midst of it all Christ encourages us to do what the psalmist did “offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, sing and make melody to the Lord.” 

There are many items of this chapter that I find interesting such as the order and structure in which it is written. Normally when we write we have to present an argument so that we can then discuss and support the thesis. However, in this chapter God begins declaring His sovereignty and unconditional love for His people and concludes revealing the argument/thesis which is how filthy we are with sin.

First let’s remember, sin is not just some inappropriate behavior; instead it is living a lifestyle that does not line up with God’s character. I like the way the Message puts it:

22-24“But you didn’t pay a bit of attention to me, Jacob.You so quickly tired of me, Israel.You wouldn’t even bring sheep for offerings in worship.You couldn’t be bothered with sacrifices.It wasn’t that I asked that much from you.I didn’t expect expensive presents.But you didn’t even do the minimum—so stingy with me, so closefisted.Yet you haven’t been stingy with your sins.You’ve been plenty generous with them—and I’m fed up.

For this very reason God reveals to us the need of a savior/redeemer who would lead us in a path and make harmony with Him. And yes this person would be Jesus, who does not keep a list of our sins.

25“But I, yes I, am the onewho takes care of your sins—that’s what I do.I don’t keep a list of your sins.

And better yet as the book Romans states in the eighth chapter:“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…”

I just finished reading Stephen’s blog post and was amazed at how his church took on the challenge of raising a great amount of money in one week in order to buy 17 acres of land for orphans and abandoned kids in Haiti. But this praise report is not like your average praise report this one has another element involved which really I won’t say and instead led you see it for yourself: Stephen’s blog post…

Remember today’s Psalm 30 spoke about dependency, and after reading this post once again God confirms that our reliance of joy is not on what we have in this earth but what we have eternally.