Care For Christmas?

My thoughts:

This year, as a Christmas presentation of the Youth and YoungPro Fellowship at our church, both fellowships decided to have a Christmas play. And as the script was written, the song lyrics and melodies were written, I can't contain myself because of the excitement in me. It is an excitement that I am to be part of a group of young ministers to people. We are not pastors or or missionaries but in our own little ways of acting and singing, we are ministers to those people who will watch us that day of our presentation. We are ministers holding on to the message and affecting people with that same message.

At the same time, we are opened once again to the reality that we are "busy" people. We are people who make excuses just so that we are not committed to do something or so that people won't expect much from us. The business of men is just a way to hide the truth from the reality that we just don't want anything to with God other than receive blessings from Him. If there is any requirement of service and dedication, we tend to shy away and make up silly and sometimes the same old excuses. Another thing that this business brings about is the fact that it hides the true meaning of Christmas. Many times we focus on things such as what to buy for our friends, what to prepare for the Christmas Eve, what to wear, what to do that day, whom to invite, etc. but we rarely think of why we celebrate this day in the first place. We seldom think of whom to invite to such a play or how we will get people to realize the real celebrant and his purpose for coming to earth to be born as a human from a virgin. May we be examples of how to be busy in the work of the Lord.

And with the start of the new year and as a new drama ministry is put into place, there are many things that will definitely change. Things like time spent on doing things or personal priorities will change but one thing will not change because it is the one true message that has been proclaimed since that day the angels spoke to the shepherds, "I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you and He is Christ the Lord!" As Achi Nenel would always stress, "the drama ministry should be entertaining, compelling, and life-changing." I agree with this statement. I find that drama attracts people through entertainment and the creativity behind it - from the actors to the director. But more imprtantly, in a Christian setting, what should draw people is the message of the Bible and the impact that message wwill have on their lives. In the end, I really do hope the message will affect me first as an actor and then spread that same effect to the congregation.

----------------------------------------------------------

My prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know I am an unworthy person to be used by such a magnificent God as you, but You still gave me the privilege to be minister of your Holy Word. This will be a new challenge for me because I know a am a weak vessel not only physically but also spiritually. I pray that I won't be one of the people who would pretend to be "busy" and not care to knowing you more deeply. I hope that the Christmas message will be wonderfully portrayed in the play that our church has prepared. I pray that the message will touch me first so that I would convey that message compellingly and in the end not only give entertaining value, but also glory to your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Whose Agenda Is It Anyway?

My thoughts:

The Bible study that we had in our fellowship was about Judges 4 and 5, about the story of Deborah and Barak. After each story, our Bible study leader would then give us the applications of the story in our lives today. One of the application struck me among others and has been bothering me for some time now - missing out in God's agenda.

There are two interpretations for me here. The first one tackles really missing out in God's agenda. The other tribes who did not join the fight against Sisera did not glorify God because they did not help their brothers in need. In return, they did not experience the miracle of God in battle. I'm sure only the ones who joined the battle had a life-changing experience. It is the same thing with us today. We miss out on knowing Him deeper when we do not put ourselves closer to Him. When we choose to do other things before God, we might not get another chance to do so. So grab the chance whenever you have to serve Him wholeheartedly and I'm sure it will impact your lives as well. (Get a ministry)

The next one focuses on the question: Whose agenda is it anyway? While I was pondering upon the application, this question popped out of nowhere. Anyway, I started to think about it seriously and the outcome startled me. We say that we should participate in God's agenda, but most of the time, I really think that we let God participate in OUR agenda or even not at all. It seems to me that I have lived most of my time enjoying myself and doing the things that I like especially during haapy days, but when problems come, that's the only time that we call on our "genie" - God. Sometimes we do participate in God's agenda, but we still push our agenda with selfish motives - something unseen.

Combining the two interpretations, I had formed a strong conclusion: Many times we give excuses and reasons that are selfish in nature, so we miss out/couldn't particpate in God's agenda. Other times we do particpate in God's agenda, but we still could not fully experience God and see God's greater vision because we serve Him halfhearted and with self-centered intentions.

----------------------------------------------------------

My prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know that I am guilty of being selfish. There are many times that I've missed out in showing others your glory because I try to outshine you. There are times that I could have spent with you but I did not make time for it or am just too lazy to do so. Please pardon my sins today. Please help me learn this lesson as leaders also fall into this trap. I pray that I will humble myself before you and give you back all the glory. I pray that I could make the most of every opportunity given to me by serving You without any selfish reasons so that my offering will pleasing to You and may reflect You so that when people engage with me or join me, they might glorify Your name! This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen

Worship 101

"It's a hard thing to express, but for me, I sense God's pleasure when I sing to Him. And nothing pleases me more than when other people tell me that they also sense His pleasure when they listen to me sing."

- Abridged from My Second Chapter: The Matthew Ward Story. Copyright © 2006 by Matthew Ward.
- Taken from http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/commentaries/itunes.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------

My thoughts:

I had my ups and downs in leading the praise and worship - from being commented and praised to having a bad rehearsal (which led to arguments within the group). After evaluating what happened and where all these come from, we talked about it and shared what we thought, shared what we felt. I can sense that we tried not to only compromise onto a solution, but to really cooperate and refocus on why in the first place we are doing this kind of service.

Yes, we could have blamed each other and pretended that nothing was ever wrong when we get on to lead the praise and worship. Yes, we could faked it all along and just do it technically because either way the congregation wouldn't know what lies behind each practice, each team member, each song. But in the end, the congregation is not the audience. We had to humble ourselves and resolve this because I'm losing the first and foremost reason why I joined the praise and worship group, I'm losing the reason why I sing - to please God, not men. Men may or may not see our intentions; they might or might not get a sense that we don't work together as a group, but the Lord sees all and everything.

Therefore, I have decided to do these goals as I continue to lead them to worship:
1) Preparation - Who is my audience? (not myself, not the congregation)
2) Evaluation - Am I alright with my God? (prayed, read the Bible, etc.)
3) Cooperation - Am I doing this the right way? (work together)
4) Participation - Am I really "leading" them to praise/glorify God? (hopefully they will also offer to God a pleasing aroma of worship from the heart!)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

My prayer:

I pray for myself as I am leading the worship service. Yes, it is true that leaders are attacked the most since when they make a mistake, many others will follow him fall. I pray that I will always be alert and stand firm in the Word. Next, I pray for my team members. I know that we may have our differences, but we can still lay aside these and cooperate to come before God and give Him the best praise and worship ever! I pray for the congregation that may be able to worship with us with all their hearts and minds, in spirit and in truth. Thank You for your infinite mercy and grace and for giving us the richness of music. May all glory be to You and You alone always. In Jesus' name, Amen.