Lovey Dovey!

Every week, my cohort in ministry, Liza McFarlane sends her amazing team of volunteers a simple little note to teach and encourage. In reading last weeks installment, It dawned on me, why should her team have all the fun! So, let this be the first of many "deep thoughts" from Mrs. McFarlane.

Happy Late Valentine’s Day—but better late than never I always say (especially since I’m often late). The great thing about February is that it prompts us to think about the meaning of love—and I’m not talking Hallmark cards. The message below is a post from Kay Arthur’s facebook page. I loved it and wanted to share it with you—so I stole it (I’ll repent tomorrow).

Christian love is not a warm, fuzzy feeling you get while attending a worship service; it’s something practical, with clear real-life results.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” Rom. 12:10, 16.

What are some ways to put this into practice?

This is the type of love that is to permeate every aspect of our lives; at work, at home, at church and in our community. I like that she ends it with a challenge. It makes me think and evaluate myself. So…how are you doing?

-L McFarlane

What's new?

Every year at around the same time (NOW), we all, in some form, begin to reminisce over the year behind us & look towards the year ahead. I say, "in some form", because this can, and does, look different for each of us. We have all trod different paths in 2011, and we are all taking slightly different ones in 2012. The beauty of the word "slightly" is wondrous as believers & followers of Jesus Christ. Though each of our paths may be "slightly" different, we are each on the same journey of sanctification...TO KNOW AND BE MORE LIKE CHRIST! Where will your path take you this year? Every Tuesday morning I receive insight from a fellow leader in the local church, Jason Hatley of The Journey Church. Here's what he had to say about the importance of looking back that ultimately leads forward...

"With the end of 2011 just days away, many of us are already turning the calendars in our minds to 2012. Good idea, right?

Wrong!

Let me explain . . . There's nothing wrong with looking ahead, but the problem is that many may be forgetting one of the most important year-end rituals -- wrapping up this year before you move on to the next. That's right . . . like any good worship service it's not over until it's been properly evaluated and debriefed.

One of the things that I do each year is a year-end evaluation. It's an incredibly powerful process and I want to share part of it with you today.

You see there is a leadership principle that far too few people practice these days -- the Principle of Reflection.

John Maxwell says that, "The greatest enemy of good thinking is busyness." That's certainly true this time of year. We become so busy moving on that we neglect to take time to think, reflect, and evaluate how things went this year, and what we can learn from that to make next year better.

So as we head down the homestretch of 2011, reflect on this.

First of all, it will remind you of what God has done in your life this year. Like the Israelites, you and I need to be reminded of all that God has done for us so we can be grateful and remain faithful.

It will also give you a clear picture of where you are and how far you've come in the last year. How did you do at overcoming your biggest challenges this past year, and how is God growing you?

One of the great tragedies of life would be to reach the end of a year, look back and realize you are the same person today that you were a year ago. A year wasted, fighting the same battles, dealing with the same struggles. Like Sisyphus, the king from Greek mythology who was punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll down again, and to repeat this for eternity.

That's not what you want, not what I want, and certainly not what God wants.

So, before this year is over, let's see what we can learn from it."

Blessings to you & yours in 2012!

It's Official!

Yes folks, Phase 2 of The Community School of Worship has been approved! What does that mean? It means that starting in the Fall of 2012, we will be expanding the school to include classes four days a week. It means that there will be even more opportunity to train & raise up the next generation of Worship Pastors. It means that...well...we have a LOT to do!

Be looking for our ad in the March/April edition of Worship Leader Magazine. Be praying & thinking on WHO you know that should be here. Is that someone YOU? If you have any questions, please contact me at medington@faithak.com or 907-243-1777 ext. 32.

In the meantime, please covenant with me to pray that the Holy Spirit would lead us in this endeavor, that we would follow in the steps of Christ & that God, the Father would be glorified in the process.

Blessings!

Thank You & PRAY!

Greetings friends. Yesterday was the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. I find it very interesting that this important day followed veterans day by just two days. I'm not sure we can ever fully grasp the freedom's that we have in this country. We seem to always be able to find something that we're not happy about. How often do we sincerely thank God for His rich blessings on us. It's a pretty sobering thought.

Over the weekend, we shared this song with the body as we communed with our God, with each other & prayed for those suffering for the name of Christ all over the world. Spend some time in prayer as you listen to this song.

Ground Rules

When I was a kid I can remember REALLY hating rules. I felt like everybody else had control but me. Now, as an adult (and many hard lessons later), I often times love it if someone else will simply tell me what to do. Of course, I don't always like it that way. For those of you that know me, I knew I wouldn't fully be able to get away with that statement. God did make me a bit strong willed! However, I can say this with complete honesty. When it comes to following the direction of my creator & savior, I long for clear direction. Through the building & utilizing of the Mosaic tabernacle (tent of meeting), God thankfully gave us some clear ground rules in how to approach Him & lead others to Him.


The tabernacle must be built 1st...

...By freewill Offerings

-it CANNOT be manufactured!


Exodus 25:2 (NKJV)
“Speak to the children of Israel, that they may bring Me an offering: you shall take the offering of every man that gives freely from his heart.”

GOD stirred the people up to give, not Moses.

Exodus 35:21 (KJV)
"Everyone whom His spirit made willing."

-We, as Priests, have to be light handed with the people in worship. God’s hand is heavy, not ours.


2nd...

...By a people whose hearts are moved


Exodus 35:21 (NIV)
And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him (underline that) came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

-A great orator can move a persons soul, but passion & conviction comes from the Spirit of the Lord.

-Sometimes we see worship as only a cerebral pursuit. The Lord does want our minds, but let’s not dismiss the fact that the Lord wants our hearts. The Word says...“Love the Lord God with all your Heart”. That’s the first thing He asks for.

-Once He has your heart, He will get your mind.


3rd...

...By God’s wisdom 


Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) “There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.”

-If we don’t seek the wisdom of God, we're going to be giving
people a false picture of what He wants to give them.

-Remember, everything in the tabernacle has a place & purpose, for a reason. We can soooo easily mess up a 'tabernacle' meeting if we don't follow His direction. Seeking God’s wisdom is the only way to get this right.

Exodus 36:1 (KJV)
“… and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded".


4th...

...By skillful people

-There is no value or virtue for mediocrity in the Kingdom of God!

-If we are not doing things to the best of our abilities, we are not worshipping God with those abilities.

-We need musicians that are going to play their instruments as befitting the audience of a King.

-EXPECT THE BEST FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD!



Exodus 36:1 (NIV)
“So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person … are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”


Exodus 31:1–3 (NIV)
“See, I have chosen Bezalel … and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.”

-REJECT MEDIOCRITY!


5th...

...By people filled with the Spirit of God

- We cannot lead people without the power of God!
- We cannot be okay with just moving people's souls!
- We are not as great as we think we are. We need JESUS!


6th...

...According to the pattern



Exodus 25:40 (NKJV)
“See to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

- Because of the sin of the priesthood (2 Samuel 6), the presence of God (Ark of the Covenant) has gone into captivity.

-It’s a priests responsibility to know his/her job.

-When we carry the presence of God incorrectly, we endanger the people.

-The presence of God cannot be carried the world's way.

-Look to God's pattern!


*Original lesson from Zach Neese at Gateway Worship. Modified by Mark Edington.

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