The Charter Oak Church (Greensburg, PA) Cantata was incredible. Having a small part in it made it even more special. The music was a gift from God. The message was one we have heard over and over again at this time of year, but this year....it was just more personal.
Watching people in the audience cry during some of the songs and scenes on the screen really moved me. The one scene that really got to me was showing an innocent baby.....the next shot showed an innocent man hanging on a cross.......and there I sat guilty. That is the message of Christmas. Christ came to the manger scene over 2000 years ago for me! FOR YOU!!
I walked out of that church yesterday, and sit here typing today.....incredibly proud to proclaim that I am in love with Jesus! What a baby He was. What a Savior He is!!!
Hallelujah!!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Anticipation
Oh...the anticipation. Let's see, it has been almost 6 weeks since I last made an entry. 67% of my faithful readers (2 out of 3), have asked for it. Well.....here it is.
Six weeks......roughly 40 days. Pastor Chris at Charter Oak UMC in Greensburg, PA did a sermon series recently on the significance of this number surrounding certain events in the Bible. I haven't been out in a desert or anything, but I have been tempted by the devil. Satan sure is relentless. I think that most people don't even think Satan is real. You truly have to be a believer in Jesus Christ to understand how very real the devil is, and how relentless he will be to get you to stray from God's will.
The good news is that I am aware of him. He will win the occasional battle, but the ultimate victory has been won.....oh, no....not by me.....but by my savior Jesus Christ.
What else is new? I attempted to step out of my comfort zone in a big way (for me), by singing a few lines in this years' cantata. I practiced too many times to count. I sang in front of my drama peers first. I thought I was going to faint....or puke. Then came the first rehearsal with the whole choir. In my mind, I thought it was okay. Some people made me feel good by saying it was okay (maybe even good). One person (a friend) said "the speaking part was great, the singing part...not so good". At first this comment really bothered me. I was mad, hurt, and confused over IF I was indeed horrible, if others were just being nice, or if I was being criticized unjustly.. Come on now...here I am stepping out in faith....getting out of my comfort zone...to serve God in this capacity. Why was I being dealt this crap to deal with? Well.....like HE always does, HE slowly reveals His purpose. This time, HE revealed it through my analysis that I was focusing more on ME than on HIM. If I truly want to serve God, I must remember that I do not get to pick and choose everything I want to do. HE is the boss! I learned the lesson that it is not the task that God gives us to do that is important....it is the our motivation and character that is most important to Him. I want to serve God as He directs me. That's what it means by being Lord of my life, right?
So...my singing debut is for not. Instead, I have some more lines to memorize in it's place. My prayer is that God will give me a vivid glimpse of Isaiah, and how he felt sharing the news I get to share as part of the cantata message. Thank you, God....for giving me this opportunity.
Peace!
Six weeks......roughly 40 days. Pastor Chris at Charter Oak UMC in Greensburg, PA did a sermon series recently on the significance of this number surrounding certain events in the Bible. I haven't been out in a desert or anything, but I have been tempted by the devil. Satan sure is relentless. I think that most people don't even think Satan is real. You truly have to be a believer in Jesus Christ to understand how very real the devil is, and how relentless he will be to get you to stray from God's will.
The good news is that I am aware of him. He will win the occasional battle, but the ultimate victory has been won.....oh, no....not by me.....but by my savior Jesus Christ.
What else is new? I attempted to step out of my comfort zone in a big way (for me), by singing a few lines in this years' cantata. I practiced too many times to count. I sang in front of my drama peers first. I thought I was going to faint....or puke. Then came the first rehearsal with the whole choir. In my mind, I thought it was okay. Some people made me feel good by saying it was okay (maybe even good). One person (a friend) said "the speaking part was great, the singing part...not so good". At first this comment really bothered me. I was mad, hurt, and confused over IF I was indeed horrible, if others were just being nice, or if I was being criticized unjustly.. Come on now...here I am stepping out in faith....getting out of my comfort zone...to serve God in this capacity. Why was I being dealt this crap to deal with? Well.....like HE always does, HE slowly reveals His purpose. This time, HE revealed it through my analysis that I was focusing more on ME than on HIM. If I truly want to serve God, I must remember that I do not get to pick and choose everything I want to do. HE is the boss! I learned the lesson that it is not the task that God gives us to do that is important....it is the our motivation and character that is most important to Him. I want to serve God as He directs me. That's what it means by being Lord of my life, right?
So...my singing debut is for not. Instead, I have some more lines to memorize in it's place. My prayer is that God will give me a vivid glimpse of Isaiah, and how he felt sharing the news I get to share as part of the cantata message. Thank you, God....for giving me this opportunity.
Peace!
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