I read an interesting this today during my devotional time.  It comes from the Rick Warren Daily Devotional on the YouVersion app I have on my phone.  Normally I wouldn’t post things I read about in devotionals but this seemed jump off the page at me.  I think it ties in well with what I have been discussing in my Friday morning Bible study with some of my coworkers.  We have been talking about how do we as Christians spread the love of Jesus Christ to a world that seems so bent on refusing to listen?  I think this quote sums up how we can do that: “Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world.  People may refuse our love, or reject our message, but they ARE defenseless against our prayers.”  This comes from a reading that talks about praying for specific countries in the world.

It has been racing through my mind ever since I read it. I mean how can I pray for people who refuse my love or reject the message of hope that Christ brings?  I think it is fitting that this reading comes a few weeks removed from the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.  I have been pondering ‘how to pray for those who could do such a horrendous act against so many people?’ I guess it all goes back to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:44: “… love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”  I think if this happened,this world would truly be a different place to live and there would not be so much conflict.

Thought for the day: “How does one truly pray for their enemy and how does praying for them offer them hope?

I love this song and I thought I would share it.  This version is from Kim Walker and Jesus Culture though it was written by Hillsong.

I think it is a great declaration to God as it states ‘All I Need is You!”  He is all we need…

Here are the lyrics:

Left my fear by the side of the road
Hear You speak
Won’t let go
Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray

Got every reason to be here again
Father’s love that draws me in
And all my eyes wanna see is a glimpse of You

All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord

One more day and it’s not the same
Your Spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Savior once again

Where would my soul be without Your Son
Gave His life to save the earth
Rest in the thought that You’re watching over me

All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord

You hold the universe
You hold everyone on earth
You hold the universe
You hold
You hold

Why does life throw you curve balls? Why are there challenges that knock you down and expect you to get back up just so they can knock you down again?

I have been wrestling with these questions for a while now when it comes to life… specifically love interests and work.  I have 2 great jobs that are both rewarding and really hard at times. I am a modern worship director and get to plan and lead worship on a regular basis, which is a wonderful opportunity and carries a great deal of responsibility. I have to dress appropriate, watch what I do during church and what I say, I guess it is good that I need to do this because it is teaching what it means to truly live above reproach.

My other job is working as a counselor at a day camp.  It is a lot of fun as well but is really challenging because sometimes the kids I work with really annoy me.  I also have a lot of other responsibilities there as I am in charge of the afternoon PE program and in charge of every piece of equipment (whether mobile or a jolly jump).

I love both of my jobs but I also look forward to any and every moment I get to relax, which doesn’t seem like much time all.

I think I am also going through a withdrawal of not having to go to school. I mean I love being done it just feels weird that I am done. I mean it took me 10 years (off and on) and now that it is over it is just strange. Maybe it was because it took a third of my life to this point.

Love interests are another story… now that I am done with school I have time that I can devote to a relationship but the problem is in my social circles there aren’t many girls that are my age that I am interested in, in fact there are only a few.  I have joined eharmony and match.com in order to open up my options.  The way I figure it is that even if I don’t meet the love of my life on these websites I can certainly learn more about myself and develop the skill of communicating through email and expressing myself better through writing.

I am hopeful that I will meet someone soon but I am putting my trust in God that he will reveal that person when the time is right.  I don’t know maybe I have already come across that person it just wasn’t the right time for either of us.

I am looking forward to summer camp starting.  This being my 4th summer I feel like I have more of a handle of what to do and what is expected of me.

I find it funny that I thought last summer would have been my last summer there but I felt God calling me to go back another summer and to see what happens when the summer is over.  I don’t know what is in store for me… but I am looking forward to what God has in store for me.

I am still waiting on my final grade from 3 classes, all of which are from the same professor who is on tour with one of the choirs from my school. Apparently they are on tour all next week as well… I want to find out my grade to really make it know that I fulfilled all of the requirements to graduate.

You would think the teacher would have turned in the grades before he left on tour or would find a way to get the grades in while on tour.  I am also curious to see if I made the Dean’s List with my GPA. I would love to say that in my first semester and in my last semester at Azusa Pacific University my GPA qualified me for that list.

Oh well I am still waiting… … … … still waiting… … … … still waiting… … … …

In 4 short months I will be walking across a stage to receive a piece of paper that has taken me about 10 years to get… I will be graduating from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with emphases in both Church Music and Music Theory and a minor in Youth Ministry.

I am both excited about being done and also terrified as it will be weird not having to go to class as I have done full-time for the past 4 years. I am also terrified about having to pay back my student loans, but am looking forward to what will come along the path next.

Today, I found out that my truck needs about $800 in repairs because my intake manifold is leaking, more like dripping fluid.  This comes on top of needing to pay $176 to get it registered after it gets smogged, needing to by books for my semester which starts on Monday, having $9,000+ in credit card debt, $60,000+ in student loans, bills, and of course wanting to be able to have a life.

Needless to say, it sucks to be a grown up at times!!!!

The Heart of Worship is a wonderful worship song that brings what worship is all about.  It was written by Matt Redman when he was 14 years old during a very unique time in the life of his church, Soul Survivor in Wattford, England.

The pastor of Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, decide the there would be no worship in his church because he felt as though the people attending were just going through the motions and not really giving their all in worship.  During this time of no worship there were only bible studies and over a period of 6 months the people of this church discovered what the true meaning of worship was.

This song by Redman was the song the “broke the silence,” if you will, and I think that it is a fitting song for the occasion.

Now Soul Survivor is among the top churches around the world who reach young people and win them to the Kingdom and to Christ.

Here are the words for you to read and see why they are so fitting:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

For the last three weeks I have been working for Pacific Camps, which is an after-school, Summer day camp facility with sites in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, and 2 in Simi Valley.  I am having a blast and getting my butt kicked in the process because it is a lot of work running around with kids all day.

I think a few of the best things about my job besides getting to work with and minister to kids is that I am being stretched by God in the area of patience and having a positive attitude no matter what the circumstances.

I am looking forward to what the next few weeks of camp bring and what God has is store for all of the kids and all of the staff, including myself.

Check this website out… http://www.buildinggodslegacy.org/  it is the website which was set up by one of the pastors at my church in order to get financial and prayer support which will allow us to move to a new facility and no longer have to share property anymore.  If you feel led to give there is a link where you can do so. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and possibly pray and/or donate!