Real

It is very late and I am somewhat tired. But looking back on today and looking forward to this weekend, I couldn't be more excited. 

A few hours ago I got to lead my church (my family) in worship. Musical worship that is. We sang songs to our God. We shouted out Psalm 100 together proclaiming our joy in the Lord. And to the average person, what I just typed isn't that big of a deal. Even to the "average christian", what I just typed might not have even been that stand out. Churches all over america and the world meet every day and sing songs like we just did. It's so easy to look at it that way. I have been leading worship for about three years now, give or take. I consider my role as being a worship pastor one of the greatest blessings God has poured on me in my entire life. And at a night like this, after having taken part in the musical worship of Jesus Christ again, I am very, very joyful. Why? Because worship is NOT some small, customary, traditional thing that we do in church because we are supposed to. Tonight, my friends, my leaders, and I got to LITERALLY enter the presence of God and walk into his courts singing praises of thanksgiving, like Psalm 100 says. How can we as a believer do that and not be ecstatic? Or even simply realize that Jesus has torn the veil once and for all and NOT be jumping up and down in joy?

Tonight, my friends and I got to raise our hands, not to empty skies, not to the ceiling, not to an imaginary feeling made to give us comfort, but to the God that created you, created me, created the earth we live on and has breathed life into our bones. We got to say glory to you God, not to me. All glory to you, because He deserves it. My challenge now to myself and to any believer that is reading this right now... How can I/we give glory to God to the best of our ability OUTSIDE of the church? Outside of the confides of music. Maybe that means encouraging someone. Maybe for me that means being bold when I'm fearful. Maybe it simply means smiling more, or choosing not to be lazy. Ask God what you can do. He will tell you. I promise. Remember, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find. Let's live by those words. 

Oh and my brother gets married in two days, that's pretty cool too. And by pretty cool, I mean freaking awesome. 

Have a great friday. 

Psalm 100:4-5

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.