Saturday, September 15, 2007

"THESE HANDS" New CD

This year has been a busy year, starting off with the release of "Revive Us" late December 2006. Then "Destiny Blues" April 2007. Going back into the studio and beginning the process of a third CD, "These Hands" another in a trilogy of CD's that has now been released.

All three have their own direction and vision, yet "These Hands" has a message, one that is loud and clear. Early on, while recording, writers block, was a major problem. Yet the desire to write and produce a project was deep in the heart. Through the process of looking at new songs, old songs, and a couple that were written by other artists, the project "wasn't" taking shape. In that, it was, in all actuality "shelved." In and through prayer, God spoke to my heart and said, "Your in the way of this project." Meaning, that, as it was, it was just another CD. With which the decision was made to shelve what had been recorded at that point.

By leaving the project alone, and simply "getting out of the way" God began showing and revealing the vision that was to take place for this project. The CD was to be two fold, a stretch musically for myself as a musician, and secondly, an evangelical outreach. With a message of salvation, repentance, healing, and deliverance. With which song by song, more was added to bring about this vision.

The music on the CD, each song with its own message and each with its own background and challenge. A small tract, with short statements, as well as challenges to examine oneself in light of the salvation God offers through Jesus Christ was printed up for the Jcard insert. Becoming a new step in outreach opportunities. The vision, being pure and true outreach of heart, from God the Father to the listener, young and old.

The prayer challenge of the project became a very interesting approach to writting music. In one case, a prayer of "Lord, of the times I deliberately walked away from you, maybe thumbed my nose at you. When I thought I was right in my thinking, but very wrong in my walk. What was the cry of my heart?" Became a very hard step for writting a song, very emotional, and through which I personally learned that the love of God was bigger and deeper than I had ever concieved. With which a new revelation of Jesus was given to me, to which I found myself falling to my knees and being thankful for.

Two of the songs, have a strong approach of, "Be Not Decieved" by any who would come "as an angel of light" and lead many astray. Also, in this message that maybe we ourselves are to complacent in our walk, that we may have decieved ourselves. These two songs come on hard with the message of "be a man" stand strong against such things!! Yet another song, "Breakthrough" comes with a heavy rock sound, but a message of much depth, a message of "An invisible prison.. without a guard, 'because the jailer is me.'" Pointing to a fact that many times, through vicious cycles and or habits, we place ourselves in prison. Maybe through "unforgiveness" of others, or of ourselves, the jailer in charge of the prison door, is ourselves. Deliverance, is only through Jesus Christ.

"These Hands" as a project, has become a spiritual journey of even my own examination. There is an excitement for this CD, simply because of the fact it is strong with a message of salvation in and through Jesus Christ. Our prayers are that it will and can be used to reach the hearts and souls of many who need His love and His grace, maybe His healing and His deliverance.

Please prayer with us over this project. God richly bless you!!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

The Spirit and Truth of the Matter

John 4:23-24
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshiper will worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth.

Spirit and Truth

We must worship God with reverence, attentiveness, having a right purpose of honoring God, while understanding what we are doing. Our mind must be ready, attentive and alert. Our hearts open and ready to recieve, but even more, our willingness to be in His presence, and our desire for His presence.

True worship is knowing, "We were bought with a price...." It is knowing what God has done for each and everyone of us through the Cross of Christ. That we have a Recovery Program, that places us back where we need to be with Him. ABIDING with Him, ENCOUNTERING Him, and through His Word, DISCOVERY of Who He is! Or His REVEALING Himself to us.

We RECOVER to DISCOVER.

The Spirit and Truth of the matter is, God desires and is committed to come to people who will be open to Him and invite Him into their lives and in their hearts. Realization of the fullness of God, is the purpose of true worship. Being open to His presence is the step needed in so doing.

Seeing then, that "we were bought with a price, (we should therefore) glorify God in our body and in our spirit which are His" (1 Corinthians 6:20).

He will ABIDE with you

John 14:15-16
If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and BE WITH YOU, ABIDE WITH YOU, FOREVER, the Spirit of Truth.

The proper temple for the indwelling Spirit of Jesus is a heart filled with love for Him and a heart that is living actively for Him. The beautiful thing here, is that with a heart that is open to Him, in His dwelling in us, He says "He will NEVER go away or leave us."

John 14:18
I will not leave you a orphans, I will come to you

He will not leave us in a bereaved or desolate condition.

Matthew 28:20
And surely I am with you, always, to the very end of the age...

Hebrews 13:5
Because God has said, NEVER will I leave you, NEVER will I forsake you.

This is His promise to us. It is the Spirit and Truth of the matter. He will neither withdraw His presence from a heart in love with Him, and one who is active in living for Him. Nor will He withdraw His help, His guiding hand. This is a realization of the fullness of God in our lives! He wants us to know Him! He wants us to experience Him! He wants us to draw near to Him! Now, we have to be committed and desiring to ALLOW Him full access to our lives. We can not be half way open to Him, it has to be ALL the way open!

He desires to ENCOUNTER us! He wants to REVEAL to us a full REVELATION of His fullness in our lives!

Many spend all their monies seeking REHAB, rehab is good, dont get me wrong. I know of several programs that are greatly needed and do well with the people whom they work with. But the greatest "Recovery Program" is the one led and guided by God Himself. His turn around rate is 100%. By that I am saying He can and will completely turn you around and the path of life and set you on a "sure foundation." All that is required is an open and willing heart and spirit. This is the Spirit and truth of REAL worship as well. It is because He loves each and everyone of us so much, He gave everything for us! Think about it!