Finally....

Finally the warmth has arrived! Unfortunately with it comes people missing church because of spending the day on the boat, or fishing or going on vacation. I understand that all of these things are important and believe me, I wish we were going on a few more vacations this summer. Every one needs a break every now and then. I hope everyone is planning some time away this summer, but I hope no one is planning to take the whole summer off! We need everyone we can get in the choir and orchestra.
Everyone did such a phenomenal job on the Easter music! What a blessing to be a part of the services on Good Friday and Easter morning. I have gotten so many compliments and good reports about how worshipful and beautiful the music was. I remember looking out on Sunday morning as I was leading and seeing a visitor sitting in the back. He is a family member of one of our members. I had never seen him or his family before, but I couldn't miss him that morning. He was so excited to be singing. There were too many people to be able to hear him alone, but I could tell that he was singing with everything that he had. He had a smile and was swaying back and forth as we proclaimed that God was alive! It actually convicted me about how un-stirred I am sometimes when I sing. The Lord has done so much for me and yet I fail to do something as simple as "give it my all" when I'm singing and worshipping Him. I was very excited on Easter morning to sing about our Risen Savior, but I should be just as excited every other sunday because He's just as alive in May through March as He is on Easter sunday.
Thank you so much for all your hard work and commitment to the special programs the choir performs in. They would be nothing without you.
God Bless

Did Spring get the memo?

Ok spring is officially here, but I'm not sure it got the memo! I'm ready for shorts, flip flops, sun and fun outside. I'm tired of long sleeves, shoes, and most of all cold weather! I know everyone else is too. I think Spring got confused because Easter is so late this year. Maybe it thought it shouldn't come out until right before. At any rate, it's gonna be fall again before it even gets warm.
I'm sure everyone is working hard on the Easter musical. The music is a lot tougher this year, but it is amazing. I have a personal time of worship everytime I turn it on. Sometimes I think I should be paying more attention to the words and parts, but I think God is pleased when I just let myself go and worship Him during rehearsal. I don't have a lot of free time during the day, so those moments that I do have are special. That is why I use them to worship Him. I hope you take the time to worship God each day. I know it's hard with everything going on in our lives, but it's so important to stop for just a few minutes and praise the God who created everything around us. As spring does arrive, the beauty comes with it. Praise God for the beauty that He made. He took the time to create all of it for our enjoyment, so let's praise Him for who He is and how much He loves us.
Thank you for all your hard work. I know God is pleased!

Is St. Patrick's Day a real holiday?

So the question remains of whether St. Patrick's Day is a real holiday. In America, we capitalize on every possible day to either get a day off of work, buy candy, or if you're my wife to buy decorations and decorate the house very festivally. I do love the decorations, but I definitely don't need the candy! Whether it is a "real" holiday is unsure, but it is a milestone of the verse that says "Go Ye into all the world and preach the gospel." You see St. Patrick's day is credited with bringing the Christian faith to the pagan country of Ireland, which according to Answers.com, drove out all of the false Druid gods. As I was reading the description of this day it struck me how our Christian lives need to resemble St. Patrick's day. Not for the green shamrock hats or pinching your co-worker who wore red instead of green, but because we are to be taking the gospel to as many different peoples and nations as we can. We should be God's hands and feet in driving out the false gods of our world. Many of us are the only God some people in Kent County will see. I have been doing a Bible study on worship recently and one phrase that really hit me was, "Worship invites God's presence!" What a powerful statement. We are actually inviting God's very presence into our midst when we worship Him. Then it scared me to think how on sunday mornings as we "worship" Him, some can stand there with a blank face or even a scowl. What does that say about God's presence in our lives?! If I were in heaven standing in God's presence I would be anything but blank faced. Why should my worship each day be any different! I pray that we never forget the fact that we are leading people into the very presence of our Lord each time we take the stage. Let's Worship our Lord each day with a happy heart! God Bless!

Season of Love.....

As February approaches I'm reminded of Valentine's Day and how this is the season of Love. Of course Wal-mart has had Valentine's candy out since December 26th, just another holiday to capitalize on, but that doesn't lessen the importance of the day. February 14th is set aside to remind us to tell those that are closest to us how much we love them. I'm sure everyone has some plans for a special dinner or romantic outing with that special someone in our lives. My wife would kill me if I forgot V-day. It seems the whole world is full of love in February, but how many of us remember to tell the Lord how much we love Him. True, this day is not set aside for that specific purpose, but why do we need a specific day to remind us to love God. Every day should be Valentine's day in our hearts. If you truly love something or someone, then you want to pour as much time and energy as you can into that relationship. It should be no different with our Savior. We should pour just as much, if not more, time and energy into loving Him as we do into everything else in our lives. Sadly, He often takes a back seat to the "more important" things. This "season of love" don't forget to thank God for His sacrifice, and incredible love. If only we could love like our Lord, how many of the petty things in life wouldn't matter. I love you all and thank you for your sacrifices to minister with me. God Bless!

"A New Song...."

"He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3
The greatest thing we can do with our talent is bring praise to the Lord. The Bible says that many will see the joy in our lives and will trust in the Lord. We can stand up there and sing all we want, but if we aren't living the song we sing, we are deterring people from God instead of drawing them unto Him. I pray that this month, and this year, as you prepare to lead others to worship Christ, you will ensure that your heart is prepared as well and that you are being a living testimony of the song that you sing. I look forward to the many exciting things God is going to do through us this year. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's also the busiest time of the year. Already most of us are trying to fit holiday parties, programs, and special services into our schedules. I am officially in panic mode about the school Christmas program. It's on December 14th and it should be a good one. (The students have put in a lot of work regardless of how it turns out.) I'm very thankful for each one of you. I know how hard you work every week, and I appreciate you taking the time to minister every week. Hopefully you are being ministered to, through the services each week, as well. After the new year we will have another choir party. December is just too busy to try to fit another thing in. In the midst of everything else, take some time to pause and remember the Reason for the Season. Remember, God is heard in the still small voice. Relax and listen for that voice this holiday season.

David

Giving Thanks.....

Yes, it is November! I can't believe it either. In over just a month my little boy will be turning two and it will almost be Christmas. If you're like me then you love Christmas time more than any other holiday. My classroom Christmas tree will be going up almost immediately and the Holiday CD's are already driving Jamie crazy. During this time of year we are reminded to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. But we shouldn't just give thanks for one month out of the year, we should be thankful all year long. There are so many things that God has given me that I am truly grateful for. My wife, my family, my beautiful and LOUD boys, my friends, and the amazing ministry that He has allowed me to work in. Thanks to everybody who takes part in the music ministry. What a blessing it is to me each week to be able to come to church and worship with not just talented people, but talented friends. I love getting to know each one of you, and I have enjoyed ministering with you as well. I hope that as the hustle and bustle of the season comes down upon us, we will take to the time to be thankful. Thank God for rich blessings! We all have them in both big and small forms. God Bless everyone!