Search Me, O God

I woke up this morning with a lot on my mind and heart. It seems lately that the burdens of life have just been pouring on extra thick. I've got several close family members that are having major health issues and there is a lot of stress and suffering going on. One of those members is having a test ran this morning to determine if cancer is present.

I am also stressed over church related matters. I had to make the decision to cancel Vacation Bible School this year due to several factors. VBS has always been my passion. I was saved in VBS when I was a child and I feel like it is one of the most important evangelistic tools that the church can have. While I suppose we could have went ahead and had it, I just didn't feel that it was the right thing to do. To be quiet honest, we do not have the available staff to do it. We have lost so many members over the past few years and the ones we have left just really aren't able. There were some long-time members of the church that asked me if I would consider canceling this year, especially after the recent death of a church member. So, I prayed for the Lord's guidance and felt His approval to cancel. I realize that my decision didn't set well with a few people but if they will earnestly pray and seek God's will, they will understand why it had to be this way. It was heartbreaking to me to do it, but the decision had to be made.

It doesn't help that I am trying to stretch myself too thin. I take that after my mother. Between working a full-time job that I despise, being a father and husband, doing church work full time, and working on completing my Master's degree in Seminary, I have very little time. In fact, I feel guilty for sitting down this morning and taking the time to write this post. I just felt like I was going to explode if I didn't get it off of my chest.

So, like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I woke up with a lot of burdens. In fact, I woke up at 6:00 am with all of this stuff on my mind. After praying, I opened my Bible to the Psalms. I just so happened to open it right at Psalm 139. The Lord knew exactly what I needed to hear from Him this morning. It rang so true for me and was such a comfort to my heart. Won't you read it over? It may be exactly what you need as well. When you are finished reading it, click on THIS LINK and listen to the song Search Me, O God, written by James Orr:

Psalm 139 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
and for His infinite mercies

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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VBS 2010 Message

Listen to audio of Pastor Dave preaching the message for our VBS Commencement.

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What an awesome VBS!

It came and went faster than you could blink an eye. All of the months of planning and hard work that went into our Vaction Bible School was well worth it. Tonight was the last night and we had commencement services. Pastor Dave preached a fantastic message and after the service 3 young ladies came wanting to be saved. It was one of the most awesome experiences I've ever had. On top of all of that, another young lady was saved this past Sunday night after church. This has been one awesome week. Man, the angels in Heaven must be having a great time!

Luke 15:7: I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

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VBS Day 1

We had a wonderful time on the first night of our VBS. The kids we had on the first night were outstanding. Probably my favorite group of kids in all of my years of working in Vacation Bible School. I was thrilled to be able to teach this year along with my directing duties. I had the sweetest group of 5-6 year olds. They were all so talkative and interested in the lesson. You can learn a lot from kids if you will just take the time out to listen to what they are saying. They were so open and honest about everything, it was just wonderful.

Since I was busy directing and teaching, I didn't have time to take photos too. So, I asked for a volunteer at church this past Sunday and a young man volunteered. He did a great job and took lots of photos. I narrowed them down to 128 and uploaded them to the church's Picasa account. You can see them below:

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The simple things

This year in our Vacation Bible School, the teen class is learning a new song. It is called, Jesus, Name Above All Names. I just love this song! It is so beautiful and true. I want to teach it to our choir as well. It's just a simple little song but sometimes God works through the simplest things. I think that is something that we need to always remember. We sometimes tend to make things a lot more difficult than they have to be. For some reason we get the "bigger is better" mentality and we think we have to do things on a grand scale. Sadly the world judges success by numbers; larger crowds, bigger bank accounts, etc... I'm glad that God doesn't use the same scale as the world. God measures man by what is inside of our hearts.

Update! It didn't take the choir long to learn "Jesus, Name Above All Names." We opened up the service with it this Sunday. Enjoy the song below!

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