The original album, "Fly"

This is one of my absolute favorite hymns, written by the prolific hymn writer Fanny J. Crosby. I recorded this one back in 2003, just vocals and a nice hollow body Gibson ES-175 that I borrowed (oh my word, what an amazing sounding guitar that is/was!).

The original album, "Fly"

This was one of the first “worship” songs that I wrote, around January 2000. I was driving home one night, listening to a Louie Giglio message about worship, and the words just starting flowing in my mind. I had to find an ink pen and piece of paper, and while I was driving up a rather curvy road, I managed to jot down the words that would become the song “Amazing”.

2 Chronicles 7:14

I have decided to join the 7:14 Journey, and I would encourage you to read about it at Ross A. Hill’s website, and consider joining the movement yourself.

The premise of the 7:14 Journey is praying 2 Chronicles 7:14 every day at 7:14am & 7:14pm.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Check out Ross’s website and read what it’s all about, and check out Mark Batterson’s book The Circle Maker while you are at it. You won’t be disappointed.

If you want to make a difference for the Lord, if you feel God calling you to hit your knees and pray, then SIGN UP for the 7:14 Journey.HERE IS HOW TO SIGN UP! Email me today at rossahill@rossahill.com and tell me you are joining the journey. Include your mailing address and we will send you a FREE COPY ofThe Circle Maker. Join the 7:14 Journey.

In my cubicle I have no less than four team calendars (two each for the Charlotte Checkers and the Carolina Hurricanes),a handful of hockey player bobble heads, three hockey pucks,and a magnetic logo for one of the teams. Any person that steps within about 20 ft. of my world (if they are familiar with the sport) will automatically know this is something I enjoy,something I am passionate about.

What occurred to me is that I do not have any specifically Christian or religious “items” in my cubicle that would identify me as a believer if someone walked by my desk. I do not have any Thomas Kinkade paintings,no styled crucifixes or crosses,no painted verses on a wooden plaque,not even a Bible sitting around gathering dust. Why is that?

I do not want my faith in Christ to simply be a kitschy, commercialized,folksy version of its former self. I want my faith to be alive IN me,showing the fullness of the Gospel in life,in the greatness of its life-giving power and JOY! My faith is not a stage,I am not an actor,and I do not require props to express the message of the Cross to others. The only necessary part is the life I live, the words I speak,and the actions I make,with Christ through the Holy Spirit moving through my life / words /actions. Please do not take this as anti-religious imagery and artistic expression. But we must move away from falsely advertising the Gospel of Jesus in our lives,and towards the expression of a heart transformed by Christ himself.

P.S. If you want to read some powerful words on this topic,I would suggest reading “The Signature of Jesus” by Brennan Manning. For that matter,I would suggest reading any and everything by Brennan Manning.

I have learned that if more time passes until the next step occurs, that means God has something else to teach me. In the most recent “meantime”, He has revealed two obstacles in my own life that need to be addressed:

1. There are unsurrendered areas in your life that need to be given to Me – This could be unforgiveness of others, hardness of heart, or any number of things that are not currently under the lordship of Christ. This is a very serious and personal heart and soul issue that will be different for each of us. If we sense God prompting us in this way, we need to sit down and prayerfully consider the condition of our hearts and fully surrender our lives to Him.

2. There are areas you need to mature in before you will be ready for the next step – Once again, this may be different for each of us. For me, I know that there are aspects of leadership and caring for others that I need to work on and understand better before I am able to be entrusted with that responsibility. God will certainly grant the provision when the need arises, but the groundwork needs to be in place to support that kind of structure when it is built.

3. It’s just not time – Maybe we are ready,
but circumstances and others are not. God’s time table does not always match up with what we think it should be.

My prayer for those of us that find ourselves in a “meantime” season is that we will allow God to do His work in our hearts and lives, so we can be used more fully in sharing the gospel with others and bringing Him the praise and glory He deserves.

I know as time passes God will make the path clearer, so I keep moving and holding fast to my faith. I see myself at times as a use-to-be worship leader, an almost somebody, and it is easy to let the enemy creep in with doubts and fears from past experiences.

What I cling to is the cross of Christ, where the foolish things shame the wise, where victory is found in the name of Jesus, and where God can make the rocks cry out in praise of Him if He chooses. Surely God is capable of using even me!

I have, however, adjusted my focus slightly. Instead of continuing my pursuit of a Masters of Arts in Religion: Worship Studies, I am going to pursue getting my Masters of Divinity. Not the largest of leaps, I know, but I feel like the coursework will help round me out as a person and minister in such a way that I can be useful in any number of situations. My primary goal in all of my studies is to be able to serve the body of Christ in whatever capacity God would allow me. I love participating in worship and being a part of that aspect of ministry, but I cannot help but recognize this longing and desire in my own heart for some area of ministry or service that goes beyond me simply utilizing a talent or ability.

I want to serve.

The passage comes from the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd edition, edited by Walter Elwell. The article on “Spirituality” was written by J.M. Houston.

…[E]vangelical Protestants are largely secularized by their politics, their obsessions with growth, and their interests in administration and parachurch activities. The loss of the practice of prayer, the ignorance of the rich traditions of spirituality, and the need to develop a cultural framework for the practice of devotion are challenges worthy of the most serious consideration at present.

This was a part of the author’s conclusion when looking at what he describes as sprituality (the state of deep relationship to God).

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 

I want my life, actions and thoughts to constantly be centered on Christ as I move through the new year. We all have personal goals, objectives and even resolutions for ourselves and our families. But most importantly, let my life, goals and my very being be set on bringing honor and glory to Christ.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Q&A with John Piper and Bob Kauflin on Corporate Worship

After you watch the video, you should check out desiringgod.org for more resources from the ministry of John Piper, and worshipmatters.com for resources and information from Bob Kauflin.