What a weekend....

So guys this is the first blog post and I'm really excited about it! Bare with me while I get the hang of sharing my thoughts and the things I have learned :) This post specifically is going to be about this past Sunday at church. Man was it good! God really is amazing with the way that He moves in our lives.

So this Sunday we had a guest worship leader at my church, Generations church in Temecula and Moreno Valley. Check them out on Facebook if you don't already have a home church. I truly felt at home the second I stepped through the doors... anyways, so the guest speaker was Catherine Mullins (AWESOME prophetic worship leader, again check her out on Facebook because she is truly AMAZING!!). She's gifted in so many ways it is unbelievable. She spoke to us about our roles in worship corporately; so when you come to church on Sunday or whatever day, what your role is.

She really stressed to us that regardless of how well you sing, or play an instrument that YOUR worship is so very important to God. Not only does He come expecting this, I think He looks forward to it. He loves to hear us and to hear us voice what is in our hearts. YOUR voice does matter when you are in that setting, shoot it even matters when you are sitting home alone having your time with Him. We need to become more comfortable stepping out of our comfort zones and really just letting loose. Praise and Worship is exactly that, the time where we give all of the glory to the Father for how wonderful and amazing He is. For all of those things He has done in our lives, that He loves us unconditionally even when we are so not worthy of it.

One of the quotes she said this Sunday was "We were made for the river" and that could not be more true! We were made to live in the river, to drink from the river, to wash away everything IN THE RIVER. The river of God flows to strongly and so deeply when we press into it that it is uncross-able. Picture it with me... standing on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the ocean, as far as we can see there is water surrounding us. We have no idea of the depths and can't even begin to see the end of this massive body of water. That pales in comparison the the river of God. The blessings, and wisdom He wants us to have are inside of that river, all we have to do is jump in and get wet. Catherine made a really great point though that sometimes we feel like things aren't "happening" during worship and we don't "feel" anything it is our JOB to continue to press in. The Holy Spirit will come in and change the atmosphere when you ask. The Lord will not push anything on us, it is our job to ask Him and meet Him there. So in those moments where you don't feel like anything is happening, raise your hands (or clap if your not a hand raiser), open your mouths (you don't have to sing, just speak to the Father, thank Him for all that He does), or move your feet. Those are the times the enemy doesn't want to happen, the enemy doesn't want us to realize the power that we have in praise and worship. Because when we start to realize the amazing and radical changes that the Lord makes in people when they truly worship with abandonment and when we are un-ashamed we are going to start to praise Him that way all day every day. There are no boundaries for the Lord, only the ones we put on ourselves. When we get out of our own heads and out of our own way that is when the Lord can truly start to change your heart and show your the destiny and purpose He has for your life.

I danced and jumped this Sunday like I never have before, and let me tell you there is such a freedom that comes with that. A freedom to act like a fool in other's eyes knowing that you are that much closer with your Savior and Lord. The connection you feel with Him is beyond words. Being able to sense His presence come into a room when His people are lifting Him up, that's what dreams are made of.

I'll finish up with this, there was a verse in a song we song that said:

"When I move my body, when I move my feet

when I open my mouth, that's when darkness flees"

SO GET TO DANCING LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING, AND SINGING LIKE NO ONE IS LISTENING! When we can start to do that, we WILL see the changes happening. Darkness CAN NOT live in the light.

Scriptures she referenced this weekend regarding the river were Ezekiel 47:1-12 and John 19:34. 2 Samuel 6:14 (story of David dancing undignified for the Lord) was also referenced.

"Lord, help us press into the river. When we feel like the burden is too hard for us to bear, let us raise our hands and lay those at the throne. Let us sing your glory and majesty for all to hear. That they too may know the power and grace that is your love. Let us always remember how David danced undignified for you. That we dance and praise you like we never have before. For you are worth of all the praise and all of the glory. Thank you for blessing us with all of the many things in our lives. Father I would like to pray blessings on anyone who is reading this, Father that they are able to find the same freedom I was. That their faith always remain strong with you and they stay steadfast in their walk. Amen".