God...is bigger than...the songs I sing...the offering I bring

This past Wednesday was much a roller coaster day in regards to emotions and spirituality.
I woke up p/o'd at my roommate for a few reasons, but by the end of the day I was humbly in awe of God and what He did in our midst at youth group that night. Pretty much I spent a lot of the day in a bad mood and it carried on to the time of rehearsing our songs for the night. I should preference this by saying the following," we had a concert of prayer and praise for youth group. I, along with a few musically talented college-age musicians led the first and the last of three musical worship sets, and our youth worship team led one set. I didn't really know what to expect but I honestly didn't really expect much especially since student and prayer/praise aren't usually synonymous with each other.
Before my team started going over songs I was still in a funk and needed to go before God and let of some steam and give life up to Him. I remember praying, "God, please pour out your manifest presence on us this evening and work in all of our lives." What happened was something I don't think anyone was totally prepared for. God,in His manifest presence, showed up. And He blew everyone away. If you can imagine for a moment a significantly sized room filled the voices of high schoolers as they shout out to God things like, "God is bigger than the air I breath, Thank You for the Cross, There is no one like You, Once again I look upon the cross where You died, this is no sacrifice here's my life." If you can imagine students who normaly are pretty timid when it comes to prayer and singing aloud, stepping out of all comfort zones and lifting up their hands. Facedown. Teary-eyed. In awe. Worshipping the living, breathing, God with reckless abandon.
After our time people kept coming up to me saying things like, God uses/used You, the Spirit of God is with you, ect. I started thinking to myself, "Why in the world does God do stuff like that through me?" Despite of all my dirt, shame, and sin He still chooses to work through me. Then it dawned on me!! I asked Him to. A long time ago, back when I was in jr. high and high school, when I was trying to make more of an impact on this world for God. When I wanted more of God in my life. I prayed that God would use me. I knew and continue to know that I'm not worthy.
I listened to the cd recording of the us doing the songs live and honestly it sounded bad. We only practiced once and our voices weren't that great. The instruments were a little rough and we messed up a couple of times. Yet, God moved. Here is a new verse to the song "My Glorious".
God is bigger than
the songs I sing
the offering I bring.

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Happy Easter?

As I was driving into the church parking lot this past Sunday I saw what I expected to see. Cars everywhere which of course is an indicator that the church is packed with people for the infamous Easter sunday. Normally, due to the fact that I'm a people person I would be excited. But this time I was actually saddened and maybe even a little dissappointed. The statement that Easter and Christmas are the days in which the most people attend church is actually true. That was what saddened me. That apart from special occasions, God is not really on the mind of the people He has created.
As I walked into church I noticed that people were more dressed up than usual due to this "special" occasion. I guess not much has changed.
I remember how big of an ordeal Easter was when I was younger. I remember one time getting new Easter clothes for church, and one time being nervous about it in anticipation. Maybe Easter has lost it's mystery for me but I find something that doesn't settle with me as I reflect on these things. Why is it that we only seem to make a big deal about the birth and the ressurection one day out of the year but the rest of the time go about business as usual. Could it be that maybe if we wore celebration of the Savior's ressurection everyday with our very lives maybe more people would come and check out this whole God thing and be drawn (with the help of the Holy Spirit of course) to the ressurection and want to take part in the celebration also?
Ressurection didn't just happen almost 2000 years ago last Sunday. In point of fact I'm not sure if we really know the exact date (I could be wrong however). Ressurection happens. It happens everyday. I remember a statistic that in East Asia more than 10,000 people come to know Jesus Christ everyday thereby celebrating the ressurection everyday. I think of how the ressurection impacts my own life. Do I daily celebrate the ressurection? Do I daily, with my appearance both inward and outward acknowledge the ressurection and it's power in my own life each. Unfortunately I don't. If we as the church don't celebrate the ressurection but once a year, should be expect those outside the church to? It may seem like I'm being cynical but I'm not. I appreciate the cross and it's application in my life. I'm just thinking out loud about what's going on in my head.

Isn't it Weird

Isn't it weird how when God puts something on your heart or speaking some message to you that you see that message everywhere you go it seems, including and especially scripture. Like I said my last post, God has been speaking to me about letting Him be enough in my life, and seeking Him. I've been reading in Psalms and here are somethings that I see are connected to this idea:
"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands." Psalm 112:1b

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all you sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:2-5

"Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Lood to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105:3-4

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4