Fighting for the Blessing, forgeting about the rest

Wow what an amazing Worship Service yesterday! I was blessed to be able to Lead Second Service and I must admit, I was shaking all morning. Nervous??? well no.. I just felt like The Holy Spirit was gonna move..and He did. Well, at first, I was a little frustrated because the "Music" wasnt right for "me". Boy was I being foolish. I had to realize and snap out of it, it wasnt about the music, the beat, or even "me"! It was about my heart touching His. Many of times I (we) fail to realize that music and instruments dont make the worship. Its how we present ourselves, how we present our hearts. Are we coming to please man with musical talents? Or are we coming to please Jesus with a passionate praise? Sometimes, speaking for myself, I feel like the "music" has to sound perfect. Well of course we want to sound great, I mean thats why we practice, but I lose focus sometimes. I get upset with myself and sometimes with the musicians. (SORRY GUYS!lol)

Practice Time and Song Selection

Tonight we have practice! I always look foward to go to practice. We are working on a new song called "All the Earth Shall Sing Your Praises" by Paul Baloche. We will be doing the song both English & Spanish (Ingrid Rosario Version). The reason why we chose this song was because of the up-beat and the lyrics. You took, You take our sins away oh God You give and gave Your life away for us You came down, You saved us thru the cross Our hearts are changed because of Your great love You lived, You died, You said in three days You would rise You did, You're alive You rule, You reign, You said You're coming back again I know You will and all the earth will sing Your praises No one, No name can rise above You Lord One hope, One life will shine forever more Your kingdom in heaven and on earth Your children stand to sing of Your great worth When we choose/write a song to sing to the Lord,especially to lead a congregation to His Presence, we MUST concentrate on the words. Do the lyrics express how you feel about God? Can you relate to them? Why would any one sing a song that doesnt have meaning to them? If the words are expressing how you feel then its easier to sing them. When we sing, "Our hearts are changed because of Your Great Love", its because HIS LOVE has absolutely changed our hearts. WOW! Sometimes the rest of the team or someone may not like the song choice, and thats ok. There will be some songs that Im not too excite to sing (I admit). We just have to be obedient to our Leader(s)because they are lead by the Holy Spirit. So my advice to the Music Ministry Leaders. Lets prayerfully chose songs that Lift Him up and that we, as sinners, we as passionette worshipers can relate too. AMEN?? Practice time!!!!!! Many Blessings Maria PLEASE SHARE FOLLOW AND COMMENT! THANKS

Playing in a playground with Jesus

Howdie!!! Yesterday, I had the privelage of leading 2nd service, which is our English Service at the 27th Street Revival Center, Camden NJ. It was kind of funny because during worship, I felt like I was in the playgroud. I literally started to skip on the altar lol. I was totally in my own little world and felt like a little girl with no worries. Thank God our altar is a little spacy. The feeling of being in His Presence was amazing!.. and although the Glory of God fills that place.. yesterday was something different.. It was a total sensation of peace..calmness.. at the park on a sunny day. WOW! I wanted so bad for the congregation to feel what I was feeling! The Word of God says that in the Presence of the Lord there is FULLNESS of joy!! now that.. is an understatement!!

Speaking Joy during Imprisonment

The Apostle Paul is one of my favorite men in the Bible. So as I was reading Philipians Chapter 1, I felt the need to share a few things that spoke to my life during my process. Here goes: PHILIPIANS 1:1-12(PLEASE READ FIRST) First, I love and admire Paul passionette introductions in each chapter he writes. He loves his people and has a graceful & humble spirit about him. This man has a joyful heart, he has great pleasure and happiness. He was self-assured that what God starts, He ALWAYS provides a way to help us get through it, NO matter what the process is. Second,Paul was in chains, but still had the guts to feel the joy of suffering for Christ. To me, thats an amazing thing! Can you imagine being in prison and happy about it?? I try to imagine a prison cell in those times. Nothing like todays prisons/jails. He had almost nothing but dirt,rust,chains,maybe rats. Third, Chains for Christ?? We want to please God in all we do. No matter what we have to go through, whatever it takes so that He can be glorified, then thats what it is to truley suffer for Christ. Paul was a perfect example. The story has so much more detail and we will go through it in the next few weeks. Are you in prison? Spiritually,mentally,emotionally speaking. Do you think that the chains are too tight? The burden is too heavy? Or maybe you feel you cant breath or going to die. Lets dwell on these few verses and what Paul had to endure for Christ. We can use his example to be encouraged and hopeful that the Mighty God will help you through. How hard it must have been to be locked up and still be able to speak words of encouragement and life ,words of wisdom and love to those who are lost in a dying world. He also spoke to his fellow brothers in Christ and lifted them up. I want to encourage you today to never give up hope and always speak joyfully because HE WHO STARTED A GOOD WORK WILL BE FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE IT! Paul stated that everyone knew he was in prison and he was NOT ashamed of it. If your trial is too hard to bare, just know that God is Faithful. He is so loving and IS going to help you with all the hurt, hardships and trials. Gods love is greater than anything out there.. TRY HIM..SEEK HIM..ENCOUNTER HIM while He may be found Im no scholar or theologist, but I know the Power of the Word and the Power of His Love for me. I tell you in my darkest hour is when He becomes my Strength! I love Jesus and wouldnt change MY LIFE and situations for anything in this world! Many blessings to you!!!! Maria

Excited to Praise!

Yesterday, Feb.26,2012, we had such an awesome time rejoicing in His Presence. 10:30am @ 27th Street Revival Center, service starts. Me and Jessica Rios began to open up the service with just praise. I told Hector (Lead guitarist) to just play and we will worship and get the atmosphere ready. I was a little nervous but that was fine. The praises went up and the Glory fell. I was excited to sing to HIM, to lead HIS people into HIS PRESENCE! I wanted to jump throughout both of the fast songs, but was a little afraid I would fall from my heals. (Its hard to wear flats, especially on a Sunday Service lol) So I stomped my foot instead and snapped my fingers. Jessica was feeling it too! The congregation was so involved and I know that the LORD was receiving what belonged to HIM. I wanted so bad for Jessica to sing "Perfume a Tus Pies" by En Espiritu y Verdad, which we haven't done in a long while. I tell you, when she started the congregation instantly joined in, sounding like an angelic choir. It sounded so awesome and heavenly. I know that if me and Jess loved to hear it, then it was obvious that Jesus, on His Heavenly throne, stood up and smelled the aroma of praise coming from HIS children from the 27th Street Revival Center! Like our Music Director Ivan Perez says, "If the congregation responds to a new song, then we can do it".(musically & spiritually speaking) We(music ministry) believe in worshiping to songs that will not only touch the Heart of God, but that the people will join in and touch HIS Heart with us. Its amazing to fall in Love over and over and over again with our Savior Jesus Christ. I'm so excited to be a part of the 27th Street Revival Center, to be a part of this amazing,Spirit-filled,musically talented/skilled, passionate ministry! I am looking forward to many years of worship leading! Just my thoughts....
Maria

http://www.facebook.com/27thRC

In our weakness HE is stong

During Worship time last night in church, Brother/ Co-worshiper Tino Garcia had commented on God using us when we are weak. He said that he and many of us feel that God doesnt use us when we are weak. I felt this way soooooooooooo many times.

The bible says 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

His GRACE is sufficient thru my weakness........ im sorry but that just CRAZY LOVE right there.. we are so undeserving unworthy for any of His Grace and Love but that is Who He is...So Im gonna take this WORD and Receive it.. hold on to it.. and never let go..

What weaknesses do we hold on to today? laziness? sin? doubt? fear? self worth? etc.. the list can go on and on.. Let us continue to Glorify the ONE who has made us Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth . NO MATTER what we go through.. How we feel.. or what others may think of us..

(short but sweet huh?)

Thanks...

camden-revival.org

Is Worship Boring?

I Came across this Article..Is Worship boring.. and of course it captured my attention...

1 Cor. 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."

What does this mean? My opinion.... you can have a worship service that can be pleasing to God, but since those who are not one w/ God (not a believer but a visitor, or don't have a true relationship w/ God and the Holy Spirit/ or one whose problems & situation & sin blinds them,) cannot capture this Glorious act of Worship & Praise to God. Only those who KNOW Who He is, Who the Spirit is, & have a personal relationship w/ the Holy Spirit can appreciate The Presence and ACT on Honoring Who He is and What He is Worthy of.

So what if a person is born again/has a relationship w/ God etc..??? and still consider "worship" boring??? should we consider their "expectations" or "the worship leader"??? interesting huh?

John 4:24 "For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."

Hebrews 12:28 "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe."

I wonder.. how people can just sit there..spectatin..hands crossed..etc while the Glory is pouring out
? God is amazing, in
His His Presence there is fullness of joy
! Wow
! whats your opinion
??
??