Looking back on this year (full update blog next week), so many things have happened. I can’t even believe it all. I can only hope that God has more blessings in store for the people around me as well as myself. I don’t want to do the full EOY update right now, but I do want to put a couple things out there.

I’m working on ideas for where I want this whole ministry idea to go. The biggest plan is to get the vision for this ministry out of my head and in the open for people to see. I don’t believe that this is something that I’m supposed to sit on for myself. I want to be able to share it with others and help enhance the kingdom. With that in mind, here are a couple things that I’m working on…

I’m in the process of dropping the Harry Walls, IV music page on facebook (most of you probably didn’t even know I had one). In it’s place I plan to create a worship180 facebook page where I plan to communicate the ideas, thoughts and upcoming ministry plans through. I am also working to create a worship180 Twitter account as well. I’m also looking to expand the effectiveness of this website, hoping to make it more than just a blog. The goal is to have the fb and the Twitter launched by Jan. 1. I think the site is going to take a little longer.

As I wrap this up, I ask that you would pray for me as I continue to progress in who I am and who I’m supposed to be in God and for my family. I tell you this, God already knows what’s going to happen in 2010. We just better start preparing ourselves because it’s gonna happen no matter what. Be blessed and I’ll be giving you the full 2009 update next week. Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Brisa! You’re 5 today!

It’s Advent season and we are fully anticipating the coming of Christ. This past Sunday we talked about Jesus being a Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6). We talked about the oft overlooked Greek name for Mighty God, El-Gibhor. When you look at this name, a word that you find in the definitions of both is strong. As I sat and listened, all I could think about that my God is strong strong. That’s more than just regular strong, that’s super strong.

I was so impacted by the concept that this baby that was coming to the world in Jerusalem that night was going to be strong strong. Who knew that this baby would come to the world so small and helpless, but then be the Savior of the world? That’s strong strong. We know because of the seasons that when Jesus came to the world, His whole goal was to die for our sins. That’s strong strong. They didn’t know that 2000 years ago. They had no idea that this baby would be so special.

There should be great hope in knowing that the God we serve is strong strong. I don’t know what you guys are going through right now, but knowing that the Savior of the world is coming to die for my sins because He was the only one who could should bring you much hope and joy. Even better, you can engage the world with this hope. I love having a God that is strong strong.

Who am I, that you would love me so gently? Who am I, that you would recognize my name? Who am I, that you would speak to me so softly? Conversations with the Love Most High… Who am I?

-Nathan and Christy

I love the words to this song. I could end there, but that would be a totally lame blog and wouldn’t blame any of you for never reading anything I write ever again. But this chorus speaks so many things into my life and whenever I hear it I’m challenged to worship my Creator. This concept is so far beyond anything that I can really understand. I don’t know why He loves me so much. I’m just glad that He does. Here’s what I know, anyone that loves each and every person THAT much is worth my worship.

The Lord’s unfailing, unconditional love the most pure thing this world will ever know. More precious than silver, more costly than gold (bringing back the old school…). Sometimes I overlook just how much the Father loves me. Even when I’m looking at the Word that He gave specifically for us I tend to look past the fact that the Word was given because we are loved. When I think about that, I’m more inclined to spend some time with my God. The time that I spend ‘Encountering the Savior’ becomes a little more sweeter.

Are you overlooking the real, true love that the Father has for you? Are you spending quality time with the Father? Or are you fulfilling your daily duty? I know I’ve done that…

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! …O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence. Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Amos 6:1-6

I was sitting in a Sunday school class this pass Sunday when they started their lesson on this passage. The lesson was on social justice this passage was discussed in many different ways. I was impacted by these words and wrote them down with the idea that I would write about them now. So that’s what I’m doing.

As I sit here this morning getting ready to start this ridiculously long day, I think about just how much time I spend ‘stretched out on the couch’. So much time gets spent with us trying to relax or doing the things that we want to do. I also think about those of us who spend time trying to emulate people that we see on TV and wanting to have what they have. We would never say it, but when we obsess about all these things and toys and cars and such, we are making them our idols; our God. I say we because I am guilty of this as well. I have been obsessing about some music software and it has clouded my thinking as far as the rest of the world goes. I have cared so much about this and other things including this current holiday that I have ‘put far away the day of disaster’. I haven’t spent much time caring about what’s going on in the world. It’s times like these that when I need a new God. That doesn’t mean that the God of this universe, the Savior of the world needs replacing. It means that I have replaced that God with all of the earthly things that I obsess about. I need to turn my focus back to who God is and what He has done.

I watched this happen to me this past week. Because I haven’t led worship for a church in quite awhile, I hadn’t focused much on reading or doing any of the things that I normally do to keep my mind sharp. It took me a LOT longer than it normally does to put together a worship set because I was so out of ‘practice’. I have had to do my share of ‘Encountering the Savior’ lately.

The question…is there anything out there that has taken the place of God in your own life? Is it money or the pursuit of it? Is it trying to find a better job? Is it trying to find the perfect guy or girl? Will any of these things better your life in a way that God can not?