IMAGINE....NO ROOM!
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” - Luke 2:6-7

We were standing in one of the side rooms, waiting to go on stage for the next portion of Imagine Christmas, when one more person tried to squeeze into the room. Someone said, "There's no room at the inn!" And everyone cracked up...but one of our cast members said..."I wonder if that's how Mary really felt." Crowded, uncomfortable, but anticipatory and excited about the upcoming birth of our Savior.

We live in a time of ridicule of our Christian beliefs. Many years ago, my father would talk about personal Christian beliefs being challenged in places far away from me. Yet, he said it was important to know what others believed, in order to know the truth. We make room for others' beliefs in our society to avoid offense, but often, no one knows the truth regarding Christianity. Those who oppose God deliberately misrepresent Christians as completely intolerant, hateful people...the exact opposite of what we are supposed to be representing.

When the innkeeper refused the many people he refused that night, he had no room for other travelers and their families. There were many different types of people traveling to Bethlehem on that night. He might have had opportunity to give that stable to other travelers in need; yet, he recognized the necessity of allowing this particular family to use his stable. Maybe he knew why, maybe not....but the fact is, he knew what Truth to allow in his inn.

May we know the difference between the truth and what pretends to be the truth by allowing God to awaken discernment within us, so that we can say this Christmas and throughout the year, there IS room..... in my heart....for You.

Merry Christmas,

Tess

Thoughts On Leadership

My mother was the brown version of Martha Stewart. If you asked her to make a fruit salad, she carved out a watermelon, placed various types of melon balls inside the watermelon (now a fruit basket), enclose several types of dipping sauces for the fruit and say, “Do you think this is all right?”

Uh, yeah, mom….you’re only going to make all the other moms jealous, I would think. Yes, I was a bit intimidated by the fondues, sauces, stir-fry, her attempts at Middle Eastern, Japanese and Irish dishes, and her ability to do all this while on the phone. If my mom had lived in this era, she would definitely have had a Twitter, Facebook, the latest cell phone and yes, the “I Pad”. Or, she would have had me run all of these for her. It was the same way she did all she did…she had a gift for delegation.

In our small church, my cousins and I began harmonizing together at a very early age, but we were uncomfortable leading a song service. So at about 10 years old, we were her backup singers. She’d pick the music, speak encouraging words between songs and cue us as to when it was the appropriate time to sing –and stop. If we got a bit carried away, it took only a look to make our voices trail away. We would look at each other, eyes wide, and then she’d continue. Later, she would say that we really needed to follow the leader. This bit of advice has always helped me in my professional and personal life.

I don’t really separate the professional, where it concerns customer service, from my church work. To me, it is as important to act positively with clients and customers as it is in church. Too often, we forget that people are there not to be our personal servants, but to serve with us in Godly service. So when you lead, no matter at what level, remember to approach people without the natural instinct of pushing aggressively.

Following a leader is not instinctive. We can push our very best volunteers away by our attitudes. Very often, as members, we want to lead and push through our own agendas and ideas. It is important to remember, who God has placed and to support them in the vision God has given them. When we respond negatively to people, they in turn will respond negatively. This does no good to the team and someone who is consistently negative will only find frustration in following a leader or in leading others.

Therefore, as we serve together, ask yourself if you are treating others in the same manner you would like to be treated. What would you tolerate if you were leading a group? Would you jump on your followers at the first sign of what you deemed as disrespectful? Would you model for them the appropriate responses to disagreements? Are you following Christ’s model and allowing your designated people to lead, and yes, to make mistakes? Accepting God’s leadership is a test in itself, but He also places those around us in leadership over us, to ensure that we are following others as they follow Christ.

One of the most important factors in team building is motivation. As we build our team, let’s focus on our purpose: creating an atmosphere of worship to prepare for God’s word. It’s an incredible responsibility and I love fulfilling this with you!

Giving All In Worship

Someone said to me today, "It shows that you give it ALL in worship."

I really thought about that comment and truly, I want to be the kind of person that can give it all. Giving it all in worship, for me, is about paying the spiritual price every day -- letting go of my personal ego, of my "way" and replacing it with God's purpose. When I truly spend time with God, this is my sacrifice: there is no substitute.

I believe in challenging one's self to achieve the best music possible, but one can rehearse and make everything musically perfect, yet leave out the most important factor. Anyone can be a musician or singer, but it is a challenge to maintain one's own integrity when doing this in the framework of Worship. The King and Psalmist David knew the price of giving up one's own human sinful desire to choose God. Throughout his life he saw much suffering and experienced consequences from sin that were severe. However, David's life is also one of deepest praise and life changing worship.

So, yes, I have been through the fire in these past few years. Yes, I've seen some of my dearest friends fall away, I've seen jobs grow scarce, and I've felt the tendrils of self-pity at the edges of my mind. And so have you.

Through all of these things, let His mind be in you. Don't think the way humanity thinks: WIIFM (what's it it for me) can't be the motivation!! We will gain satisfaction from worship when we let his mind be in us.

My prayer for you as a worshiper, in whatever capacity that you serve in: Let God show you his abundance and grace in worship. Let His anointing flow through you, with you as his instrument, showing the Way, the Truth and the Life still is very real.

The Voice, the Music, the Anointing...

Today's thought:
The Voice: Your voice, to God, is a sweet fragrance when it comes from the most sincere part of your heart. Did you know that He looks to the very deepest part of us and searches for love?

The Music: When you move in His presence before you touch a key, the breath of God flows through you and self does not get in the way.

The Anointing: God's favor is what breaks those bound by depression, sin, and other attacks of the enemy. In the Old Testament, praise and worship went before battle. That's just what you are doing....preparing for battle.

You are called and you've chosen to follow His lead. Don't let anything or anyone tell you different.

You are blessed and God will fulfil His promises to you. You are loved by your church, by me, and by God.

Blessings,

Tess