Back To The Heart of Worship

James 3:13-18 says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

I love worship. I absolutely love worship.

But I love worship that is real and authentic. I love worship that at times is rough and raw. I love
worship where people take the talent that they have and they simply offer them up to the God who
loves them. And, in humbling themselves before God, He does amazing things through their gifts. When doing this, it reminds me of the song, “Heart of Worship.”\

I’m coming back to the heart of worship, And it’s all about You. All about You, Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, When it’s all about You. It’s all about You Jesus

It’s that sense of humility in worship, a humble offering of everything that we are, that comes to my
mind when I read these words from James. It’s an interesting position for a statement such as this. They come just on the heels of a verses describing the power of the tongue to either bring praise or bring destruction. And now there is this image of wisdom. When we’re connected to the wisdom of God, it will undoubtedly flow from the heart. And when it’s flowing from our heart, we see such things as peace, gentleness, obedience, humility, love. But there’s another side to the picture too. When we don’t have a sense of humility, when we’re not connected to the wisdom of God, it’s also going to show up in our actions. In that case, we’re going to be jealous, sinful and filled with bad ambitions. Maybe that’s why the heart is so important.
Here is a few questions to challenge yourself with: What’s your heart connected to? Is it the heart of
God that we find in true worship? Or is it the heart of the world?

- Haley

Broken BUT Rescued

"If the winds must keep blowing for me to trust in You... then Lord, I will hold on until You see me through. I may not know the purpose for this trial that I face, but please, don't let this

storm go to waste."

-"This Storm", McMillan and Life

As much as I love being in MC, because I really REALLY do, this is possibly the hardest thing I've ever gone through. And it's only the 7th week. It's still just the beginning, and I can't tell you how many times the thought of leaving has crossed my mind because of my feelings getting in the way.

Feelings of fear. Of stress. Of doubt. Of loneliness. Feeling like I don't belong, that I don't fit in. That I'm not enough for this group. That I'm holding the group back. That I don't have enough Bible knowledge. That I'm not as far in my spiritual walk as everyone else.

I can't tell you how many times I've started to pack my bags, completely prepared to pack up the back of my car, and just drive. No destination point. Just drive away, as far as I can on however much gas I had in my tank. I've felt like that's my best option more than once.

Then my car BROKE.

When it initially happened, I was convinced that the devil was just attacking me. Now that I can step back and look at the whole situation, I can see how that wasn't the case.

God stepped in. He took control of a situation that could have taken me away from the calling He has given me. Away from the opportunities He has put in front of me.

I believe He broke my car. Not as a punishment... but as a reminder that I'm not in control. Or a reminder that He can take me out of a situation that I may not be able to handle.

Which is really, REALLY good. Because if my car wouldn't have broken, I would have been gone. I would have left over a month ago. I would have left before the process of growing even began.

We were told from the beginning that this program wouldn't be easy, and I don't think any of us thought much of it. The breaking process hurts... A lot. You learn so much about yourself, and you're stripped down to the basics so that you can create a firm foundation for ministry. I'm starting to see now just how beneficial the hard parts are.

I'm starting to accept the fact that God has me in this program for a reason... clearly. I mean, He BROKE my car. This program is hard. But it's worth it.

Yes, I feel alone sometimes, but I know that I'm not. I have a Daddy God that is always with me. And I know that He loves me unconditionally, even when I doubt. Even when I question whether or not it's worth it. He's got my back. He sees beauty in my brokenness. He sees potential in me. He has me here for a reason. And I'm finding so much peace in knowing that.

Blessings,
        Paige

Have you ever just enjoyed a sunset?

Have you ever just enjoyed a sunset? Maybe you were at the beach, or sitting on your front porch, or maybe just sitting in the grass somewhere. Wherever you were, you know that no picture could ever truly capture the beauty of all the colors; that fire in the sky!

I have never met a person that at some point didn’t stand in awe at the beauty of the sunset. Just this week I was sitting in my car, preparing to leave the mall and there it was, that fire in the sky. Reds, blues, pinks, yellows, oranges, just beautiful. But I became curious, what makes the colors in the sunset?

Obviously God paints a picture for us of His creativity. But I was reading at the beautiful colors that are in the sunset are the product of the pollution in the air. Yes, the pollution, that thing that everyone
hates. The thing that everyone says is dangerous and detrimental to the world. The sun shines through it and it is beautiful.

Isn’t that the same in our lives? The things people look at us and point at us and say is ugly and gross.
The things that make us “unacceptable” to people and that they say is so bad. What will happen when
the SON shines through? Those same people will be left standing in awe of the picture God has created with your “pollution” and will be mesmerized by the beauty that comes from it.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 it says:

26 Look carefully at your call, brothers and sisters. By human standards, not many of you are deemed to be wise. Not many are considered powerful. Not many of you come from royalty, right? 27 But celebrate this: God selected the world’s foolish to bring shame upon those who think they are wise; likewise, He selected the world’s weak to bring disgrace upon those who think they are strong. 28 God selected the common and the castoff, whatever lacks status, so He could invalidate the claims of those who think those things are significant. 29 So it makes no sense for any person to boast in God’s presence. 30 Instead, credit God with your new situation: you are united with Jesus the Anointed. He is God’s wisdom for us and more. He is our righteousness and holiness and redemption. 31 As the Scripture says: “If someone wants to boast, he should boast in the Lord.”

So today friends, let the SON shine through your “pollution” and watch it turn in to something beautiful that confounds even the wisest of men. If God be for you, WHO can be against you? God REALLY is working everything out for your good, so let Him!

Blessings,

Tami

Break Every Chain

To this day it still seems so unreal to be in a place that’s so far away from all the people that I love so much. I’m now 18 and living the college life. Today I just sat back and looked at all the things I’ve done, all the things I accomplished and all the painful moments. I started to think about the 2 months I tried to prepare for the next coming 3 years. But I learned you can’t ever prepare yourself to be broken by God. I finally stopped all my plans and my dreams that I had for myself and I began to focus on Gods voice. I now live in charlotte, day by day preparing for my future and being trained into a disciple for Christ. For so long I ran from my calling I ran from Gods voice, for this very reason because I was scared to death about the process, the process of being completely broken. I’m learning that being in ministry and being where God has called you for whatever season you’re in you still are being broken, being broken is a willingness to change, its where you start growing and cutting out all of the past and impurities you have in your life. The process is painful and extremely emotional but full of Gods mercy, he shows us the things that need to be cut out or dealt with but he also afterwards brings us through the healing process. 

The past few weeks have been so crazy, so many distractions, so many lies being made, so much he said she said but past all of it I’ve heard Gods voice so much. This past Wednesday night I was lying in bed talking to my roommate Tami about the song break every chain. We began to talk about how we sing “Break every chain” a lot at Judah on Sundays. I made the comment that past the repetition it didn’t matter how much we sang it. Because it’s the words of the song that changes lives. Not only that but those words were placed into someone’s heart by God to write. So those are Gods words to you. He wants you to break EVERY chain in your life, he wants your chains to fall, not only for them to fall but for them to never take hold again over your life. So my question to you is how would churches be different if we actually begin to believe God could break those chains? Not to just sing it but to believe we serve a big God that can break those chains. When we sing there is an army rising up, what do you see as you sing that? When I begin to sing “there is an army rising up” for me I begin to see an army that’s for God, running head on after the enemy that’s been trying to kill everything in their lives. But what the army has attached to them and what there carrying IS the armor of God. What they have on the inside is more powerful than anything the enemy can throw at them or try to kill them with. Having that armor on is going to help them kill the very thing or the very enemy that’s been trying to destroy them and as the enemy comes closer they will be able to strike with the purpose of completely killing them. (You could even look at it as your spirit man is trying to kill your fleshly man.) I also think about David, he believed that he could kill the giant not because of his pride or ego but because he believed that, what was his fathers was also his. He believed through God he could kill this giant. God used David in this story for a lot of reasons but one of the reasons were it didn’t matter his size or his strength or his age but the simple fact that he was called by God. God will use you when you have a willing spirit. So when it’s time to step up will you have all you need to fight? Will we believe and have faith that God is going to get you through this, the process might be horrible and you may have doubt at first but as you throw that first rock at the enemy as David did, will you miss because of the lack of faith in yourself or will you hit your target because of the faith you had in God and the faith God had in you? The next time you hear a song, don’t take it lightly apply it to your life and let God speak to you.

- Morgan

Mandate of a Believer

Let me start with saying WOW. We are entering into our 6th week of SMC now and it has already been a ride. But, the deeper we get into it, I become so grateful that I am here. I'm going to be completely honest, I didn't know if my "puzzle piece" fit into this puzzle. I felt like this was just a stepping stone in my life that could only last for a couple of months. I thought I didn't fit in with the other guys. I felt, well, I felt like I was alone. But, as they walls have began to fall down. I can see just how much we are all alike. We are all after the same thing and that is to glorify God. 

This week has been an eye opener for me. We have talked about the mandate of a believer. It blew my mind to see this words come to life from my bible and for God to begin speaking to me. 

Matthew 28:18-20 

"Then Jesus came to the disciples and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you, and be sure of this, I am with you always, even at the very end of age." 

This is the mandate of a true believer. Jesus came into the world so that every child of God could be saved. How can everyone be saved if some haven't even heard of him. The word "Nations" here in Greek translates to race. He isn't just talking about people of third world countries, He is speaking about all the people on this planet, every single child of God needs to know their father. 

Another piece of scripture that ties in perfectly with this one is one that Pastor Glenn has been preaching a series on. 

Mark 16:15-18

"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel of creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs and wonders will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; They will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will be healed."

This just blows my mind. Once again He is telling us to GO. We can't just sit here and be idle. We need to get up and go in the name of Jesus. Believers are made and molded into disciples. Here he tells us that signs and wonders will follow those who believe. They will drive out demons in His name, DRIVE OUT DEMONS. Wow, that is pretty amazing to me. My faith can be so strong and my belief can hold so much power that when I walk into a room. The devil knows that Jesus is with me and that he can not stay there and I will drive him out! That is enough for me, but He doesn't stop there. He says we will speak in new tongues. Because we are believers, when we go to preach the gospel to all nations. There will be no language barrier, if your faith is strong enough you will speak in their language. Speaking a language that I don't know and I have never studied before, that is amazing. They will pick up snakes with their hands and when they drink deadly poison it will not harm them. They will place their hands on the sick and they will be healed! The very things that Jesus him self came into this world and did. We will be able to do in his name. It is so amazing for me to see how Jesus desires so greatly for us to be just like him.  

I won't to wrap all of this up with a quote from Pastor Glenn, "signs and wonders follow those who believe. Believers don't follow signs and wonders" 

God, I just pray that in everything I do I look to you for guidance. I pray that every where I go I leave a residue behind of you God. That people can look through me and see that you are my Father and want to know you. God, I pray that in everything I do it is for your will Father. I desire to make you proud God and to let the light of Jesus shine through me. Amen. 

- Sean

Purpose

I feel that this is the first 'normal' week we've had.

I am realizing how important it is to get to know people before we develop impressions about them. I say that because everyday I'm getting to know everyone better, I realize why they behave the way the do, which helps me understand and adapt to different personalities better. That is something I have definitely been wanting to work on, because I'm not much of a people person.

This week we have been taught more and more what our purposes are in Christ. Pastor Glenn talked about the fact that we are New Testament Levites, while Pastor Michael discussed how we should pray. It completely reconstructed my view on a lot of the things I was taught in my childhood.

Pastor Glenn discussed that as Levites we are called to minister to God, which I believe we get a little backwards sometimes, because we always expect God to touch us and minister to us. This really resonated with me. It's important for me to remember as a worship leader, because we as humans are so accustomed to having 'horizontal' and face to face interactions that we have a hard time adapting to a 'vertical'  and seemingly one-sided relationship with God. In worship, we are too eager to try to minister to a congregation, and we tend to get discouraged whenever the crowd does not respond the way we would like. That's not right, we should worship God in Spirit and in Truth, not in congregational approval. 

Pastor Michael, on the other hand, spoke about prayer. This really helped me this week because the Lord has been speaking to me more and more about who to pray for, when to pray for them, and what to pray for. This is something I've never been comfortable with, but that's what I'm here for, right? I've always followed the model of prayer he talked about, which is praise, repentance, asking, and yielding. I don't remember where or when I learned this, but as long as I can remember I've prayed this way. It was interesting for him to explain this through the process of which the Priests came to Moses' temple. It truly brought light to and made sense of that idea. I plan on studying that more at some point, because no one has ever taught that to me, which is becoming the norm of a lot of things I'm learning throughout the week. Every week gives me a new perspective on my relationship with Christ. and I really believe it has already solidified my faith that much more.

- Danielle

What is Fear?

Websters Dictionary states that Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. 

For about two weeks, the enemy was attacking me every way he could. physically and mentally.  I have never dealt with anything ever like this kind of fear before in my life.  I would lay awake in my bed at night clinching for dear life to my pillow shaking, thinking that something was standing over me, waiting for me to move and as soon as i did it was going to start attacking me.  I would look in the mirror while getting ready and i would see someone else besides myself, and i would just stare at what i was seeing in the mirror.  I couldn't tell you who or what it was that was staring back at me, but i do know, that it was the Devil trying to overcome me, and make me think that as long as i stayed in this program, he was going to be there, waiting for me to take a step forward.  As soon as i did, he would be there to drag me back 7 steps backwards.  

Finally, one night I had enough, and sat all the girls down and i told them EVERYTHINGthat was going on.  I didn't know where to start or what to say, so i just poured it all out to them.  I felt like we needed to anoint our apartment.  One of the girls had some anointing oil, and we passed it around and grabbed hands and started praying together.  Then we split up and anointed every door post, window seal bedpost, door knob.  If there was something that we could anoint, we anointed it. We prayed for hours it felt like, it wasn't some minuscule prayer either.  God showed up in that apartment, and the holy ghost started moving.

I could see God working and moving in the girls while we were praying, but i couldn't feel anything.  I prayed and asked God why i couldn't feel him.  The enemy was in my ear telling me that God didn't hear me and that when i prayed i was wasting my breath because God wanted nothing to do with me.  I started believing the enemy and was contemplating of packing my things up and going home, because when i was at home i didn't deal with anything like this.  The devil would tell me that if i just went home he would leave me alone and i wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.  

As soon as he said that, i knew that i was where i was supposed to be, and the Assistant Pastor at my old church told me to look up; 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Once i read this, God just begin to pour scripture into my spirit, and a peaceful spirit just settled in my room, and that night was probably one of the best nights of sleep that i have had in a very long time.  Now every time that the enemy begins to stick his head back into my business, i just start quoting the scriptures God gave me. 

Joshua 1:9- "Have i not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go."

- Haley

  

I will trust in YOU

This week officially started a new chapter in my life as a Shabbach Master's Commission student, and it has already been such a life-changing experience for me. We started the week off with a small ceremony, where Pastor Michael talked about how we each came here with baggage, and that it was holding us back from giving our all to God. We then each had to choose a rock that we thought resembled the size and weight of the baggage that we each brought with us. We had to take that rock everywhere we went this past week, and also write on the rock anything that we think we have dealt with that has kept us from truly devoting ourselves to God.

My rock was huge.

And let me just say, carrying that thing around everywhere for an entire week was interesting. Once I actually wrote on the rock and gave names to each piece of baggage I found myself carrying, it made the scenario real to me. Yes, this rock was heavy. Yes, it was beyond annoying and hard to carry around. Yes, I got tired. The same emotions I've felt from the weight from my past.

So why was I carrying all of that "weight" around emotionally? Why had I not asked God to take these burdens away, to ease the difficulty of walking through daily life with these weights on my shoulders?

The biggest word on my rock (literally took up a whole side), was the word TRUST. When I wrote it on my rock, I wrote it because I have a very hard time trusting in people, because I have a fear that they will either reject me, hurt me, or leave me (or a combination of them). Because of this, I rarely let people in or talk about what's bothering me, until I am very confident that I can actually trust them.

So I walked around for a week, with the issue of trust (along with many others) physically weighing me down. But I wouldn't let someone help me carry it when they offered. Why not? Because I was afraid they would judge me because of my rock. Because of how ridiculously heavy it was, and how many words were written on it, and the choice of words that were on it. I didn't trust anyone with it.

Until I had to.

It took me until Pastor Michael picked up the rock, put it directly in my face, and said "Look at it." When I had to face everything that I wrote. I had to realize that there was an even larger trust issue than I had thought. It isn't just that I don't trust people, its that I don't completely trust God.

That's a smack in the face. I thought I trusted Him. I thought that me being here in this program would be so eye-opening because I'm following where God is calling (don't misunderstand me, it completely is and will continue to be eye-opening). But if I don't trust the people that He has surrounded me with here, how am I trusting in the plan He has for me here? How have I ever fully trusted in Him if I haven't ever trusted the surrounding He has given me?

The answer is: I can't. My issue isn't that I don't trust people (which I don't). My issue is that I don't fully trust in God to take me where I need to be and be okay. I've lived my life the past several years in fear of not being accepted, not being loved, not being enough, and getting lower into a life that I don't want. So I, naturally, run from my issues. I keep to myself. I don't let people in.  I attempt to stay as emotionless as possible.

I'm tired of living life that way.

By the end of the week, I was tired of holding that rock. My back and shoulders hurt, and my arms literally couldn't take it anymore. We had our covenant ceremony, and during that we were to finally get rid of our rocks. I walked down by the lake where all of the leaders were waiting, my huge and obnoxious rock in my hands. I was told to hold my rock out in front of me, arms completely extended... and I couldn't. Physically and emotionally, I was done.

It was in that moment that I finally understood what my rock was supposed to teach me. I couldn't hold that rock on my own any more, to the point that both Pastor Michael and Pastor Glenn had to help me hold it out in front of me. So why did I think I could handle everything from my past on my own? Why was I holding all of those things back, when I should be giving them to God, and let Him take the weight off of me.

When I threw my rock in the water, it didn't come back up, and I didn't dive in after it. I gave that rock to the lake, never to be seen again. But more importantly, I gave those issues to God, and I have faith that they will never weigh me down again. It will take some work to finally be able to say that I'm over each of the things that I had written down, but I'm finally TRUSTING in God to bring me through it.

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

During our chapel service this week, God brought this verse to my attention. I was reminded that God is working on molding me in to a new creation, into the person that He is calling me to be. All I need to do now is trust in Him through it all, no matter how lonely or hard it is for me. He's holding me in His hands, and I'm suddenly finding an extreme sense of peace in that.

- Paige

Where God Can Blow Your Mind!

Recently during my quiet time, I have thought about Shabbach Masters Commission slogan, “Where God can blow your mind!” While thinking about that phrase I pictured what this year at Masters is going to be like.  I began to think about what I want to get out of this year, what I want God to do me, and how I want God to just blow my mind out of the waters. 

Have you ever seen a 5 year old getting ready to start kindergarden and how he has so much excitement and has big dreams and expectancy for his first year of school? I’m that 5 year old getting ready to start my second year of Masters Commission. I have realized lately that everything you do and decisions you make will either move you forward or set you back to reaching what & where God has for you. So as I walk into Shabbach MC 2013, I enter with a mindset that everything that I am handed to do, is going to prepare me for the mission field. Everything that is being poured into me needs to be soaked up like a sponge and applied to my daily lifestyle. 

Every decision I make needs to be thought of in the way of “is this going to benefit me or set me back in the long run.” In order for me to gain anything from this year, I need to take it in myself. You can have someone pour and pour into you but if you never stretch out your hand and grab it, you will never receive what they are saying to you. This year I am entering into a year where i want EVERYTHING that is being poured into me, and I want to run with it. I want to allow what’s being poured into me to advance me to much greater things that God has in store for me. 

Blessings,

Katlyn

Life Song

A simple reflection from a Shabbach Master's Commission student. 

Nine months ago, I was a nervous wreck, stepping off of an airplane in faith, not really knowing what I was getting myself into, but going where I heard God loud and clear tell me to go. I can do nothing but thank God for everything He has done in such a short time! 

Recently, as I was spending time with the Lord, reflecting on my first year here at Shabbach Master's Commission, I had my guitar in my arms and was just sitting on my front porch steps singing with the birds. I began to think about the fact that if someone would have said to me even a couple of years ago that I would be sitting here right now, I would have told them to go play in traffic, at that time I was a lot more interested in doing what I wanted to do without care of what God wanted for me. That is because a couple of years ago I was attempting to direct my own life. As I was thinking about that, the Lord spoke to me, "You cannot direct something correctly that you did not compose or that you haven't read the music to" 

It hit me hard as I let those words marinate. Music is my heartbeat, when I think of a director and a composer I think of an orchestra. To compose means: "to form by putting together" The composer of the music, takes time, effort, heart, and passion to compose the beautiful music the way he/she intends it to sound. To direct means: "to dominate and determine the course of" Isn't it funny? God has composed the music for our lives, just as He intends it to sound. However, He gives us free will, allowing us to direct whether we hit all of the right notes or not. God has given us an entire book of music to read. That is, what HE has written.

Psalm 37:23 says that "A person's steps are made secure by the LORD when they delight in his way." The music is already written for your life, the greatest composer has already finished it. The question is, are YOU taking time to read the music, and making your life a sweet symphony to God's ears? Or are you taking advantage of the fact that you are the director, and hitting all flat notes? I would strongly encourage you to make time to read your song. Ask the composer what you can do to help the song of your life sound beautiful. James 1:22-24 "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." Don't just hear the music, play it, sing it, live it. 

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps." 

If it is not in the music, don't play it, sing it, or live it!

Just Me,

Tami Shroll

Humility at the Derby

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May 6th 2013

Humility at the Derby

ShabbachMC, along with Pastor Michael Goins and Patrick Goins, spent our time working the Kentucky Derby this week.  We would start our mornings at 5:00AM bright and early so that we could arrive at Churchill Downs by 5:30AM.  It was after the first morning that I realized that this week was going to be a character building week for me.  Most of my day consisted of carrying food and drinks up and down "The Beast" for other workers and clients.  Now before I go any further I should probably describe what "The Beast" is.  The Beast was a huge structure with six flights of stairs on it.  In the structure were different rooms where clients could eat and hang out on different floors.  While this was no easy task on its on, the heat and… sometimes uncooperative clients made for a long 12 to 16 hour day of work. 

By the third morning of RISE AND SHINE my bad attitude had already been set.  While on break that day however another group, also working the derby, helped change my outlook on the situation.  I noticed that even though they were just as tired and sore as I was none of them were complaining.   Their leader then explained that by starting a day negative it can make the rest of our day just as negative.  After being around this group for a day I noticed myself trying to complain less and focus my attention on the good.  Their positive outlook and willingness to serve was encouraging and contagious.

One of the last days of the Derby we had to be at work before sunrise.  I found myself at the top of The Beast looking down on the track while the sun came up.  Down on the track a few of the trainers had their horses out warming up for the days events.  While looking out at them I realized why God makes beautiful moments like the one I was experiencing.  I believe that God gives us moments like that so that we have to stop the hustle of our day and just admire His work.  Starting out my day with that picture made me want to make the rest of my day positive. How much better would our days be if we just took time in the morning to notice God?  Even though it wasn't always easy, for the rest of our duration I did my best to focus on how I could make the clients time more enjoyable than my own.  Being at the Kentucky Derby wasn't about what I could get as much as it was about clients seeing how real Children of God work and serve.  What beauty is God trying to paint for you this week?  Maybe starting your day with Him will give you just the right start to bring clarity into the rest of your day. Don't let The Beast distract you from the real picture! 

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

The Beast

The Real Picture

How to Win Friends & Influence People

        In Shabbach MC we are assigned a book to read each month as well as completing a chapter summary. This month we are reading Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People"   The first part of this book focuses on "three fundamental techniques in handling people." Don't criticize, condemn or complain, Give honest and sincere appreciation, Arouse in the other person an eager to want. 

        "Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment." Criticizing someone is easy but finding good in their fault can be difficult. We can often go about our day casting blame where we think blame is due. It is much easier to make someone else the cause for our pain then ourselves. Author Dale Carnegie touched on the subject by using Al Capone as an example. Al Capone said " I have spent the best part of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse." It was easier for Al Capone to blame other people for where he was than to see that he was his biggest enemy. Instead of looking for places to cast the blame this week try to focus on what you can fix in yourself, and/or find good in the person who, in your eyes, is to blame. 

      " We provide them with roast beef and potatoes to build energy, but we neglect to give them kind words of appreciation that would sing in their memories for years like the music of the morning stars." Are you spewing flattery or giving genuine appreciation? The definition of "flattery" is " excessive and insincere praise, that is given to further one's own interests." Are you saying nice things for your own selfish motives or are your intentions true? This week is a good week to focus on others; Seek after random acts of kindness as each day passes. Carpe Diem.

       " If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own." There are a lot of people who are only concerned with themselves.  Someone who can put aside their own selfish desires for others is admirable. Philippians 2:3 " Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Even if you don't agree with a point of view, its wise to be able to understand other prospectives. We spend enough time wrapped in our own busy lives but we MUST try to train ourselves to follow in His footsteps and we will discover a life of selflessness.

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

Verse of the week: Philippians 2:4 - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Leadership

 Sight, voice, touch, smell, and hearing.  In order to create effective leadership one should be able to tap into these senses on a regular basis.  From the start we must have vision.  Without vision, your team and/or your youth group will drift away until there is nothing.  So, how do you see with the eyes of a leader?  I'm so glad you asked!  The Lord will provide vision and sometimes, that may come from another person.  Stick to your vision, even when those around may mock or disagree with it.

"People won't walk across the street to hear my voice but will come around the world to hear the gospel."  I have heard PG say this multiple times.  Its the God in you that makes the difference.  Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  God uses us to help others as long as we have an open mind and heart.  Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he" When we become praise focused we allow ourselves to speak power which could be monumental to one seeking direction.

In 1 Peter he says imitation of Christ requires walking in this world the way Jesus walked.  Its important to realize that God uses us to do His work.  When you are transparent with God and allow Him to touch your life it will become the reason you do what you do.  In doing this, you open yourself up to receive the healing God has for you.

What do you smell like?  Effective leaders hear things differently, talk differently, and think differently.  So again, what do you smell like?  When you are gone from a room does your scent linger?  Wherever we are we are leaving a trail, make sure yours is the fragrance of a King.

Leaders have a trained ear.  It doesn't just come one day.  When you hear the voice of the Lord, things change.  The closer you get, the clearer things become.  

I have heard of people that question His existence because the lack of one or more of these senses.  But this is the way the Lord communicates to His leaders.  He isn't missing or absent you just have to recognize the way He chooses to communicate with you.

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

Verse of the week: Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith"

Shabbach Conference PF - Nic Kennington

This is my fifth year attending Shabbach and my first year as a volunteer staff member.  I came this weekend with the mindset that God was going to use me in a mighty way and I was blown away with what He did.  He not only used me to change other people’s lives but he also touched me.  I was on the altar team and after Pastor Daniel Gray’s message Friday night, the altar was full of kids looking for salvation.  We, the altar team, were moving from teenager to teenager praying for salvation and breakthroughs in every teenager’s life there.  I was going so fast that I didn’t see the big picture that was taking place right before my eyes, so I just went right on my way praying for every teenager that I could reach.  The next night was when I had my God experience.  That night, Pastor Glenn Walters spoke on the woman with the issue of blood and how she was scared and bleeding.  I was privileged to be able to sit on stage with Eddie James’ crew and The Shabbach Master Commission that night and listen to Pastor Glenn’s message up close.  I don’t know why, but being up on stage made the message so much better and so much more real to me because I was able to be a part of the message.  When Glenn made the altar call for all the kids that were bleeding, I could see the multitude of people flock to the front praying for their needs.  That’s when I saw the big picture, that the labor is much but the laborers are few.  This world needs disciples and I have to be one of those disciples.  I quickly ran off stage and started to pray for teens again.  There was a lot more teens this night then there was Friday night, which meant that we had to work harder to reach all of the teens.  I found myself looking around in the middle of the crowd and saw all of the people that were slain in the Spirit and speaking in tongues because they had just been healed from their pain and their bondages were broken.  I then started to praise the Almighty God for what He had done that night and for what He was going to do the rest of the weekend.  After every Shabbach I come back different from when I left, and this time was no exception. I came back knowing that God had used me to my fullest ability.  I know that God had accomplished amazing things in my life and the lives of others.
 
-Nic Kennington
(future SMC, South Carolina)

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SMC Student - Reflections on Myrtle Beach Conference (pt 5)

This year was my first year attending Shabbach; and it was quite an experience! I have attended several youth conferences in the past but none can compare to this experience. I was blown away at first by the worship. The crowd seemed to dive right in. I have noticed that most congregations are looking for entertainment. After a while they may clap or raise their hands, but you must entertain them first. Shabbach seemed completely different. I could feel the presence of the Lord as soon as I stepped into the theater. I could tell that the worship team had spent many hours praying and seeking the Lord about which songs to sing. They brought the crowd immediately into the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Another thing that I noticed was each speaker for each night brought a message that spoke to everyone’s heart and was exactly what they needed to hear. The timing was impeccable. I knew it was a God thing. From the very first service, to the very last, I could not wait to hear or see what God was going to do next. On the first night, Reggie Dabbs spoke, he preached on Adam and Eve in the garden. I have heard and read this story multiple times, yet the way he broke it down it spoke to my heart. There was an estimated count of five hundred and nine that responded to the alter call. What do you think of that? I have never seen so many people rushing to the alter. Praise the Lord!! 

I had such a great time! From the worship, to the sermons, to the staff and attendees, I have never seen so many people so excited and blessed to be in the presence of God. It truly cannot be explained, only experienced!

Jennifer

(North Carolina )

SMC Student-Reflections on Myrtle Beach Conference

This weekend at Shabbach MB was an amazing experience. I went expecting God to do great things and thats exactly what happened. On Friday night over 500 kids either accepted Christ into their hearts for the first time or rededicated their lives to Christ. I was on security that night and I remember standing there while the altar call was given. As I stood there I watched as a sea of teenagers stood and rushed to the altar. It was an emotional moment that I'm blessed to have witnessed. 

The second night was just as meaningful as Eddie James brought us amazing worship and Pastor Glenn brought the message. That night the message was about the woman who had major bleeding (Luke 8:43-48).  No one was able to help her, and after many years of bleeding she heard that Jesus was in town. PG preached that Jesus not only stopped the bleeding she had on the outside… but He healed her on the inside, making her whole.  Even though she was sick and couldn't run to Him she gave Him what she had and crawled her way to Him. Because of Her faith she was healed inside and out. She went from being the woman with a illness to being called "daughter." After this message the altar was filled with "bleeding" teenagers AND grown ups. I had the privilege of being part of the altar-team and being able to pray for the kids each night. 

Even though by the end of the weekend I was way overtired I wouldn't have traded it for anything. This weekend reminded me why I wanted to be here in the first place. Seeing how much Shabbach effects the lives of these young people is why everyone on staff works as hard as they do. I am so blessed and thankful to be able to be a part of it. 

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

SMC Student-Reflections on Myrtle Beach Conference (pt1)

Life on the other side


















I was a "Shabbacher" long before I ever attended one of the conferences. I had heard about Shabbach, and seen pictures and T-shirts and I will never forget my first Shabbach. When people say it can't be explained, only experienced, they are right. I have a new "first" to add to my list now, however. I had been on staff with a church and been a chaperone for a group of kids for a Shabbach weekend, but I had never gotten to experience what it was like behind the scenes at Shabbach and how it all works, though I had heard about it. Let me tell you, it blessed me beyond measure. Going into a weekend that had followed one of the worst weeks I had had in a while, I knew there had to be something great about to happen. Friday night I got to stand in the back of the sanctuary and just look. I was left, jaw dropped, standing in awe. "I don't deserve to be standing here" was all I kept thinking, but God. As I looked around the room at all of the hands that we raised up in Worship to the King I just couldn't help but tear up. Never in my wildest dreams would it have ever crossed my mind that I could be standing there, and being a part of something so wonderful. But that was just the beginning, Reggie Dabbs began to speak, he made everyone laugh and then punched them all, with words not literally of course. He gave the altar call and I knew it was time to fight. I thought I was overwhelmed at the beginning when I just saw all the people in worship... I soon realized that that was nothing compared to the kids that began to FLOOD the altar, just like a storm sweeping the front they rushed in. I began to pray with them and just seek the Lord and I witnessed lives being transformed, people weeping, shaking, dancing, laughing before the Lord, I have never seen something so beautiful. Saturday I got the priviledge of sharing a small amount of my story and why I am at Shabbach Master's Commission, and as I sat down and looked around the table, I had to hold back my tears once again. I am just amazed, and humbled, and honored, that not only I get to stand under the anointing of my spiritual father, but also Shabbach, as well as Pastor Glenn and Pastor Michael. That alone is grace in motion. To confine my experience this weekend to words, would be unfair. Instead, just take a look at the smile on my face, and the joy in my spirit. This weekend is proof, that yes, we mess up. But God always has a plan. We don't always get it right, but God has a plan. We may go into something like Shabbach ministry-minded ready to minister to somebody, but God always has a plan.


Tami
(Idaho)

SMC Student - Reflections on Myrtle Beach Conference (pt 2)

Looking back at ShabbachMB I could very easily highlight the estimated 509 people that made a commitment to live for Christ. Which in and of itself is awesome and by no means am I taking away from that! I'm an observer by nature, with that being said, my 'ah-hah' moment happened to be Friday night in the middle of worship. On the left side of the stage there stood a girl with her hands stretched out. She was younger than most of the teens yet there she was, along with everyone else, lifting praises to the King. She had tears streaming down her face. Later on Eddie James went on to say, "I believe the best moments in worship are when your heart and spirit are so engaged in loving God that you don't need anyone up here telling you what to do." This rang true for her. She was completely lost in worship. She didn't have her buddy beside her. Her leader wasn't around. It was her and God. She may have hopped up onto the speaker to see but she isolated herself from everyone else to spend time with the Father and that's exactly what she got. When we seek after His face He shows Himself, in whatever way we need to see Him. She had a moment which have me my moment. It doesn't matter who you are or where you stand (in life) God will always be there if we look in the right direction. Jeremiah 29:13 says, " You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Webster's Dictionary defines to seek as 1) to go in search of 2) to try to discover 3) try to acquire or gain. When we forget about those around us and drive out the distractions of life and go after Him with everything we have we WILL find him.  He will meet with us. He will speak. In that moment true change can take place. I truly believe that girl walked out different than we she came in and it all started in praise and worship on that one Friday night. 

Erica
(South Carolina)

SMC Student - Reflections on Myrtle Beach Conference (pt 4)

 This year has been different for me than all the other years because for one I was on staff instead of being an attendee. This would be my 8th year attending Shabbach Youth Conferences and out of all these years, this year was my favorite. I love being an attendee but when I was able to have the opportunity to be a staff member and to set up and tear down, I absolutely loved it and I loved serving in every area that was needed. It gave me a whole new perspective of how much work and how much preparation it takes to set up this conference. To be a part of what Shabbach is doing is a blessing to me in itself. On Friday night, as I was watching the people worship and watching everything that was going on, I became overwhelmed with the fact that I have been given the opportunity and has been a great honor  to stand under the anointing God has placed above me. I get to sit under the anointing of Pastor Glenn and Pastor Michael and Shabbach Ministry and also be a part of SMC. When I was talking with Tami, she gave a great analogy and she said basically we have a huge umbrella we are standing under. Words can’t explain the emotion and how I was feeling when Reggie gave the altar call and the Palace itself became the altar. The place flooded with youth who wanted to change, who wanted to make it right, who wanted to be called a daughter or son of the Most High. All I could do is stand there and look around and just cry because this is what it is all about, this is what Shabbach is about, this is what ministering is about, this is what our lifestyle should be about, to minister the Word and allow God to flow through us to reach the lost, to reach this generation. Saturday night was an amazing night for me and an eye opener for me as well. When Pastor Glenn called for the altar team I walked up there with a desire to see these kids set free from the bondage that was holding them down. As kids flooded to the altar I began praying for these girls but as I was praying, God stopped me in the midst and said go pray for that girl right now. So I went directly to this girl and began speaking things into her life, God was just flowing right through me to tell her these things that she needs to let go of. Next thing I knew she was slain in the Spirit and for a second it caught me off guard. Here’s why…I have seen people pray for someone and they be baptized in the Spirit or slain in the Spirit, but I never thought God would use me in that kind of way. I always thought that I would never be anointed enough to pray for someone and God use me in that way. God showed me this weekend that when He calls me to do something, He’s going to anoint me to do the assignment he has for me. I’m trying to explain it in a way that doesn’t sound like I’m saying it was me that did it because it was NOT me at all. It was God all the way and I was just the willing vessel He used at the time. God has given me a new perspective and brought new meaning to things about myself and about ministry that I never even thought of and never would have even considered. This year at Shabbach has been an incredible and unforgettable experience for me!

Katlyn

(South Carolina)

1 God Encounter w/ 1 Girl to Many w/ the Gospel

Below is a Blog from one of our SMC students. I am proud of Keyona on so many levels. Mainly because of her sheer tenacity to blaze a trail that few are willing to do in order to find God's will for their lives. Keyona is young lady from Maine. She is proof of what one encounter with God at an event like Shabbach can do in launching her to reach many. Keyona was adopted into a wonderful home at a young age. The baggage of rejection could have easily crippled her, yet she refused to be denied and went on a mission to search for purpose of her existence. You'll read in her Blog below about her personal experience at Shabbach. I'd like for you to know her current status after her encounter.
After Shabbach 2009 she:
a. finished her high school
b. joined with a summer mime team that traveled all over the country sharing the Gospel
c. is currently involved in our Shabbach Master's Commission Program here in Charlotte, NC
http://www.shabbach.com/images/MC.pdf

We're all excited about #ShabbachOCD2013!!! I believe she is one of thousands that have been and will be changed at Shabbach! It's why we do what we do!

Hope to see you soon!

pg

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Shabbach MB is this weekend!!  Getting ready has been making me think about going to Shabbach when I was younger.  I remember going to Shabbach DC the year they did Glow in the Dark.  None of my youth group was going other than me, and being from Maine I needed to drive a few hours to get in with another youth group.  Through PG's message I learned that "you can't glow for Christ until you are broken in Christ."  After that weekend I knew that I wanted to be a part of something bigger.  Small Swans Island just wasn't going to cut it for me.  I wanted to be a part of a group that was so real and so on fire for God that it changed people's lives.  Through Shabbach Masters Commission I now get to be a part of the same conference that changed my life. The same conference that made me want a deeper relationship with Jesus.  I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Psalm 37:23-24 - "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand."
Shabbach is the kind of conference that can change a young person's life, I'm living proof of that. And all because "On Fire for God" people follow the path God has laid out for their lives.  I'm so excited to be a part of Shabbach and to see what God has planned for this weekend.  I'm expecting lives to be changed and souls to be won for Christ.  Hope to see you all there!!

John 3:17 - For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Have a blessed week,
Keyona

Sunday at Judah - Keyona Colbeth

"Praise That Betrays" was the title of Pastor Glenn's message this Sunday, (Matthew 26:1-50).  Jesus told Judas that he was going to betray Him because Jesus knew what really was in Judas' heart.  Even though Judas had spent personal time with Jesus his praise wasn't truly there.  Judas' betrayal didn't come from his hands but from his lips!  Let that sink in for a moment!

Like Judas' kiss our praise can be a betrayal to God.  Just because we praise Him doesn't mean we are giving Him the praise that He deserves.  Praise isn't just closing our eyes and clapping our hands.  True praise, that God receives, is not self-motivated but it's driven by the faith that God will put himself in the middle of our problems.  Jesus teaches us praise because He knows the power it holds in our fight against the enemy.  Pastor Glenn said "The enemy is there to stop us from getting to the next phase of our life or even take what we already have."  However, Psalm 8:2 states "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger."  Giving false praise is in turn telling God that you don't think He is big enough to handle your problems.

Listening to PG's message Sunday made me think about the way I praise. There have been plenty of times where I have just raised my hand and sang the lyrics to a song not truly realizing my "kiss of betrayal."  Giving God the glory, honor, and true praise is my focus this week.  Are you praising with the right motives and is your praise being received?

Have a blessed week,

Keyona

Tuesday with PG - Keyona Colbeth

This week Shabbach Master's Commission students met with Pastor Glenn at Starbucks for a time of Discipleship. PG taught us the importance of Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Breaking down this verse showed us how truly important it is to our Christian walk. The important words in this verse are: wages, sin, death, gift, of God, eternal life, and Christ Jesus.
It was important to then look at what each word means.
 Wages: A Payment
 Sin: Willfully doing wrong Death:
Separation - The payment for willfully doing wrong is separation. -
 Gift: Something willingly given to someone without payment
 Of God: Something that was already
His Eternal Life: Togetherness or connection with God forever - The Gift of God is togetherness or connection with Him forever. -

The picture shows how he had us set this up on a Starbucks napkin. This is an easy fundamental tool for evangelizing in everyday situations. All you need is Romans 6:23, a napkin, and a pen! The point is that you're always ready no matter where you are. We all start out on the left side of the napkin. BUT through the gift of Christ Jesus we are able to reach the right side and that is to eternal life. The walk across will present you with obstacles. We sometimes have trials and just because you get to the right side doesn't mean you can't go back. "God never said it would be easy but it will be worth the fight." Are you willing to reach out to the stranger sitting next to you in Starbucks? Like Pastor Glenn says, "There is an assignment wherever you go you just have to keep it." #Imnotscared Have a blessed week, Keyona