21 Day Challenge (Day 20)

So this is it.  The finish line is looming.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Its right there…so close!

Frankly I’m ready to be done.  Not so much with the disciplines I’ve been participating in – they’ve been good for me – but more with the pressure to make sure I get done with what I said I would do.  And the let down I feel when I don’t accomplish it.  My wife mentioned that she was glad I hadn’t made this a “religious” thing since I missed a few times here and there.  However, I still feel that pressure.

Pressure…

Maybe its not a bad thing.

Maybe its just what I need to help me succeed and press on.  Maybe the accountability I’ve created through this blog has pushed me into places I wouldn’t have gone otherwise.  Maybe its not a bad thing…

But maybe it is.

Maybe the pressure I feel is based on the fact that I want people to see me in a good light.  Maybe I want to how the world how spiritual and disciplined I am and that’s why it bugs me so much when I sleep in or miss a day at the gym.  Maybe God is revealing my heart in all of this…

Hey wait.  He’s what?

Maybe that’s a good thing after all.

Sunday Setlist – 08/28/11

I’m looking forward to lead worship at Springs Calvary in the morning!  Check out the iTunes links and see if you like these songs.  My hope is that it’ll bless you as you prepare your heart to worship at your church!

Bless His Name by Tony Sanchez
I’ve been using this song as an opener for worship for years now.  Such a great song to move us into a place of worship and adoration.

Reign In Us by Ben Glover, Jon Neufeld, and Tim Neufeld
A long time favorite of mine.  The melody is very catchy and gets the phrase “that You would reign, that You would reign in us!”

Day After Day by Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill
I’ve really enjoyed Kristian’s album.  There are still songs on this album that I haven’t introduced to our congregation that I think would go over really well!

***Offering***

Stand In Awe by Jeremy Riddle
Jeremy has written some powerful songs for the church, but this one especially moves me.

Glorified by Jared Anderson
Simple, but powerful song.  “Praise belongs to You; what can I do but sing? The greatest joy I’ve found is to lay a crown before my king.”

Sing To The King by Billy Foote and Charles Silvester Horne
Excellent song to end the set with.  A wonderful praise song to express the passion in our hearts and declare His victory.

 

Hope your worship time ministers to the Lord this week.  Let me know some of your favorite songs you’re doing in your churches!

21 Day Challenge (Day 18-19)

Good morning, internet.  Finally just sitting down to write my post for yesterday and I figured I’d just post a video instead.  Lots going on in my mind and it seems easier to simply share with you all that way.  Forgive my 7am shadow, too. 🙂

21 Day Challenge (Day 17)

Good morning!  If you will allow me some grace, I’d like for this post to count for yesterday.  I realized about 11:00pm as I lay in bed that I hadn’t written it yet!  So here we are…6:45am, coffee in tow, post quiet time and children sleeping (for now.)

Lately, I’m learning.

Profound, yet simply statement, I think.  There’s so much packed into those three words.  The obvious observation is that trials produce an atmosphere of growth and change so it would make sense to say these words.  However, the true learner rarely allows the mediocrity of the process to bog down his wonder at the way in which the learning comes.  I’m honestly amazed at how the Lord gently takes us by the hand and leads us through terrible (and sometimes great) situations – all for our benefit and His ultimate glory.

Let me share with you just a few things that perhaps I thought I was good enough at, but have become part of this current “God School.”

– I’m learning to listen to the Lord (although I’m not that good at it yet.)
– I’m learning to listen to my wife (same as above.)
– I’m learning to serve others (OK, this is getting old.  Just assume I haven’t figured any of these out so I don’t have to keep typing these parenthetical statements.)
– I’m learning to push past my desires.
– I’m learning to defer to others.
– I’m realizing the importance of quieting the distractions.
– I’m learning the importance of prayer.
– I’m learning how to ask for help and receive it gratefully.
– I’m learning about His great love in the midst of any and all situations.

I literally could go on and on about this.  I’m so thankful.  So how about you – what are you learning right now in your journey?

 

21 Day Challenge (Day 15-16)

Day 15 was rough.  Lots of emotions going on with Jennette’s health and what is happening next in our journey.  Day 16 was better, but only after we got through it and settled on a plan of action.  At any rate, it’s been hard to really focus on the challenge lately.

However, I’m so glad I’m doing it.  I can’t imagine going through all of this without the solitude of the mornings and the energy the physical activity has given me.  No TV has also forced us to talk through issues and feelings that perhaps would have been buried – not on purpose, mind you, but simply because we were allowing ourselves to be distracted.

At any rate, I didn’t want another day to go by without making myself report how I’ve been doing.  So here goes:

– Didn’t work out yesterday
– Slept in today (was an accident…a genuine “forgot to turn the alarm clock on” situation)
– Have continued the no TV rule
– I was tempted to go get frozen yogurt last night, but am so glad I stayed strong
– Missed my morning time with the Lord today

So there you have it.  I’m making sure I’ve got the alarm set tonight…I can see the finish line and I want to run hard!

Healing? An Honest Confession

There are so many verses on healing.  Jesus was pretty darn good at it, wasn’t he?  I mean everywhere he went, people were getting healed right and left.  So much so that he was practically mobbed every time he would go into a new town.  People wanted a touch.

But what about the ones he didn’t heal?

This has always been troubling to me.  The tension between God’s will and my will.  On the one hand, my will is for my wife to be healed completely and for this time in our lives to be something we look back both in amazement at how the Lord walked with us trough the tough time and relief that its over and a new season has begun.  (I mean, doesn’t that sound really spiritual?  I mean, come on, God??!!)  However, God see it from a completely different perspective.  He isn’t bound by our three dimensions.  He’s outside of time and He can look at the much larger picture of our lives.

I get that.

Really, I do.  But everything in me wants this to be over.  And everything in me keeps coming back to all of those verses about agreeing on anything and it “will be done” and that faith the size of a mustard seed can “move a mountain.”  And in my times of weakness (or maybe honesty?) I question the Lord.

I ask why isn’t it done like He said?  I ask why hasn’t this mountain been moved?  Its times like this when I question my faith.  “Is it me, Lord?  Am I the one getting in the way of the healing you desire to bring?  Oh, Lord, if I could just muster up some more faith!  I believe but help my unbelief!”

And then He speaks.  Even now as I write this, He speaks.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

and

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Remember, God isn’t bound by time.  He’s not like us.  That’s the lesson we must learn.

Numbers: 23:19
¹⁹ God is not human, that he should lie, 
   not a human being, that he should change his mind. 
Does he speak and then not act? 
   Does he promise and not fulfill?

You see, to Him, it’s already done.  To Him, the mountain has already been moved.

“Yes, Lord.  I believe.”

21 Day Challenge (Day 14)

Two-thirds of the way through the challenge and I continue to be glad I’m doing it.  It seems anytime we embark on a difficult journey, we always seem to be thankful for it at some point.  The obvious question is “why don’t we attempt things like this more often if we know we’ll be thankful we did in the long run?”  The simple answer?

We’re spoiled.

Delayed gratification is a dirty word in these fast food drive thru days.  We just aren’t willing to wait.  We want a get rich quick, lose weight overnight, grow hair fast plan and we want it NOW!  And I’m as guilty as the next guy.

Anyway, here’s a video that I recorded a few minutes ago.  Just got back from the gym so cut me some slack.  Enjoy and I’ll see you again tomorrow.

21 Day Challenge (Day 13)

Sundays are good days.  I really enjoyed worship this morning at Springs Calvary.  If you didn’t get a chance to see this morning’s set list, click here.  I even added some iTunes links in case you aren’t familiar with the songs.  Barry is currently teaching through the book of Acts so its always fun to hear how the Holy Spirit was moving among the people of that time and how He relates to the church today.  I’m praying that our church really embraces everything God wants to do in our midst.

On a personal note, I hadn’t worked out for two whole days before tonight.  I went to the gym and am glad I did.  Still no sweets or TV, so I’m conquering in some areas.  I honestly thought I’d succeed at not dropping the ball in any area of the challenge.  I guess I’m continuing to discover how much I need the Lord and others to motivate me and keep me accountable.  In the end, while I desire change in myself, I’m also encouraged by the fact that this 21 Day Challenge might help somebody else make the decision to push through for change in their own life.

Tomorrow is the official 2 week mark!  Keep the Ross family in your prayers as we press on through to the finish!

Sunday Setlist – 08/21/11

I’m super excited about tomorrow’s set.  It’s a blessing to be leading at Springs Calvary!  I added some iTunes links to the songs so if you aren’t familiar with them, you can check them out.  Enjoy!

Cannons by Philip Wickham
Fun song with lots of imagery throughout the chorus.  Comparing our praise with “canons in the night.”

Reign In Us by Ben Glover, Jon Neufeld, and Tim Neufeld
A long time favorite of mine.  The melody is very catchy and gets the phrase “that You would reign, that You would reign in us!”

Great I Am by Jared Anderson
Easily the most powerful song I’ve introduced to our church in the last several months.

***Offering***

Doxology by David Crowder and Thomas Ken
Taking this song from A to B with a modulation.  Powerful declaration.

Always by Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill
Still love this song and its message.  “My God will come through, always.”

Glorious One by Steve Fee
Excellent song to end the set with.  A simple praise song to give Him the glory He is due.

Hope your worship time ministers to the Lord!

21 Day Challenge (Day 10-12)

6am is early for a Saturday.  Really early.  However its something that I’ve been enjoying more and more – getting that time by myself when nobody is around, quietly sipping my coffee while reading a devotional thought, the bible, or writing in my journal.  Good times.

Blogging, however, has not been as consistent the past few days!

Thursday was my son Taite’s eleventh birthday.  We got up at 4:45 and headed to Mt. Bierstadt to climb my latest 14er.  10 for me, 2 for Taite (gotta hold that lead as long as possible!)

Taite's Birthday Ascent

On our way home we stopped at the Park Meadows Mall to check out the Lego and Apple stores, respectively.  From the extremes of nature to the extremes of technology – all in a day.

Friday was up and down as I was back to work while Jennette was home with the kiddos.  At 4:00, Jennette had an appointment with a gastrointestinal doctor who confirmed my feelings about specialists.  It seems that once you’ve studied a particular area of medicine long enough to become and expert, you tend to have blinders to all other medical possibilities.  You see everything through the lens of your speciality.  Obviously this is frustrating.  But we still believe and wait on the Lord for healing.

Yesterday, Jennette sent out an e-mail to many friends and family asking them to join us in prayer.  If you’d like to see that e-mail, comment below or send me a message with your contact info – I’ll get it to you.

Once again, thanks for reading these updates.  It means a lot to know there are those who are walling with us through this trial.  Blessings!