Music

          If there's one thing in my life that is impossible to separate from me it would have to be music.  It's in my life EVERYWHERE.  Usually in just about any dialogue with someone I start picturing the lyrics to a song.  There's always background music going on in my head too, just ask me what's song is in my head sometime.  I started thinking about music and I wanted to write about it because my blog was on my mind today.

          I have been blessed with the opportunity to help lead worship on Tuesdays nights and this has been one of the most humbling things I have ever done.  I can't describe how incredible it is to be up in front of a group of people and just hearing them singing praises to God.  That's something I hold very dear.  It's so humbling though because at times I don't feel adequate to be leading.  Every day is a battle for me.  Apathy, selfishness, and busyness try to creep their way into my life and I feel like I can just barely make it at times.  Not to mention I've always been a bit insecure about singing just by myself in front of others. (my voice cracks I don't know how many times a day) It's so amazing how God uses our weaknesses though.  If you feel inadequate about doing something God has been laying on your heart, stop.  God constantly uses the "weak" to lead the strong.  (also a song lyric haha) God has made us just the way we are and has a plan for us.  In Jeremiah He talks about His plans for us and how He will make us prosper and we have a future in Him.  Seek that path with everything You have and have joy and peace in something greater than you.  I can't imagine living my life without knowing my actions will have eternal consequences.

          One thing that God has made clear to me recently and has really been on my heart has to deal with discipleship.  A bit random, but something every Christian should think about.  In the Great Commission we are commanded to "...make disciples of all the nations..." Matthew 28:19 For the longest time I viewed this command, and it is a command, as "We're supposed to preach the Good News across the Earth."  This definitely is part of it and we should pursue this, but I've started to wonder what it really means to disciple somebody.  In order to disciple someone, you have to be at a place in Your walk where it won't cause another person to stumble.  You can't tell someone how to be more like God when you aren't doing that yourself.  That's the purpose of discipleship as well, to bring others closer to God.  You also have to be in the Word to disciple another person because You have to know it.

          Why is discipleship so important though?  That's how the church grows.  The church is the people, not a building.  Look at the early church.  It started as a community of believers.  They lived together, ate together, and shared everything they had.  They were also persecuted and died together.  This is the type of relationship I want to build because it's the best way to bring people closer to God.  (not to mention it's freakin awesome) I wasn't brought into this world to type a bunch of code on a computer or do really cool projects.  I was called to love and to be loved and to share God with the world.  In some way or another, I believe all Christians are called to this as well.

          This has been on my heart and I hope you found it enlightening.  I'm listening to the David Crowder Band right now (definitely in the top 5 of my favorite bands) and "The Glory of it All" is playing.  I want to leave you with some of these lyrics because they are incredible:

After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here
Dawn is here
It’s a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same


Things will never be the same for me since that September day 15 years ago and I will not keep silent about it.


In Love,


Bill

This Semester

          I haven't blogged in awhile and I just have some things on my mind right now so I figured I would write.  This blog is part of my spiritual journey because I want to share what's been going on in my life.  I can't keep silent about something that is so vital to me everyday and I don't think Christians should stop talking about their spiritual lives either.  Life is full of ups and downs but one thing we can always count on is that something bigger and greater than us is going on.

          Jeremiah 29:11-12 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"  My Bible study went over these verses last week and they've just been stuck in my head.  I like to worry, a lot sometimes.  I worry about the future, the amount of work I have to do, and what I'm going to eat later. (Yes I'm a fatty and always think three meals ahead)  I'm reading some of "Crazy Love" right now and it kind of explains that when we worry we're sinning.  We're telling God that our problems are bigger than He is and not trusting Him.  I heard a message last Tuesday about hope and Christians have hope all confused.  What do you think of when you hear the word hope?  We think of wanting something to happen a certain way.  I HOPE I get an A on that test I didn't study for.  I HOPE I get that job I've been wanting.  Instead, we should view hope with expectancy.  We can have expectancy and confidence knowing that God is in control and has an awesome plan that we may not see but we can take assurance in.

          I was then posed the question, "What do you put your hope in Bill?"  Part of me immediately answered and was like, "God of course."  That's what I wanted to be able to say anyways.  The more I thought about it though, the more I realized that wasn't true.  I get a certain sense of security when I think about my future career because Computer Engineers are in pretty high depend and pay extremely well.  It's ok for me to feel that way, but my expectation and hope was coming from that instead of my King.  I was putting it before Him and it was sort of an idol.  Where we put our hope in is evidenced by how we spend our time.

          I have an expectation for the future.  I may not know if it's in God's Will for me to go straight through college and get my Master's/PhD.  I may not know quite what ministry God wants me to be involved with whether that be a Worship Leader, Youth Pastor, or Sunday School Teacher.  I may not live through the night.  What I DO know is that God has a plan and I'm expecting it to be great and full of love and joy that can only come from heaven.  I challenge your to really ask yourself where your hope comes from.  My prayer is that it comes from the Lord.

In Love,

Bill Bouillon