the dive

TO THE WORSHIP LEADER

2011-09-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

This morning, God put a simple teaching on my heart that goes out to the Worship leader.

Why is Worship so important?

Well first off, after being redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 1 that:

"in love we were predestined...we were chosen...[and] we were sealed by the Holy Spirit.. so that we MIGHT BE FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY."

We were made to worship. period.

It is so easy for us to lose focus of that sometimes because we often want to get caught up in our GLORY instead of HIS GLORY. We must understand our position in relation to His throne.

But other than that, what makes our worship so important?

Let me share 2 Samuel 6:14- 16 with you this morning.

"David.. danced before the LORD with all his might..And when [Michal] saw David leaping and dancing, she despised him in her heart."

David's worship was so powerful and so filled with faith that it did something to the hearts of those around him.

Is it crazy to think that our worship, no matter how demonstrative it is, pierces the heart of a nonbeliever or even other believers?

So, as a worship leader, how do we use this to effectively direct our worship?

1 Corinthians 14:26:

"When you come together, everyone has a HYMN, word, revelation, tongue, or interpretation...[and] all these must be done for the strengthening of the church."

Our worship strengthens the church.

Churches today will quickly put a worship leader up there based upon there musical and vocal abilities without exmaining there heart and level of discipleship. Worship leading has the power to change a church, spark a movement, or start a revival. David did not care what others thought, he just sought the LORD and the Holy Spirit used his worship to minister to others.

The quality of your worship to the LORD will set the bar for everyone else. It is sad to say that there are worship leaders in all parts of the world, but especially in America, that are great guitar/keyboard players, the best at putting the right songs together, and have the best voice but fail in leading worship simply because they dont know how to worship.

Be conscious of your actions and spiritual level on stage and understand that your role as a worship leader does more than you know to the hearts of those around you.

Much love

P. Alex

Miracle Mondays- From Chaos to Calm

2011-08-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Luke 8:22-24:

"One day Jesus said to His disciples,'Let's go over to the other side of the lake.' So they got into the boat and set out. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are going to drown!'
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm."

This scripture is so cool to me simply because it repeats a truth and a characteristic about God that we have seen throughout the bible and also in our lives. He has repeatedly taken things from CHAOS to CALM.

In our discipleship class on Sunday mornings, we examined the first chapter of Genesis a couple of weeks ago where you see God take a formless, void, and chaotic world and bring structure to it. How true is that in our lives as well.

You were a DEAD MAN WALKING living in your sin, separated from righteousness, and caught in a spot in which you had no purpose in life. But then God, being the definition of love Himself, drew near to you with His Son Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life in a sinful world and gave you a chance. He took the chaotic state that you were living in and brought a calmness to it. A calmness that gave you direction, joy, security, and a new perspective on life.
What if you decided to let God do the same miracle, that he did in Luke 8, in your own daily lives?

KNOW that He is in control. KNOW that He knows what's best and can bring you from CHAOS to CALM.

Prayer for this week:
"God open my eyes to you this week and help me to see how much you really are in control of my life situations. Give me humility to let you move how you want to and the faith to trust in your Word. Just as you calmed the storm, I know that you can calm certain areas of my life. And in my submission, receive all the glory, honor, and praise. All these things come before you only in the name of Jesus in which we pray. Amen."

Im praying for you guys this week
aLeX

Miracle Mondays- A Blind Man's Cry

2011-08-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

Every Monday here on theDIVE website you will find posts where we examine one of the many miracles that Jesus did while on Earth.

Today we are looking at Mark 10:46-52. I encourage you to take a look at it before we go any further.

This scripture begins with Jesus walking through the city of Jericho on His way to another area. As He is leaving the city, a blind man named Bartimaeus, begins to shout out for Jesus to help Him. Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet but that just made him get louder and louder. Finally Jesus walked up to him and gave him his sight back stating that, " [it is] your faith [that] has healed you." (verse 52)

I am so intrigued by this scripture because, here, you see a man who cannot see Jesus and all the wonders He has done. He cannot see the annointing that He walks in but yet he still cries out to Him believing that He is who He says He is and asks Him for mercy.

Where is that kind of desparation in us?

We, as believers, have seen God's power through our salvation and the deliverance that He has given us from our sins but yet we cannot get as excited about Jesus as a blind beggar on the streets. Imagine what God could do in you and through you if you were desparate about Jesus. Imagine what God could do if you just simply believed. Paul said it great in Phillipians 3:10- " I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings."

Paul was desparate for more of Christ.

Imagine what you could do if you really wanted to know Christ better. what kind of impact would you have on your schools? your friends?

This week, as you begin school, really examine yourself and your life situations and see how you can become more desparate for Jesus. You never know who might see it.

Prayer: LORD, I am in desparate need of a savior. I know that my only hope for true life here on earth is through you and I come to you today to know you better and understand your sacrifice on the cross at a deeper level. Walk with me, LORD, every step of the way and let me make a difference in the season that you have placed me in. Amen

See ya Sunday,
Alex

WELCOME TO theDIVE BLOGSPOT

2011-08-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys! I am so excited to tell you that we have an awesome, amazing, unbelievable blogspot for theDIVE Ministries. Here you will be able to find devotions along with news about whats going on here at theDIVE. Make sure you check it daily as I will be posting new blogs almost everyday. We are still going to use Facebook for some stuff but the plan is for this website to be the source of all info you need for what we are doing here at theDIVE. Also, if you are not a following me on Twitter yet do so as soon as possible. Here is how easy it can be:

Text "follow alexgailey08" to 40404 and you will get updates on your phone everytime I post something new on my Twitter.

Jessy has one too! Her's is "Jessy_Marie26" so make sure to check that out as well.

And dont forget that Jessy and I are here for you in anyway possible so if you ever need anything just let us know. Below are our cell phone numbers so feel free to keep in touch with us!

Alex- 770 402 2466
Jessy- 770 530 4329

Cant Wait to see you guys again,

Alex

theDIVE Discipleship Reading Plan

2011-08-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

Below is the reading plan for the next couple of months in our discipleship class on Sunday mornings. I hope you find the time to "Dive" into these scriptures on a weekly basis. The more you pour yourself into what we are doing, the more you will learn and experience what God has in store for us here at theDIVE. I did not include week 1 simply because we covered it this morning but if you can find the time to squeeze those chapters in it will catch you back up. Try to have Week 2 read by next Sunday because that will be when we discuss those chapters. I encourage you to write down anything God does in your life through these chapters and share it with us next Sundays; you never know who it might speak to.

Cant Wait until next Sunday,

Alex

AUGUST
Week Two- Genesis 10-18
Week Three- Genesis 19-26
Week Four- Genesis 27-31
SEPTEMBER
Week Five- Genesis 32- 38
Week Six- Genesis 39- 46
Week Seven- Genesis 47- 50 & Joshua 1,2
Week Eight- Joshua 3-10
OCTOBER
Week Nine- Joshua 11-19
Week Ten- Joshua 20-24 & Judges 1,2
Week Eleven- Judges 3-8
Week Twelve- Judges 9-16
Week Thirteen- Judges 17-21 & 1 Samuel 1,2
NOVEMBER
Week Fourteen- 1 Samuel 3-12
Week Fifteen- 1 Samuel 13-18
Week Sixteen- 1 Samuel 19-25
Week Seventeen- 1 Samuel 26-31