Hey Team!
Days like today give me great reason to be proud of the PDA worship family. Worship was absolutely amazing! Way to go after God! Way to lead people into His presence.
It was fun to look across the crowd this morning. I saw faces filled with elation, others were moved to tears, and some were throwing up there hands in an act of surrendering.
Early this morning I was impressed in my spirit to do the song "Days of Elijah". As you know we have not done this tune in awhile. After service, it was brought to my attention; a lady from our fellowship, who hasn't attended in some time was there this morning.
To my surprise, you guessed it, her favorite song is "Days of Elijah". God truly used PDA to minister to this dear lady through this song. Believe me, God knows who is going to be in service and He knows how to meet people right where they are.
Guys supernatural experiences like this happen all the time. Be encouraged! God is using you to do accomplish great things! Your reward in heaven will be great. If it is anything like this morning, boy I can hardly wait.
Grace,
Mo
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Project Worship photos are up!
Click on the slideshow below, or go to the Photos page under Gallery.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Unmerited Favor
The definiton of grace is unmerited favor. We do not perform acts of service in order to gain grace or mercy. We can't. It's unmerited favor. Jesus is the one who has accomplished the work, when he said "It is finished." Instead overwhelming grace provokes us to labors of love. Ephesians 2:9 tells us that we are saved by grace alone. Ministering on the stage, going the extra mile, staying late for rehearsals, being faithful week in and week out, working and re-working that tetious bass line, vocal harmony, lead guitar part; these things do not save us.
Only grace can save us. Yet grace points in the direction of good righteous works. The book of James says that "...faith without works is dead." Grace compliments faith and pushes us toward good works. Singing and playing music, leading others into the presence of God are righteous acts that only time can measure. My dad used to say "Time will tell." Guys, heaven will be awesome! I can't wait.
Pastor Ed says "You will never do anything to cause God to love you more and you will never do anything to cause God to love you less." That is love. Hey guys that is grace and we know that it's enough!
I want to thank each of you for your selfless acts, and labor of love to lift up the name of Christ. The book of Matthew says that you are laying up treasures in heaven. I can't wait to see your mansions in heaven and cheer you on as you are receiving your hevenly reward.
Grace to you,
Mo Howard
Monday, February 16, 2009
Valentine's Day
Hi all, it's Arran from the PDA Worship team. I asked Mo if it was okay if I wrote a blog to share this with you. The Lord has really laid it on my heart to write about the experience I had over Valentines day. We think of Valentine's day today as the typical hallmark-inspired, buy-something-at-Zales, take-your-girl-out-to-dinner type of holiday. The events of the past few days have really given me insight on the overflowing and immeasurable countenance of God's love.
Last Thursday my little sister gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy named Jack. All seemed to be picture perfect, but a little while afterwards, my sister noticed that she was still bleeding quite a lot. She pressed the nurse call button for assistance, but by the time the nurses arrived, she had already lost consciousness from blood loss.
They had to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. They put over 10 units of blood from doners back into her, which is very sobering because we only hold 8 on average. That means she was losing blood while they were giving it to her. Thank God that she is okay now, however due to the surgery she can no longer bear children.
Speaking to my sister that weekend during Valentines day was, for lack of a better word, faith-affirming. She told me that she had prayed to God about this moment days before, how after this child God laid it on her heart to start adopting children, and even laid it on her heart to wonder what her blood type was! She knows that God prepared her for the ordeal she would go through and she is stronger for it. God was with her in every moment. There are so many allegories to the Love of God in her story. In the same way that the blood of Christ saves us, the only reason my sister is alive right now is by the blood given freely of another. None of her own blood is running through her veins. I can only sum up this post with a post from my sister's own blog:
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
Last Thursday my little sister gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy named Jack. All seemed to be picture perfect, but a little while afterwards, my sister noticed that she was still bleeding quite a lot. She pressed the nurse call button for assistance, but by the time the nurses arrived, she had already lost consciousness from blood loss.
They had to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. They put over 10 units of blood from doners back into her, which is very sobering because we only hold 8 on average. That means she was losing blood while they were giving it to her. Thank God that she is okay now, however due to the surgery she can no longer bear children.
Speaking to my sister that weekend during Valentines day was, for lack of a better word, faith-affirming. She told me that she had prayed to God about this moment days before, how after this child God laid it on her heart to start adopting children, and even laid it on her heart to wonder what her blood type was! She knows that God prepared her for the ordeal she would go through and she is stronger for it. God was with her in every moment. There are so many allegories to the Love of God in her story. In the same way that the blood of Christ saves us, the only reason my sister is alive right now is by the blood given freely of another. None of her own blood is running through her veins. I can only sum up this post with a post from my sister's own blog:
Throughout the whole night, I felt the presence of God and the blanket of your prayers so clearly. There came a time when I understood the seriousness of my situation, but all I could feel was peace. I knew my life was in God’s hands and He would do as He saw fit. I know that peace was encouraged by the prayers you prayed, and I want to thank you.
Dave and I are simply overwhelmed by the support and care that everyone has shown. I cannot imagine going through this ordeal without such wonderful friends and family. We love you and are SO appreciative of every bit of help you have offered and prayer you have lifted up.
“...The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21
God has taken such a small thing to bring us such a great blessing!
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Worship Warfare
`For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked ...according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Eph. 2:1,2
Praise and Worship in my opinion is the highest form of prayer. Have you ever given thought to the spiritual war that is going on any given Sunday? Together we are making war in the heavenlies. There may be good people who enter the doors of the sanctuary weary and heavy with the guilt and burdern of sin. They may even be under the influence of disobedience! Eph. 2:2
The Apostle Paul writes to young Timothy "FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men," 1 Tim. 2:1
We should never look at worship as just an ice-breaker or a sing along. If that is all it is, why not play Red-Rover, Red-Rover! No. It is an opportunity to touch heaven. Let me encourage you to pray, make petetions and intercessions and thanksgivings on behalf of all men. Wow, that kind of sounds like 1 Chronicles 16:4;" He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel: "
Worship plays a very important role in the spiritual realm. God could use us to make a difference in someone's life. Because of this I approach my position with the utmost respect and reverence.
Grace,
Mo
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked ...according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Eph. 2:1,2
Praise and Worship in my opinion is the highest form of prayer. Have you ever given thought to the spiritual war that is going on any given Sunday? Together we are making war in the heavenlies. There may be good people who enter the doors of the sanctuary weary and heavy with the guilt and burdern of sin. They may even be under the influence of disobedience! Eph. 2:2
The Apostle Paul writes to young Timothy "FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men," 1 Tim. 2:1
We should never look at worship as just an ice-breaker or a sing along. If that is all it is, why not play Red-Rover, Red-Rover! No. It is an opportunity to touch heaven. Let me encourage you to pray, make petetions and intercessions and thanksgivings on behalf of all men. Wow, that kind of sounds like 1 Chronicles 16:4;" He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel: "
Worship plays a very important role in the spiritual realm. God could use us to make a difference in someone's life. Because of this I approach my position with the utmost respect and reverence.
Grace,
Mo
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