Focus- Being still to KNOW He is God.

"Be still and know that I am God."- Psalm 46:10

This is a great verse that is hugely overlooked.  How often do we make the time to truly sit, be quiet, clear our minds and thoughts, and really KNOW He is God.

Silence seems to scare us these days.  We feel as if we are wasting time, not being productive enough.  It even can feel awkward.  Yet that is the whole point!  We must Stop!  Be still.  Wait.  Let the Lord Almighty show up in our life and speak to us in that sweet, still, small voice that we have seemed to have forgotten.

Let us take some time to focus our minds and truly dwell on the thought that He is God.  Think about who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and then thank Him for it.

Is it possible our state of mind and attitude could change for the better if we do this?  Could our perspective of life and our current situation get better?  Could we find some hope in the fact that he is God and is in control?

Only one way to find out.  And, really- what do we have to lose if not maybe 5 minutes of our day?

Let's try it:

Be Still- Know that He is God...............

Sitting and Waiting.

This past Sunday at River Oaks was absolutely incredible!  I was floored amazed by how good our God is!  How faithful He is.  But, most importantly, how much He truly desires to simply be with us!  Let me explain a little more.

The Lord has been challenging me to simply sit and be with Him in quiet, intimate moments of my life.  And honestly, the challenge has been finding and making the time.  I was challenged by this video from Kari Jobe teaching on worship:

Sunday morning, our team came in, set up our equipment, but we were dragging a little.  Some of us had very few hours of sleep, just from life etc.  I could sense a lack of energy, yet still a longing for excitement and expectation for the Lord to do what He always does: show up- and in a an incredible way.

But, we were missing something. 

We fell a little behind with set up, but I really felt the Lord pressing on me to practice sitting and waiting in His presence as a team.  So, I shared a little bit about what the Lord had been showing me.  Then, we took just a few short minutes (2-3) and prayed, asking the Lord to speak to us, fill us, meet with us, etc.  Then, we simply waited.  No talking.  No praying.  Not even singing.  We waited for the Lord individually and as a group.  I could hear several members of the team whispering things under their breath to the Lord.  I don't know what they were saying.  I was simply caught up in expressing my own desires to Him, then listening for what He had to say, I didn't care about what anybody else was doing or thinking.  All I wanted was to be with Him in those few, short minutes.  We ended with a chorus to a song and then we were done.

Like I said, it wasn't very long.  But after we wrapped up our waiting session we proceeded to practice the first song: and the Lord fell on each player of the team!  It was one of the most beautiful practices I have ever seen on a worship team.  We simply worshipped!

Sure, we had a few kinks to work out and had to retry a couple of songs.  But it was not at all like a normal practice.  Each song seemed to have it's own life to it.  Each team member had such a confidence about them, and had so much to offer.  It was like every player or singer transformed their "playing" into "creating" the music.  This took worship to a whole new level!  Not only the worship, but the whole service: from the message, to the special music, even to lunch afterward was awesome!  Over all it was a great Sunday!

Several of us agreed that we are going to start making this a regular thing.  Every Sunday morning before we start practice, we will take time as a team to not only pray, but to sit, seek and wait for the Lord Himself to come, speak and empower us.  

It was a Sunday unlike anything I have seen.  Not only am I challenged as a leader to make time for this practice with my worship team, but also for me personally.  I would challenge you, whoever is reading this, to do the same.  Just sit with Him!  Wait and see what the Lord is going to do.  I am willing to bet that it will blow your mind and will exceed your expectations!  He certainly did this past week!  I certainly can't wait for next Sunday!

"Be STILL AND KNOW that I am God!"- Psalm 46:10

Two Years....

  It has been two years since I left YWAM and returned to Saint Augustine.  What a crazy adjustment it has been.

  When I first got back, I was bitter, angry and confused.  I was in a place of giving up, frustrated and unfocused.  I was disappointed in myself because I felt like I had failed in my calling.  I questioned the voice of the Lord in my life.  I felt like the only voices I heard were doubt and unbelief.  I compared to myself to other people and wrapped my identity in how I measured up.  The only thing I looked forward to was going out on the weekends, drinking my emotions and trying to escape what I thought was my future.

  When plans change, and the outcome looks completely opposite of what was envisioned, it is easy to get lost.  It is easy to distract yourself- to tell yourself the outcome will be the present circumstance and that it won't change.  It is easy to listen to the lies that Satan plants in your head.

DON'T LET HIM!  The past two years have proved to look very different for me than what I originally planned or anticipated since first starting YWAM.  But I have realized it has not been for the worst.

  I have made mistakes.  I have let sin get the best of me.  I have let my emotions take control.  I have chosen poorly many times.  All of this because things weren't turning out the way I expected.  But, God is a gracious and merciful God!

  Romans 11:28-36 gives us a glimpse of how God's ways are higher than ours.  His plan is hard to comprehend, yet "He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."(Romans 8:28) "His call is irrevocable." (Romans 11:19)

  We must claim Philippians 1:6 which states that "He who began a good work in us, will continue that work until the day of Christ!"  He will NEVER stop working in us!  And praise Him that He won't!

  Over the past two years, I have had to deal with a lot of personal things in my life that prevented me from living in the promise God gave me.  It hurts to go through the process of healing.  But it is good!  Being a worship leader at River Oaks Community Church and partnering several different worship ministries have proven to be quite rewarding and fulfilling.  Even before that, I had the privilege of starting a live music ministry team from the ground up at a church which had been worshipping to Youtube videos for years before.  That church is now growing.  The Lord has expanded my ministry and sphere of influence beyond the church body, into my workplace, and the places I visit on a regular basis.

  I realized that, as passionate as I am about traveling and international missions, I have a mission field right here in my own town- my own workplace, my family and my circle of friends.  God is using me in ways I didn't expect.  And I am thankful for those moments.

  For those of you who are finding out that maybe life and the dream God has planted in you are not turning out how you expected- PLEASE do not give up.  He has a plan.  It is good.  He invites us to persevere and be a part of it.

 

Accomplishments!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to update you on how things are going down here at YWAM!

This week has been a great week!  Monday we led some worship songs and our friend Gift performed a Thai dance for about 50 seniors at the Edwinola Assisted Living Facility in Dade City.  It was awesome and the audience did NOT want us to leave after a little over an hour of performing.  In addition,  I just about finished all the instrumental tracks for my album!  I am now getting ready to concentrate on vocals and cover art!  I'm really excited about it!

This upcoming week we are getting ready for a Halloween outreach in our neighborhood on Wednesday night.  Kids from all over the are come to our neighborhood for trick-or-treating.  We are gonna pass out candy and tracks, do the thriller dance and have some major fun.  We are praying for opportunities to minister the gospel of Christ in the lives of these kids and their families!

We will be leaving for a YWAM conference a week from today!  Please be praying for safe travels and for continued direction in the vision we have to Know God and Make Him Known through music and performing arts!

What blessing this weekend I had to be able to get a free trip down to Tampa and spend the day and night with my good friend!  Thanks Barna for all of your hospitality and generosity!

Prayer Points:
*Please being praying over Halloween this Wednesday night as we will be handing out candy and tracks to the kids, doing some performances and trying minister to the local families!  Be praying for God's spirit to move on the hearts and lives of these families  ;)
*Prayer for our week long trip to Alabama and the performances that following weekend.
*Continued guidance and wisdom in the production of the worship album "Throne Room", that it would be God's handiwork and not my own.  Pray that the Lord will bring opportunities for promotion and performing to further the work He has called me to.
*Prayer for January, that the plans we are carrying out now are lined up with God's plans; that they would pave the way for the arrival of our cast in January.
*Continued financial support, for not just me, but for all of the staff and oncoming cast members involved in YWAM Tampa!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!

I will keep you all updated on the upcoming events and ministry!

Thank you all for your love and support!
-Aaron Gray

Trust in the Midst of Frustration

What a week of breakthrough!

This past Wednesday a whole lot happened that just really encouraged me.  I received just enough money to fix my computer and take care of the bills for October.  I discovered I shed 8 pounds since I've been at DTS (healthily, mind you.  I have been eating, as some people have questioned!  LOL!)  I had a friend tell me he wants to do a promotional video (professional quality) for me and the ministry in December.  Last, but certainly not least!, the Apple store e-mailed and said my computer was ready for pick-up!  Awesome day!

Then................yesterday happened.......................................................

I drove down early to Tampa (about an hour drive) so I could deposit my check at the bank.  I know it takes awhile for the check to go through, so I brought my check book with me to the Apple store so I could write one when I pick-up my computer.  However, they run checks just like a debit or credit card.  So, I decided to wait around awhile, hoping that I had deposited my check early enough for it go through maybe by 2:00-4:00p.m.  At least that is what has happened before with my bank.  Apparently, rules have changed and they don't put any money through until mid-night.

So, plan B: Several people offered to give their credit card over the phone to Apple so I could get my computer.  Praise the Lord and thank you to those people who offered!  Except, for the fact that when I went back to Apple, they said they don't allow payment over the phone: they have to have the form of payment in hand.  UGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!  It's now 5:00p.m.  I texted a couple prayer brothers and called my parents, just really discouraged and not understanding why I couldn't get my computer yet.

I had so many people willing and offering to help.  Why was this not working out?  Had I done something wrong?  Had I not planned this out well enough?  How had I not considered all of the outcomes and options?  What was happening?  Life happened- that's all.

On the way home, a fellow YWAMmer and I were talking about how often the Lord changes our plans, yet works it out for the better.  We don't always understand, and so often, days seem like wasted spaces of time, even though we think we have done everything we can to be productive.

I was reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 which says that "God knows the plans He has for us.  They are plans for good and not for evil; plans to prosper us, to give us a future and hope."

I was also reminded that "Man plans his way, but it is the LORD who directs His steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

Life is full of twists and turns.  The enemy of our soul is going to do whatever He can to steal, kill and destroy the plans that God speaks about in Jeremiah 29:11!  But, in the midst of all of this, I cannot back down from trusting in the Savior.  He is good, kind and faithful.  His love lasts forever!  We must be strong and courageous, my brothers and sisters.  God has called us to something far more greater than what we are living now.  It is supernatural in the middle of the mundane.  We are not called to be productive if we are not producing spiritual fruit: we are called to be intimate with Christ!  (John 15)

Thank you so much to everyone who has sowed both prayer and financial seed in the Kingdom by partnering with me!  Prayerfully, I will be getting my computer on Sunday afternoon after church!  God is moving and His glory will be proclaimed through our partnership together.  I cannot thank you enough.  Be blessed and take heart whatever you are going through!  For He has truly overcome the world!  (John 16:33)

-Aaron

Prayer Points:
*Sunday, I am hoping to be able to officially have my computer back as we will be stopping by the Apple Store after attending church in St. Petersburg.  Please pray that everything goes well and I can have my computer back.  :)
*Monday, October 22nd our friend Gift will be performing a Thai Dance at an assisted living facility in Dade City.  I will be leading couple worship songs also.  Pray for the salvation of those that have not received Christ as Lord and Savior.
*Continued patience and strength as I continue to do what I can to get this worship album recorded and produced.
*Halloween night we will be passing out candy and tracks to the "trick-or-treaters" throughout the neighborhood.  Believing the seeds of the Kingdom will be sown into the hearts, lives and families of the young ones.  
*We will be traveling to Alabama for an upcoming YWAM conference in early November.  Praying for safe travels, provision and for whatever God has for us during that time.

Confession

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."  James 5:16

Last week was rough, I'm not gonna lie.  Found out a lot of things that I did not feel like dealing with.  I felt stuck, between a rock and hard place, like maybe I had even been misguided as to the Lord's will for me during this time.

The hardest part about this is that I was feeling guilty about have these thoughts and feelings and I didn't want to tell anybody about it.  Yet, it was affecting my work and my relationships.  This past Wednesday, I finally confessed and was really honest about how I was doing and where I was spiritually.  Several people prayed over me throughout the day, and began getting encouragement from other people.  That night through the next day, my time with the Lord changed.  Hope and faith began to be strengthened inside me.  I was full of new vision and the next two days were some of the most productive days I've had since I've been back at YWAM.

I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to not let the enemy keep you isolated in your doubt, fear, guilt, shame, and unbelief.  Confess your faults to those brothers and sisters in the faith that you can trust, look up to and hold dear to you.  Whenever we confess to others how we are doing, something breaks off of us in the spirit (and others as well) and there is a healing and freedom that takes place.

This is why Satan comes so strongly against the united.  If he can break the trust between the brethren, he knows that we won't confess sins to each other and he can keep us trapped in the very thing that hinders us from the promise that God has for us in Christ.  He knows that this will also ruin the testimony we have, which is how we overcome and triumph over the accuser.  (Revelation 12:11)

Stand unified and humble, church!  Confess to one another and realize that "we suffer no temptation except which is common to man."  (1 Corinthians 10:13)  We are all in this together.

Be encouraged!  "In this world, you will have trouble, BUT! Take heart!  I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!"  (John 16:33)

First Week Back

Dear friends, family and ministry partners!

I safely arrived back at YWAM Tampa this past Tuesday, October 2nd 2012.  Boy, have things been crazy!  I was able to settle into my room Wednesday morning.  That afternoon we had a staff meeting in which we clarified our focus for the next week.

My primary focus right now is to GET THE ALBUM FINISHED!!!  Alright!  Ready! Set............

Oops!  I forgot!  My computer screen won't work!  After a long trip down to Tampa to see the Apple specialists, they diagnosed the problem as a burned out video card.  Estimated cost to fix is $310 and 5-7 days of repair.  I don't have that money on hand because of living costs and payment for a YWAM conference coming up at the beginning of November.  So I went to another place I had found just down the street for a second opinion.  Unfortunately, they had the same diagnosis.  The gentlemen did say, however, that I could try to hook up the computer to an external screen to see if that will work.  However, even if this method does work, I will still not have a computer screen out of the office or on the road.  So Either way, I will eventually need to get this computer screen fixed.  Please be praying in these funds, or be praying for a cheaper solution.  All the music I have been working on for this album  is on this computer!  So, we need to get this situation resolved quickly, so I can finish the instrumentals, record the vocals, mix, master and work on cover art.  I am also having to barrow other people's computers for blog updates, making appointments, etc.

However, this past experience is only confirmation that I am right in the center of God's will.  We can't expect things to go easy or smoothly when we are in the Lord's will.  We have an enemy who wants to distract us and get us off track!  So we must always choose to rejoice in our trials and tribulations, knowing that these things make us worthy of the calling of Christ on our lives!  (James 1:2-4)  Praise the Lord!  I'm right where He wants me and the enemy is stankin' mad!  So, two of my goals are already complete!

Some of you have been asking me about where to send checks, care packages, etc.  I think you will find the following information helpful:

Personal care packages, letters, etc. can be mailed to:
Aaron Gray
31407 Satin Leaf Run
Brooksville, FL 34602

If you would like to partner financially, You can write a check to YWAM TAMPA and send it to the above address.
*NOTE: Please make checks payable to YWAM TAMPA and not to me personally.  This way you will receive a tax deduction.  Please make sure that you DO NOT WRITE MY NAME ANYWHERE ON THE CHECK ITSELF, INCLUDING THE MEMO BLANK AT THE BOTTOM!  You can designate the check to me by ATTACHING A STICKY NOTE to the check stating 'TO MISSIONARY AARON GRAY".

Thank you to everyone who is partnering with me in both prayer and finances!  I could NOT be doing this without you!  I cannot wait to share with you all what God is going to be doing in the next few months.  Thank you, thank you, thank you once again!

-In His love forever,
-Aaron Gray