I have taken the reins of the Junior High youth group at Grace Church of Granger.  I am not a Junior High Pastor, but I am the youth pastor that focuses his organizational energies on planning the majority of games, music packages, and messages for our sixth through eigth graders.  Now, ever since my first day on the job, I've had the games and messages under control.  I love to speak the Word of God, and the games just come to me naturally, but planning the music was a task that loomed over my first few weeks as I gained that responsibility.  I would over-think each package, and when it didn't flow precisely how my flawed brain had pictured, I would kinda panic and it ruined the entire mood of our worship gathering.

I've progressed at a decent pace, though.  I've become more comfortable around the Teen Music filing cabinet, and I've even picked a few songs off the CCLI website, which is something that I never saw myself doing a few weeks ago.  The size of the task has become smaller and smaller, and I've realized that the Lord is preparing the music packages in the same form and fashion as He is preparing the sermons.  Tonight, I truly felt Him moving in this way, and I want to share.

Now, one of the hardest things for me to do when I'm helping lead worship is not to get too involved in the music or what I'm singing, that I'm not engaging the audience.  As a leader, it is my responsibility to break down the walls between the audience and the Lord, not just sing for myself.  I've learned a lot from my dear friend, Tricia Green, as she's helped me learn about eye contact, body posture, and even when it's okay for the occasional clap (not as often as I'd like).  Tonight, as I stood up there on stage with my "brothers", Kyle and Jonathan, and my "sister", Michaela, I felt walls falling down around us. 

I had a clear experience with the Lord, and I realized that it wasn't about the music.  Worshipping the Lord is simply attributing value to Him, the value that He truly deserves, though we can never give that fully to Him.  As I sang the lyrics to a simple song, "You are My King," I realized that my worship needs to include daily realizations that I cannot give Him the glory He deserves for His descent into humanity, His death on a tree, and His powerful resurrection.  I need to tell Him simply that I stand in awe of how much bigger He is than anything I can imagine. 

As I sit here in the midst of a powerful thunderstorm, I am struck by the 29th Psalm:

"Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
       ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
       worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
       the God of glory thunders,
       the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
       the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
       the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
       Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD strikes
       with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
       the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
       and strips the forests bare.
       And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
       the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
The LORD gives strength to his people;
       the LORD blesses his people with peace." (NIV)

GLORY!!!
Bob Morton