I recently listened to a podcast from Bethel Church out in California. It was a message by Bill Johnson entitled, "What I learned from my hunting dog." Instantly I was interested because as most of you know, I have an 8 month old German Shorthaired Pointer named Koda. She is a crazy dog, full of energy and I don't know if I've ever seen her sitting still. My hope for her is that one day, she will be a hunting dog. Trained to run through fields and point birds.
Bill also has a pointer, and he explains to us the term, honoring the point. Basically this term is when you are hunting and one of the pointing dog goes on point, all other dogs point the one dog that pointed first, honoring the point. In other words, if one dog goes on point, all other dogs point the first dog. (I hope that makes sense!!)
Bill then connected that to worship, and this is where it really hit me. Instead of telling you what Bill said, let me put it into my own words.
There are times in worship were I don't feel "into it" or fully engaged. There are things going on in my head and my heart that shouldn't be in turn distracting me from my worship. But when I am worshiping with other people it is hard to just stand there. I will be looking around and see someone worshiping their heart out. Hands raised or down on their knees, or weeping. Instantly I am overcome by the Holy Spirit and brought into worship. Its crazy... I am suddenly worshiping because I know that the Holy Spirit is working in this persons life. I am in a sense "honoring the point" or honoring someones worship.
The other day I was at Cornerstone worshiping at a night service they call "Evensong". My heart was troubled by a few different things going on in my life and it was really hard for me to enter into worship. As I was standing there praying I noticed a guy in from on me on his knees. Then around him, came people who laid hands on him and started praying for him. Instantly I felt the Holy Spirit working in my heart. I looked up and people were raising arms and crying out for God and after reading the words they were singing, my heart began to break and instantly I was brought into worship. My own heart crying out for God because I knew that He was working in that gym that night. Thank you God for working in lives, for breaking hearts, and building them back up!
This has happened to me multiple times and it never ceases to amaze me. I love just sitting and watching people worship. It is a beautiful thing, but as soon as I see the Holy Spirit working in someones life through worship, I am instantly overcome by worship and am lead to worship myself.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever experienced this? I would love to hear your stories. Have you ever thought that your worship could bring someone else into worship themselves? It's a crazy thought... and very interesting to think about.
God Bless
Branden
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Trails and Tempations
Today for one of my classes we had a devotional from the first chapter of James. Which reads...
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything... Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:2-4,12)
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I'm certain that most of you reading this have heard this verse before, as I have, but when you really dig deep... that's when it hits you.
First off James tells us to consider it PURE joy when we face trials. As opposed to almost or some Joy? Its worth noting for those of you who don't know, that JOY doesn't not necessarily mean happiness. Joy does not mean that we are giddy and excited about what just happened or what is happening. Joy, is only found when we have Jesus in our lives. When we face trials, yes, they are going to hurt, yes they are going to sting, and yes they are going to leave you weakened, But James encourages us to find Joy in our trials. How much Joy do you have in your life? You may be the happiest person on earth, but are you filled with the Joy of the Lord??
We all know that when we face trials and tribulations, our minds quickly begin to question God. Why did this happen to me? or Why didn't this happen to me? Sometimes people will go as far as questioning the existence of God all together. What they don't understand/realize is that we are allowed to go through trials SO THAT our "faith will develop perseverance." Then James says that, "perseverance must finish its work." Why? SO THAT we can become "mature and complete and not lacking anything."
See people, we have it all wrong. When we go through trials and have bad days we need to find Joy! God is testing us, testing our faith. When we finally realize this we can look at our trials as gifts from God we can begin to grow in our faith! We DO NOT have to be happy all the time however, and its OK to ask God why, but we need to understand that He is in control. He is leading us and we CAN trust Him.
I don't know about you, but i want to be mature and complete in my faith. I think that is the ultimate goal of the Christian faith. To be sanctified and made whole.
James then says in verse twelve that the man who perseveres under trials and passes the test, is going to receive the crown of life. That those who become mature and complete in their faith are going to have eternal life with the Father in Heaven. YES PLEASE!!
Test me and try me God, I want to become more mature and complete in my walk with you so that I may, too, receive the crown of life that you have promised me!
Love You All
Branden
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything... Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:2-4,12)
Wow. Wow. Wow.
I'm certain that most of you reading this have heard this verse before, as I have, but when you really dig deep... that's when it hits you.
First off James tells us to consider it PURE joy when we face trials. As opposed to almost or some Joy? Its worth noting for those of you who don't know, that JOY doesn't not necessarily mean happiness. Joy does not mean that we are giddy and excited about what just happened or what is happening. Joy, is only found when we have Jesus in our lives. When we face trials, yes, they are going to hurt, yes they are going to sting, and yes they are going to leave you weakened, But James encourages us to find Joy in our trials. How much Joy do you have in your life? You may be the happiest person on earth, but are you filled with the Joy of the Lord??
We all know that when we face trials and tribulations, our minds quickly begin to question God. Why did this happen to me? or Why didn't this happen to me? Sometimes people will go as far as questioning the existence of God all together. What they don't understand/realize is that we are allowed to go through trials SO THAT our "faith will develop perseverance." Then James says that, "perseverance must finish its work." Why? SO THAT we can become "mature and complete and not lacking anything."
See people, we have it all wrong. When we go through trials and have bad days we need to find Joy! God is testing us, testing our faith. When we finally realize this we can look at our trials as gifts from God we can begin to grow in our faith! We DO NOT have to be happy all the time however, and its OK to ask God why, but we need to understand that He is in control. He is leading us and we CAN trust Him.
I don't know about you, but i want to be mature and complete in my faith. I think that is the ultimate goal of the Christian faith. To be sanctified and made whole.
James then says in verse twelve that the man who perseveres under trials and passes the test, is going to receive the crown of life. That those who become mature and complete in their faith are going to have eternal life with the Father in Heaven. YES PLEASE!!
Test me and try me God, I want to become more mature and complete in my walk with you so that I may, too, receive the crown of life that you have promised me!
Love You All
Branden
First blog Post
So this being my first blog on this site, I would like to take a moment just introduce myself a little bit.
My name is Branden Visser. I was born and raised in Jenison, Michigan and I just turned 22 years old. I work at a church in Byron Center, MI as the Student Ministries Worship Inter. My job consists of overseeing a middle schoool band, two high school bands, and also a young adult band. Along with overseeing them, I actually lead one of two high school bands and the young adult band. I attend Kuyper College where I am a Junior in the Music and Worship program. I will be graduating next May with a degree in Music and Worship, Bible and Theology, and also a minor in communications.
As a child, my love for music was evident. I was constently singing and was even nicknamed "Songbird" in 1st grade when we were studying the Native American culture. Just as any kid with a love for music, my dreams was to become a rock star. Maybe not so much in a litteral sense, but I knew that I wanted to polay music for a living somewhere!
My love of worship however, began while I was still in high school. I played drums in my youth band at the church in Hudsonville where I grew up and it was there I realized that music could/was going to be apart of the rest of my life.
After graduating High School I took a job at a church in Grand Rapids, Mi where I help design and create a second "contemporary" service. Little did I know that this oppertunity was goign to be a great challenge, as well as an amazing learning experience. They had a handbell choir, vocal choir, organ, and a piano... As you can imagine, the sight of drums on stage was a complete shock to the congregation when we first started the "contemporary" process. After building a team of commited and talented musicians and leading there for two years, I felt like it was my time to move on.
God then opened up the doors at the church where I am at now. I have been working there for almost 2 years now and I have loved every second of it. The students I work with are not only talented, but are commited to showing the love of Christ through their gifts and talents. Not to brag or anything, but the way that they have grown spritually and musically just this year has made my job one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world.
I believe that church worship is going to take a turn, again, in the near future and we as worship leaders need to be pouring into the youth of today continually so that we can raise up new worship leaders with hearts on fire for Jesus and the gospel. To say the least, I have been blessed to work with such an amazing group of students and their potential continues to grow as the year progresses.
So, this was just a brief rundown of my life and career as a young worship leader. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in the coming years. I look forward to having fruitful discussions and conversation about Faith, Worship, and Leadership with you in the near future.
God Bless,
Branden Visser
My name is Branden Visser. I was born and raised in Jenison, Michigan and I just turned 22 years old. I work at a church in Byron Center, MI as the Student Ministries Worship Inter. My job consists of overseeing a middle schoool band, two high school bands, and also a young adult band. Along with overseeing them, I actually lead one of two high school bands and the young adult band. I attend Kuyper College where I am a Junior in the Music and Worship program. I will be graduating next May with a degree in Music and Worship, Bible and Theology, and also a minor in communications.
As a child, my love for music was evident. I was constently singing and was even nicknamed "Songbird" in 1st grade when we were studying the Native American culture. Just as any kid with a love for music, my dreams was to become a rock star. Maybe not so much in a litteral sense, but I knew that I wanted to polay music for a living somewhere!
My love of worship however, began while I was still in high school. I played drums in my youth band at the church in Hudsonville where I grew up and it was there I realized that music could/was going to be apart of the rest of my life.
After graduating High School I took a job at a church in Grand Rapids, Mi where I help design and create a second "contemporary" service. Little did I know that this oppertunity was goign to be a great challenge, as well as an amazing learning experience. They had a handbell choir, vocal choir, organ, and a piano... As you can imagine, the sight of drums on stage was a complete shock to the congregation when we first started the "contemporary" process. After building a team of commited and talented musicians and leading there for two years, I felt like it was my time to move on.
God then opened up the doors at the church where I am at now. I have been working there for almost 2 years now and I have loved every second of it. The students I work with are not only talented, but are commited to showing the love of Christ through their gifts and talents. Not to brag or anything, but the way that they have grown spritually and musically just this year has made my job one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world.
I believe that church worship is going to take a turn, again, in the near future and we as worship leaders need to be pouring into the youth of today continually so that we can raise up new worship leaders with hearts on fire for Jesus and the gospel. To say the least, I have been blessed to work with such an amazing group of students and their potential continues to grow as the year progresses.
So, this was just a brief rundown of my life and career as a young worship leader. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in the coming years. I look forward to having fruitful discussions and conversation about Faith, Worship, and Leadership with you in the near future.
God Bless,
Branden Visser
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