Being part of the background, the planning and leading worship of GIFT my job is to serve others and bring glory to God but I find that I leave GIFT the most blessed.  Blessed to see people in the pews, some who have never been to church and maybe have never thought to question what they believed, some who want more in their spiritual life but don't know how, some who are excited about God and see Him working in their lives and some who, although older, are still praising God with energy and excitement. 

 

Blessed because I see growth in the God given skills of the band, including myself.  As we have grown musically, using music as a form of worship has become more enjoyable and personal.  Blessed because the words of the songs direct us to God.

 

And blessed to be challenged and reminded through Dale Loewen that being a Christian is about being married to Jesus.  That Jesus is looking for love-sick worshippers.  It is often that I do not feel God or even feelings of desire for God but through Dale's words I was challenged to not be satisfied with that but to seek God passionately.  To pray for desire for Him.  To pray to know Him.  It's amazing how easily I am pacified by simple momentary pleasures.  As CS Lewis says so well, it's not that our desires are too strong, but rather too weak.  May we say, as one of the songs we sang says, "For what do I have if I don't have You Jesus, what in this world could mean any more? ... oh Lord, I need to know You!"

  Flatland's Tide is a small band hailing from Manitoba.  The four member band is comprised of Chris Enns, Amy Janzen, Rose Lundy and Leroy Suderman.  Chris describes the group this way: 

We are a small group, trio for 90% of our stuff. We play high energy Christian Rock, with GOD being the focal point in it all. Alot of our songs are from mainstream Christian groups like Tree63, Hillsong United, Matt Redman, Jonah 33, Third Day, Delirious, plus we do 4 originals that we've written on our own. There is no fluff in our package. We've all played in our church's P&W band together for many years. But have wanted to do this project on our own for quite a while. God has touched each or our lives, and has given us a real desire and a heart to worship him through song. And it's our hope and goal that lives will be touched through this ministry. We're only just getting started, but the potential seems limitless.

  Flatland's Tide will be our guests on February 2 for GIFT.  It would be a great opportunity to bring some friends who wonder what Christianity is about but have never gone to church.  See you there.