Amazed & in Doubt.

Hello Friends,

   We hope you are doing well. We have been thinking of you quite a lot lately. God has been tugging at our hearts and asking us what we believe is his will for our ministry and what do we think is His direction for our daily lives. This has been such a tough thing for some of us as our identity has sometimes been found in the things we give value rather than the things that actually offer relief or comfort. It is very easy to continue along without interruption as long as we do not stop to consider what is best for others. I think anyone of us can relate to this and it's certainly not meant to be a punch in the stomach but rather a wake up call from dreaming. Dreaming is nice and can often be inspiring, but it seems it can leave out the hard details of reality. Much like the scenes we find in movies which are spliced together with some great mood music and snippets of "hard" work only to focus on the end result. This brings me to my point...I think. When I read the Bible, I read it with the end result of that chapter or verse in mind. I sometimes act as if Paul, or Peter or even Moses knew from the start the result. I totally remove the possibility of the faith aspect. In conversation I may elude to the "faith they must have had" but really just think God/Jesus had different dealings with them and that He no longer does these things. Lately, I have possibly been able to tap in a little to the reality of serving God. Here is the equation I have recently come up with:

X = God will provide

 That's it. Profound huh? The problem is that my (X) has always been only related to how it turns out in scripture with those men and women of God. I have not extended their end result to my equation. I have somehow acted as if there are new, more complex equations that somehow yield a different (X). It turns out I can look at my life with the end result in mind. X = God will provide. It sounds quite cliche and a bit anticlimactic I'm sure. But what have we been shown otherwise. Has it been working for us as we try to make it something more profound? Have we seen the results we so desire by doing this way or that way? I have to ask myself that and realize the answer. Also, I must be careful not to project my failures in faith that God will provide on anyone else who He may very well be providing for. If I am focused on MY relationship with God and My faith in His promises, and My seeking of His calling it will certainly turn outwards to His people. Not getting caught up in all others situations and how I can use them for my benefit is tricky, but I believe it must be done in order for us to be prepared.

  This could go on for a bit, and I hope to continue as I learn what it means to set aside my will and what I think is best for God's will and what He knows is best. God is good. Taste and see for yourself. He is better than life itself.

Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Here are some artists & links to music that are a true blessing and we'd like to pass along to you.

The Dirt and the Flood - The Garden/iTunes

Curt Vernon - http://www.thoroughbredchurch.com/tcc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=43

Alexander - It's not always signs, It's not always wonders/iTunes

Kye Kye - Young Love/iTunes

My Epic - Broken Voices and Yet/iTunes

Cool Hand Luke - Of Man/iTunes

In Christ,

Standing Small

HeartBreaking

Luke 16:19-31
19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Thoughts?

Worship song for Indie Vision Muisc

Hello all,

   We hope you are doing well. We have had such a great time at our previous few shows and we want to thank all of you for coming out and supporting/worshipping with us. It means a great deal to us. We have some local shows upcoming that we'd love to see you all at. Please check out our shows page for more info on those. The reason for this update is to share with you all that we are currently recording a song for a worship compilation album that will be coming out on October 1, 2011 through our friends at www.IndieVisionMusic.com. If you aren't familiar with the site I hope you'll check it out and bookmark it. They have been so kind to us and even put out our last release through that site. This compilation is titled Passionate Hope: Vol. 1: Songs of Worship. It has some amazing bands on it and we are so proud to have been asked to be a part of it. We are excited to share it with you all. If you happen to know anyone who plays any type of horn and would like to record on this project please have them contact us at standingsmall@gmail.com. Thanks so much and we shall be in touch very soon. Christ's blessings upon each of you.

In Christ,

Standing Small

www.facebook.com/StandingSmall

www.twitter.com/StandingSmall

A quick request

We are going to be playing Jesus Rally - July 13-16, 2011 & I was wondering if you all knew of any violin or cello players who would like to play along with us. You can email us through our .com submission or standingsmall@gmail.com. Thanks

WORSHIP IN THE CITY!!!

We hope you are doing well. Recently we were going through & updating our info & realized we had neither mentioned or posted our Worship in the City event in August. It will be held at the Worlds Fair Park on August 26 & 27. Some really great bands will be playing the event. Sea Bird, Blind Boys of Alabama, Shane & Shane, Third Day, Mercy Me and many more. We are very excited to be a part of this event. If you'd like to know more about it please visit www.worshipinthecity.com.

We plan on uploading some videos of some live/in studio performances very soon. We are excited about our future though we don't know specifically what it looks like. Please continue to pray for us & w/us as we attempt to do our Father's will here on earth.

We'd like you to check out some of our friends if you have time

Cool Hand Luke - www.Facebook.com/therealcoolhandluke
The Birdsongs - www.Facebook.com/thebirdsongs
Language of the Birds (former members of Good Morning Gladys) - www.Facebook.com/languageofthebirds
Alexander - www.Facebook.com/alexandertheband

Luke 12:32

32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.